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#1
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SPOT price increase ......
Just received this email from SPOT
Hello Subscriber, This email is to inform you of upcoming changes to your SPOT service plan(s): We are continuously making network upgrades to ensure the best possible service for our SPOT customers. To help fund these efforts now and in the future, upon renewal a Network Maintenance Fee will be implemented on all SPOT subscriptions: Monthly $2.49/MO; Annual $24.99/YR; 2 Year $49.99/2YR. If you have any questions please contact Customer Care at 855-769-6954. Thank you for choosing SPOT. SPOT LLC So a $25 price increase! I signed on to my account and here is what I have been paying 06/14/2010 PAYMENT $117.98 07/05/2011 PAYMENT $167.97 42.7% increase 07/08/2012 PAYMENT $167.97 07/06/2013 PAYMENT $167.97 07/07/2014 PAYMENT $167.97 07/02/2015 PAYMENT $167.97 07/07/2016 PAYMENT $177.97 6% increase 07/06/2017 PAYMENT $182.97 +$25 - 17% increase Heading to the InREach page now |
#2
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SPOT price increase ......
Or you can combine a PLB for emergency alert via satellites (about $250 to buy, about $100 for battery replacement every 5 years, no annual fee) and a smartphone-based tracking method (e.g., IGCdroid) for real-time tracking, automated emails, and backup logging ($10 to buy app, no annual fee).
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#3
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SPOT price increase ......
Last year, Globalstar (parent of SPOT, possibly being purchased by Thermo) hinted at a "NextGen Spot". In April of this year (2018) a corporate release disclosed a "Two-Way SPOT".... "to be released 2018", so one might want to wait a bit to see what this product might offer. On the fence for a tracker or PLB?, review previous threads on RAS re SPOT 3 v InReach. Seems there are more complaints about "spotty" SPOT performance. Someone recently mentioned InReach Explorer was down to $200 at Cabellas + subscription. I own a SPOT.
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#4
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SPOT price increase ......
Last year, Globalstar (parent of SPOT, possibly being purchased by Thermo) hinted at a "NextGen Spot". In April of this year (2018) a corporate release disclosed a "Two-Way SPOT".... "to be released 2018", so one might want to wait a bit to see what this product might offer. On the fence for a tracker or PLB?, review previous threads on RAS re SPOT 3 v InReach. Seems there are more complaints about "spotty" SPOT performance. Someone recently mentioned InReach Explorer was down to $200 at Cabellas + subscription. I own a SPOT.
https://www.globalstar.com/Globalsta...ials_FINAL.pdf |
#5
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SPOT price increase ......
Last year, Globalstar (parent of SPOT, possibly being purchased by Thermo) hinted at a "NextGen Spot". In April of this year (2018) a corporate release disclosed a "Two-Way SPOT".... "to be released 2018", so one might want to wait a bit to see what this product might offer. On the fence for a tracker or PLB?, review previous threads on RAS re SPOT 3 v InReach. Seems there are more complaints about "spotty" SPOT performance. Someone recently mentioned InReach Explorer was down to $200 at Cabellas + subscription. I own a SPOT.
https://www.globalstar.com/Globalsta...ials_FINAL.pdf |
#6
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SPOT price increase ......
On Tuesday, May 1, 2018 at 9:18:53 AM UTC-7, wrote:
Or you can combine a PLB for emergency alert via satellites (about $250 to buy, about $100 for battery replacement every 5 years, no annual fee) and a smartphone-based tracking method (e.g., IGCdroid) for real-time tracking, automated emails, and backup logging ($10 to buy app, no annual fee). Moshe, neither of the devices you listed is a replacement for an automatic satellite based system unless you fly locally and within cell (or gotenna)range, in case of emergency, or even a landout, from the following reasons: 1 - PLB need to be activated, which means it is useless if you are incapacitated. And in case of a landout, you wouldn't want to use your PLB unless it is an emergency. 2 - Cell phone/radio based devices may not have coverage in many areas, especially out west where we fly in the middle of nowhere. I am paying $25 per month for inReach simply since this is the best method to ensure I can be found, and I can use it to communicate via text with any cell phone from anywhere. Already saved me in couple of landouts. Ramy |
#7
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SPOT price increase ......
