Tracking works quite a bit different than OK message and even more so the SOS function of the SPOT.Asposium wrote:Wow!Scattamah wrote:Like anything that uses satellite, SPOT requires line of sight to operate 100%. If the unit is not face up, or you're going through forested areas, transmission can be patchy. Hence the reason you'll often see people with their tracker affixed to the top of a saddle pack or on the handlebars. Mine currently lives in the front pouch of my Ortlieb waist pack. Nothing to obstruct it's line of sight and whilst it's not horizontal, I'm usually leant over far enough it's pointing somewhat upwards and can find a sat.
Greetz
S.
Didn't realise the SPOT was so flaky.
My Garmin inReach lives in a padded pouch, inside a dry bag, and in my camelbak.
Or when hiking, inside my pocket.
Can't remember the exact numbers, but it uses only a few signal impulses to send the location to the sat. Then it's more diffucult for GPS devices to pin point the position under movement.
So there are a few factors. Add wet leaves etc. things get quite diffucult for tracking, which doesn't mean it's this way for OK messages too.
That said, I think Garmin (former DeLorme) InReach is the better system.