SPOT + Phone = 1 less thing to bring

[mnmtb]

Anyone seen this announced at CES?
http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/04/spot-connect-brings-gps-tracking-and-communication-to-your-bluet/

The SPOT Connect can now link with some smartphones and not just the Delorem.  I don't know much more than the press release but the possibility exists that you could bring a SPOT Connect and smartphone and leave the GPS unit behind.  Download a mapping program or maps to the smartphone, turn off the phone radio and link to the SPOT Connect when you need to know where you are.  Bring a small USB charger powered by AA's and that might be one less item to bring on the trail.

Hmmmmm

[ScottM]

Saw that.  Interesting development for sure.  Could be a great option for those that already have a Droid.

The biggest limitation for bikepacking, and for all the classics (CTR, TD, AZT) will be battery life.  Seems like a Droid would kill AA's left and right if you kept it on in tracking mode all day.

But... for those that just want to send OK messages and text/FB/twitter out, it looks like a great option.  Turn the phone on, check where you are on maps, send out a message.     Looks small and light, too.

[bmike-vt]

I'd be interested if the Spot did all the normal functions without the phone being paired, then when you wanted to send a message you could fire up the phone.

The maps will likely need a data connection, no?

[mnmtb]

I'd be interested if the Spot did all the normal functions without the phone being paired, then when you wanted to send a message you could fire up the phone.

The maps will likely need a data connection, no?

I think that is the idea.  The SPOT has all the SOS, location beaming and 911 functions without being paired. The phone connection allows linking to google maps for example.  I would like to know if there is an application that can turn the phone into a GPS display unit, link with the SPOT while the phone radio is OFF.  That would be the catz azz.

[6thElement]

^^That's how I read the above, you would need the maps fully installed on the mobile and just uses the spot as a bluetooth GPS. Much like I was doing 10 years ago with pda and bluetooth GPS.

[trebor]

I may be wrong, but i think that the app that gets downloaded to the phone is the workhorse of the pair. The SPOT Connect device is simply the antenna....  if the phone isn't running the app and paired through bluetooth the antenna is just a paper weight.

[Marshal]

not sure but I think the Spot transceiver only receives every 10 min unless manually tripped?  I am pretty sure the transmitter side only sends every 10 min.  Anyway my point is for the above idea(s)to work for following a track the receiver side needs to receive more than every 10 min

[ScottM]

Yeah, my understanding is that the SPOT connect will only do SOS when it is not paired with the phone.  I could be wrong though.  If it would go into track mode on it's own, that would be very nice... but I'm afraid the phone needs to be on.  I'll have to hunt around for some more details on it.

[JMeiser]

Interesting development for sure.  Could be great for day trips, multi-day touring, etc.. but seemingly not ideal or ultra racing, yet.  My bro is currently touring down the Appalachians using his Droid phone for mapping, photos, video, and blogging. 

This could be an awesome development 'if' battery life wasn't an issue.  It would be pretty cool to carry one device for multiple functions, even if it doesn't do all of them perfectly.  GPS usage on the phone is getting so good already...It just sucks juice that can only be replaced with charging, or piggybacked battery life. 

I immediately hopped over to the Brunton sight and looked at solar panels after seeing this...Sort of a what if I sewed one of these into the side of my frame bag, or on my seat bag...?  Would it be relaible, durable, lighter than replacing batteries, etc...?

[Solrider]

I use the Solio Classic for light travel (moto, backpacking, etc).  You can charge it at home before you leave and it holds about 10 hours worth of power.  You could then open it during the day and attach it to a pack or rack and let the sun charge it for you.  If you get to a hotel stop, recharge it in the room.  Cool and compact device!

[mnmtb]

I posed this question to SPOT:

Question:

 I am very intrigued by the Spot Connect but cannot determine the following:

­ If I pair the Connect to my phone and start tracking,can I turn off the phone to save the battery and will the Connect continue to send location info?

