Meet SPOT
November 27th, 2007 | 
Author: 
This crazy little gizmo is the Peregrine SPOT Satellite Messenger. “SPOT” is much easier. For about $170 bucks the SPOT gives you a GPS Locater that can send out distress calls, request non-emergency “help” or just send out a quick signal that you are just fine. It can also can send out a “Track Progress” signal that saves your location and tracks your progress using Google Maps. Obviously they are going for the growing PLB market here. The SPOT is light, waterproof, shockproof, and it floats. (well, that’s what they say now. . . .)
The SPOT is fairly inexpensive for what it does, however the “catch” if you want to call it that, is in the additional service fees. The Annual “limited” messaging service is $99 per year. This let’s you send out the little blips to say you are ok, need help, or 911 calls. You have to pay an additional $49.99 for unlimited tracking transmissions. GEOS Rescue Service is another $7.95 per year.
Here is how GEOS works; The Emergency button on your SPOT unit has to be held for 3 seconds, then it will send a signal to the GEOS Emergency Response Service. When they get your signal they first try to contact your first and second emergency contacts which you provide when activating the service. If your contacts do not answer, they will mark your exact location, then contact the local SARs or police in your area if you are on land or the Coast Guard if you are at sea. Interestingly if you are outside the states, they also contact the US embassy near you just to be sure someone knows where you are at. I could not find any information about owning the SPOT outside of the US. I.E. if you are from the UK do they contact the UK embassy for you?? Well, more research. . . .
In some ways the interesting feature here is the little “I’m OK” message capability that gives you a way to let your family or team know where you are and that you are doing just fine. That in addition to the Google map tracking, non-emergency help signal & GEOS Rescue Service certainly make it a strong candidate for any paddling expedition.
SPOT is available online at Rutabaga here in Wisconsin (among many other places).
Posted in 
A good review of the SPOT is at http://www.equipped.com/SPOT_ORSummer2007.htm. I looked at this interesting device as I needed to buy a new PLB (personal locator beacon) recently for an upcoming crossing from Key West to the Dry Tortugas (68nm into open exposed seas). While it may fit the bill for some paddlers, and I really like the tracking feature, I opted to buy an ACR ResQFix ($550.00, new generation, smaller, PLB) and will rent an Iridium satellite phone for messaging on remote trips. The SPOT, while initially inexpensive (although with a subscription it will cost you about the same as a PLB after about 5 years), doesn’t provide the rescue assurance that I need, and for trip tracking, I prefer to send voice or customized text messages. That said, it is good to see this market expand.
Derrick,
Even with the premiums that seems pretty reasonable to me (and I’m broke!) A much better deal than renting a satilite phone, although with the phone you get valuable two way communication about weather and well weather! but at a very high price.
I’m gonna look into this little SPOT seems like very reasonable insurance compared to other locaters on the market, and thats coming from a guy thats not really into or can afford gadgets.
Re: strobes I think everyone should carry A rescue laser, the’re compact, reliable and SAR will see it, and from a much further distance than a strobe. In case you were wondering, no I don’t have a sponsorship deal with the company that makes them, but it’s the first piece of safety equip I’ve ever bought that I have 100 % confidence in.
Rich K.
We’ll just have to see how it works out over time. Since it’s fairly new, I’m just curious about how it holds up. That’s a good point that over time the cost would come out about the same. I like the tracking feature and just pushing a button to let someone know I’m ok, works for me. LOL! Not always a conversationalist. . .
The only thing that I concerns me is it’s waterproofness. Being only 1m for 30 min, it is similar to a GPS unit. For example, the ACR ResQFix mentioned above is waterproof for 5m for for 1 hour. Since it is one of those features that you absolutely can’t afford to fail you, I’m not quite sure about it yet…
The features of it look amazing. I researched it about a month ago and thought that “I’m OK” button!
Cheers,
David H. Johnston