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Re: Spot/InReach/App Tracker
Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2018 12:41 pm
by bungie4
Reason for questions.
I'm cheap. I canceled my Spot after they raised the price into 'Are you smoking crack dipped in meth dipped in Tide?' territory. All the cell phone tracking apps use data. Cell data plans in Canada is only costlier than the Spot Tracking plan mentioned previously. I'm toying with writing an app that would send location via SMS (text message) which is basically no limit/free.
Its not an app to summon help via satellite, it's an app to provide a tracking function while you travel.
It won't be free (the app will be free, the service will not). Think like, $10/mo. unlimited usage.
Interested?
Theirs another part of the app that you will find immensely useful and wonder why nobody ever put this on a GPS before. It uses no service of any kind
Re: Spot/InReach/App Tracker
Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2018 12:59 pm
by wheatonFJR
edit-
realized I had already posted a response in this thread.
Re: Spot/InReach/App Tracker
Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2018 1:06 pm
by FJRfarrier
I use a Gen 3 Spot tracker. (Attached to my body!!)
Because I have parents who worry. And when they say, "you should get a tracker"... I'll get one to save the headache of them texting me so much "Where are you?" Because then they worry if I don't text back within a reasonable amount of time. But then they also worry that I am texting while riding.
So they get texts from the Spot throughout the day- while all I had to do was push a button. And if they haven't gotten a text for awhile, they can pull up the Spotwalla link that they have saved on the computers and phones.
I got a call once from my dad while he was at work. "Hey, while you're at Iron Pony, can you find something for me." Now, I hadn't told him where I was headed earlier that day. But he got to work, and looked at my Spotwalla link, and saw where I was. Lol.
And because it's fun to see at the end of the day/trip/month/year where all I have ridden.
So yes, for the peace of mind for my parents, while their "baby girl" is traveling the country and meeting men from the internet... I will pay the fees.
Re: Spot/InReach/App Tracker
Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2018 5:00 pm
by bill lumberg
I love mine. They’re not for everyone. But when I’m doing distance and/or remote riding (which is fairly often) it’s an essential part of my gear.
Re: Spot/InReach/App Tracker
Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2018 5:15 pm
by Poolboy2
My wife just yesterday found out how much it is to have a spot tracker per year(Thanks to Boozer's Wife) and evidently she is ok with knowing where I am. To me it's worth it also. I also like Kittys and don't give a shit.
Re: Spot/InReach/App Tracker
Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2018 7:26 pm
by raYzerman
I believe for a Gen3 SPOT, it's U$199/year. However, my renewal is due soon, and I got this email from them a few days ago, so looks like ~U$225. I'm not prepared with an alternative yet, so likely will renew this until I find a suitable one. The question is, what service can I get for half that? If you always ride with someone else, less worries as your riding partner can make a call/find help, but cell service very spotty where I'm goin' this year.
Hello Subscriber,
This email is to inform you of upcoming changes to your SPOT service plan(s):
We are continuously making network upgrades to ensure the best possible service for our SPOT customers. To help fund these efforts now and in the future, upon renewal a Network Maintenance Fee will be implemented on all SPOT subscriptions: Monthly $2.49/MO; Annual $24.99/YR; 2 Year $49.99/2YR.
If you have any questions please contact Customer Care at 855-769-6954.
Thank you for choosing SPOT.
SPOT LLC
Re: Spot/InReach/App Tracker
Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2018 10:55 pm
by HotRodZilla
FJRfarrier wrote: ↑Thu Apr 05, 2018 1:06 pm
...while their "baby girl" is traveling the country and meeting men from the internet... I will pay the fees.
Nice!!
AND, Ray, I'm betting if you call them and gripe/threaten to leave, they'll lower your rate. They're kind of shady like that.
Re: Spot/InReach/App Tracker
Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2018 8:29 am
by huron52
Got the same email..... That to me still isn't bad...... maybe we should talk about home phone, internet, cell phones and cable bills. How about insurance? My Gen1 spot still works as it suppose two.
Re: Spot/InReach/App Tracker
Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2018 9:02 am
by Top_Speed1
I don't always spot track, but when I do.... it's Bubbler Pro.
Thinking I paid $10 for the Pro ver., no Monthly fees is what I like most.
Re: Spot/InReach/App Tracker
Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2018 1:05 pm
by raYzerman
Top_Speed1 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 06, 2018 9:02 am
I don't always spot track, but when I do.... it's Bubbler Pro.
