Good Sunday morning folks. How fitting to start off December with weekly tech giveaways for the Holiday season.
Today one of our lucky viewers will win the new SPOT GEN3 Satellite GPS Messenger from Globalstar.
The SPOT GEN3, $169, is a small GPS based device that tracks where you are and can email or txt pre-arranged messages to designated family or friends you can edit on your FindMESPOT.com profile. The basic plan, $149.99 USD lets you designate three different recipients for: CHECK-IN/OK, HELP, CUSTOM, or customized SOS with specific types of messages to private rescue services. Messages are sent in the form of an email and or SMS. It includes Basic Tracking which automatically sends your GPS coordinates every ten minutes for up to 24 hours, on the base plan.
You can change messages and recipients before use, depending on your trip. When used with Google Maps, along with the SPOT GPS LAT/NAV information, you can also get altitude of your breadcrumb trail.
The most critical benefit is real-time S.O.S. With the push of a special covered button, GEOS International Emergency Response Coordination Center is notified with your GPS coordinates and information to local response teams. For example contacting 9-1-1 responders in North America and 1-1-2 responders in Europe. The S.O.S. button is for emergencies only. More than 2000 international rescues have been initiated by SPOT users.
A red light on the SPOT lets you know if there is no Satellite coverage.
This third gen model uses 4 AAA Energizer Ultimate Lithium or Energizer NiHM Rechargeable Batteries and motion activated tracking for longer battery life. It also has a USB power option. SPOT is water-proof when running on internal batteries but not when powered by USB.
Additional fees cover Unlimited or Extreme tracking to your service plan, Movement Alerts, and continuous Tracking that keeps going for as long as your SPOT is turned on and moving. It can track where you as frequently as every 2 ½ minutes, if you are driving, on a skidoo or even flying.
You can also assign the SPOT to another user with their specific information, including notes for medical entries.
I found the device worked well in my goings on covering 300 square km. I can imagine its usefulness when used by loved ones in areas far away with no cell coverage.
For more information: http://ca.globalstar.com/en/
Although SPOT covers a good part of the land based population, beyond cell coverage, worldwide, it’s a good idea to check global Spot coverage, which is frequently updated on its own private satellite constellation at:
http://www.findmespot.ca/en/index.php?cid=109
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