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Derby/Spot question

(10 posts) (8 voices)

Started 7 years ago by lugnut
Latest reply from SailBirdMike

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lugnut
Member

My Spot didn't send the original OK message when I did an on-water workout Sunday. All the tracking points showed up as did the final OK message at the end of the workout. But the lack of a starting OK message made it impossible to register the workout through the normal derby reporting system. Not a biggie, since I was able to claim a non-spot workout and there would only be a couple points difference for the on-water workout. But if this had been one of the rare days when the weather and available time had allowed for a long sail worth 15 or 20 points, I would have been . . . unhappy. Is there any way to compensate for the lack of a starting (or ending) OK message?

BTW, all the earlier workouts were sailing with a little rowing (after all, I'm in Class 4). This time for the heck of it I took our kayak. It redoubled my respect for fellow WaterTribers who do this in Classes 1-3.

Lugnut

Posted 7 years ago #
Scareman
Member

My SPOT ok messages are not transmitting at times, and other times they are severely delayed.

On One of my runs, my turnaround OK message was not transmitted. Out of 5 waypoints, only 1, 2, and 5 showed up on the tracker map. So my turnaround point and a key marker on the creek were not captured. However, the sequential numbering the OK messages showed 2 did not get through - which was confirmed by the red light on the SPOT.

This meant my total derby points was less than my mileage. Missing the turnaround point killed my distance and speed calculations for the derby points.

Since I did a longer paddle that week ending Sunday, the points error did not matter. The shorter on water SPOT runs were reduced to the default values.

I do reset my GPS odometer when I shove off and take a picture of it when I am done. That way I can beg Chief to give me a few points more if SPOT really kills my points.

Also, I have learned to get an actual SPOT message at my start launch ramp, I have to hit OK as soon as I unload the kayak. Hopefully before I get too far from my launch, two things happen: I have a better line of sight to the sky (no bamboo forest or trees, no bridge), and that there are actual satellites passing overhead at that time.

Posted 7 years ago #
Chief
Coastal Vagabond
Out, damn'd spot! out, I say! Shakespeare, was prescient.

I am only going to talk about the SPOT 2 version.

If you want to give yourself the best chance of having a valid OK message at any point in your journey, you have to watch the indicator lights - the two small light just above the buttons. When you push the OK button, the button will start to blink. Shortly after that you should see the GPS indicator - the left side of the two indicators - start to blink. That means it is acquiring your position. Next you watch for the MSG indicator - the right side - to see when it starts blinking. Sometimes this happens quickly and sometimes not so quick, but usually it will be within a minute or less. When the message light is blinking it means your SPOT is sending your position. At that time it is OK to launch from the beach. The OK button will continue blinking until your position has been confirmed. It will stop blinking after about 15-20 minutes.

All of the above is on pages 9, 10, and 12 of your SPOT User's Guide. Page 14 will tell you how a HELP message works. Page 16 will cover the SOS message.

So how do you use a SPOT for a long derby session?
1. Turn it on when you get to the launch site and let it warm up.
2. When you are ready to go, hit the OK Button.
3. Watch for the green GPS light to flash.
4. Watch for the MSG light to flash.
5. After the MSG light flashes 4 times, launch into your adventure.
6. Wait for the OK Button to stop flashing.
7. Put your SPOT in tracking mode.
8. When your bow touches the beach at your launch/finish point, hit the OK Button.
9. Unload your boat and don't leave until the OK button stops flashing at which time you can shut off your SPOT.
10. You can earn maximum points this way. Of course you can hit an OK message at any point to give you some options when calculating your points.
How do you use a SPOT for a short derby session like a hike or short on the water session?
1. Turn it on for a few minutes of warmup.
2. Hit the OK when you are ready to leave.
3. Watch the lights as directed above and don't start until the MSG light starts blinking.
4. Hike or paddle in as straight a line as possible.
5. Hike or paddle until the OK Button stops blinking or 30 minutes has elapses which ever is longer.
6. Hit the OK Button at your turn around, but stay at that point until the MSG light starts flashing.
7. Hike or paddle back to your starting point and hit the OK Button. Leave the SPOT in view of the sky until the OK button stops flashing.
8. It is relatively easy to get >= 6.5 points this way to max out your weekly score.
Anyone who has problems with a missing OK message or stuff like that should contact me by email. I can fix or recover most things that can happen. Also, you can just put it in tracking mode right at the start. Any tracking message can be converted (by me) to an OK message if one is missing. Remember if you need help with your derby session, I need to know ASAP before the week closes at midnight Sunday/Monday.