Thinking I paid $10 for the Pro ver., no Monthly fees is what I like most.
It would cost me a fortune in data roaming fees... need something that doesn't use phone data....
Re: Spot/InReach/App Tracker
Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2018 3:24 pm
by bungie4
I'm gonna buy a prepaid US phone at the next US Walmart I see.
Re: Spot/InReach/App Tracker
Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2018 5:22 pm
by 0face
raYzerman wrote: ↑Fri Apr 06, 2018 1:05 pm
Top_Speed1 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 06, 2018 9:02 am
I don't always spot track, but when I do.... it's Bubbler Pro.
Thinking I paid $10 for the Pro ver., no Monthly fees is what I like most.
It would cost me a fortune in data roaming fees... need something that doesn't use phone data.... '
cuz my data is already consumed by midget goat porn.
Fixed it.
Re: Spot/InReach/App Tracker
Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2018 5:42 pm
by wheatonFJR
0face wrote: ↑Fri Apr 06, 2018 5:22 pm
raYzerman wrote: ↑Fri Apr 06, 2018 1:05 pm
Top_Speed1 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 06, 2018 9:02 am
I don't always spot track, but when I do.... it's Bubbler Pro.
Thinking I paid $10 for the Pro ver., no Monthly fees is what I like most.
It would cost me a fortune in data roaming fees... need something that doesn't use phone data.... '
cuz my data is already consumed by midget goat porn.
Fixed it.
BOOM! Another one bites the dust.
Re: Spot/InReach/App Tracker
Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2018 6:09 pm
by rog+deb88
We use a SPOT2, just so the grandkids (or any who really care
) can follow along.
Re: Spot/InReach/App Tracker
Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2018 5:45 pm
by bill lumberg
I just got nudged back into porting my spot tracker data into spotwalla. I had been using spots’ adventure stuff. After dealing with setting up a trip on spot’s site, spotwalla was as easy as sending a text. I had to upload ten different gpx files, as spot would only give me one page at a time. If there is a workaround, I don’t know it yet.
Re: Spot/InReach/App Tracker
Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2018 3:02 pm
by gitbox
Nobody mentioned iPhone's "Find iPhone" app?
If you are in the Apple ecosystem, it works pretty well.
Re: Spot/InReach/App Tracker
Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2018 4:44 pm
by bill lumberg
I like that you can ping your iPhone from your Apple Watch. Totally off topic.
Re: Spot/InReach/App Tracker
Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2018 4:52 pm
by bungie4
Oh ya, for those of you with plans to get a ResQLink:
From this thread on AdvRider:
http://advrider.com/index.php?threads/i ... 240/page-2
You want a 406MHz PLB on the COSPAS-SARSAT (satellite constellation dedicated to SAR, used for ships, aircraft, military etc) that can be registered directly with CMCC Trenton (Canadian Mission Control Centre) 121.5 MHz is a legacy system you don't want to buy today. Be careful buying a PLB on amazon or from the US as it will be coded for registration with the US which is not the end of the world as they will do global response however the US is inundated with far more false alarms from PLBs so you might as well register with our own centre (Canada is one of the 4 founding nation partners of COSPAS-SARSAT which is based in Montreal)
A satellite messenger SEND device (inReach, SPOT etc) by contrast use a commercial satellite constellation (typically private SATCOM constellation designed for communication not designed or dedicated for SAR, not global coverage nor adequate persistent coverage required over valleys etc) to a private Emergency Response Centre in Texas who may then call the Canadian Mission Response Centre Trenton or hire a privatized SAR response potentially at your expense. The TL;DR is that 406MHz beacons operate on a professional SAR system while the SEND devices operate on commercial communication system with a secondary SAR capability.
Re: Spot/InReach/App Tracker
Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2018 10:17 am
by bungie4
It seems work can't live without me being in constant availability. They've taken over my cell number and I'm now covered under the corporate plan. Not only does this save me about $600/yr (with no data!), I now get unlimited everything.
That being the case, I've put the app on hold since their didn't seem to be to many cheap assholes like me who wanted it.
I'll join the unwashed hordes and dl Bubbler.
Re: Spot/InReach/App Tracker
Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2018 3:44 pm
by Uncle Hud
Easy there, bro. Who you calling unwashed whore?