You can get a (very limited) non-emergency messaging option for a PLB, not free, but a lot cheaper than SPOT: http://406link.com/ - these "messages" are content-free, but by pre-agreement with your buddies they could mean "I'm OK but need a retrieve". (I've suggested to them to add some bits to the message data packet to allow selecting between several different preset messages, but they've apparently ignored me.)
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#8
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SPOT price increase ......
On Wednesday, May 2, 2018 at 12:53:41 PM UTC-4, wrote:
You can get a (very limited) non-emergency messaging option for a PLB, not free, but a lot cheaper than SPOT: http://406link.com/ - these "messages" are content-free, but by pre-agreement with your buddies they could mean "I'm OK but need a retrieve". (I've suggested to them to add some bits to the message data packet to allow selecting between several different preset messages, but they've apparently ignored me.) "Note: 406Link.com is a one-way communication tool designed only for Satellite Confirmation testing." So, hack away, but expect to be ignored. |
#9
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SPOT price increase ......
On Wednesday, May 2, 2018 at 1:03:46 PM UTC-4, Tango Eight wrote:
On Wednesday, May 2, 2018 at 12:53:41 PM UTC-4, wrote: You can get a (very limited) non-emergency messaging option for a PLB, not free, but a lot cheaper than SPOT: http://406link.com/ - these "messages" are content-free, but by pre-agreement with your buddies they could mean "I'm OK but need a retrieve". (I've suggested to them to add some bits to the message data packet to allow selecting between several different preset messages, but they've apparently ignored me.) "Note: 406Link.com is a one-way communication tool designed only for Satellite Confirmation testing." So, hack away, but expect to be ignored. That's the whole point, Evan. 406link.com uses the fact that such messages are ignored by the search and rescue authorities. They (406link) receive those (with their own equipment) and don't ignore them, rather, trigger emails and text messages to your designated recipients. It's reliable enough that they sell this service for a fee. But of course they won't guarantee anything. (If it's a real emergency used the normal function of the PLB.) Disclaimer: I havn't tried it myself. Also note that a PLB's battery is declared officially dead after a fairly small number (a dozen, IIRC) of these messages if they include the GPS location stamp. This is to ensure there is enough juice left for a long transmission in a real emergency. That means you have to then replace the PLB battery. But you have to do that every 5 years anyway, so you can have two landouts per year with such messages and still not shorten the battery life practically speaking. |
#10
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SPOT price increase ......
I found it was really difficult to cancel my Spot service plan. There
was no way to do it on line a couple of years ago and it was a long process to get someone on the phone to get it cancelled.Â* Maybe things have improved since then. On 5/1/2018 10:03 AM, Ron Gleason wrote: Just received this email from SPOT Hello Subscriber, This email is to inform you of upcoming changes to your SPOT service plan(s): We are continuously making network upgrades to ensure the best possible service for our SPOT customers. To help fund these efforts now and in the future, upon renewal a Network Maintenance Fee will be implemented on all SPOT subscriptions: Monthly $2.49/MO; Annual $24.99/YR; 2 Year $49.99/2YR. If you have any questions please contact Customer Care at 855-769-6954. Thank you for choosing SPOT. SPOT LLC So a $25 price increase! I signed on to my account and here is what I have been paying 06/14/2010 PAYMENT $117.98 07/05/2011 PAYMENT $167.97 42.7% increase 07/08/2012 PAYMENT $167.97 07/06/2013 PAYMENT $167.97 07/07/2014 PAYMENT $167.97 07/02/2015 PAYMENT $167.97 07/07/2016 PAYMENT $177.97 6% increase 07/06/2017 PAYMENT $182.97 +$25 - 17% increase Heading to the InREach page now -- Dan, 5J |
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