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SPOT Satellite Personal Tracker - Generation 2
SPOT is a small, portable, multi-function device that; acts as a satellite
emergency locator, provides real-time location tracking over the web (using
Google Earth) to friends and family members, and allows you to send one way SMS
text (or email) messages in areas where you can't get cellular or internet
access.
The new 2nd Generation SPOT features:
- 30% Smaller and 30% Lighter than the original SPOT
- Advanced GPS provides faster GPS acquisition
- GPS acquisition light
- Custom message button
- Enhanced antenna performance
- Dedicated tracking button
- Improved tracking performance
- Safety covers over S.O.S. and Help buttons
- Replaceable button covers
- Illuminated buttons
- Message sent indicator light
- Includes armband case
- Recyclable packaging
The SPOT Personal Tracker raised the safety factor for millions who took to
the outdoors each year. SPOT notifies friends, family or an international rescue
coordination center with your GPS location and status based on situation and
need - all with the push of a button.
Some reasons why pilots are excited about SPOT:
- You're thirty minutes out from your destination, descending from 11,500'
and want someone to pick you up at the airport when you land. There's
no way to get any get any cell phone service, but SPOT can send an
email or SMS text message immediately via satellite.
- You're planning a trip of a lifetime flying above the Alaskan Highway
and deep into Alaska. Your friends and family are both worried and
excited about your trip. With SPOT on-board, your exact position
can be displayed online, via Google Earth, to anyone you choose.
Your friends and family can follow your great journey and feel comfort in
knowing exactly where you are at any time.
- You're on that same trip through Alaska and you have an issue that
forces an emergency landing. You make a perfect landing on the shore
of a river but now you're in the middle of nowhere. Count on SPOT,
its' satellite coverage and built-in GPS receiver, to dispatch
emergency responders to your exact location.
- You run a flight school with ten airplanes and have rental aircraft
going in every direction. With a SPOT in each airplane, you can
track the real-time position of all of your aircraft, online 24
hours a day
The SPOT device is something completely new and different from anything else on the
market. SPOT allows you to:
SOS / 911: Use this function In the event of a life threatening or other
critical emergency to notify emergency services of your GPS location and that
you need assistance. The GEOS International Emergency Response Center alerts the
appropriate agencies worldwide – for example contacting 9-1-1 responders in
North America and 1-1-2 responders in Europe.
Help: In the event of a non-life threatening emergency, you can use this
function to notify your personal contacts that you need assistance. Additional
SPOT Assist services can be purchased and programmed to your Help button as
well. When activated with SPOT Assist, the Help button will notify professional
services either on the land or water. SPOT has partnered with national service
providers to offer non-life threatening assistance.
Check-in/OK: This feature allows you to let your friends and family know that
all is OK with a pre-programmed message along with your GPS location. With a
push of a button a message is sent via email or SMS to up to 10 pre-determined
contacts and your waypoint is stored in your SPOT account for later reference.
Your stored waypoints can be easily integrated into a SPOT Shared Page or SPOT
Adventure account.
Custom Message: This feature allows you to let your friends and family now
receive a custom message along with your GPS location with a push of a button.
Use this feature as a secondary OK message or transfer your personal help alert
to this message function if you are using a SPOT Assist service on your Help
button.
Track Progress: This feature allows you to send and save your location and allow
contacts to track your progress in near real time using Google Maps. With your
SPOT account you have the ability to set up a SPOT Shared Page which allows you
to show your SPOT GPS locations to others on a Google Map.
Coverage Areas
SPOT transmitter has recorded excellent transmission rates within the
coverage areas shown below, and even sends each message 3 times to ensure
successful transmission. Please note that SPOT must be able to "see" the sky in
order to properly work. If you are using this in a cockpit, you must keep SPOT
in a place that has an unobstructed view of the sky (i.e. the dash). GPS location coordinates
are accurate to within 20 feet.
Usage fees for SPOT:
With SPOT you buy the hardware at a low initial cost and then pay an annual
subscription fee for monitoring and tracking as follows:
$99 annual fee for unlimited basic service (North American Alert 9-1-1, Ask for
Help, and Check-In) .
$50 additional annual fee for SPOTcasting real-time tracking service.
SPOT Personal Tracker Specifications:
- Height: 3.7" (9.4 cm)
- Width: 2.6" (6.6 cm)
- Thickness: 1" (2.5 cm)
- Weight: 5.2 oz (147.4g)
- Operating Temp: -30C to 60C
(-22F to 140F)
- Operating Altitude: -100m to +6,500m
(-328ft to +21,320ft)
- Humidity Rated: MIL-STD-810F,
Method 507.3,
95% to 100% cond.
