Words to the wise: Ride with a buddy

For all of the guys wanting the spot I would read a few of the reviews on REI.

Something like this is $180 more then spot but does not have an auto $100/year renewal fee like the spot. Battery is good for 5 years so that would be equivelant to $500 of SPOT coverage plus the $100 intial cost. So saves you about $320.

http://www.rei.com/product/815753/acr-electronics-resqlink-406-gps-personal-locator-beacon

Here is a REI review of the spot, there were quite a few negative reviews.

For example:
I would recommend buying a "real" Personal Locator Beacon for $300-400 and here's why.My first gen SPOT unit worked fine and I enjoyed the service - until I dropped it ONCE and it broke.I quickly found out this company has TERRIBLE customer service. So far I've lost [$] on the first unit because it broke and they do not repair or replace or even give you a discount on a new one. (now they offer a replacement insurance for $20 per year but they didn't when I bought my unit in 2008) I've lost $57 on service that they charged me unknowingly for after I called and reported it broken…they threatened me with sending my past due balance to collections, and repeatedly told me this was my fault for not calling to cancel the renewal on my service (which I did not know was happening and thought I signed up for one year of service - I have since found out that they force you to sign up for auto-renewal on your registered credit card in the terms [HTML_REMOVED] conditions and the card I had registered was no longer valid). AND, now I've also possibly lost another [$] that I paid for the second gen unit which I may not be able to return since it's been a while since I ordered it. (I REFUSE to use this service any longer)Their representatives are rude, they don't know what customer service means, and they are more interested in taking your money than saving lives.You will save money in the long run on a PLB because SPOT charges you $100 minimum per year to use their service - with forced auto renewal. PLB's cost more up front but are free to use: The SAME authorities and rescue services are notified in an emergency!!! You can also buy rescue insurance from other sources (such as the Colorado Outdoor Recreation Search [HTML_REMOVED] Rescue card). The only thing you are giving up is the cute little website that shows your location. Well, I will miss that but I'm not willing to pay hundreds of dollars to get it. All I want is to be able to call in the cavalry if I get in trouble. Just a warning…you are taking your chances with this service!!!

North Shore rescues highlight flaws in relying on cell phone GPS system

http://www.vancouversun.com/North+Shore+rescues+highlight+flaws+relying+cell+phone+system/6301293/story.html

North Shore rescues highlight flaws in relying on cell phone GPS system

http://www.vancouversun.com/North+Shore+rescues+highlight+flaws+relying+cell+phone+system/6301293/story.html

Not restricted to phone GPS. The driveable ones have their issues too

http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Canada/20110511/chretien-recovery-search-110511/

Interesting. I was on my first ride on Cypress on Sunday and went too far up Eagle Lake Rd, ending up on a steep side road above snowline. Checked on my phone and apparently I was in UBC. Strange campus!

Fortunately I knew the way back (point bike down hill).

I will be getting a Spot or similar due to the amount of things I do solo (skiing, biking). We use the Spot for work in NE BC as a backup system. It's features (regular SMS messages, web tracking) make it attractive to me vs an emergency transponder.

Cheers, Ben

I have been considering getting the DeLorme inReach GPS which allows you to send msgs from your android phone.

http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/07/delormes-inreach-two-way-gps-communicator-receives-txts-on-moun/

North Shore rescues highlight flaws in relying on cell phone GPS system

http://www.vancouversun.com/North+Shore+rescues+highlight+flaws+relying+cell+phone+system/6301293/story.html

I think the biggest problem is that people still keep referring to cell-triangulation as GPS. They are totally different things. Using the cell signal to triangulate won't help if you don't have a good signal. Proper satellite GP is much more accurate and still works in the back country, you just have to make sure that it's turned on.

Agreed with what Biggles says. Certainly android and iphones have "proper" gps chipsets in them and used with correct type of app and correct phone settings will give reasonably accurate location once gps signals are locked on. However, this sometimes takes a number of minutes so initial location readings can be way off

Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk

I have been considering getting the DeLorme inReach GPS which allows you to send msgs from your android phone.

http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/07/delormes-inreach-two-way-gps-communicator-receives-txts-on-moun/

Inreach also runs of Irridium vs Globalstar. way better sat coverage + you get a confirmation you signal went out.

