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Locator Beacon: PLB or SPOT?
Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2013 9:53 pm
by ondafringe
In early 2012, I made the decision to buy a personal locator beacon (PLB). Prior to making that decision, I did a lot of research into the differences between a SPOT and a true PLB, which lead me to choose a PLB. Since buying my unit, I have fielded a lot of questions from other hikers about my decision-making process. This past summer, I finally got around to writing up the results of my research and posting them in an article on my blog.
If any of you are contemplating the purchase of a locator beacon, there are major differences between a SPOT device and a true PLB you should be aware of, not only technical differences but also differences in the rescue-response protocol. So if any of you have a locator beacon on your Christmas list, and you wish to avail yourself of my research, you can read my blog article at the following link, and I hope you find the information useful in your decision-making process, as well.
Why I Bought a PLB (or... Why I Didn't Buy a SPOT)
Re: Locator Beacon: PLB or SPOT?
Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2013 9:12 am
by Jimr
Nice write-up. I came to the same conclusions when researching SPOT vs PLB. I bought the McMurdo Fastfind 220 operating at the same wavelengths and wattage. 6 year battery life.
My wife wanted the SPOT abilities to send o.k. info, but I did not like the annual fees or the fact that if an o.k. signal or two did not reach it's intended target, there becomes undue cause for worry. I chose to have her go with my original planning and not worry unless there is an emergency, period.
Re: Locator Beacon: PLB or SPOT?
Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2013 11:28 am
by ondafringe
Thanks, Jim, appreciate your comment. And good to hear that someone else arrived at the same conclusion.
And I hear you about the fees associated with a SPOT device, as well as the undue alarm that would be created if an "OK" message didn't get through. However, IMO, the biggest negatives about SPOT: It is a low power, high-frequency device, which is just the opposite of what you need in the back country, and the escape clause contained within their user agreement. IMO, that escape clause is completely unacceptable.
Re: Locator Beacon: PLB or SPOT?
Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2013 12:08 pm
by maverick
Great write up George. The "My Satellite Network and Rescue Protocol Is More
Sophisticated Than Your Satellite Network and Rescue Protocol" and "I Got No
Power" sections are some of the reasons, after doing my own research, that I
would not trust SPOT. Read an article that Globalstar is just trying to stay afloat
and SPOT was developed for this very purpose till they can relaunch a viable
satellite network, if this is the case, I for one have no intentions of buying any
safety device with Globalstar backing.
PS Welcome to HST!
Re: Locator Beacon: PLB or SPOT?
Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2013 3:29 pm
by Phil B.
Great article and information. Thanks for sharing.
Re: Locator Beacon: PLB or SPOT?
Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2013 5:24 pm
by ondafringe
Thanks for your comments, Mav and Phil. And appreciate the "Welcome," Mav.
Hadn't heard that about GlobalStar but don't blame you for being leery of that operation. And agree totally that SPOT should not be used/trusted as a rescue beacon.
Re: Locator Beacon: PLB or SPOT?
Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2013 5:38 pm
by maverick
Quote from the article:
Globalstar. Globalstar never ceased operations. After filing for bankruptcy in
2002, the company was re-organized and got under control of an investment
company Thermo Capital Partners LLC. The new Globalstar has been financially
troubled since 2006-07 when most of its first generation satellites experienced
degradation of service due to effects of radiation in space. As a result, Globalstar's
Satellite Phone Service has been hardly available, but the company, although
unprofitable, managed to stay afloat in part due to success of its personal
satellite messenger SPOT. They managed to fund building and launching the
new satellites (the last 6 were launched in February 2013), which will let Globalstar
fully restore their voice and data service by summer or fall 2013. Financial prospects
for Globalstar are still uncertain, since the company will have to spend a lot to
acquire a sufficient customer base.
To summarize, the initial projects failed in part due to high expectations, lack of
specialization, lavish spending and unwillingness of their huge parents to support
the ventures after initial problems. The new companies (especially Iridium) managed
to find their market niche and focus on it, fully exploiting the existing infrastructure
(which they didn't have to build initially).
Re: Locator Beacon: PLB or SPOT?
Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2013 6:44 pm
by ondafringe
That's interesting, Mav. I read somewhere that SPOT has 250,000 customers, so no wonder it helped them stay afloat while redoing their satellite network.
Re: Locator Beacon: PLB or SPOT?
Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2013 12:33 pm
by Jimr
"However, IMO, the biggest negatives about SPOT: It is a low power, high-frequency device, which is just the opposite of what you need in the back country"
Exactly! those were the "same conclusions" I referred to. The undue worry over missed "O.K." signals and annual fees just sealed my decision.
Re: Locator Beacon: PLB or SPOT?
Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2013 8:22 pm
by freestone
I used the Gen3 SPOT on my last trip into SEKI in a variety of conditions and locations. All my messages were confirmed as sent, and were received and plotted onto a map for the recipients. No complaints, or regrets.