- Vibration Rated: Per SAE J1455
Battery Life:
- Type: 3 AAA Lithium 8x - Energizer
- Standby mode: 94.7 days
- SOS/HELP: 2.8 days
- Track Progress: 4.3 days
- Check OK/Custom Messages: 350 messages
List Price: $169.99
Our Price: $149.95
Related Shopping Areas:
Aircraft Supplies >
Aircraft Fuel Testers, Pitot Covers, Tie-Downs, and more
Aircraft Supplies >
PLBs, ELTs, and TCAS
GPS >
Aviation GPS Units
GPS >
GPS Accessories
GPS >
Personal Locator Beacons (PLB)
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Lowest Price Guaranteed: If you find a better price elsewhere on
this product we will
match that price and beat it by 10% of the difference.
Buy With Confidence! Purchase today and you can return
it in the original condition through Tuesday, December 22, 2009!
Our return
policy.
Have a question about SPOT Satellite Personal Tracker - Generation 2?
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Customer Reviews
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Previous Customer Questions For SPOT Satellite Personal Tracker - Generation 2:
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On Thursday, November 12, 2009 a customer asked:
Q: does the Spot come with a car power 12v cable or is available for the Spot?
A:
The SPOT does not have a 12 volt adapter available.
On Monday, October 19, 2009 a customer asked:
Q: If in the UK and I press the emergency button will it alert the UK emergency services?
A:
When you press the emergency button the GEOS Alliance is first notified and then they will contact any and all available emergency services closest to your location.
On Friday, June 12, 2009 a customer asked:
Q: If I am understanding the information that I have read....the area that I am in if I have SPOT on me can be a remote area and does not need to relay on cell phone coverage. Also, when using the check in feature cell phone coverage is not needed since the checkin can be sent to an email address. Are both correct to my understanding?
A:
Yes, you are correct. The SPOT does not need or use the cell phone network for communication. The SPOT device only communicates only with their own satellite network. As long as you have a clear view of the sky, the SPOT device should be able to send messages (i.e. check-in). The basic process is that the SPOT device sends a message to their satellite, the satellite relays that message to the SPOT computer network, the SPOT network then sends any text message and/or email communication that you have pre-configured.
On Wednesday, May 20, 2009 a customer asked:
Q: Will this product work in Central and North Afghanistan?
A:
SPOT does have coverage in Afghanistan. You can view the most current coverage map here.
On Thursday, April 16, 2009 a customer asked:
Q: How many characters can be programmed into the pre-set messages?
A:
The pre-set messages are limited to 115 characters.
On Friday, April 03, 2009 a customer asked:
Q: What is the service cost
A:
$99 annual fee for unlimited basic service (North American Alert 9-1-1, Ask for Help, and Check-In) .
$50 additional annual fee for SPOTcasting real-time tracking service.
On Friday, April 03, 2009 a customer asked:
Q: Can you recive a text message from spot
A:
Yes, you will be able to submit cell numbers and email addresses to receive the preset messages from the SPOT device.
On Sunday, January 11, 2009 a customer asked:
Q: Ifish 20 to 50 miles off the jersy coast will the system alert the coast guard
A:
When the 911 feature is activated, the GEOS Alliance response team will contact all necessary authorities close to your location.
On Monday, December 08, 2008 a customer asked:
Q: Does the Spot unit work in Sichuan Province of China even though it is part of the Himalayan Mountain Range? I usually have no problem with getting GPS signals where I hike.
A:
From viewing the coverage map, it appears that there is excellent coverage for Sichuan.
On Friday, November 07, 2008 a customer asked:
Q: Im a hunter.Would the spot unit work under heavy tree coverage or does it need to be a clear shot.Usally where I hunt it`s heavly wooded.Thank you for your time.
A:
Like most GPS units, the SPOT tracker will work best when it has a clear line-of-sight to the sky. It will constantly attempt to send your message if it does not go through right away however.
On Wednesday, October 22, 2008 a customer asked:
Q: Does the spot have the capability to recive a text message or e-mail?
A:
No, this device will send pre-set messages via text/email, however it does not have any receiving capabilities.
On Tuesday, September 16, 2008 a customer asked:
Q: Why is the Spot so much less than the ACR in cost?
A:
They are really different technologies with completely different business models. The SPOT uses a private satellite network and has a yearly subscription cost with features not found on any of the PLBs (such as tracking and check-in). The ACR PLBs use the 406 MHz public COSPAS-SARSAT satellite system and does not have any ability to do real-time tracking. It does not have any monthly or yearly subscription cost after the hardware has been purchased.
