AMTRA.com.au

This weekend Tim has borrowed my SPOT Satellite GPS messenger is taking it up to Abbeyard.  He has it in tracking mode so you can follow him up the highway and while he is on his rides this weekend.  Just click on this web link and it will take you to the SPOT Share page. 
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0zFBChDn115C7jxFEkelg5vsVmUhnKHvL
You may have to cut and paste the whole address into your web browser.
If you have any questions about it let me know.

Ian
0428567678

That's pretty amazing!  Obviously, he got into Abbeyard and went out again to send a 'Custom Message'.  It will be interesting to see who he sent it to and if they got it!

Thank you Ian, for your time last Wednesday. It was most informative.

Custom messages are below.

PIPLUS 2
 Latitude:-36.85738
 Longitude:146.68756
 GPS location Date/Time:11/04/2011 16:18:40 EST

 Message:Send more beer




PIPLUS 2
 Latitude:-36.9305
 Longitude:146.72179
 GPS location Date/Time:11/04/2011 16:42:36 EST

 Message:I am OK.  Have a look where I am

 Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://fms.ws/6NjTv/36.9305S/146.72179E

I guess you got the messages!

I received the first Message from Tim at 4.05PM,
Latitude: -36.85738   Longitude: 146.68756
Message Read:  Send more beer.
Also : Click the link below to see where i am located: http://fms.ws/6Nj5P/36.85738S/146.68756E

2nd Message: I am OK. Have a look where i am.
http://fms.ws/6NjTv/36.9305S/146.72179E

How goods that, smaller than the EPIRB and with Extra Features!!!
 Imagine if Tim went out to the Desert and he had the tracking on, we could all log on to the SPOT site and track their progress.
 
   

I just received another Message Via SPOT from Tim, he's at Harrietville 12.0pm.
http://fms.ws/609Ci/36.89236S/147.06395E

Got a phone call from Tim call quality fairly good  , bit of a delay
but understandable so it works
 

I also got a call from Tim from the sat phone. 

Reception a bit patchy at times, but otherwise it worked well.  He was standing out-side the shed at the time.

As John said, a bit of a delay, which is understandable.

if you have a look at this link you will see where he has been in the last couple of days.  Tim has had it on tracking.  With the tracking it only goes to a web link.  His last track log was 7 minutes ago at 1208hrs.
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0zFBChDn115C7jxFEkelg5vsVmUhnKHvL 
this will only show the last 7 days but on the account it is there for 30 days.  it can also be exported into Google earth easily and saved for ever.

This share page can also be embedded into your web page easily so anyont visiting the site can see where people are live!

If you have any questions please ask!
ian
0428 567 678
sales@piplus.com.au

 

HOW GOODS THIS !!!
Now come on boys, show me what EPIRB does this ??

I guess that someone (with a better knowledge of the area than me), will be able to determine what tracks Tim is/was on.

Still, the technology is pretty clever.  But it does feel a little like cyber stalking!

They can't Pete and with an EPIRB you get only one shot and then it needs to be serviced for use again.

The SPOT allows you to send out multiple SOS in the same day and there are no service charges after each time its used only the annual charge.

Look at the costs assuming the ERIRP is $360 and the SPOT is $160 plus with a annual fee $115.

Year 1 Spot $160+115=275
Year 1 EPIRB $360
Years 2 Spot $115
Year 2 EPIRB $0
Year 3 Spot $115
Year 3 EPIRB $120 if used as reset service fee

3 years cost SPOT $160+115+115+115=$505 in this time as many SOS can be sent as required plus 120 200 SMS to mobile messages and unlimited emails to anyone.

3 years cost EPIRB $360+0+120=$480 and in this time ONLY 1 SoS was sent. If more keep SoS are required rack up the service fee and visits to the dealer.

Depends what your needs are but I can go riding more often when my family are contacted during rides at the push of a button. Also its good in some ways that its one way transmit to them, keeps the chatter down.

But I do not need my epirb to do that, when I go for a ride I go to use my motorcycle not my cupboard of gadgets but you go, go go gadget Pee air, go :D :D

Brad,
With the SPOT subscription you actually get 200 SMS messages included in the annual subscription. The best way to never go over is to have all OK / Custom messages go to email only (unlimited)  Have the HELP ones go to SMS incase the person is not in front of a computer but also their email address so they can log on and see where you are.  Most people these days have a smart phone anyway and can get the email instead on an SMS.

With the SOS it will be immediately relayed from SPOT to AMSA/ AUSSAR Canberra who will call the local Police Search & Rescue to take over and co-ordinate local police / SES / Ambos to initially attend. 

Using the SPOT in tracking may seem like a gadget / gimmic but if you are riding, fall off and injured to the point you cannot activate a device (any device)then at least SPOT will still be pinging away and show where you are.  Handy if you don't come home at least people can see where you are and get help to you.  Point is you shouldn't ride alone but many do...

The other advantage of even OK messages and tracking is that you can get them to post direct to the AMTRA website and at least members (and potential members)and partners can see where people are and what rides are happening.

