[pct-l] SPOT usage & SR difficulty

Wed Jan 27 17:40:14 CST 2010

Here is a short summary for others not familiar with the Spot Messenger.  For more detail review the link below or review the product at findmespot.com.  The Ok/Help messages are sent from the Spot Messenger to a Satellite, then relayed to your Spot account and up to five pre-set emails.  Your spot account can also be set up to allow an unlimited amount of users to view your messages and locations online with or without a password.   These email messages contain The Ok and Help messages (up to 115 characters) to help clarify what OK or Help means.  These pre-set OK and Help messages can not be changed in the field unless you have access to the internet.  

Here is an example of an Ok message sent to one of the emails listed in my account.  Note the recipient of the email simply clicks on the link and can see the location.  Remember you can adjust your OK or Help message to anything you want.  Below are just examples, you have 115 characters so you can be creative.

Paul 
Latitude:36.69464 
Longitude:-118.37356 
GPS location Date/Time:01/19/2010 09:21:22 EST 

Click the link below to see where I am located. 
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=36.69464,-118.37356&ll=36.69464,-118.37356&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1 
Message:I'm OK, I will try to send another OK message or Track within 48 hours.  Follow Track Log for movement.  Paul

This is the message I use for my help message "I'm OK,but plans changed.I need nonemergency help within 48h. Copy Coordinates,follow Tracks and expect Call. Paul"

Below is the link for a review of the older Spot Messenger by the Forest Service

http://www.fs.fed.us/t-d/pubs/pdfpubs/pdf08252842/pdf08252842dpi72.pdf

I hope this helps,

Paul

P.S. I just finished a study looking at the decomposition of toilet paper under different conditions.  If interested click on the direct link below.

http://hikethru.com/hiking-information/backyard-science/toilet-paper-decomposition

> Date: Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:07:44 -0800
> From: dbillings803 at yahoo.com
> To: Pct-l at backcountry.net
> Subject: [pct-l] SPOT usage & SR difficulty
> 
> I have a first generation SPOT which, true to reputation, often fails to transmit from under tree cover or in narrow canyons. The second generation SPOT just recently 
> came out & they're already going through a REcall for some defect. (hope nobody was needing their second gen unit before that issue surfaced). I haven't heard yet whether the second generation's antenna has been improved as gps units were improved with WASS.
> 
> But, as far as the "help" vs. the "911" .... I've wondered about the best protocol to set up with my contact back home.
> 
> "911" is a no brainer as far as I'm concerned. I'm in trouble and can't continue or medical emergency or out of water x days.
> 
> The "Okay" button is also a no brainer as I use that often just to post my location to my contacts.
> 
> But the "Help" button... they leave it open as to how you want to use it despite the designation "help."
> 
> Anyone else have ideas on how to use that function to make it more usable and more clear for the hiker?
> 
> A secondary issue just came to my attention. A man who was having a seizure used his "911" to call for help on the PCT. The unit transmitted okay and the coordinates were received okay as is supposed to happen... but the S&R team in their report mentioned that the "datum" was different than their own units and there was some delay in their response while they sifted through several options to get the proper gps reading of the victim. Anyone know anything about this issue ?
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Austin Williams <austinwilliams123 at gmail.com>
> To: Len Glassner <len5742 at gmail.com>; pct-l at backcountry.net
> Sent: Tue, January 26, 2010 6:54:45 PM
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Circumstances that warrant hitting the SPOT 911 button
> 
> I gave this a lot of thought when I got lost in glacier peak wilderness and
> had to bailout. 30 miles of bushwhacking gets pretty tiring.
> 
> I had a SPOT. I decided I wouldn't press the 911 button unless I had broken
> something AND it was bad enough that I couldn't still keep stumbling along
> with the help of my trekking poles. But I'm young and somewhat stubborn.
> 
> An interesting side note: In that situation I couldn't decide whether or not
> to hit the "okay" button. I was lost in the wilderness (kind of... I mean,
> I knew where I was generally, and what direction I was heading. I just
> didn't know where civilization was due to the limited scope of my maps). My
> support person knew the "help" button meant "standby for a phone call, I
> probably need some special supplies sent". I decided not to press
> anything. It worked well.
> 
> Had I been lost for more than 2 days I would have pressed the "okay" button
> (so there would be some record of where I was). I'm confident in my
> survival skills, so I would have given myself about 4 or 5 days of being
> lost and trying to find civilization before I pressed the "911" button. Or
> sooner if I fell down one of the waterfalls I had to descend and broken
> something important.... and managed to live.
> 
> I think whether or not I'd press the button for another hiker would depend a
> lot on the other hiker and his/her state-of-mind. If I thought we could
> work together to get him/her to safety ourselves, then I'd let S&R sleep in
> that day.
> 
> 
> 
> On Tue, Jan 26, 2010 at 5:28 PM, Len Glassner <len5742 at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> > Generalized criteria?
> >
> > It almost seems that if you still have the presence of mind to use
> > 911, then you're not in bad enough shape.
> >
> > I guess if you're unable to move (i.e., broken leg), then? And have
> > also fallen off the trail? Or do you blow your whistle and wait for
> > other hikers to come along for xx hours, and reevaluate?
> >
> > If you're really hypothermic, then SPOT won't occur to you.
> >
> > Lost for xx days?
> >
> > Use only for other disabled hikers, not for yourself?
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> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Austin Williams
> PlanYourHike.com
> 
> "The mountains are calling and I must go." -John Muir
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