[at-l] Spot On

[Steve Landis]

 From the article...

"...the secondary use seems to be what is driving sales...allows you to 
leave a breadcrumb trail... to see in detail where you started..where 
you veered...where you ended.  It's good for journaling and blogging..."

Steve

Jim Bullard wrote:
> The "I'm okay" feature only works when you press the appropriate button. 
> It isn't an automatic beacon. Nor do you have to "feed it batteries". It 
> only works when you turn it on. I don't think it is intended to be 
> always on like a GPS that is tracking your movements, rather you turn it 
> on, it gets a fix on your current position and reports that. There is no 
> track function built into the unit that I'm aware of. A "track" is 
> created at the receiving end by connecting the dots (points reported 
> from the sending end). An advantage of the SPOT is that it does not use 
> the cell phone system. It works off satellites, so it works where a cell 
> phone will not. In a true emergency that can be critical since many 
> areas where hikers go, there is no cell phone coverage. The "Help" is 
> for non-emergency situations. You need someone to do something for you 
> in a situation that isn't life threatening.
> 
> One of the problems with a cell phone, as Jim O has often pointed out, 
> is the temptation to 'stay connected' with home and to the extent that 
> you unable to resist that temptation I agree with his objections. The 
> SPOT minimizes the potential connection to the point that, except in a 
> real emergency (911 button) there is no immediate connection, only 
> reassurance or to arrange needed non-urgent assistance. I suspect based 
> on his past posts re: cell phones that Jim O would still have 
> reservations about the SPOT but when he goes out Ginny is with him and 
> when I go out, my wife is not with me. If I were setting out on a long 
> distance hike I'd consider taking one for my wife's benefit. I don't 
> like worrying her needlessly.
> 
> Jim Bullard
> http://jims-ramblings.blogspot.com/