It is almost Christmas and if you are a typical male you might be aimlessly wandering through the stores trying to cross names off of your shopping list. The outdoor industry has no shortage of products that make outrageous claims and when the pressure is on to make a decision, you are left with recommendations from the sales staff or what is printed on the side of the box. If one of those names on your list likes to spend their free time hiking, biking, climbing, fishing, boating, snowmobiling or any other activity in the great outdoors or on the high seas miles from civilization, the line of SPOT messaging devices might be for them.
We have mentioned the GPS tracking and messaging technology of the Spot line of products before – here, here and here; but mostly relating to the SPOT technology being used in conjunction with the DeLorme Earthmate GPS device. Spot LLC, a subsidiary of Globalstar Inc., has their own line of devices. From basic tracking, basic messaging to the Spot Connect that uses Bluetooth to turn your smartphone into a satellite communicator, the Spot devices rely on GPS technology instead of cellular technology to communicate with the outside world. This in turn allows greater coverage around the globe. The Spot GPS devices are not meant to replace the communication capabilities of a satellite phone, it is designed to allow the user to send personal messages to friends and family letting them know their location; an emergency S.O.S. with coordinates to emergency personnel; and a little fun with Facebook or Twitter updates of GPS location and a message.
But does it work? Spot has recently been touting the success of their technology with highlights of the 1,500 emergency rescues that have been initiated worldwide since their products hit the market back in 2007. Here are some interesting numbers…
Of the 1,500-plus rescues that have taken place in 105 countries, 55 percent were in the United States. California, Colorado, Utah, Alaska and Florida are the states with the highest number of SPOT SOS activations. Canada accounted for 22 percent of the overall rescues launched by SPOT devices. This year, rescue officials have responded to 546 SPOT-initiated requests of which 402 were land-based, 117 were at sea and 27 were aviation related.
SPOT Rescue Highlights (2007-2011):
* Four fishermen were rescued from their sinking vessel by the US Coast Guard 20 miles off the coast of Charleston, South Carolina.
* A Scout troop leader was crushed by a falling horse in Mount Hood National Forest and airlifted to safety by the National Guard.
* A downed motorcyclist suffering compound fractures was air lifted to a nearby hospital from a desolate California highway.
* Two stranded climbers were rescued by helicopter from the 3,567 meter-high (11,703 feet) peak on Mount Goodsir in Yoho National Park, British Columbia.
* The US Coast Guard rescued two people after their plane suffered a hard emergency landing on an uninhabited island southeast of Cordova, Alaska.
* An Arkansas photographer with a broken pelvis, collar bone and ankle was rescued from a steep ravine after falling 30 feet in Ozark National Forest.
* A backcountry skier was located and rescued after being trapped at high elevation in Norway during a severe winter storm.
* In Nevada, a man working alone was injured and trapped under heavy machinery. He was extricated and transported by helicopter to a nearby hospital.
* A 20 year-old college student was rescued after falling 200 feet in Rocky Mountain National Park.
* A hiker suffering a severe medical emergency was rescued in Australia and transported to the nearest medical facility for surgery.
The price to get into a Spot device is not too expensive, but to use the Spot technology, it does require an investment. The basic SPOT Personal Tracker is $99.99 and they go up to $449.99 for the SPOT HUG designed with specific features for boats. All of the devices require a yearly subscription to use ranging in price from $99.99 to $149.99 for the basic emergency alert and messaging services. Depending on the device purchased, additional services can be added. The $200 price tag for both the device and service may seem a little steep for some, but consider this… the basic pine coffin costs about $500, that is if you ever see your loved one again.
httpv://youtu.be/TFVl_HMEblw