[pct-l] Emergency Devices

[Dan Kronstadt]

Paul - last I read, Spot used the private Globalstar satellite network, 
while PLB's use COSPAS-SARSAT satellites (http://bit.ly/hfKoXU). And my 
understanding was the Globalstar was heavily used by truckers, etc. Is 
that not accurate?

On the other hand, something I read pointed out that a PLB cannot be 
fully tested. As I remember, you can do some testing that is limited in 
function and # of tests - but the Spot gets tested every day you use it 
for tracking, messages to family, etc.

Dan

On 11/30/2010 11:12 AM, Paul Robison wrote:
> in this case,
>
> a call is placed to the SPOT call center with your GPS coordinates, from there a
> human determines who to call,  police, SAR, coast guard, etc.  and will get to
> the right agency to help you.
> if your GPS coordinates cannot be acquired  (you're in a dense forest perhaps),
> the satelite call is still placed and a human at SPOT will go through your
> history and try and find your heading and approx. location.
> a call center employee calls yoru family to apprise them of the situation as
> well as determine any more itinerary info, as well as descriptions.
>
> to be clear the SPOT calls use the EXACT SAME satelites as SAR and PLB
> satelites.  only difference is they are not given priority above SAR or PLB in
> the event all lines are busy.  this comes essentially as a TXT message and uses
> virtually no bandwidth.
>
> ~Paul
>