Photo comp worry.

[Ray Young]

Given what's being seen and said in the photo comp I was wondering how much spot trackers cost and which ones are worth having? Got me paranoid it has as I regularly go solo. Keep the wife a bit less stressed too as you regularly don't get a phone signal in the hills.

[Brothersmith]

Sorry Ray didn't mean to worry anyone :?

Ironically my accident gave me more faith in getting out of situations and I now always leave a route plan with ETA's and bail options so people know where to find me if worst happens.

I got a SPOT to provide some reassurance to the other half. My first proper trip was around the western isles of Scotland. I didn't get a signal for 2 days and understandably my other half was not best pleased!

I have a Mk1 which I picked up cheap on ebay and just subscribe to basic package. I use it to let people know I'm ok and where i am. I back this up with txt / calls when I get a signal. For me the emergency help feature is a bonus and one I hope I will never use.

[Dan_K]

I have a mk1 spot that I got off ebay. I've heard the mk2 is an improvement though (better reception etc) so wish i'd stumped up the extra for that.
The bulk of the fees comes from the annual service bill. Think I paid £120 for the full tracking service etc. The basic "i'm ok or rescue me i've fallen into a crocodile infested swamp" is around £90 I think. Details are on the SPOT website....

It's expensive but it puts my other half at rest and personally I think my life is worth the cash

I have a friend who uses it in the car too when he's driving long distance so his relatives can see how far away he is from reaching them!

[Bearbonesnorm]

The trouble is, accidents can happen anywhere. I did some work for the FC a few years ago at CYB shortly after the new trails opened ... there were a lot of accidents and it was my job to find out why they were happening. I remember that one chap had taken a tumble right on the last step/drop of the final section which resulted in a compound fracture of his femur It was mid winter towards the end of the day, although he was only 200 yds from the trail centre there was no one around so he had to crawl/drag himself back there. He was from down south and was on his own. It was quite a task to get him sorted.

My point is that, he never expected to crash or at least hurt himself badly because he was at a trail centre ... Alton Towers for mountain bikes! I imagine that even if he'd owned a tracker he wouldn't have bothered to carry it that day.

[Ray Young]

[quote="Brothersmith"]I now always leave a route plan with ETA's and bail options so people know where to find me if worst happens.quote]

I do this too. I also tell the missus that I might not get a signal to ring from my bivi spot but will call asap the next day. I didn't realise spot trackers had an annual fee but I'll check out their site. Can smart phones with GPS be utilsed in any way?

[Dan_K]

The problem with smart phones is they rely on the phone cell signal to relay the message of where you are which in a lot of the places we ride there just isn't coverage.

SPOT use their own satellites to send your location so it's different from cell phones and offers better coverage. It isn't just a locator beacon though. You can use their service to send pre-defined messages to friends, family etc to let them know you're ok or in trouble without alerting a rescue team.

If you just want a device that'll alert mountain rescue etc. This is a "last resort" unit without a subscription service:

http://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/mcmurdo- ... ium=google

It'll work out cheaper over time but won't offer tracking progress and you have to be conscious to pull the trigger.....

[Bearbonesnorm]

I'm getting one of these: http://www.outdoorgb.com/p/parachute_ro ... dle=108172 :D

[gairym]

I bought a Mk1 Spot thingy from Flatfishy and it's been fun to play around with and definitely has lessened the worry of Mrs Gairy when I'm out riding.

I worry about accidentally hitting the 911 button (or worry that nothing will happen if I ever really need it) but it's a useful little gadget.

[Brothersmith]

The trouble is, accidents can happen anywhere. I did some work for the FC a few years ago at CYB shortly after the new trails opened ... there were a lot of accidents and it was my job to find out why they were happening. I remember that one chap had taken a tumble right on the last step/drop of the final section which resulted in a compound fracture of his femur It was mid winter towards the end of the day, although he was only 200 yds from the trail centre there was no one around so he had to crawl/drag himself back there. He was from down south and was on his own. It was quite a task to get him sorted.

My point is that, he never expected to crash or at least hurt himself badly because he was at a trail centre ... Alton Towers for mountain bikes! I imagine that even if he'd owned a tracker he wouldn't have bothered to carry it that day.

I learnt my lesson Stu and take my SPOT everywhere I think I won't have a mobile signal. Even take it for the blasts round Cannock.

Come to think it of it the 3 fractures I have done mountain biking were all at trail centres

[99percentchimp]

by s8tannorm on Fri Feb 08, 2013 12:06 pm

I'm getting one of these: http://www.outdoorgb.com/p/parachute_ro ... dle=108172

Don't let me be in the same forest as you when you let that thing go Stu. If it's next summer there's likely to be no problem with pyrotechnics if it's going to be like last year. :)
Interesting thread and I hope Brothersmith didn't mind me posting the link initially
I've been backpacking and mountaineering without the gadgets and I can honestly say the outcome of several bad days has generally been dictated by the sensible actions of the people I've been with at the time, although in one instance a speedier notification might have helped the outcome.
However, I've never had a serious issue when backpacking solo and am riding/bikepacking solo quite often and I really need to kick myself into action and get a SPOT. Some of the photos (and esp. Brothersmiths account of the innocuous nature of the location of his spill, ridden solo on a later date) are a salutory lesson and a spur for action.
Thanks, Mark

[Cheeky Monkey]

It's a toss up though isn't it (and this is getting dangerously close to an STW-type posting). We take risks all the time. The likelihood of accidents / events is statistically more likely in a number of everyday situations than it is during the stuff we're all talking about and doing. However, we're talking about SPOT trackers but not wearing a helmet in the bathroom ........

I'm not knocking folks for their choices. Just sometimes I think we can convince ourselvers of the necessity of stuff on the basis of much lower risks because of the perception.

Blah, blah, blah.

Just making excuses because I can't be ass'd

I wish I could remember the mountaineering book that some old school Brit had written. Him and his maes had started out the usual way, going out ill equipped and inexperienced, occassionally having epics but surviving and learning. Then, once much older one of his mates froem those days was interviewed and trotted out the lines of "never go into the hills unprepared, get training, etc etc" and this guy was furious at him. I know he had a good logic about it but I can't put it into words as well as he did.

I'm rambling :?

[Chew]

I'm kinda with Cheeky on this one. I think you have to be wary of relying on technology too much. At some point its not going to work, and at that might be the time you may really need it.

Partially its all about risk, how much you want to take on, but more importantly how you manage it.

Just wondering on the number of people who would spend £100 on a SPOT also have also spent £100 on a proper first aid course? (although i'm guility of not having done one yet ) If an accident does happen those first few minutes are the most critical, and any form of help could be a long way away.

[Ray Young]

Well, I started this but this is how I feel now. I am not going to be spending anything on any gadgets as I just do not have the money that they are asking , spottracker £90 a year, that's the cost of 2 bikepacking trips, £270 for a Mcmurdo fast find ranger, that's 6 bikepacking trips (for me, a years worth). What I will be doing is what I always have. Leave a route with someone, check in when I can by phone, don't go daft on the descents. I have first aid training and carry a basic first aid kit and a whistle, done me for the last 20+ years, however, according to sods law I have now signed my own death warrant, see you all in hell :D .