Follow-up Hands-on Report - Second Generation SPOT

Turns out the first sample we received wasn't a production SPOT 2 after all and wasn't waterproof in the least. We have now received another SPOT 2 and have dunked this one with better results--sort of. Read what we discovered after dunking SPOT 2 to its rated depth, as well as a few other interesting discoveries.

http://www.equipped.org/blog/?p=119

Thanks!

Nice work; disappointing product so far.

Wow.

Someone should have their head checked. Waterproof to 5m, but gets it's buttons pushes somewhere below 4m.... Fail.

I am grateful for Doug's excellent work, and try to learn from him and the other great minds of this forum. But to me, this test is not an indication that the SPOT is not good enough. In fact, based on Doug's experiences I am actually tempted to buy one.... I am a bit concerned about his report of bizarre behavior, but the fact that the buttons may or may not be pressed below meter depth does not worry me at all.


Let me explain: It is feasible (but not likely) that I'd accidentally drop gear like this into deep water - based on hard earned experience I try to be very careful not dropping things when the consequences is immediate loss of vital equipment. Dropping on a pavement, on a track and in a poodle is a lot more likely. Being waterproof also means I don't have to worry about rain, spray or poodles. Waterproof to 5 meters means I have a lot more confidence when I expose sensitive electronics to my "definitely needs to be splash proof" environment.


What are the chances of dropping the SPOT into 5 meters of water AND FINDING IT AFTER A FEW HOURS? The only place that could ever happen would be unloading gear from a boat onto the pier. All other places the spot would be lost forever.


I am actually rather amazed that the unit managed to send a message while inside a tube of water. I am pretty sure it would not be able to send at the bottom of a 5 meter deep lake - water is not a good medium for radio transmission.


Now there are other factors that I don't like as much about spot - thank you Doug for pointing them out for me. But water proof is no longer one of them.

Clearly I need to clarify my report. SPOT did NOT send a message from inside the tube. The message was sent after it was removed from the tube.

The waterproof to 5m isn't so it can survive being 5m deep it's a measure of it's resistance to dynamic pressure.
If you drop it from perhaps 0.5m into the surface, or it gets hit by a wave - it's going to feel an instantaneous pressure equal to being >5m under water.
That's why your watch says waterproof to 150m, it's not so you can break the freediving record it's so you can wear it while splashing your hand hard into the water when swimming.

...poodle?

Guy 1: It's raining cats and dogs outside!
Guy 2: Are you sure?
Guy 1: Yep, I just stepped in a poodle.


-Blast

Ok serious SPOT question to hijack the thread.

My wife works for a government agency and has to go out to check worksites, often on snowy backroads, in the winter, in areas where cell phone reception is spotty.

There is a system to call in to a service company who are supposed to alert the office if somebody hasn't checked in for a certain time. There is also an unofficial call in to the duty team leader. Last week they had an incident where somebody almost came off the road in an area with no cell coverage.

I was going to suggest they get a SPOT for the truck.
As I understand it they can send a check-in OK message, send a local/low priority help message to the office and if all else fails call the cavalry?

For this application it seems more flexible than a ELB, and cheaper and easier to use than a satphone. And the price is low enough to slip under the radar without needing the congressional committee needed to decide to do anything in this business.

One month ago I was on San Miguel Island, Channel Islands National Park, working as a volunteer. The island ranger was called away for about two days and I was the only person on the island for that time.

While I was being briefed on some of the daily chores, the ranger introduced me to the island SPOT, and gave me a quick course in how to use it. It certainly makes sense in that application. Workers on the island are frequently alone, radio reception is not infallible, and the unit is easy enough to pack around.

I don't believe there were too many hoops to jump through to acquire it.

Good Work Doug!