Yep it is a great item in many respects.
Ian would you be able to email (bdm30@bigpond.net.au) me a receipt for my SPOT which I got at your Vic Police 4WD presentation the ESN is 0~8218668.

Tks Brad

We have chosen to purchase a GPS equipped EPIRB as all we want is something to use  in case of an emergency, $360 purchase cost then no further cost for 7 x years unless used , in 7 years time it won't be worth getting the battery replaced as there will be smaller and cheaper ones on the market by then. EPIRB is registred with AMSA and we can log on at any time and change contact details, nature and area of use info. The GPS/EPIRB is accurate to 100m and it also has a built in strobe light.

Best case $ for 7 x years
GPS/EPIRB $360
SPOT $960

You would have to use the EPIRB 5 x times in 7 years for it to cost the same as the SPOT.

If people want the tracking and message options then SPOT is the best choice, if you want something you can put in your back pack and then forget about for the next 7 years EPIRB is the one.

How long do the batteries last in a SPOT and what is the GPS accuracy ?

Cheers,
Gary.

You got more Gadgets "Bling" on your Bike than anyone in the Club!!!
Gadget Man You take the Cake for Gadgets "Bling Bling "

You forgot about the Battery cost for the SPOT, must be at least $150 over seven years and the bar mount "BLING" $40 that takes it to $1100 x 12 bum Bags $13200 and if we loose some thats another x per year, so it might cost $15,000 over seven years!!!
I will stick with the spot, it's smaller, easier to carry, better for me and maybe one day you can get anodised "Orange" aluminium Bling for it !!! Anyway it's up to the general Members what they want, iv'e already got myself a spot, so whatever gizmos we get won't effect me at all.

Hi Gary,
SPOT uses Energizer Lithium batteries so you can get them from the supermarket if you like.

A new set of batteries will do approx 350 OK message and up to 7 x 24hrs in tracking mode.

More importantly it will do 3.5 days in SOS mode sending the message and GPS location every 5 minutes. 

It also shows you a red light when the batteries get down to 25% so you know when it is getting time to replace them.

GPS is accurate to 10 metres.

Under the Australain standards a Personal Locator Beacon
must operate no less than 24hrs in distress mode and the GPS be accurate within 100 metres.

Yes I have bling but what gadgets do I have on my bike pee in the air

Hi Peter, what I meant to say is that me and 3 x other members have purchased our own EPIRB , so whatever the club members decide to do will have no effect on us as well.
Do we really need 12 x bum bags with a  SPOT or EPIRB in each as I have never seen 12 rides on the calendar on the same day ?,  Orange Bling it might clash with all the Red on my bike 2T and red for me,
Cheers,
Gary.

Im going to get the black one so it will suit all my bikes  :)

They do come in the silver / grey if orange is not your colour of choice...  Advantage of orange is that if you are looking for it in an emergency then it stands out.

I bought 2 spots from Ian just after the talk Ian gave to the club. One for me and one for my brother.
My brother used his today after spending some time totally lost deer hunting in Southern NSW somewhere north of Corryong after he lost his compass and his normal GPS died (the electronics had a fit and although the unit powered up would not give any readings that were at at all useful).
It took only 2 hours from pressing the button to being winched into the helicopter. For the small cost of the unit it saved a full scale ground search what could have been a bad outcome.

I know AMTRA has purchased some plb,s but for the small cost of a Spot I think they are a pretty good personal insurance item if you intend to venture out on your own and especially off any tracks.

I have a spot and the way I see it I can go for a quick ride when I want and have some confidence that If I run out of fuel, fall off, break down I have some way of contacting wife/friends in no coverage mobile areas. The advantage of a spot is that it will send a message with your location to multiple pre determined phones via satellite and you dont need to bother emergency services. If you can get help from family and friends they can just bring a trailer and recover your bike etc Emergency help is available as with eprib,

For club rides I think the Eprib is the way to go, but if you ride alone spot is better.

Havent riden as much as some but certainly more than others, RIDING ALONE , i agree spots are great but as minimum they should take up the position of the third rider not the second ....... ( Third rider being the one that goes to get help while the second stays with the injured person )

Riding alone with a spot hmmmm is fine if you break down or get lost or whatever happens as long as its not a phisical injury that becaomes the incident , if its a physical injury that involves eg : getting knocked out , going into shock , pinned inder the bike while injured the spot aint gunna help and if it does who's gunna monitor you till the cavalry arrives....

I personally dont think anyone should ride alone spot or not 2 persons and am electronic aid should be min , three people without electonic aids .....


Just my thought  >:(

Riding alone is not recommended. The good thing about a spot if you do ride alone or do any other sport on your own is the tracking feature. Even if you are not capable of pressing the emergency button, as long as someone knows you went out and overdue then the spot position can be accurately monitored on google maps making it resonably easy to find you.

100% correct Zebby Riding alone on the road is bad enough, let alone in the bush. I often wonder if I was to slide of into a table drain on some of the back roads I sometimes ride on my own on the road bike if any one would ever find me, but in the bush you would have even less hope of someone finding you. Done it once many years ago and would not like to do it again. Much prefer riding in a group. Just my 2 bobs worth.