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Spot Trackers

Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2011 8:39 pm
by 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?

Re: Spot Trackers

Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2011 8:53 pm
by 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 :shock:

Re: Spot Trackers

Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2011 10:22 pm
by Taylor
You've dissapointed me Pete, I thought you'd be a fairy. :cry:

Re: Spot Trackers

Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2011 10:34 pm
by 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 :lol:

Re: Spot Trackers

Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2011 12:00 pm
by 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 ;)

Re: Spot Trackers

Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2011 1:21 pm
by 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.

Re: Spot Trackers

Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2011 2:41 pm
by Taylor
£4.33 if you can find them

Re: Spot Trackers

Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 7:42 am
by 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.

Re: Spot Trackers

Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 8:37 am
by Ian
Sounds good. Count me in

Re: Spot Trackers

Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 11:43 pm
by 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 :?:

Re: Spot Trackers

Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 12:15 am
by 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

Re: Spot Trackers

Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 9:03 am
by 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

Re: Spot Trackers

Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 11:30 am
by Taylor
Before I mail my SiL any idea on numbers of who would like one?

Re: Spot Trackers

Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 1:20 pm
by 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

Re: Spot Trackers

Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 1:54 pm
by plod
I'd like one :)

Re: Spot Trackers

Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 2:40 pm
by Bigface0_0
£5 yeah Ill have one :shock:

Re: Spot Trackers

Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 3:09 pm
by 99percentchimp
Hi Flatfish,
Please put me down for one if you can get a good number.
Cheers, Mark

Re: Spot Trackers

Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 3:39 pm
by Blackhound
FF - I'd have one at that sort of price as well.

Re: Spot Trackers

Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 3:48 pm
by Taylor
I've asked for half a dozen.

Re: Spot Trackers

Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 3:52 pm
by Bigface0_0
What are they like, have you got a pic of your one?

Re: Spot Trackers

Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 4:42 pm
by Taylor
Just google spot tracker mk1

Re: Spot Trackers

Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 5:48 pm
by numplumz
is there anything to look out for, different models etc, I see there are quite a few on ebay.

Re: Spot Trackers

Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 7:59 pm
by 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.

Re: Spot Trackers

Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2011 10:10 pm
by 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!

Re: Spot Trackers

Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2011 10:25 pm
by 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.