Spot/InReach/App Tracker

Making the FJR yours - what have you done, want to do, plan to do, and how?

How many of you use some type of Tracking device or App?

Yes I do
19
63%
No I don't
6
20%
I like kitties
2
7%
Their to expensive
2
7%
To hard to use
0
No votes
Don't give a shit
1
3%
 
Total votes: 30

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Spot/InReach/App Tracker

Post by bungie4 »

Tracking device market research. If you don't use one, state why please. (you can pick two options)
If no, state why.
Last edited by bungie4 on Wed Mar 28, 2018 3:56 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Spot/InReach Tracker

Post by Uncle Hud »

I voted YES. My tracking device is Spotwalla via SWConnect on an iPhone.

Did I already screw up the poll?
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Re: Spot/InReach Tracker

Post by spklbuk »

Nope. I think these ARC PLB+ or PLB would prove more functional in a pinch and have a one time fee. And I'm not social enough to want you fookers tracking me! ;)
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Re: Spot/InReach Tracker

Post by wheatonFJR »

Can I correct the misspellings in your survey?


.
.
.
.
.
Yes, you spelled titties wrong.
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Re: Spot/InReach Tracker

Post by El Toro Joe »

I voted YES. I have the SPOT Tracker, so that my wife can can check my progress, while on trips...it saves me a lot of headaches.
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Re: Spot/InReach Tracker

Post by wheatonFJR »

spklbuk wrote: Wed Mar 28, 2018 3:33 pm Nope. I think these ARC PLB+ or PLB would prove more functional in a pinch and have a one time fee. And I'm not social enough to want you fookers tracking me! ;)
I'm with you Jim. (well, not with you in the location sense, nor in the biblical sense either...you pervs...but...)

As soon as my Spottracker subscription ends in April, I is gonna get one uh dem thar PLB thangs.
Last edited by wheatonFJR on Wed Mar 28, 2018 3:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Spot/InReach Tracker

Post by bungie4 »

Uncle Hud wrote: Wed Mar 28, 2018 3:32 pm I voted YES. My tracking device is Spotwalla via SWConnect on an iPhone.

Did I already screw up the poll?
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Re: Spot/InReach Tracker

Post by kliembiddle »

The only time I want to be tracked is when Im on a distance ride so my wife can tell where I am. I use the freebie FOLLOW ME. Works pretty good. Hope I havnt misinterpreted the word tracker?
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Re: Spot/InReach/App Tracker

Post by wheatonFJR »

My wife does not check any sort of tracking link. She deals with the worry of motorcycle trips, not by monitoring...but by not thinking about it.

She figures that if things are bad...she'll get a phone call, and no looking at a website will make that phone call go away.

That, and the life insurance is paid up. :D
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Re: Spot/InReach Tracker

Post by blind squirrel »

El Toro Joe wrote: Wed Mar 28, 2018 3:46 pm I voted YES. I have the SPOT Tracker, so that my wife can can check my progress, while on trips...it saves me a lot of headaches.
Ditto.
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Re: Spot/InReach/App Tracker

Post by Festus »

I use the Spot tracker because I ride in Western VA and Eastern WV by myself more than with people. I've given the tracking link out to family but I don't think anyone's ever looked at it. I use it for my own safety in case I go down and need EMS. That's essentially my own reasoning for having it. Since no one really knows where I'm heading (myself included), it would be near impossible for anyone to know where to look for me and there is no cell phone coverage for 100's of miles.

I rate Spot right there with Sena. Both piss me off but I'd rather have them then not have them.

Last year some time, I logged into my account. I confess I didn't pay any attention to my bill because I thought it was $15 or $16 or something like that. I was bored and just happened to look at my online statement and see they were charging me about $35 a month. I called them, the guy tried to explain but it wasn't working and he went and got a supervisor and they told him to tell me to just leave it and it would be fixed next month and credited. He said he didn't have the ability to do it himself and he couldn't answer why it was $35 or whatever it was. The bills from them have a ton of stuff on them that doesn't add up or make sense. Said I had paid $50 on my account and I had credit with them, and I had no matching transactions on my card. No one there could understand what was happening or how to fix it.

In fact, that reminds me, it's time to double check that.
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Re: Spot/InReach/App Tracker

Post by CollingsBob »

I’ve never worried about it..if I stroke out I’d rather die than be a vegetable..if it’s a heart attack it’ll take too long to get to a decent medical facility so I’m screwed. I hope a rider, not an investor gets my Vincent
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Re: Spot/InReach/App Tracker

Post by LKLD »

$35 a month!?! I think I pay around $150 a year, which is too much. However, if I drop it, I'll probably run off a mountain side road, and lay there for a week thinking about how I wish I hadn't cancelled it. Damn if you do, damn if you don't.
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Re: Spot/InReach/App Tracker

Post by wheatonFJR »

LKLD wrote: Wed Mar 28, 2018 6:42 pm $35 a month!?! I think I pay around $150 a year, which is too much. However, if I drop it, I'll probably run off a mountain side road, and lay there for a week thinking about how I wish I hadn't cancelled it. Damn if you do, damn if you don't.
I think there is a thread, and spklbuk has mentioned it...the PLB, personal locator beacon...ems is the only thing it does. I don't remember what it costs, but it is less than spot.
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Re: Spot/InReach/App Tracker

Post by LKLD »

I've got that insurance thing included, for helicopter extraction, that probably ups the price. I'm not really certain how it works/helps, but it sounded like it would save money if used. So, following Murphy's Law, as long as I have it, I'll never use it.
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Still, I'm open to plb.
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Re: Spot/InReach/App Tracker

Post by Festus »

Rob, it was $15 a month and without my consent, the changed the price to $35 a month. When I called, they ended up refunding my money for the difference and put my rate back to $15 a month.
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Re: Spot/InReach/App Tracker

Post by extrememarine »

Spot 2. Wife keeps tabs on me while I travel solo. Once we moved to Michigan, I had a longer run to get down to "good roads", so extended travel time and she wanted the peace of mind. I'm horrible at calling and updating, so the spot makes that automatic.

We used it last summer in Colorado; shared the link with MrBill and CJ's significant others, so all of our 'bosses' could verify that we were in Colorado and not Vegas or Reno...

Plenty of other good options out there if you just want breadcrumbs on a google map for a ride report, or if you want a 911 device (PLB). The Gen 2 service cost has remained pretty consistent, with a minor bump a few years ago. They keep offering Gen 3 devices at almost free, but the service plans are more expensive annually. I'm on the fence about renewing mine this year.

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Re: Spot/InReach/App Tracker

Post by spklbuk »

Spkldoe doesn't like me well enough to check my track, well that and I be damned if I want ANYone to track my hunting and fishing spots.

Plb + medevac insurance cause copter flights can induce bankruptcy.


Wheatie, the fee for a plb is the device purchase fee.
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Re: Spot/InReach/App Tracker

Post by bigjohnsd »

I have and use a Spot3. The contract is up for renewal next month. I think I'm going to drop the spot and go with the Garmin unit because you can two way text and activate and deactivate as you want to.
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Re: Spot/InReach/App Tracker

Post by escapefjrtist »

iPhone with SWConnect / Spotwalla works pretty well for me. When I'm really out there in BFE [or Canada] use a borrowed SPOT for SO's piece of mind. Life insurance is paid up so I'm not that worried about it. When my time's up, it's up...

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