SPOT, tracking device
- Thread starter Bennie
- Start date
Pippen
Well-Known Member
Hey Bennie....haven't used one on the water but the functionality would be the same.
I got one for my Dad to use while hunting. After reading a lot of reviews on HuntingBC forum I think I would purchase the Delorme 'In Reach' product as it supports two way messaging to my understanding and apparently their satellite coverage is better. Not sure if the latest generation of Spot has some improvements to it or not....haven't looked into it for a while.
I got one for my Dad to use while hunting. After reading a lot of reviews on HuntingBC forum I think I would purchase the Delorme 'In Reach' product as it supports two way messaging to my understanding and apparently their satellite coverage is better. Not sure if the latest generation of Spot has some improvements to it or not....haven't looked into it for a while.
The Spot is ok wrt monthly fees - you can pay an annual one to cover - and there s a few options (tracking, etc.). It's prob the best choice for a back-up wrt fees and if you don't need too much communication. You can preset a message - but not change it - unless you have internet - in which case - the Spot is redundant. However, the Spot people have recently produced the SPOT Connect (maybe to compete with the InReach) - not sure how different the purchase price and annual fees are like $180/yr with this new mandatory smart phone plug-in (you HAVE TO have a smart phone). http://www.findmespot.ca/en/index.php?cid=103
Another option to consider is the InReach. http://www.inreachdelorme.com/why-inreach/marine.php You can text to email from the unit. Much better if want to change plans after you leave - e.g. weather, gas, meeting someone, etc. It's about a $204 fee verses the $120 or so annual fee for the Spot. If you want to put it to sleep after the season - it's something like a $7 fee/mo. http://www.inreachcanada.com/contract-free-inreach-canada-plans/?gclid=CO24rfbhyMwCFceCfgodsB4Kvw
Both products can be purchased with either stand-alone GPS-looking handheld models/untis and/or buying a plug-in transmitter with a smart phone. I think the only real difference is the monthly fees/functionality. InReach is a bit more expensive wrt monthly fees - but also more functional wrt text to email on the fly. So if you are constantly changing plans and meeting people etc - and maybe like all the whistles like weather forecasts - I'd recommend the InReach over the Spot. Just basic safety alone - slightly cheaper with the Spot and the Spot is slightly more user-friendly. Maybe keep an eye out for unit sales.
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Not sure if either of these products would adequately suit your needs there, Bennie. Both have to be manually turned on - and you need to pay an additional monthly fee for that tracking option. I believe some trucking firms/fleets might have a cheaper/easier/hidden product to do that:
http://get.cloudhawk.com/?gclid=CL6nj5XkyMwCFUVsfgodAgYNuQ
http://www.gpscentral.ca/bluefox-gps-tracking.html
http://www.titangps.ca/about-us/
https://www.fleetmatics.com/canada
http://get.cloudhawk.com/?gclid=CL6nj5XkyMwCFUVsfgodAgYNuQ
http://www.gpscentral.ca/bluefox-gps-tracking.html
http://www.titangps.ca/about-us/
https://www.fleetmatics.com/canada
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