If the battery of my phone dies and I need to send an SOS or 911 is there a way to do this without the phone?

These two items would be very critical for adventure racers like myself who may be out for days or weeks at a time.



And received the following encouraging answer:

Dear Jeff,

Thank you for contacting SPOT Customer Care and for your interest in the SPOT Connect product. The answer to both your questions is yes. You can turn off your phone while in Tracking mode and it will continue to track up to 24 hours total. You would need your phone to turn off Tracking before the end of the 24 hours.  The Connect does have the SOS and 911 features separate from your phone.  Have a great day!!



Best Regards,

SPOT Customer Service


I am definitely interested now.

[6thElement]

So you'd just have to re-pair with your phone every morning and turn on tracking again from the phone app, definitely makes it more appealing. I wonder what the battery life is compared to the Spot2.

[Done]

Thanks for the research Jeff!

[Marshal]

I posed this question to SPOT:

Question:

 I am very intrigued by the Spot Connect but cannot determine the following:

­ If I pair the Connect to my phone and start tracking,can I turn off the phone to save the battery and will the Connect continue to send location info?

If the battery of my phone dies and I need to send an SOS or 911 is there a way to do this without the phone?

These two items would be very critical for adventure racers like myself who may be out for days or weeks at a time.



And received the following encouraging answer:

Dear Jeff,

Thank you for contacting SPOT Customer Care and for your interest in the SPOT Connect product. The answer to both your questions is yes. You can turn off your phone while in Tracking mode and it will continue to track up to 24 hours total. You would need your phone to turn off Tracking before the end of the 24 hours.  The Connect does have the SOS and 911 features separate from your phone.  Have a great day!!



Best Regards,

SPOT Customer Service


I am definitely interested now.

My main question would be if you can use the Spot's GPS receiver to actually navigate with? ie check your 'current' position at 'any' time  which would imply you could then follow a 'track'

If the answer to this question is no, then why bother, you have given up the most important feature of a GSP.  But is the answer is yes, (the Spot's GPS receiver constantly updates, not every 10 min--sleep mode to save battery) then I would also be very interested

[bmike-vt]

Interesting development for sure.  Could be great for day trips, multi-day touring, etc.. but seemingly not ideal or ultra racing, yet.  My bro is currently touring down the Appalachians using his Droid phone for mapping, photos, video, and blogging. 

This could be an awesome development 'if' battery life wasn't an issue.  It would be pretty cool to carry one device for multiple functions, even if it doesn't do all of them perfectly.  GPS usage on the phone is getting so good already...It just sucks juice that can only be replaced with charging, or piggybacked battery life. 

I immediately hopped over to the Brunton sight and looked at solar panels after seeing this...Sort of a what if I sewed one of these into the side of my frame bag, or on my seat bag...?  Would it be relaible, durable, lighter than replacing batteries, etc...?

dyno hub with one of the german charging solutions?
would seem a much better solution than solar... if you are moving (during the day) and not running lights - you could be putting that into your phone, gps, camera, or a backup battery.

[trebor]

now this is interesting. Thanks Jeff!

I'm testing a dynamo now to decide if it will meet my needs.

very interesting.

[the_mc5]

I've been watching the tech landscape and mmeiser's posts on the subject of smartphone use with interest.

If one considers using a smartphone on a bike, you soon slide into the 'how do I charge devices on the bike' topic, the options keep getting better.

1) there are a variety of gadgets that use standard AA or larger cells that can charge arbitrary devices via USB cable at 5V up to 800mA. Like this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0014KLX9C/ or the DIY MintyBoost http://www.ladyada.net/make/mintyboost/.

2) solar panels (you'll want a bigger one, 2-5W, to have a chance of recharging your stuff during a single day). Some are even combined with something like (1) so you use the panel to charge AAs, then use the AAs directly in your device, or to charge your device's own battery.

