----- "Stuart & Kerri Ferguson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > John, > > You have to have a realist look at what SPOT is – it is a private > network tracking device – the concept is not new, > > what is new with SPOT is the price point – this unit is now priced > where recreational people of many disciplines find them > > affordable and I predict that SPOT is the first of many we will see in > the near future. As I have said the concept is not new, I > > have been trialing a similar device called “”Tracplus” > http://www.tracplus.com/index.aspx for work – the unit I have been > flying is > > Mil Spec and therefore priced out of reach of most recreational uses.
Yes systems like Tracplus use the same internals (in fact some of them use the same boards). There are a few around. Most though, as you said are high priced, but not just high price per unit, it usually also requires a service side. None of them that I know of include emergency tracking (ie there is no one listening at the other end except the company who purchased it). > SPOT offers a service to their clients as does Tracplus – this is > service contract is between SPOT and their clients, nothing to do with > CENSAR or anyone else. > > > HOWEVER if you become overdue for any reason it is up to the person or > organization maintaining your SAR (and I do not believe SPOT does > that) to No SPOT does not, which is why John was suggesting that CENSAR do. > contact the correct authorities, and the correct authorities will > depend on what activity you’re undertaking under the National SAR > Plan. As I understand it > > SPOT also has a distress alerting function, and as I understand it > they have taken on the responsibility to notify the correct > authorities when they receive an alert > who will then follow their procedures – these procedures vary from > country to country. Yes, SPOT the company will only currently step in if you actually press the emergency button. What is being suggested here, is that as part of your flight plan, you also give them your SPOT (how, that is to be decided, but you could at least provide the public URL). Then they can check this data to see where you are if you are overdue. > SPOT v PLB – the PLB does not offer tracking and all the fun and > benefits that can be derived from that. > > The PLB does not provide last known position – if in fact the last > SPOT report was the last known position – very valuable information is > you go missing. I think this is particular important for gliding and possibly other flying. If you have a crash, you are not going to be in a position to push the emergency button. I like the idea that even if I destroy a spot during a "forced landing" that my last position from 10 minutes ago will still be recorded. They are exploiting that very function in NZ now in the dangerous areas of the South Island. I believe that if they have not heard form you for even 60 minutes they start looking. > 406 PLB does alert the Government SAR authorities directly when > activated and continues to report until turned off (or the batteries > run out which should not happen) Yes - there is an agency that does that. SPOT is really one step removed, they monitor it, and call the appropriate agency in Australia - so you get the same service in the end. It is the tracking that is different, as you mentioned. > Flight Planning – you could fill the details into Field 18 of the > flight plan – it could be very useful information. Ahh perfect, I didn't know that existed. > The bottle line is read the SPOT documentation if you are happy with > the product go for it. The idea of integrating tracking solutions (and it should not be just one, but open for competition) into flight plan is a good one and I think we should (slowly over time) pursue it. Thanks Scott _______________________________________________ Aus-soaring mailing list [email protected] To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
