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Free SPOT anybody?

Discussion in 'YachtForums Yacht Club' started by Capt Bill11, Mar 20, 2009.

  1. Ken Bracewell

    Ken Bracewell Senior Member

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    Other than the check-in technology, I can't understand the fee. There is no fee for EPIRB and GPIRB
  2. Capt Bill11

    Capt Bill11 Senior Member

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    The SPOT service is private. EPIRB and GPIRB are government funded.
  3. SeanC

    SeanC New Member

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    Check in technology is great and maybe fun, but I have some questions about signaling a distress.
    1. What if you stop sending a signal? Should it be assumed that you are in distress?
    2. It seems that the "911" button is only activated manually, unlike a 406 EPIRB which is usually activated both manually and when submersed in water. Should you then rely alone on SPOT to be your distress signaling device?
    3. Finally, what about the "Private Search and Rescue Benefit" the website advertises? Can I expect SPOT to mount a search and rescue effort if I am in distress offshore?
    I just don't know if I would rely on this unit to act as a distress beacon and wonder what the rest of you think about that.
  4. Ken Bracewell

    Ken Bracewell Senior Member

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  5. PropBet

    PropBet Senior Member

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  6. K1W1

    K1W1 Senior Member

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    Hi,

    I would tend to agree with this statement.

    Does the Spot thing actually have any water resistant rating?
  7. Dan Evans

    Dan Evans Senior Member

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    Water resistant to 1 meter for 30 minutes ~ from the spot people.

    So if you MUST have a spot on your boat, I suggest combining it with Ziploc technology:)
  8. SeanC

    SeanC New Member

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    I don't see an external antenna on the SPOT device so my guess is, if you're in the water, the signal is going to be negatively affected.
  9. PropBet

    PropBet Senior Member

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    Looking at the findmespot site, they do say 'used by boaters, fishermen, etc.' so my guess would be waterproof. I couldn't imaging one not being waterproof or resistant. Their coverage map also looks to be more land base driven, versus a traditional EPIRB.