Good news and bad news about SPOT 2 devices

On Apr 30, 5:44*pm, Ramy wrote:
My SPOT1 batteries need replacement after more than a year (over 300
hours). So even if SPOT2 needs more frequent battery replacement it
may not be a real issue for most pilots.

Ramy



Darryl Ramm wrote:
On Apr 29, 10:27*am, Westbender wrote:
Are you using the "replacement" or the "original" Spot 2?

One of the reasons for the replacement program was power consumption.
I have a replacement unit, but I haven't used it yet. Just curious.

To be anal-retentive clear on this, I don't believe that the issue was
power consumption per se, but rather an incorrect low battery warning
so people would be lead to change batteries earlier than necessary.
AFAIK there was no mod to improve actual battery consumption (just the
apparent consumption). See for example Doug Ritter's comments at
http://www.equipped.org/blog/?p=172

If somebody knows for sure else wise speak up...

It is a pity with the SPOT 2 that the hiker/general user etc. goal of
making the device smaller overrode long tracking battery life. I've
still got the original SPOT and never really had significant dropped
tracking message problems and am not sure I'll upgrade.

Darryl

Hmm, I have no direct experimental evidence regarding SPOT 2 battery
life. However, Fernando Silva had a new one at Perry, and he had to
replace the batteries after just a few days. The SPOT website quotes a
battery life of between 3.5 and 7 days in tracking mode, and the SPOT
customer service representative I spoke to acknowledged that the SPOT
2 devices do have shorter battery life 'due to the stronger
antenna' (which I interpret as higher transmit power).

I am sticking with my old SPOT 1clunker - I know how to get it into
track mode reliably, and I only have to change out batteries once or
twice per soaring season ;-).

TA

On Apr 30, 7:34*pm, Frank wrote:
On Apr 30, 5:44*pm, Ramy wrote:





My SPOT1 batteries need replacement after more than a year (over 300
hours). So even if SPOT2 needs more frequent battery replacement it
may not be a real issue for most pilots.

Ramy

Darryl Ramm wrote:
On Apr 29, 10:27*am, Westbender wrote:
Are you using the "replacement" or the "original" Spot 2?

One of the reasons for the replacement program was power consumption.

While I can't report yet on battery life, I can report after a couple
of 4-5 hours flights with SPOT2 that I have zero misssing
trackpoints, although it is strapped to my parachute and do not have a
complete clear view of the sky. I used to see at least 10% drop with
my original spot. I can't tell if this is thanks to the better
transmission/antena, or thanks to sending multiple trackpoints with
each transmission.

Ramy



On Apr 30, 9:57*pm, Ramy wrote:
On Apr 30, 7:34*pm, Frank wrote:





On Apr 30, 5:44*pm, Ramy wrote:

My SPOT1 batteries need replacement after more than a year (over 300
hours). So even if SPOT2 needs more frequent battery replacement it
may not be a real issue for most pilots.

Ramy

Darryl Ramm wrote:
On Apr 29, 10:27*am, Westbender wrote:
Are you using the "replacement" or the "original" Spot 2?

One of the reasons for the replacement program was power consumption.
I have a replacement unit, but I haven't used it yet. Just curious.

To be anal-retentive clear on this, I don't believe that the issue was
power consumption per se, but rather an incorrect low battery warning
so people would be lead to change batteries earlier than necessary.
AFAIK there was no mod to improve actual battery consumption (just the
apparent consumption). See for example Doug Ritter's comments at
http://www.equipped.org/blog/?p=172

If somebody knows for sure else wise speak up...

It is a pity with the SPOT 2 that the hiker/general user etc. goal of
making the device smaller overrode long tracking battery life. I've
still got the original SPOT and never really had significant dropped
tracking message problems and am not sure I'll upgrade.

Darryl

Hmm, I have no direct experimental evidence regarding SPOT 2 battery
life. *However, Fernando Silva had a new one at Perry, and he had to
replace the batteries after just a few days. The SPOT website quotes a
battery life of between 3.5 and 7 days in tracking mode, and the SPOT
customer service representative I spoke to acknowledged that the SPOT
2 devices do have shorter battery life 'due to the stronger
antenna' (which I interpret as higher transmit power).

I am sticking with my old SPOT 1clunker - I know how to get it into
track mode reliably, and I only have to change out batteries once or
twice per soaring season ;-).

TA- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I just upgraded to Spot 2 so I'll be able to report on it later, but
my manual says 7 days in track mode which is 168 hours, or 30 flights
averaging about 5 hours per flight. for someone who fly mostly
weekends this means replacing once or twice per season. I hope in
reality it will be at least as good as the manual says, in the case of
Spot 1 it was even better than the manual.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -