My spouse would like to be able to know that I'm safe when I go on all-day (or longer) rides. Been looking at GPS trackers, like SPOT.
Recommendations please...thanks.
My spouse would like to be able to know that I'm safe when I go on all-day (or longer) rides. Been looking at GPS trackers, like SPOT.
Recommendations please...thanks.
Spot works fine for that purpose, I've had one for 3 or 4 years.Originally Posted by flyrider
Salty Fog Rally 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012
-Tom (KA1TOX)
If you both own iPhone 4 or 4S (or even an iPad) you can load the apple app called Find My Friends and track one another. Can be controlled by either and all parties when tracking is allowed. (There might be a time when someone does not need to know what you are doing stopping some place) I use all the time when traveling so family at home knows my iPhone or iPad location. It also worked well when I met up with a fellow rider who started 1500 miles from me this last June. We could track each other right to the mile marker, gas station, rest area, motel, etc.
darrell
Enjoying the Journey
Spot Tracker is the favored item there. By far. And you can post up your link and we can all follow your travels.
That's what they do. See advrider.
dc
Spot is satellite based isn't it?
I-phone would be Cellular or wi fi if avaliable.
I like this Friend my friends for traveling purposes. Will it work on none Apple phones?
jason
Jason Kaplitz
Johnstown, Pa
Laurel Highlands BMW Riders #294
I used the SPOT on my road trip through Canada and it worked beautifully as long as there was a nice, clear view to the south. In east-west valleys and canyons, performance was marginal. But I would definitely recommend it. My wife thought that it was well worth the cost. And since it is satellite based, it doesn't need cell service to work.
1983 R100RT hacked w/Cozy Rocket My blog
Airhead #10576
SPOT is great
We've used a SPOT for 2 years now and we love it! It's satellite based so no worry about coverage. Just mount it & go! Our family (especially grandkids) enjoy tracking us on the computer and we can send canned messages (everything ok or arrived safely)with the push of a button! In case of trouble, also can send an SOS signal to SPOT and they will send help to your last location (beamed every 10 minutes). Works great for us as we live in the mountains and my husband frequently likes to ride alone!
Welcome to the forum mrsvan. It's nice to hear positive info. Gary
"Well they say.. time loves a hero but only time will tell.. If he's real, he's a legend from heaven If he ain't he was sent here from hell" Lowell George
2009 F800GS 1994 TW200
Part of the Forum Threadside Assistance Program
I did a Best of Forum A while back. It may help. OM
"Well they say.. time loves a hero but only time will tell.. If he's real, he's a legend from heaven If he ain't he was sent here from hell" Lowell George
2009 F800GS 1994 TW200
Part of the Forum Threadside Assistance Program
Spot or anything is not 100% effective. I have seen at least one problem, I think it was a broken leg and the Spot signal did not go thru'. I think someone else rescued him, but he was quite far out in a remote area.
Try advrider for the stories and also the success stories with Spot.
dc
Reading many, many reviews of SPOT, and I'm reluctant to purchase, given the quite large number of negative reviews. If a spouse thought you had a functional tracking device, and yet it failed to work...guess what: The spouse would assume something bad happened, which might be worse than no tracking data at all.
Still researching and soliciting comments from SPOT owners. Thanks!
On my recent big trip I used my iPad and an app called Track My Tour. Tended to stop a lot at McDonalds for free wifi and most motels have it free as well. Was on major hi ways and did not feel I needed Spot in case of an emergency, which never arose, thankfully.
See my blog for an example of the map. Look over at the right for something that says Map and click on it.
Enjoy.
It's not bulletproof and the high end PLB's aren't either, but it works. If you're under a bridge when the 10 minute beacon interval happens, you're not getting out, but for casual tracking, it works just fine in New England and Atlantic Canada. I'm using a first generation device and feel no need to replace it.
My family and friends track me on my trips and have been doing so since I bought it. It does that job well.
Emergency? I have no idea. That isn't why I bought it.
Salty Fog Rally 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012
-Tom (KA1TOX)
I have had my spot for three plus years. I agree that it is not perfect, but it is a tremendous source of peace-of-mind to both me and my family and at a relatively low price. The device is probably the cheapest farkle on your motorcycle. The annual subscription fee is the only cost that I really considered and is definitely worth the price.
Here is how I use mine. Many times I leave the house for overnight weekend ride not knowing exactly where I might go. I usually tell my wife that I will be heading to someplace I think will be a good ride but on the the way I see an alternate and off I go that way. When I stop for the night I call her on my cell if I can. If not I remove the spot from the bike, make sure I am in a clear area with a good view of the sky and press the "checking in" button. Within 10 minutes my wife and daughter both receive a text messages on their cell phones stating that I am "checking in". On their smart phone (or by viewing my tracking page) from a computer they know exactly where I am for the night.
Heaven forbid that I end up having an accident that is not witnessed by someone and to compound my problems my bike and I end up off the road and out of site. Incapacitated so that I am unable to press the help buttons on my Spot or if I can reach the spot unable to move to an open area so the satellite can see me I still know that the likelihood of being found is good. My wife, friends, family AND the authorities will know exactly where I was 10 or 20 or 30 minutes before I stopped moving. They will know what road I was traveling on and which way I was headed. That will reduce the search area from somewhere in Northern California to a few dozen miles on a specific road.
I have a spot & it works great. Family can check out where I'm at even when there is no cell phone coverage. Emergency call button is a plus.
82 R65LS - gone but not forgotten
02 R1150RT
"Oh good, my dog found the chainsaw"
"I finally got my head together, now my body is falling apart."
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