Has anyone used one of these before, My wife wants me to take one for my first solo trip, 10 days, in at #43, going to Brule up thru the cone to Davis, to Winchell, Gaskin, over to Omega then back and up to Meeds, Caribou, Vista and out #44. Bact to the question use of a SPOT or other PLB? What does everyone think.

We just got one this time for our trip. Because we ended our trip early, we only used it to send three "OK" messages, but it was very easy to use and the messages went out in a matter of just a few seconds in each time. I carried it in the mesh pouch on my PFD, and it was no trouble to have along.

I set it up before the trip, we bought the basic plan, and checked it out with our contacts (our children) before we left.

For myself, I know if my husband were going out on a solo, I would appreciate having it. When Spartan1 was out on his fishing trip with Ramsey a couple years ago they had one, and it was really neat to get the "We're OK" message each evening, and especially to track their progress and see where they were in the BWCA.

Just one opinion.

It is a no brainer, especially if it is a solo or cold water conditions. Nice cause it is a way to communicate and yet not be distracted by the communication.

Search this board-lots about Spots. I find them highly reliable but the Spot 1 seems somewhat prone to user error. First, make clear to ones at home that you might forget or err in sending an OK message so they shouldn't freak out. Second, warn them you are as likely or more likely to have to use the SOS for another party so they shouldn't freak out.

It's a nice thing for ones at home and I've read two reports on boards of first person SOS use and they also recommend them, having been rescued.

I just ordered the SPOT Gen3 Satellite GPS Messenger, releases on the 14th supposed to have it by the 21st, I leave on the 27th. US snail mail don't fail me now.

I have the Gen2 and use it for the same exact reason. Wife isn't feeling out of touch or worried. Every evening when I'm on dry ground, I send an "ok" message and she's happy. That means I'm happy.

It's a great device. Highly recommend.

Is there any special way one needs to activate this device? Any annual service plan that needs to be purchased?

If you purchase it you need and annual plan. If you rent you do not...just the rental fee.

I rented mine last year. Worked perfectly. I lot of people have had issues with them but in a lot of cases it is operator error. Give it plenty of time to send and send more than one ok message a day. I sent one at least in the morning, noon and evening. Send from places that have good views of the sky.

quote hobbydog: "If you purchase it you need and annual plan. If you rent you do not...just the rental fee."

thanks

If you followed the story of the couple and the husband drowning this past week in Basswood River, they used a spot and she signaled for help on it when she reached shore and reported the plane overhead in about an hour.

With Spot 2 - with several years of using it and reading about others uses and experiences - I offer these as possibly useful.

Button one - basic I'm OK message

Button two - the extra message - I use for a "coming out early" with pre-arranged meaning - intent is that I need to be picked up at an entry point/access point - and that which one would be obvious. For instance, when I went into Beaverhouse - it would be Beaverhouse or Lerome - not much option. But in BWCAW you might get to an EP other than your destination and it seems useful. Haven't used it.

Button three - the help that is not to 911 - is just another message and I use that for an I'm OK for now but can't get out of park on my own. Loose a canoe, all your paddles, break an arm - that kind of thing - but some help in a few days would be as good as a helicopter in the hour - again having discussed options.

I suppose the text messaging level would cover that but I fear the temptation to use it for business or otherwise defeat the reason for being there. YMMV

quote billconner: "If you followed the story of the couple and the husband drowning this past week in Basswood River, they used a spot and she signaled for help on it when she reached shore and reported the plane overhead in about an hour.

Thanks, bc. Thinking about one, have heard good and bad about the SPOT. Some folks on a different thread recommend units that do not need a service plan. Downside with those, I guess, is that they are emergency only; no way to send an "I am okay" message. Now, I have not used anything like either one of these ever, so I am not convinced that I need to send an "I am okay" message daily.

quote Frenchy19: "Is there any special way one needs to activate this device? Any annual service plan that needs to be purchased?"

If you purchase, there are actually several plans you can or cannot subscribe to, depending on your choice. One of which is insurance to pay for a search and rescue team. Another is for life flight. Yet another is for getting roadside assistance (in North America) if you're not in a cell phone reception area.

I get it all at $175/yr.

And my Gen2 works much better than the Gen 1s that many outfitters rent. The Gen 1 does take its time to connect up while the Gen 2 gets things done in seconds. Looking forward to hearing about the Gen 3.