Remember that SPOT only tracks your position when you send a message or about every 10 minutes when in tracking mode. You can cover a lot of ground in 10 minutes of walking or paddling so short circular routes will get cut off and not show accurate distance covered. It sucks but there it is. Now that you understand the operation you should be able to plan courses that will get a fairly accurate distance calculation.
Posted 7 years ago #
CleanSlate
Member

One thing to add is that apparently any time you press a button, the button pressed overrides any other function that may still be in progress of completing. For example, one time I pressed OK at the start of the derby session and pushed off to start. After about 10 minutes I falsely assumed that the OK message had time to be transmitted and then went on and pressed the tracking button without looking at the blinking lights. Putting it in tracking mode before the OK was finished transmitting caused the OK message not to be sent. I then had to beg Chief to convert my first tracking point to an OK message.

One thing I might try in my next derby is to initially put it in tracking mode several minutes before I plan on launching. Then press OK at the start. If my understanding is correct, the OK will override any partially transmitted tracking transmission (which is fine). Then the OK will be sent out. Then the Spot will go back in tracking mode without any further intervention by me.

I'll try this strategy out in my next derby practice and report back.

Posted 7 years ago #
GatorBait
Member

I've been using the method you're suggesting and it's been workiing very well. All of my OK messages at the start and turnaround points have registered........so far!

I turn it on until I see it gets satellites and the gps button blinks green.

Then hit the tracking button - start loading the kayak to give it time to get at least one tracking point.....msg light blinking........Then hit the OK button .....finish loading boat and paddle away.

It's probably been pure luck that it's worked so well for me......hope it continues.

Nanci

Posted 7 years ago #
Shred
Member

Do I have to register to do the Derby or just turn on my Spot when I go out to train?

Posted 7 years ago #
Macatawa
Member

You need to register and confirm your SPOT here before you can enter Derby points:

http://www.watertribe.com/Events/EvergladesChallenge/Default.aspx?Tab=Setup&RaceID=EC2013

Make sure you read the document "SPOT Setup and Usage"

For the Derby, follow the instructions here:

http://www.watertribe.com/Events/Derby/Default.aspx

Posted 7 years ago #
Chief
Coastal Vagabond

Using tracking mode at the start and then pressing OK will work, but I prefer to hit OK first and then go into tracking after the first OK is finished. It seems a bit more precise in my experiments, but not a lot more so whatever works for you.

Posted 7 years ago #
lugnut
Member

Thanks for the tips, Chief. I use a Spot I; the flashing lights are a bit different but you can still tell when an OK or tracking message has been sent by watching them. Unfortunately on Sunday, the unit was behind me on the kayak so I couldn't see the light flashing for the initial OK. Both lights were flashing after the OK button was hit, but I didn't watch it after launching.

Hitting the OK at the end of a long leg is good advice. A couple times I've timed a tack or a turn around on the course with the flash of a tracking signal only to get back & find out the tracking signal didn't go through.

Lugnut

Posted 7 years ago #
SailBirdMike
Inactive

I finally activated my SPOT and joined the Derby, even though the bulk of my entries will be treadmill ones, so the SPOT won't be used much. I will be testing it, including OK and HELP messages, all next week. I have a SPOT 1, and chose not to get a SPOT 2, only because I prefer to carry one battery size and not two.

Posted 7 years ago #

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