joel322

I have not replied before because of the hostility expressed toward my "inappropriate" posts. I am only replying now because ntrog8r asked a specific question of me. Any problems with transmission - in the mountains, in canyons, in inclement weather, etc? Poor transmission in heavily forested areas, it likes to "see the sky." Not all transmissions get through with a lot of overhead canopy. Has anybody dropped it - does it still work, how about below freezing? Yes, my scouts have dropped it multiple times, no problems. We are in the south so the coldest we have used it is mid 20's but no problems. How long did your batteries actually last - alkaline or lithium? Requires Lithium batteries, last about 1 year in standby mode, 2 weeks with tracking activated. I usually replace them before each trip just to be safe. Any drops in the water, uses while rafting where the device got wet - does it really float? Have not used it rafting or canoeing, have used it in heavy rain without problems. I would appreciate it if the personal attacks against me and my motives for posting would end here and now. I apologize to anyone who felt my posts were inappropriate. If you want a Spot, go buy one, lots of places sell them. If you think it's a bad idea, then don't. My opinion is a scout should be prepared.

After the first couple of responses I decided not to reply but at this point, I feel I must. First - a Scout is Courteous! Many of the replies here have not been which dissapoints me. Yes, I am a troop leader in Alabama, have been a registered scout almost continuously for 40 years. Yes, I own an on-line gear store. No, I don't take my scouts on outings to "be out of touch with the modern world," I take them to teach them about taking care of themselves, building character, how to "be prepared," and other scouting principals. Anyone who goes to be out of touch has simply missed the point. The purpose of this post was to share information about a piece of gear that I am personally very excited about. Make your own decision about whether it would be beneficial for your troop or not. I personally don't see the need for a PLB on most of our outings but the Spot unit is much more than a PLB (some even say it isn't a PLB at all but that's a separate discussion). For me and my troop, it is a way for me to send a message to our parents that "all is well," and the parents know that I have access to emergency help if we need it. No other PLB can do that. It's all about peace of mind. The Spot doesn't interfere with our outings at all because there are no incoming messages. We are still out of touch in that reguard. It stays in my pack, most of the boys don't even know I have it. As a scout, I learned to look at all the possibilities and try to "be prepared" for what ever circumstances arrise. That principle is deeply engrained in my decision making. When I have access to gear and technology like this, I feel that I need to take advantage of it.

A while back I saw an advertisement on television for a device called "Spot." This gadget, which is about the size of a cell phone, is just about the coolest thing since the first GPS unit I purchassed. It embodies the scout motto "Be Prepared." Spot uses GPS technology, but instead of showing you where you are, it transmits your coordinates VIA SATELLITE to your pre-set contact list. It also gives you access to a global 911 emergency center. Imagine all of the parents of your scouts being able to log onto a web page and see where you are and that everything is OK. As a Scoutmaster, we have added this to our gear. Last spring, we took a week long hiking trip. As we were preparing to leave, one mom came up to me and asked "How can I get in touch with my son while you are gone." All I could say was "You can't." The area we were visiting had no cell coverage. I assured her that everything would be fine (and it was) and we would find a way to contact her if there was a problem, but she still worried for the entire week. Now we own a SPOT! It will give all of our parents the "Peace of Mind" that they are looking for. They can see where we are and we can signal that everything is OK, no mater where we travel. And parents know that we have immediate access to help if we need it. This is an affordable addition to our troop budget at only $149 and pennies a day for service. That's a cheap price to pay for peace of mind. Our worried mom would have gladdly paid this herself last spring! More Info: http://www.findme-gps.com