Spot Trackers

[Ian]

Just wondered who has one and uses it on their rides/ trips?

As you may know I have one and used it for personal and family amusement on the recent Radnor Ring and Wales C2C trips. I also use it on day rides so Beth can see how far I am from home and when I'm likely to be back without having to send me a text/ try and call me when I'm otherwise out of range. It's one of those things that I didn't think I needed until I actually had one.

If there are a few of us with these it might be fun to try and track the progress of multiple riders on the BB200?

[valleydaddy]

I haven't activated mine yet but definitely will, I have followed your trips that you have shared with us and it is good to see. There are real benefits to using it for sure.

For the BB200 I will bring my iPad and if I can get signal for it I can track folk and then hunt them down in my bear suit

[Taylor]

You've dissapointed me Pete, I thought you'd be a fairy.

[valleydaddy]

well I have been plucking fairy wings off them in the bottom of my garden so I may have enough to make some man sized ones to impress you with Taylor

[Blackhound]

I hired one in the summer for my 'trip' and have been surprised how many people said they followed it - there were 3 of us from Derby to follow. My partner Marion stayed up to 0230 UK time to watch me get to Mexico for instance and she got quite addicted.

I wondered about getting one for next year but not sure of the cost, not so much the purchase price but the on-cost. Is it quite pricy?

Unlike Ian I have no one at home to check my Spot to get the kettle on and dinner ready when I get home

[Ian]

Annual registration for the check-in/help/SOS service costs €99. The tracking option, which I've now used more extensively was another €39 for the year. Overall, by the time you've converted it back to real money, it was £120 I think. I don't know how much the unit cost though as it was a gift. I think it's good value for the amount I've used it/ intend to use before the renewal is up. YMMV.

[Taylor]

£4.33 if you can find them

[Taylor]

Right, Who's got a Spot?
Trackleaders have offered to put together a single page for BB200 showing all riders with a spot in tracking mode for the small fee of $15 each(just under a tenner).
If your intrested, let me know how and I'll see what we can do with Scott from Trackleaders.
Please let me know asap.

[Ian]

Sounds good. Count me in

[numplumz]

Interested in getting a SPOT tracker, any hints, tips on where to get one. did i hear decathlon mentioned once or did I dream that :?:

[valleydaddy]

your were right Flatfishy kindly brought a few back from France when he was there in the Summer they were selling them ridiculously cheap circa £5

they do appear on eBay etc so maybe that may be the cheapest route see here

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Spot-Satellit ... 500wt_1361

[Taylor]

Decathlon in frogland were flogging them off for 5 euro's. UK branches don't stock them.
I picked up the last four that the Dijon branch had as they were so cheap.
I'll email my SiL and see if she can find any in Paris whilst she's there.
Otherwise your looking at £205 from http://www.adventuretradingpost.co.uk/Checkout.aspx

[Taylor]

Before I mail my SiL any idea on numbers of who would like one?

[Yorkshire Andy]

I would like another....just bought one of ebay, still in its box for £45...never activated. As there are two of us it would make sense to have another......see what you can do, please.

Andy and Jane

[plod]

I'd like one :)

[Bigface0_0]

£5 yeah Ill have one

[99percentchimp]

Hi Flatfish,
Please put me down for one if you can get a good number.
Cheers, Mark

[Blackhound]

FF - I'd have one at that sort of price as well.

[Taylor]

I've asked for half a dozen.

[Bigface0_0]

What are they like, have you got a pic of your one?

[Taylor]

Just google spot tracker mk1

[numplumz]

is there anything to look out for, different models etc, I see there are quite a few on ebay.

[Ian]

The mark 1 versions have a fairly old gps chipset in them, which makes them a bit unreliable in dense tree cover. The mark 2 is supposedly better but has a reduced battery life. I have the mark 1 and it's had something like 100 hours use, 80 of which were in tracking mode so the batteries do last a while. Positioning of the unit when on the bike is the key thing. It needs a clear view of the sky, so handlebars or bar harness.

[alfachippy]

Flatfishy, I'm sure I've missed the boat on this one but if you can get hold of some spot trackers and have any left I'd certainly like to have one!

[Taylor]

Six people inc you have asked for one and I've asked my SiL for half a dozen so if she can find enough your on the list. They're not back in Paris 'til Sunday evening though so be patient.