Spot 2 or Spot Connect??

[Dave O’RourkeMember]

Picking up a Spot for the 2 day Old Bull Nav ride. Just wondering what other guys are using and why. I’ve seen mostly positive comments for the Spot 2 but not many for the Connect. Thoughts??

[GregMember]

Either really, I have had both I currently have and use a spot connect. I use it in conjunction with my iPhone or iPod. I like the ability to be able to sent short custom messages as well as my pre programed messages. I can also monitor the tracking.

Spot2 is more simple yet restrictive in its operation

TB

[WayneMember]

I”ve got a spot two bought a couple of years ago and it works ok. It could be better in dense bush (the gps has no trouble). I mount it on my back pack strap which isn’t ideal by the instructions. There might be some data on my link on this site from a run though suburbia testing a bike if you havent seen what it produces

[Dave O’RourkeMember]

Thanks TB, I really want a spot connect but have read in a couple of places that it is fiddly to use and you have to constantly re connect your phone to it to use it? If its not to bad I’ll be on it.

[GregMember]

D-Rally wrote:

Thanks TB, I really want a spot connect but have read in a couple of places that it is fiddly to use and you have to constantly re connect your phone to it to use it? If its not to bad I’ll be on it.

Yeah on another site I read the same bullshit (IMO) they whinge about anything there but (again IMO :laugh:
When out west and where there is no phone range I sync it up, set it tracking and turn my phone off. In the arvo I turn the phone on, it auto syncs, I send a ok message and a custom one to the bride and turn it off. Its been a good thing with my iPhone, I did have troubles with it switching off at first but it was bar mounted and the vibrations seemed to upset it, I mount it on the top of my camelback strap

TB

[DeanMember]

After my recent off and copping a heap of grief from the Missus and father etc I went and got myself a spot2. I havnt set it up yet but will do before My first ride back into the bush,all being well hopefully early March See how it goes then. :laugh:

Ollie

[Adrian GaleMember]

I am running the Spot 2 from ADV Moto. Thankfully I havent had to use the SOS button and I never hope I do. A ride buddy broke his femur deep in the forest and it took forever for the ambo to be despatched and then find us. This prompted the purchase after a tip off from TB.

Some of my mates are on my OK list and dont they just love getting the OK message on their mobiles while they are at work on a monday morning! :laugh:

Either way …Just do it!

Galey

[scott bockingMember]

I too bought a Spot2 from Adventure Moto about two years ago. I have no plans to run the tracking app as I don’t ride multi day ADV stuff but it comes with me on every trail ride regardless of how many people there are. The text messages work well and I have hit send in some of the most overgrown parts of my local forest just to test and they always come through to my wife.
You set up direct debit for your annual subscription and all you need do is make sure you change the batteries once a year as you would in a smoke detector.

STM

[Geoff ForshawMember]

I have a spot 2 which i purchased before the Longest Day ride last year. Mounted it to the strap on my back pack. Set up correctly it works well and keeps every one informed.

Cheers,
Lefty

[Steve ParkesMember]

I use a Spot2. Keep it in my jacket pocket.

On the last ride setup tracking and it did a pretty good job. Seemed to miss a few reports which jsut made it look like I was extra fast on those sections.

I liked the idea of the flexible messaging in the connect but did not want the hassle/need of multiple devices. Plus with the Spot2 you can preset 2 messages as well as the emergency. So I have the check-in message as “all is well”, and the custom message as “bike f**ked. Meet me at nearest main road with a trailer”.

I reckon those 2 plus the emergency call cover all eventualities.

[Dwayne OMember]

We have had a lot of success with SPOT 2`s on here and TB runs a connect as well.
They proved to be super reliable again on the recent Desert run the crew did, Lefty & I were flat out keeping tabs on 3 trackers for the entire 10 days :laugh:

I use mine every time I ride (except to work) :laugh: and have found that the missus never tries to ring me to find out where I am anymore, and that is great Usually dinner is ready just as I arrive home from the multi day runs as well

A little peace of mind is a great thing

[Ian KersleyMember]

I have used a spot2 as well for last two or so years and worked very well till about a month
before a recent 2week ride when it started to play up [ missing a few spots] changed the batteries
and thought it was ok . Changed the batteries 3 times in two weeks and now it only spots when ive
been stationary for while . I supose thing dont last forever ,maybe time to get a new one.

Has anyone else had trouble with there spot2

Maybe I should have started a new thread

bones

[GregMember]

Nah this is as good a thread as any Bones for it

My spot two never worked well when mounted on the bars either did my connect actually. My spot 2 wasn’t something that I was ever 100% happy with, it never missed sending a message but which is the most important thing I think.. My connect (the spot 3) has always been good always and I am very happy with it and the extra features

TB

[Ian KersleyMember]

TB my spot2 has been mounted on the bars from day one and been very reliable
till about a month ago . Maybe the vibration has finally got to it . More than half the people
on the ride had trouble . Still might try mounting it elsewhere and see wot happens.

bones

[Scott SouthwellMember]

I have a spot 2 and works fine except in deep bush where the GPS seems to drop out when my Garmin still gets reception.

My messaging works fine but like the idea of the messaging on the connect. Out of interest does anybody know someone who has activated the SOS feature and what sort of response time they got?

From what I understand the SOS does not go direct to emergency services but through a third party who then contacts emergency services. I’m curious as god forbid I need to push that button one day I would like to know how reliable that third party is in contacting help.

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