On Monday, September 15, 2008 a customer asked:
Q: Are there any time periods less than a full year for the subscription service. I occasionally hunt alone and would like to "turn on " the service for 3-6 months at a time.
A:
At this time SPOT only offers an annual service option.
On Tuesday, September 09, 2008 a customer asked:
Q: ? What is the cost of service per year ?
Joe Kay
A:
The service fees are as follows:
$99 annual fee for unlimited basic service (North American Alert 9-1-1, Ask for Help, and Check-In) .
$50 additional annual fee for SPOTcasting real-time tracking service.
On Tuesday, July 01, 2008 a customer asked:
Q: Can (or could) the SPOT display the lat/lon location information for use in determining one's exact location?
A:
The SPOT unit does not have any display screen, however the lat/lon position can be sent to an email address and/or a cell phone in a text message.
On Monday, May 26, 2008 a customer asked:
Q: How does a person know the unit is operatonal and has sent a message for help etc.? I've read concerns that suggest there should be some positive indication that it is accessing satellites (like a GPS typically does) and that a request for help has been sent. thanks.
A:
Any time the SPOT unit is transmitting to satellites, the appropriate service LED will stay solid for 5 seconds letting you know that it is making a connection. The SPOT transmissions are over 95% successful and many services repeatedly transmit the message in 5 or 10 minute intervals.
On Saturday, May 17, 2008 a customer asked:
Q: I often fish 50 to 75 miles off the Texas coast. Will I be able to use Spot for rescue if needed.
A:
Yes, absolutely. The coverage map shows strong coverage in that area so you should have no trouble using all of the features of SPOT on your trips.
On Wednesday, May 14, 2008 a customer asked:
Q: Do you offer the GEOS search and rescue benefit? I believe it costs $7.95 per yr.
A:
Yes, the GEOS Search and Rescue insurance is available for $7.95 per year if you select it when you first sign up for your services.
On Sunday, May 04, 2008 a customer asked:
Q: Any problems or restrictions for carrying Spot on airlines?
Any problem using it to report a 911 incident such as a car accident with injuries in a remote area involving persons other than the spot owner? In other words coming upon the scene, etc. acknowledging that it will scare your contacts who would not know it does not involve you, etc.
A:
We are not aware of any FAA or FCC regulation that prohibits the use of SPOT on an airline. In fact, many private and commercial pilots (myself included) use SPOT every time that we fly. With that said, many airlines prohibit the use of any device that receives or sends a satellite signal. You would need to check with your airline to be sure.
As far as using the SPOT to report emergencies that do not involve you directly, there is no issue at all. The SPOT is intended to be used in any emergency situation where emergency workers need to be summoned.
On Sunday, April 06, 2008 a customer asked:
Q: What is the life expectancy of the unit?
A:
When this unit is powered on the battery life is projected to be 1 year.
On Wednesday, March 19, 2008 a customer asked:
Q: Many of the con responses indicate SPOT won't track in overcast weather. Why?
A:
This unit may experience difficulty tracking in overcast weather due to not being able to "see" the sky (as with any other GPS device). This is counterbalanced by the feature that the SPOT device provides of constantly sending out the tracking messages once activated to ensure that at least 1 request out of every 20 minutes is successfully delivered in high coverage areas.
On Friday, March 14, 2008 a customer asked:
Q: Does it work in Iraq and Afganistain
A:
The SPOT does have coverage in both Iraq and Afghanistan. You can view a picture of the most current coverage area here.
On Monday, March 10, 2008 a customer asked:
Q: Is the SPOT signal degraded any while in deep forest?
A:
As with any GPS, you need a clear view of the sky in order for it to lock on to the satellites. If you are in a heavily forested area you may have difficulties getting satellite coverage. Generally speaking, if you can see the sky then SPOT can see the sky.
On Tuesday, February 26, 2008 a customer asked:
Q: If I were to purchase 3 Spot Tracker units, to keep track of my children at the same time, would the Annual and spot casting fees be per unit or per account?
Can I track the units via a mobile GPS tracking device, or cellphone with gps or are you only able to track via your internet site?
Is the Spot Tracker programable to allow a fence or area in which if the unit moves from that area it will notify me via cell phone?
A:
The annual subscription services are per SPOT unit. When the SPOTcasting feature is activated, the location is available through email and through a specific Google Maps address. This feature does need to be activated on the unit every 24 hours. There is no way to have the unit automatically send alerts when a certain area is left.
