New SPOT messenger announced

[ScottM]

Read more here:

http://gpstracklog.com/2009/07/new-spot-satellite-messenger-announced.html

Looks to be an improvement over the v1 units.  Esp. WRT OK/Track button and of course for us weight weenie racers.... smaller/lighter!

Thanks to GPStracklog for the scoop.

[Pivvay]

Cool! I wonder if they'll offer an upgrade program when it comes out. 2 ounces lighter and better under canopy would be worth an upgrade.

[jonesy792]

I like the cover over the 911 button too

[riverfever]

That does look nice. I lost mine a while back and didn't realize it until several weeks later when I couldn't find it. I got online and it was pretty cool to be able to see the last coordinates where it transmitted from...up on Pikes Peak. I walked the route that I had previously ridden with my GPS and never found it. I'm guessing someone picked it up as it was a pretty main trail. I didn't think they'd be able to use it but SPOT said there wasn't much I could do when I spoke to them. I was hoping they'd be able to give me coordinates to someone's house but it hadn't transmitted since.

It'd be nice to wait until fall to get a new one but there's no way Heather would let me go out for long trips (especially the CTR) without one so I'm gonna have to buy another. 

[FeloniousDunk]

I like the SPOT idea, but I keep thinking that some gps company could easily integrate the web-based tracking feature and alert system into a fully featured gps unit.  Then you wouldn't need to carry two things if you wanted both features.  To you guys who know more about gps than I, is that crazy wishful thinking or does it seem doable?

[Slowerthensnot]

All i can say is me wantie!

[ScottM]

I like the SPOT idea, but I keep thinking that some gps company could easily integrate the web-based tracking feature and alert system into a fully featured gps unit.  Then you wouldn't need to carry two things if you wanted both features.  To you guys who know more about gps than I, is that crazy wishful thinking or does it seem doable?

It'll happen eventually, but that could be 5+ years off.  Adding hardware to *send* to satellites is one issue.  Another is battery life, and finally they'd need air time on a satellite network (SPOT is owned by Globalstar).  So there are a number of roadblocks that mean SPOT has a pretty good lifespan in front of it, IMO.

[riverfever]

I talked with this seller and he says they have a big order in for these and they are expecting about 10 of them really soon. It doesn't sound like they are expecting to have them until right about the time we leave though.

 http://cgi.ebay.com/SPOT-2-satellite-GPS-Messenger-NEW-MODEL_W0QQitemZ120449438498QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGPS_Devices?hash=item1c0b589322&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C72%3A2126%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50#ht_722wt_1167

[Mathewsen]

I spoke with our trackleaders.com contact in marketing at SPOT and got a bit more info on SPOT IIs.

Delivery to the two major outlets like REI and West Marine is projected to be Nov.1. As SPOT have been off a bit in their projections b/f, I would consider this date their goal, but not for certain. There will be an upgrade plan. No details as of yet, but my guess is the upgrade program will also play second or third fiddle to the REIs of distribution.

SPOT II Battery life is expected to be about half what it was on the SPOT I. It now uses three AAAs to power it instead of two AAs.

Rumor is the transmission power is, indeed, markedly improved.

Hurt the ones you love: I also learned our demo fleet is likely to be one of the last to get upgraded. Hopefully by next Xpd MTB racing season we'll have SPOT IIs for demo.

[jonesy792]

AAA? seriously?  lame

[Mathewsen]

AAA? seriously?  lame

i s`pose you could look at it a couple ways: my red blinky rear light and my trusty p-tec eos headlights all run on AAAs. i now know if my light dies , i'll have working back-up batts. in the SPOT2.

[jonesy792]

yeah its not a dealbreaker but I've found AAA's (especially lithium ones) hard to find in convenience stores.  It just means that I need to be doubly prepared in the future.

[Pivvay]

I'll probably play early updater. I could use a smaller/lighter unit as it's my one concession to solo trips that don't seem to be ending anytime soon.

AAA's aren't my favorite mainly because the $$$/unit power is half that of AA's but it's not a deal breaker. If the power is better similar to the difference in the old Geko 301 to the ETrex then I'll be pretty happy with that.

[Done]

I just bought one at REI. So far, it looks good. I didn't own the previous model because it seemed a little unrefined. But the new one is small, light, easy to operate, etc. The GPS acquisition phase is very quick, and it has a nice little light that turns green once it gets a fix. I'll test it some more in the coming weeks, but so far it seems great.