3) SONdelux or other dynohub with a powertap gadget like the eWerk or PedalPower+. See http://peterwhitecycles.com/ for all the details.

(2) and (3) seem to offer a similar weight penalty and their own individual pros and cons. Right now I'm liking (1) as a baby step. I can even use it to recharge the li-ion pack in my Exposure Diablo headlamp!

[Marshal]

I've been watching the tech landscape and mmeiser's posts on the subject of smartphone use with interest.

If one considers using a smartphone on a bike, you soon slide into the 'how do I charge devices on the bike' topic, the options keep getting better.

Not to pop some bubbles but….

It would be great if one could recharge phones, lights, gps etc conveniently with either a bike sized solar panel or bike driven dynamo

The key word here ‘conveniently’, to most this would imply things like
modest size (solar)
modest weight  (both)
reasonable re-charge time (both)
modest increase in pedaling effort (dynamo)

I could be wrong about this but I am very skeptical that either a solar or dynamo will ever be efficient enough to conveniently recharge anything requiring more than a very very light recharge load. 

Just look up the VA load (watts) on your current AC to DC chargers.  You will find even a typical smartphone uses 1 full amp and say 5 volts (5 Watts)!!  And with that much current flow is still takes 1+ hour for the typical phone.  I have not looked at any specs but I challenge someone to get that much current out of a small bike mounted (moving) solar panel or that much current out of a dynamo without real, noticeable pedal resistance!

It’s a simple matter of physics, I just don’t see how you can ever generate the required Volts and Amps to meet that key word—“conveniently”


1) there are a variety of gadgets that use standard AA or larger cells that can charge arbitrary devices via USB cable at 5V up to 800mA. Like this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0014KLX9C/ or the DIY MintyBoost http://www.ladyada.net/make/mintyboost/.

2) solar panels (you'll want a bigger one, 2-5W, to have a chance of recharging your stuff during a single day). Some are even combined with something like (1) so you use the panel to charge AAs, then use the AAs directly in your device, or to charge your device's own battery.

3) SONdelux or other dynohub with a powertap gadget like the eWerk or PedalPower+. See http://peterwhitecycles.com/ for all the details.

(2) and (3) seem to offer a similar weight penalty and their own individual pros and cons. Right now I'm liking (1) as a baby step. I can even use it to recharge the li-ion pack in my Exposure Diablo headlamp!

Not to pop some bubbles but….

It would be great if one could recharge phones, lights, gps etc conveniently with either a bike sized solar panel or bike driven dynamo

The key word here ‘conveniently’, to most this would imply things like
modest size (solar)
modest weight  (both)
reasonable re-charge time (both)
modest increase in pedaling effort (dynamo)

I could be wrong about this but I am very skeptical that either a solar or dynamo will ever be efficient enough to conveniently recharge anything requiring more than a very very light recharge load. 

Just look up the VA load (watts) on your current AC to DC chargers.  You will find even a typical smartphone uses 1 full amp and say 5 volts (5 Watts)!!  And with that much current flow is still takes 1+ hour for the typical phone.  I have not looked at any specs but I challenge someone to get that much current out of a small bike mounted (moving) solar panel or that much current out of a dynamo without real, noticeable pedal resistance!

It’s a simple matter of physics, I just don’t see how you can ever generate the required Volts and Amps to meet that key word—“conveniently”

[bmike-vt]

Modern hub dynamos have very little resistance when powering lights and virtually nothing when not working. Something like adding 1 or 2 feet per mile climbed. Some good testing info in Bicycle Quarterly. I've used a SON and eDeluxe for several years now for randonneuring rides. This year I'm aiming for a 1200k. I rarely switch wheelsets anymore its so convenient to have light whenever I need it. And you can get the German hubs in disc...

The power has to come from somewhere - so yes, you are giving up something... but you have power when you want it...

[bmike-vt]

Marshal - check out this link:

http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/ewerk.asp

I don't have the eWerk - but its on my list....