On Thursday, February 21, 2008 a customer asked:
Q: Can SPOT be used outside the U.S.A? Such as China?
A:
Yes it can. The current coverage map shows that China has a very strong coverage (99% or greater chance of sending a message). To sign up for a SPOT subscription, however, a US or Canadian issued credit card is required.
On Wednesday, January 30, 2008 a customer asked:
Q: What kind of information is sent to your contact list in the check-in emails ?
A:
Here is an actual email that was sent today when I was in the run-up area at Scottsdale (SDL) airport:
Just checking in. All is well from this location. <= this is your custom message
Unit Number: XXXXXXX
Latitude: 33.6153
Longitude: -111.9205
Time in GMT the message was sent: 01/31/2008 18:58:33
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=33.6153,-111.9205&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1
On Friday, January 11, 2008 a customer asked:
Q: I see the weight , but not the dimensions. How big is the SPOT unit?
A:
Size: 4.38 X 2.75 X 1.5” (111 mm x 69 mm x 44 mm)
Approximate Weight: 7.37 ounces (209 grams)
On Monday, December 31, 2007 a customer asked:
Q: How do you send text messages? I don't see a key pad or screen.
A:
The text messages are preset through your account on the SPOT website. They are sent via the "help" and "ok" buttons on the interface.
On Wednesday, December 26, 2007 a customer asked:
Q: has SPOT been used by hikers (for ex. AT, PCT) or other outside activities
A:
Yes, SPOT is intended for use by any person doing outdoor activities (hiking, camping, hunting, flying, off-road vehicles, skiing, water rafting, etc.).
On Sunday, December 09, 2007 a customer asked:
Q: So far looks like a winner. But how does the Spot's function parallel that of the newer 406 mhz ELTs? Does the Spot transmit on the 406 frequency, or does it function independently of the 406 mhz (ELT) network?
A:
This is completely independent of the 406 mHz system. The SPOT uses satellite transmissions for both GPS positioning and the sending of alerts / messages. Its' infrastructure is based on the satellite phone network system.
On Friday, December 07, 2007 a customer asked:
Q: Any plans to provide SPOT with a remote antennae and alternate power source such as a cigarette lighter?
A:
At this time there are no plans for an external antenna or power source. But, we have made those exact suggestions to the manufacturer.
On Monday, October 29, 2007 a customer asked:
Q: how do I suscribe to the yearly basic service and the 50$ annual fee for Spot Real time tracking?
A:
Once you receive the device, you will get instructions for registering that device (and its serial number) directly with SPOT.
On Wednesday, October 24, 2007 a customer asked:
Q: Is there any ELT or similar beacon to assist ground or CAP Direction Finding (SAR) units directly? How will SAR access the correct googleMap tracking info?
A:
Search and rescue does not actually use the GoogleEarth tracking for the 911 function. Once the emergency rescue feature is activated, your location is transmitted to GEOS Alliance Operators who will immediately notify SAR, local 911 operators, or Coast Guard, and your location will repeat transmission every 5 minutes until cancelled.
On Saturday, October 20, 2007 a customer asked:
Q: Are the check messages configured on the SPOT website? Including identification of each unit? Using the fleet of planes example, how would a check message from Cessna N123 appear to an e-mail or text recipient?
A:
Every unit has a completely customizable message for each function (Ask for Help and Check In). You can specify exactly what the message should read (i.e "Cessna N123 checking in") as well as how should receive the message (different email account and SMS Text Messages).
On Tuesday, October 09, 2007 a customer asked:
Q: How water proof is the unit? I work far offshore from small planes. If you were incapacitated is there a salt water activated switch that could turn the unit on?
A:
Here are the technical Operating Conditions for SPOT:
- Operating Temperatures: -40°F to +185°F
- Operating Altitude: -300 feet to +21,000 feet
- Floats in water
- Waterproof to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes
- Humidity Rated:
o MIL-STD-810E Method 507.3, 95% to 100% condensing
- Salt Fog Rated
o Per MIL_STD 810E Method 509.3, 5% NaCl, 95% distilled water
- Vibration
o Per SAE J1455
o Random, 20 Hz to 2000 Hz, 0.04g2/Hz, one hour per axis
- Drop
o Dropped twice on all six sides from one meter onto hard surface.
On Monday, September 17, 2007 a customer asked:
Q: Is there a monthly fee for the tracker? If so how much is it?
A:
The SPOT Tracker does not have monthly fees. There is a $99 annual fee for unlimited basic service (North American Alert 9-1-1, Ask for Help, and Check-In), and an optional $50 annual fee for SPOTcasting real-time tracking service.
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