Hi all

i'm looking for some info and personal experiences about using gps trackers for a trip i'm going to do later in the year. Basically I want a device which will continually post my location either to a site for tracking by others or output it in a format that I can wrap a google maps module around. I've had a look at a few like the SPOT device and they don't seem to get a good write up for fast moving vehicles. Ideal for walkers or skiers etc but not good for bikes. The route will principally be Europe but could venture to SE Asia etc ultimately. I've used a GPS logger before but it needed me to upload the info periodically before it was available online, ideally i'm looking for something more instant or at least automatic at scheduled intervals.

Any advice or guidance from anyone that's used these devices would be appreciated.

Many thanks

Craig

hi,

i don't have personal experience with SPOT, but i looked at it.
I think its not a real tracker, it doesn't record your exact route, it only sends out your position if you push the button. on the SPOT map these points are connected by a straight line. your exact route is not visible, unless you push the button every 5 minutes, and that's not what its made for. its a emergency aid.

to record and display your exact route, you can use your gps tracklogs.

i use GPS Visualizer to convert .gdb files to Googlemap file.
the data can be copied in an html page so you can keep a list with google maps on your website. you can also direct upload them to your googlemap, but in my experience its really slow if you upload multi country tracks (loads of trackpoints).


cheers,
sander

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Hi Sander

thanks for your thoughts, I've used a logger before and done the conversion\upload thing but I was hoping the tech had evolved to a state where it could be done continuously.

Craig

I have had the SPOT I for over a year and it works well.
It sends a signal out about every 10 to 20 minutes.

I have friends who don,t get as many signals as I do, they go about 20 minutes or more. My SPOT send the signal every 10 minutes all day long.
It may be where they put the SPOT on the bike.

You can send out signals, OK (I am OK), Help (A short message to E mail or cell phone that you put in), 911 (this goes to a call center to call emergency services).

I have had friends call me at motels where we are staying by seeing the location on the map.
One time a friend and I got separated, he called his wife and she checked the SPOT site and call us at the restaurant we were at.

If you want someone to be able to see where you are without stopping to download a track it is the way to go.

I does work at high speed (80 MPH) but there are more miles between signals.

The signals are connected by stright lines but you should be able to figure out your route.

There are some problems with SPOT II, a recall is going on.
I would get a SPOT I or wait until the get a fix for SPOT II.

I too have a SPOT and it does what it says. I do have confidence in it.

Delorme has come along way the last couple of years. They just introduced the PN-60W which is a hand held GPS that works with SPOT.

PN-60 News « The DeLorme Weblog

While I like my PN-40, I would really like to have a routable world basemap for it. At $1000 US its a little out of my price range.

daryl

Craig, I've just bought - a couple of weeks ago - a SPOT Satellite Personal GPS Tracker .. the Gen I model. You can pick one of these up, brand new, from eBay for around £109-£115. Example here.

As John says (in post #4 above) the Gen II SPOT is having problems at the moment .. and is under a general re-call, which is why I went for the earlier Gen I model. Moreover, if you take a look at a direct comparo between the two versions - click here - then, well, you will soon see it could be argued that a Gen I SPOT is the better buy in any case!

I've fired-up my new SPOT (Gen I) and it seems to perform well .. e.g. fixing my location has never been more than +/- 2-3 metres out so far.

I also confirm what John says about a continuous tracking mode with a SPOT. It can fix your ongoing /moving location, in near real time, every 10-20 minutes .. although you have to pay an additional annual subscription for this service. SPOT annual subs are:-

Basic service: 99€ (£87)
Track Progress service (linked to Google Maps): 39€ (£34)

You can also buy into a Rescue Benefit insurance scheme, but I haven't bothered with this particular extra.

There's more than one way to track your trip progress too. For instance, there's a real good set-up with Spot Trip Manager (also linked with Google Maps). Indeed, I notice that several HUBBers here have signed-up for this excellent free service.

Good luck with your final choice. Please let us know how you get on.

Cheers

KEITH


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Right Way Round ...

I can also tell you for a quick and easy location finder the SPOT V1 is the bees knees. I have been using one for over two years now and very rarely did I have problems with missing info, that was more due to mountains etc.


If you look at this link STM Trip Viewer - TravellingStrom South America and select ALL DAYS from the drop down box, you will see that the tracks work all the way down from Colombia to Ushuaia.

It works all the way up to the northern part of Alaska as well in Prudhoe Bay, I just do not have those set up to show at this stage.


I have heard recently of a GPS with an included SPOT under development, but with the current issues with SPOT 2, I would leave it for a while and buy a cheap version one.


I used the basic package, the tracks and evacuation insurance, cost $160/year cheap at half the price.

Cheers
TravellingStrom

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