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Re: How to use a SPOT device

Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2018 1:06 pm
by rlown
Are you going to carry Mark down a hill to meet them? The guy in Yose was rescued because he stayed put.

Re: How to use a SPOT device

Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2018 1:37 pm
by longri
bobby49 wrote:Additionally, most of these signals are flying up and down on various microwave frequencies, and they can be blocked by various natural factors. So, it is nice to know how your own device operates and what is going to foul it up. An example of these natural factors is called multipath interference. Basically, instead of a GPS signal flying straight down into your device, the signal might bounce off some reflective surface like a smooth rock cliff. That causes error in the position solution in the device, so if you see your position moving around at some incredible speed, think about multipath interference. Basically, if you move to higher ground, you can get away from those kinds of problems. Either that or else wait for a different constellation of satellites.
Are you talking about the SPOT? There is no readout of GPS location precision. It either has a lock or not. Your advice to move to where you can get a clear view of the sky is in the manual already.

bobby49 wrote:The routine messages go up to a "sat phone satellite" in low earth orbit, and then they are bounced down to some earth station. The SOS is sent differently, and those go up to special satellites that handle SOS calls, and they are in high earth orbit. It is helpful if the user knows how and where each type of "bird" is flying and how to get transmission one way or the other.
I asked about the SPOT. Which device are you talking about?

bobby49 wrote:So, at a minimum, I would suggest that you learn how to reset your device in the event that a false alarm SOS was sent.
That information is in the manual already.

Re: How to use a SPOT device

Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2018 8:51 pm
by bobby49
oldranger wrote:In my opinion it would be gross incompetence to assume that a moving SOS is a false alarm.
Then you should speak to the Fresno County sheriff's dispatcher about their rescue protocols.

Re: How to use a SPOT device

Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2018 8:53 pm
by bobby49
longri wrote: That information is in the manual already.
Who carries the manual with them on a trip?

Re: How to use a SPOT device

Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2018 10:37 pm
by longri
bobby49 wrote:
longri wrote: That information is in the manual already.
Who carries the manual with them on a trip?
You said people should have a better understanding of their devices. Then I asked you what information would you add to the SPOT user manual that would better inform users. All of your suggestions were either wrong, irrelevant, or already in the manual.

So do you have anything or not?