Basejumper.com - archive

All,

Given that I do a lot of solo's, I thought I'd pass on a cool new toy that I just got... Not cheap by any means. Below is what it costs:

Device = $150.00
Service = $150.00 (Can be as low as $99.00)/year
Recuse Insurance = $7.95 if done at sign up. If not done at signup it cost $150.00. This is an annual fee...

NOTE: For the "Recuse Insurance", I'm not sure yet if the following year is $150.00, if you do make the $7.95 at sign up... All I do know for right now is that this is an annual fee. I'll post more inline next time instead of edit, when I do find out...

This device allows you to do the following:

1) Tracking progress... Report to a central website for others to see where you are.

2) Send I'm Okay to friends, with GPS coordinance...

3) Send I need help to friends, with GPS coordinance...

4) Send 911 to authorities, with GPS coordinance, therefore launch Search and Rescue...

NOTE: The first feature above, "Tracking Progress", is what makes the service fee go from $99.00 to $150.00.

I'm just activating it now and will report back on my experience using it...

Anyway, just thought I'd pass this info on to others... I've been involved with a couple search and rescue's with BASE, and with both incidents I'm sure this device would have greatly sped up the Search and Rescue call.

Below is the link to their website:

Spot Satellite Messenger
http://www.findmespot.com

Michael

P.S. I'm excited that a device like this finally exists... When I first got into BASE, we used to always talk about us pitching in to buy one satellite phone for the crew, while we were actually crossing sketchy terrain. Of course, we never did get anyone to pitch in...

 
Okay... Here is the website for the insurance details:

http://www.geosalliance.com/sar/

Still reading them myself...

Michael

 
Below is how it reads on the page that I choose my options and pay with CC, on the Spot registration website:

----------------------------------------------------------

Unlimited Basic Service
[] $99.99(USD) per year (mandatory)
What does this include?

* Unlimited Tracking Service
[] $49.99(USD) per year (optional)
Why would I need this?

* GEOS Private Search & Rescue Benefit
[] $7.95(USD) per year (recommended)
Why would I need this?

------------------------------------------------------

Michael

b) you have NOT made adequate provision of resources or training or competence needed to complete your planned trip.
---------------------------------------------
I like this line about the insurance. It really mean trips completion expenses are not covered if you weren't adequately prepared. However, I bet their lawyers can easily twist this one to mean base jumping isn't covered.

Should you ask them? Yep, go ahead so there are no surprises when your rescue bill comes in. On the other hand, if they haven't thought of base jumping, they might now.

 
Below is the section that zoobrothertom is referring to from the insurance details website (http://www.geosalliance.com/sar/):



I'm not supprised to see this kind of fine print from an insurance company...

Michael

FYI... I'm still digging into this device and testing it... I'll post my results within the next week or two...

Michael

c) In the case of death of the Member,
GEOS will not be responsible for the
transportation of the body.

Kind of strange clause to me, so if they spend the
resources to find you and locate a corpse is the plan
to leave you there or just bill your family?

I mean is transporting more expensive when we are
dead than breathing but in pain from a broken femur?

In any event, I hope you don't ever end up needing it.
Like airbags, better to have 'em but never use them.

Okay… So I’ve tested out this device on three different hikes. Let me first clarify that I live in the NW and the forest types are Conifer, Broad Leaf, and mixed. I do also want to state that what is not mentioned on the box when you buy it, but is clearly stated in the user’s guide in each function description/instructions, is “For maximum performance, leave the SPOT messenger on and with a clear view of the sky for 20 minutes”. With all that said, I am sad to report that I personally did not find this device to be reliable enough for the NW. When I had “tracking” enabled, which sends out a track location every ten minutes for 24 hours, I only got a maximum of two track messages out for each hike (one 1 hour, one 2+ hour, and one 3 1/2 hour). I even had problems sending out “Help” messages… Of course, I never tested the 911… Which, I did find out from a skiing forum that they will call your emergency contact before launching a Search and Rescue effort. Which I guess could be perceived as good and bad, depending how you look at it.

My next test is going to be in Utah… I’ll be out there for Memorial weekend. My plan is to do an open sky hike and test each function: Tracking, Check In, and Help.

I’ll post those results shortly after my weekend trip…

Michael

P.S. I did contact the company and the sales lady advised me that a Navigation GPS may interfere with this device’s ability to send out messages/work correctly. I’m hoping that this info will make it to their next set of User Guide’s, before someone is frantically pressing 911, with their femur poking out of their leg, before they remembered to turn off their or their buddies GPS, who is staring at them with big eyes going “Holy "…

That's just plain WEIRD. I can't imagine a serious electrical reason for why this would happen.... but that doesn't mean there isn't one.

GPSes are also strange with sky visibility. They need ~50 seconds of uninterrupted sky time to download (very slowly) a bunch if satellite data on startup, but I've noticed they get a bit more tolerant after that. As for the mechanism that it uses to send data back to the main office, I couldn't speak for the reliability there.

I have a Rino 530HCx. It performs amazingly well in the NW. I guess that's why I was so disapointed with this SPOT product. Overall, given that it's made for emergencies, I think I had higer expectations for it...

Again, I will test this in Utah on Memorial weekend and will report back when I return.

Michael

my 2cents on this matter... i just purchased one not too long ago and haven't activated it yet but i think it will find its way into my pack when i go into the backcountry all the time. i will deffinitely not rely on it but even if there is a 5050 that it will work if something goes FUBAR its better than nothing.

i think the downfall to this system will be that its based as i understand on the 'Globalstar' satellite system and anyone that has used a globalstar phone in the past few years knows the mental anguish they bring... in short the few satellites that globalstar have in orbit have been crashing off and that means less chance that one will be overhead when you need it. especially up here in canada.

at one point in time we had 6 globalstars and we turfed all of them and went with Iridium phones... more expensive but they work EVERY TIME. globalstar is planning to launch up a few more satellites but i don't think thats for a few years yet.

now on the other hand you may have to wait it out but i think the signal will get out but maybe not right when you push the button.... i imagine that it does not need nearly the connection required that a phone call does but if there is no satellite overhead... no luck...

take this with a grain of salt but thats the way i have researched it to be, too bad this system isn't based on the iridium network that would be bombproof. As for the gps tracking feature, i would definitely save the 50bucks for that feature i can't see any way in hell that would work nearly as well as any standard gps

jeff