SPOT or Personal Locator Beacon
- Thread starter davidv
- Start date
Herbie
Rendezvous Conspirator
Oh boy. Can-of-worms time. There are proponents of both. I've written on the subject a number of times, but I'm a firm believer in PLBs over SPOT if you are only going to have one.
My reasons:
* PLB requires no subscription, part (a). Once you own the unit, its free. I've had my ACR MicrOFix for 4+ years. If I had been paying the SPOT subscription, it would have added up to be way more than my PLB, and that was back when the MicrOFix cost $700+. These days, the latest offerings from McMurdo and ACR are almost the same price as a SPOT, which means at the end of even just one year, you'll be spending more for SPOT than a PLB.
* PLB requires no subscription, part (b). With a cellular phone, the law requires that even if the phone is not activated or your two years behind on your bill, that the phone MUST still call 911. No such law applies to the SPOT device. Theoretically if you don't pay your bill, the SPOT folks could just ignore your signal. AFAIK, their Terms of Service doesn't address this possibility.
* PLB is truly global. Because the COSPAS/SARSAT constellation is operated by a coalition of friendly governments, you have reception of your 406MHz signal literally anywhere on the planet. SPOT leases bandwidth on certain birds to get their coverage. Adding coverage means they spend more money. See the "big announcement" elsewhere on this forum about SPOT adding coverage for Africa. AFAIK they still don't cover South America, most of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, (bad for boaters and pilots), and nothing in Eastern Europe or Northern/Eastern Asia.
EDIT: Most of the Americas and Asia now covered. Hawaii and the "middle" of the big oceans still out. "Tips" of South America and Africa still out, extreme northern/southern elevations still out: http://www.findmespot.com/en/index.php?cid=109
* PLB calls go directly to the COSPAS/SARSAT command centers. For a US-registered PLB, that means your emergency signal is seen first by the US Air and Space Command. With SPOT, your datagram goes to a SPOT call center in Houston, who will then make phone calls to "appropriate authorities". Personally, I'd rather the Airforce takes my calls...
* PLB is part of a larger signaling umbrella intended to protect aircraft, ships at sea, etc. Its use as a hand-portable device is relatively new compared to the EPIRBS, etc. carried on commercial fishing vessels, aircraft, and the like. Watch any of the episodes of "Deadliest Catch" where a crabber goes down and you'll see what a 406MHz EPIRB can do.
* PLB has a variety of signaling advantages. The 406MHz frequency can often punch through tree cover, etc. better. Moreover, most PLBs have deployable antennae instead of the built-in "patch" antenna of the SPOT.
* PLB is a regulated device. There are standards of signal strength, battery life at a given temperature, water-"proofness", etc. that a device must meet before it can be offered for sale. SPOT is basically a fancy bidirectional pager, no such standards or testing apply. I'm not even sure if SPOT devices are claimed to be waterproof or just splash-resistant?
Hope that helps.
Last edited:
yubert
Explorer
Spot uses the Globalstar network and 911 messages are monitored by an emergency response center which then contacts the appropriate SAR agency. PLB's on the other hand use the Cospas/Sarsat network which is monitored by SAR agencies. You can Google these networks for more details on the differences.
Some of the "cool" Spot features you can now get with a PLB. See link below.
http://www.406link.com/406Plus.html
If your primary need is "911" service then PLB's will be less expensive in the long run. I have a Spot but don't plan to renew my service, I'm looking at PLB's because they've come down in price and size. And no one really cares to see my tracks in real-time.
Some of the "cool" Spot features you can now get with a PLB. See link below.
http://www.406link.com/406Plus.html
If your primary need is "911" service then PLB's will be less expensive in the long run. I have a Spot but don't plan to renew my service, I'm looking at PLB's because they've come down in price and size. And no one really cares to see my tracks in real-time.
I think SPOT really comes into its own at the borderline of a 'true emergency'. Say you are somewhere in the Utah desert off of well traveled roads, and your car breaks down. It is not a life threatening emergency (assuming you have the basics with you) so activating a PLB would be a waste of resources. However with the SPOT you have the option of transmitting a 'send help' message to friends, who can then come pick you up or call AAA or whatever. I think in general these sort of 'emergencies' happen as often or more often than the true life threatening emergencies. I think the PN-60/SPOT combination will be even better as you can send the message 'BRING JUMPER CABLES, NO HURRY'. With a PLB you are either calling in the cavalry, or you have a long wait for a passer by. However if you want true global coverage a PLB or an iridium phone is the way to go.
PS SPOT is uni-directional messenger, not a bi-directional and it doesn't lease its space segment, it is a subsidiary of Globalstar that owns the satellite constellation.
PS SPOT is uni-directional messenger, not a bi-directional and it doesn't lease its space segment, it is a subsidiary of Globalstar that owns the satellite constellation.
mhiscox
Exp. Leader Emeritus
I second this important point. My only Spot use (old model) was when I was stuck in a big snow drift with the Sprinter. I had enough heat, food and water for, like, ten days, so there was no way it was a 911-type emergency. On the other hand, I needed help and needed to let people know why I was missing. The Spot message to my wife got a Unimog friend on his way to me.
ON THE OTHER HAND . . . Some help wandered by and we got unstuck not too long after sending the Spot message, but there was no good way to cancel the "rescue" given my friend was out of cell phone range. My buddy wasted a couple hours showing up to find where I had been and neither he nor my wife knew what happened until I got back to cell coverage. This experience convinced me that a unidirectional Spot message is better than nothing, but it is extremely frustrating compared to a cell or satellite phone or 2-meter coverage, I hope to be getting the appropriate radio license this year, and will rent a satellite phone for anything challenging, so will probably give up on the Spot next renewal cycle.
BIGdaddy
Expedition Leader
Here's my perspective...
1. I always go prepared with extra fuel, water, tire patches, warm clothing, etc...
2. Cell coverage is great in california where I travel most of the time
3. Just got my HAM technician license last week and will buy a radio to cover me where cell coverage does not
If 1, 2, and 3 do not solve my problem I would say that a PLB is going to be my next choice, as I take no chances with myself or my family.
SPOT's cool, but as Mike(herbie) was saying, when the fit hits the shan, I want the air force pickin' up the call. Conversely, You bet your money that It'll will only be used as a last resort, when all other resources have been exhausted.
1. I always go prepared with extra fuel, water, tire patches, warm clothing, etc...
2. Cell coverage is great in california where I travel most of the time
3. Just got my HAM technician license last week and will buy a radio to cover me where cell coverage does not
If 1, 2, and 3 do not solve my problem I would say that a PLB is going to be my next choice, as I take no chances with myself or my family.
SPOT's cool, but as Mike(herbie) was saying, when the fit hits the shan, I want the air force pickin' up the call. Conversely, You bet your money that It'll will only be used as a last resort, when all other resources have been exhausted.