SPOT or Personal Locator beacons?

I have the ACR in my bucket. Lifetime support, rather than a yearly fee (spot annual fee soon exceeds the price of the ACR). Spot is kinda toyish to me, but it does have the nice check in feature that the ACR does not have. If you get the ACR make sure you get the internal GPS (you can get one that doesn't have it and you can interface with another GPS or just use doppler shift). The ACR works two ways (actually three). Once the GPS is dialed in on the satellites it sends a signal with the coordinates (it instantly sends a WHOA BABY! message and then sends the GPS coords when it gets them). If the GPS coordinates are not found the distress signal can be tracked via the doppler shift when a satellite swings overhead, this happens on the order fo a coupel hours if I remember (I'm pretty sure it also sends out a more local homing signal too). I don’t' think the spot can locate you on doppler shift, having a way to get a signal out that doesn't require a GPS signal locked in is a benefit to me. The ACR, just seemed like a better tool to me, I think they are bigger if that matters. Marginally bouyant, I have meant to put a float on mine.
 
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Update... thinking on this, I did some reading. Spot does not use the 406 MHz the EPIRBs and PLBs use it uses the globalstar satelite phone system. It cannot locate via doppler shift so if the GPS can't get a signal, you are SOL. From my reading, the 406 MHz is more likely to get out of canyons and from under tree cover and be tracked via doppler than GPS can get in those places.
 
My wife gives me hell every time I come home a little late from a hunt, and more generally about how much I hunt (and ride) alone. Being able to hit a "see, honey, I'm OK" button may be kind of important. I have a very little experience with ACR's other equipment .. do they offer anything with that check in feature a la the Spot?
 
ACR is the #1 provider of marine distress equipment in the world.

Nothing they make is junk!!!

We all carry the PLB's from ACR with the GPS feature.

The new version is even a third smaller than the ones they made last year.

They are no longer registered to a vessel but to a person (owner).

I've used it from the Bahamas to Canada to under the canopy in the GTR's.

Why pay for something that's free!!!

Most of the times you can cell phone a msg.

If not, there's always the float plan that you should have left!!!
 
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My wife gives me hell every time I come home a little late from a hunt, and more generally about how much I hunt (and ride) alone. Being able to hit a "see, honey, I'm OK" button may be kind of important. I have a very little experience with ACR's other equipment .. do they offer anything with that check in feature a la the Spot?
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Sounds kinda like you are decided....

Spot works on a sat phone network so it can have the extra features. The ACR is supported by a multi-government network of satelites and command centers (they call three phone numbers to check in to make sure it isn't a false alarm before sending the calvary out). From what I gather, the globalstar network is not the most reliable, someone call me on this though if I'm wrong (I've read a lot on the offshore forums and they are always complaining about their globalstar phones). Last time this came up, someone here said they had a spot and the check in usually worked, but not always.

It depends on what it is for, if it is to check in with family then the Spot, is better. If it is to save your life when you are hanging to the side of a boat, the 406Mhz system is a better in that it is a more reliable system and uses has two methods of locating you.
 
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if you think you want a spot do youre self a favor and take youre cell and go to all the spots you hunt or might hunt if you have good signal with the cell the spot will work just fine, you have to remember that spot is not a phone you just need to send a message. if you have ever sent a text message with bad signal it still gets there. where i hunt and anywhere i have hunted my spot has never failed me. i have hunted all over the midwest, but if you go out to check youre cell phone signal dont do it on a crear day do it on a rainy crapy day like one you might have trubble in.
 
if you think you want a spot do youre self a favor and take youre cell and go to all the spots you hunt or might hunt if you have good signal with the cell the spot will work just fine, you have to remember that spot is not a phone you just need to send a message. if you have ever sent a text message with bad signal it still gets there. where i hunt and anywhere i have hunted my spot has never failed me. i have hunted all over the midwest, but if you go out to check youre cell phone signal dont do it on a crear day do it on a rainy crapy day like one you might have trubble in.
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Whoa, back the truck up here. The Spot works off Satelites and cell phone off towers, why would there be any relationship between the two?!?! Doesn't make sense to me, are you sure?

As an aside, if a cell phone works why would you need a Spot?

T
 
not much, but i have noticed that i dont get cell phone signal my spot does not work very well, dont ask me why it has just worked out that way for me



cell phones do not work when they get wet,trust me
also anyone that has hunted in very cold water and temp know that if youre hands get wet or you end up in the water it is alot easier to push one butten rather then a hole phone number.
 
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Tod,
Would the ACR work for a guy around Lake Superior / MI's UP / Larger in-land lakes, or is it just a coastal thing?

Thanks,
NR
 
Tod,
Would the ACR work for a guy around Lake Superior / MI's UP / Larger in-land lakes, or is it just a coastal thing?

Thanks,
NR
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Yes, they work from any point on the globe. PLBs are marketed for stuff like backpacking, whereas EPIRBs are for offshore. They use the same technology and network, though.
 
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Hm. At the end of the day I would rather be able to communicate reliably with help, instead of communicate (maybe) with home, especially because she can't send a chopper in a hurry. Sounds like I'll have to choose between the two, and in a pinch I would rather choose the one that will more reliably get me help vs. offering "peace of mind>"
 
Tod,
Would the ACR work for a guy around Lake Superior / MI's UP / Larger in-land lakes, or is it just a coastal thing?

Thanks,
NR
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Yep, they all work off the SATSAR satelites.

The newer models all work of a (12) twelve sate system.

Many of the older phones that someone else spoke of work off the (8) eight sat system & aren't as reliable.

There's no difference between an PLB & EPIRB other than the USCG requires a longer run time on the battery.

Most of the newer EBIRBS also have water activated/submersible lights, cover that requirement also.

The US Military, NASA, your vehicle GPS systems all work off the SARSAT system.

By far the most reliable out there.

I saw the SPOT & spoke with the rep @ length @ the SHOT show last month.

Seems like a well made product, BUT!!!

They're selling the consumer on the cell phone/text feature which one probably already has.

And they're charging you another monthly fee for it!!!
 
sort of like the one on the Riffle runner that I did....

Someone other than you has repeated what you said so its no believable...while your posts were just you making stuff up to amuse yourself, and possibly to piss Andrew off.....

Don't worry though Buddy I made my mind up from what you said.....

Steve
 
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