(Oh, also, there's an expensive device you can get to send emails out if you want - that is going too far for me. One of the many reasons I go is to get away from people wanting to reach me.

I liked having the spot. Family enjoyed the daily ok's and family and friends liked to watch my daily progress on the tracking mode. And there was the SOS for peace of mind.

Good point about having to use the SOS for someone other than yourself and making sure family knows that.

In the BWCAW or the Q, if I didn't have a wife that worried, I wouldn't have a Spot. Plain and simple.

quote billconner: "In the BWCAW or the Q, if I didn't have a wife that worried, I wouldn't have a Spot. Plain and simple."

One of the things I like about it isn't wife related. It's that once you take out, you can log into your account and see the satellite views of where you've been. Its pretty cool.

quote billconner: "In the BWCAW or the Q, if I didn't have a wife that worried, I wouldn't have a Spot. Plain and simple."

Good point...

quote Frenchy19: "

quote billconner: "If you followed the story of the couple and the husband drowning this past week in Basswood River, they used a spot and she signaled for help on it when she reached shore and reported the plane overhead in about an hour.

Thanks, bc. Thinking about one, have heard good and bad about the SPOT. Some folks on a different thread recommend units that do not need a service plan. Downside with those, I guess, is that they are emergency only; no way to send an "I am okay" message. Now, I have not used anything like either one of these ever, so I am not convinced that I need to send an "I am okay" message daily."

Just because it has that capability doesn't mean you have to use it. The main advantage for now might be that you can just rent.

I got a SPOT 2 last year and I really like having it for solo trips. It's mostly for peace of mind of those at home. The "I'm okay" message is great for that purpose. Since it sends your exact location, it's also fun for those at home who have any familiarity with the area you are in. I send multiple "I'm okay" messages a day when I solo. (In contrast, if you got a different "emergency only" device to avoid paying for an annual plan, you can't send the "I'm okay" message, which I think is the best part of the SPOT for the sake of peace of mind of those at home).

And now that I have it, I also take it out with me on solo day adventures of various sorts, like paddling right after ice out, or cross-country skiing into the BW. It does add an extra layer of security - though the goal is never to have to use the SOS buttons.

In terms of the second "custom message" (in addition to "I'm okay"), I use that to say "I'm okay and plan to camp here tonight." That way the people I'm sending it to know not to expect more messages later in the day and know I'm safely in camp. If I set up camp early, I might send that again before going to bed.

The annual plan is not super cheap (though also not a fortune), so if you are on the fence, renting might be an good option. But I'm glad I bought mine.

SPOT versus PLB just depends on what features you want. We carry a GPS and so can get a track off that rather than the SPOT web site. We also don't want the OK signal and so use a PLB. But my wife and I trip together.

Either way, I noticed that in the recent capsize tragedy on the Basswood river that the wife used a SPOT to get rescued after getting to shore. That night she said the plane was circling within an hour but couldn't find her. They were back the next morning 20 minutes after she triggered it again. I suspect that they would have come back either way.

I would suggest though that you find a spot as open as possible to the sky, set it down, hit OK button, then wak away for 10 minutes. My spot failed the OK message once in 10 days in BWCA and once in 10 days in wabakimi. I typically sent one in the morning during breakfast, and in evening.

quote Exo: "I would suggest though that you find a spot as open as possible to the sky, set it down, hit OK button, then wak away for 10 minutes. My spot failed the OK message once in 10 days in BWCA and once in 10 days in wabakimi. I typically sent one in the morning during breakfast, and in evening. "

I'm not sure 10 minutes is enough. I usually set it on a rock of the fire ring while setting up camp and let it auto-off. At least 30 minutes. And like HoHo, I usually send more often than once a day. Pushing a button is no big deal and a small price for wife's peace of mind.

I would take one. Good peace of mind for everyone, and not a large sacrifice in weight or space. Used one for daily check-ins while collecting tundra fire data with a small team in NW Alaska (along the Noatak River) a couple of years ago, and had few problems. I think on one day the check-in did not transmit, so I second the advice of others to warn the home front not to flip out if a day goes by without hearing from you. Happy wife = happy life!

I think Mrs. Claus might have just made a little purchase today. As much for her peace of mind as for my safety.

Great posts here

We've used a SPOT for about 4 years. We hit the OK @ lunch and then again when we make camp.

Thanks to this thread, I had not thought about having to hit the SOS for someone else out side of our party. I will most likely follow it up with an OK once the situation has been cleared.