[pct-l] Anyone have experience with SPOT-2 satellite messengers? Any alternative options?

[Ed Jarrett]

FWIW, SPOT can update your Facebook or Twitter as well.

Ed Jarretthttp://aclayjar.blogspot.com/

> From: nina.zaya at gmail.com
> Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2013 13:30:20 -0800
> To: youroldpaldan at gmail.com
> CC: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Anyone have experience with SPOT-2 satellite	messengers? Any alternative options?
> 
> I used deLorme with the smartphone last year. 
> Pros: According to my research it's more reliable then Spot, it uses better satellite network. It worked 100%, I was able to communicate 2 ways with my boyfriend, it even posted my progress on a Facebook, so my friends could track my GPS location and send messages to me.
> Cons: it's more expensive and bulkier then Spot
> Nina
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
> On Jan 22, 2013, at 12:33 PM, Dan Jacobs <youroldpaldan at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> > On Tue, Jan 22, 2013 at 12:16 PM, Kathi <pogo at pctwalker.com> wrote:
> >> Others on this list have suggested that you
> >> always push the I'm Ok a few times about 15 minutes apart in those
> >> areas,...
> >> Puddles
> > 
> > According to how I understand the units to work, this will not help
> > get a signal through. While in tracking mode, it sends out a few
> > transmissions, and then waits for the "get GPS position, send location
> > message" cycle to begin again. Pushing the OK button in this cycle
> > starts a "get GPS position, send OK message" cycle that sends the
> > location message for about ten minutes, and then tracking starts
> > again. Nothing special happens that helps get the messages through
> > other than repetition of sensing the messages for a longer duration of
> > time. Repetition won't help get the messages through until there is
> > enough open sky between you and the satellite. There are other factors
> > that are really geeky that need to be considered also, but I'm sure
> > this reply is long enough already ;-)
> > 
> > Without knowing where the satellites are in the sky in relationship to
> > your location and what barriers there may be to getting the weak
> > signal from the SPOT units to the satellites, the only way to help the
> > messages get through is to seek the largest swath of open sky you can
> > find within reason.
> > 
> > Dan Jacobs
> > Washougal
> > --
> > "Loud motorcycle stereos save lives"
> > Motorcycle to hike, hike to motorcycle
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