[pct-l] accidental spot activation by pct hiker

[mattjolley at comcast.net]

accidental spot activation by pct hiker

 Looks like user error by the people on the home front,  and expensive learning for
  search and rescue when the hiker had the ON and "HELP" functions activate while the SPOT
   was in his pack.

 For the Home front.   The SPOT has 4 functions.

  1.   911  If the hiker wants emergency response they will use 911.  SPOT company calls 
              first responder and adds story to their advertisements.
   2.   "HELP"  is only for the hiker and his listners.
          It  means whatever you predefine it to be.  You can jig up a semaphore code of
         "HELP"  and OK messages if you want.     Or you can predfine it to be,  bring a thermos
          and hike in and meet me.    If you do not predefine it,  it does not mean very much at all.
          And this case shows you should not act on it,  at least not immediately,  and if you do get
          an OK,  you should communicate that.
          This story is a real good message,   the "HELP" can be sent accidently.
          ( This is why SPOT  company had a hard time communicating to SAR,  there was no 911 
          This was a private communication )
  3.     "OK" this works sometimes,  but now always.   Do not call the helicopters if you do not
          receive an OK message.     Maybe the batteries died, or the hiker "forgot",  or the 
          terrain or vegetation blocked the signal,   Buck up and give it a few days for the next
          communication.
   
   4.    Tracking.    This works sometimes every 10 minutes.   Sometimes it drops out for hours.
           Someone posted the tracking is dismal on the SPOT AT demo this year.
           Reviews report position of device etc affects activity.    This is for entertainment purposes 
           only.    Do not use this for indications of hiker danger.  or expect to have it be within
           10 miles of hikers current position.

     We just use the SPOT once a day for an OK.    Sometimes there is no OK,  but most of
      the time there is,  so it works for us.
      

     Matt

  




Ralph wrote >>
Check out this story:
http://www.nwhikers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7969437
Turns out the spot company wouldn't give search and rescue the tracking info
for 2 1/2 hours since hiker had id and password, and spot co didn't want to
release the info. Unclear on the concept?

-- 
Ralph Alcorn
http://www.backpack45.com/pct
.html