SPOT Satellite Messenger
As I sat down for dinner with some work collegues a weekend ago, the wife of one of our senior salesmen looked me in the eye, and said “You are that guy who goes hunting alone, aren’t you?” I sheepishly admitted that I did on occasion go into the wilderness alone, and proceded to get a lecture from her about how I could break a leg where no one could find me. I admitted that that was always a possibility. I receive this lecture on a regular basis from members of my family, so I go turtle rather than argue.
I finally assured her that I would seriously look at a method to get help if I were to run into trouble outside of normal cell phone range. Satellite phones seem to have spotty reception (although better than Cell service),and they are prohibitively expensive to rent for an extended period. Personal locator beacons are rather one dimensional, and just as expensive. I found myself looking at the SPOT Satellite Messenger.
The SPOT Satellite Messenger, the world’s first satellite messenger, uses both the GPS satellite network to determine a customer’s location and the SPOT network to transmit that information to friends, family or an emergency service center. SPOT Inc., a subsidiary of Globalstar, Inc. (NASDAQ:GSAT), provides lifesaving communications technology that allows users to communicate from remote locations around the globe. Thanks to this affordable, cutting-edge personal safety device, the company offers people unmatched peace of mind by allowing customers to notify friends and family of their location and status, and to send for emergency assistance in time of need, completely independent of cellular phone or wireless coverage. For more information on how SPOT, Inc. is helping users live to tell about it™ – from disaster preparedness to outdoor adventure purposes – explore http://www.findmespot.com
So I am actively looking at giving this unit a try. I’d love to hear feedback from other users. It would be nice to have an added bit of security to keep my family and friends at ease while I am out in the wilds, ALONE.
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July 30th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
I’ve been seeing their ads over on myoutdoortv - I’ve been interested for the same reason - I’m tired of certain family members lecturing me about how unsafe and irresponsible I’m being by hunting alone! Since we’ve been videoing our hunts, I don’t hunt completely alone, anymore - but even with just a two person crew (me and whoever is running the camera) it really isn’t a bad idea to carry something like this, still. I reckon it is always best to be prepared - maybe them boy scouts new what they were talkin’ about after all!
July 31st, 2008 at 9:43 am
Hi
I’m John with SPOT. Saw your posting pop up. I hope that you do get a SPOT messenger. We’ve had a lot of outdoorsmen tell us that once they have one they never go outdoors without it. It gives the spouse a lot of peace of mind to know their loved one has a way to alert responders, and also to get that “okay” message if you’re running late. Besides, you can also use it for your hunting — like hit an “okay” to mark where an animal was rutting so you can come back to it later, or use the tracking mode to show others where you were.
Good luck with your decision.
SPOT Marketing
July 31st, 2008 at 4:24 pm
[...] hunting, you can never be to safe. There have been some ongoing discussions and Press about the SPOT Satellite Messenger and how it can benefit hunters in the field. Western Wanderers recently posted an article [...]
July 31st, 2008 at 8:34 pm
Well, they have good marketing and they understand blogs. I’m not sure if that counts for anything but, somehow, I think it should.
August 4th, 2008 at 6:38 am
John, a buddy of mine got one for Christmas last year. He spends a lot of time up on the property we’re managing in the eastern sierra. He’s not super-remote, but year before last he whacked himself in the leg with a chainsaw. He was real lucky, and able to drive himself an hour down to Susanville, but if the cut had been worse… Of course, since he got the unit he hasn’t needed it. But it’s worth that annual fee to have the extra security it offers.
I carry a personal locator beacon made by ACR, which came out before the SPOT technology arrived. It’s a great little piece of insurance, but I do like the satellite messaging capabilities of the SPOT. Not only can it send a distress signal if you’re in a bind, but it also lets you send word that you’re NOT in trouble.
If I were buying all over again, I’d definitely lean toward the SPOT unit.
August 4th, 2008 at 12:33 pm