The latest SPOT "connect" model lets you send text messages via bt connection to android or iphone. I have one, works great. It also does provide a confirmation that the message has been sent. I've had good success with mine.

I have a Nexus phone and the gps in it (true GPS, not cell-based) has worked as well for me as my last standalone gps model. I have stacks of tracklogs from areas with zero cell coverage within 50+km, including steep terrain and tree cover.

YMMV but I'm happy with cheap.

Cheers
KF

Agreed with what Biggles says. Certainly android and iphones have "proper" gps chipsets in them and used with correct type of app and correct phone settings will give reasonably accurate location once gps signals are locked on.

This might sound like splitting hairs, but it’s wildly inaccurate to refer to Android as a single GPS platform. Android is an operating system and says little to nothing about the hardware on your phone. If you’re interested in using the GPS functionality on a phone running the Android OS, check the manufacturer website for the specific GPS hardware that comes with the phone. For instance, only a subset of Android based phones provide assisted GPS to help resolve an accurate position in poor signal areas. The take home is that not all cell phones advertising GPS provide the same level of accuracy, so know what you’re getting.

It’s also worth noting that using location based services on these phones weigh heavily on the battery. I personally have pretty low expectations for how long my Droid X would be of help were I to be lying in the dirt.

Forgive my ignorance, but how do SAR locate you by a cellphone GPS location? Would that not require that you phone someone? The phone would need to be sending it's signal right? So there are places on the North Shore where you have bad or no mobile service and I know from experience with my Garmin bike computers (205 and now a 500) that sometimes the GPS signal drops or is weak. Last Sunday for example I was cruising down the pavement in the demo forest heading to Circuit 8. In the gear I was in I was probably doing close to 30 kph but the Garmin had my speed about half that. So how do PLB's function better? Or do they?

how do SAR locate you by a cellphone GPS location?

That’s the better question.

I’ll preface this by saying I’m no expert. The potential ways to locate someone via their mobile seem like they would vary by phone and often provider. For my particular phone, I have an application installed that acts as a beacon. It uses all the location services on my phone to transmit location. I also have a provider specific feature, which can use cell triangulation to locate the device (obviously not nearly as accurate and requires a signal). Both of these have to be explicitly turned on to be of any use. I ride alone all the time and only use the features when I’m in a new area, so again, my expectation of my mobile as a savior is low.

How would SAR use this information? I have not a clue. It would be interesting to hear someone with SAR experience comment on how this stuff is actually being used. By the time my wife let them know I was missing, there’s a non-trivial chance that my phone would already be dead from using location services:) I use my mobile to capture details of my ride (Strava etc) but I’d add a PLB if I wanted a reliable way of being located.

That PLB posted above has one downfall… It's only got one mode, and that is full-on emergency SAR mode. Those are normally used by pilots and if you activate one there will be aircraft in the air immediately looking for a plane crash.

A tourist was sent out with one of those up here, he injured his ankle and activated the beacon. Aircraft were dispatched from 2000 km away and it was a big deal.

SPOT gives you more non-emergency options, like having someone who knows where you are and how to get you out. Also the real-time tracking which is a great feature. In addition to peace of mind/interest for people who can follow you in real time, it's also great for coordinating pickups. We do remote 8-12 hour rides and the SPOT lets us coordinate the timing of the pickup vehicle.

Also, even if you do activate the SPOT emergency it goes to the local authorities who can determine how to best respond, instead of to the national SAR.

Something to think about. At the end of the day either one could save your life for a pretty reasonable sum of money.

Also, even if you do activate the SPOT emergency it goes to the local authorities who can determine how to best respond, instead of to the national SAR.

Something to think about. At the end of the day either one could save your life for a pretty reasonable sum of money.

I understand that the SOS button alerts SPOT head office (in Texas?) who will contact the relevant authortities - in our case the RCMP - who will then alert the local SAR people.

Cheers, Ben