SPOT updates, the Mapper, and SPOT Messaging

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SPOT updates, the Mapper, and SPOT Messaging

(15 posts) (11 voices)

Started 6 years ago by Scareman
Latest reply from DonKeyHoTey

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Scareman
Member
SPOT updates and the Mapper.

I have observed duing EC 2014 that there are several key things to be understood, clarified, and optimized to enable tracking our friends and loved one during a WaterTribe event:
1. SPOT updates on SPOT tracking pages that I saw worked great
2. WaterTribe Tracker Mapping updates were not accurate for many WaterTribers
3. Many WaterTribers never showed up on the WaterTribe Tracker Map
4. Many WaterTribers were frozen on the WaterTribe Tracker Map when selecting "ALL" CHALENGERS, but could be seen individually. So the data was communicating somehow on a less intensive query
5. The default view when accessing the WaterTribe Tracker Map requires everyone to be loaded into the map, and this seems to be a huge drain on the database and systems.
6. Perhaps the WaterTribe Tracker Mapping selection process hould focus on Challenger first, then Class, then ALL as a last resort.
7. Consider the SPOT Buddy App, because it seemed to work well for many
8. Consider having a required SPOT personal tracking page listed for each Challenger so those that need to find Challengers' positions can do so, because not everyone can get accurate positions when neceesary. Such as shore contacts or CP contact having power outages or loss of internet or wireless data service.
9. The Auto SPOT OK message updates I received from 2 paddlers I was watching worked flawlessly.
10. In my personal case, there was a change in SPOT updates from training to the EC. We had to add my communication info back into the SPOT update settings so that I could get the automatic updates from OneEyedJake. Our practice attempts worked one week prior to the EC, but anytime you reenter the SPOT configuration on your SPOT account, it is easy to leave that box before hitting save, and losing all of that hard work you did editing e-mails, messages, and/or text numbers.
11. We need to understand why SPOTS may have stopped transmitting. I do not have examples, but assume from many posting SPOT buddy updates that there were a few that had not SPOT data even on the SPOT Buddy for a while. Please tell us about that.
12. How can your emergency contact as listed on your PLB registration handle the Search and Rescue call after activation?
13. How can your Emegergency Contacts as listed in your SPOT configuration (2) contacts handle the SPOT emergency call after you hit your SOS button?
14. Is your Shore Contact one of your emergency contacts from your SPOT SOS configuration and PLB registration?
15. Have you as a Challenger really prepared your Shore contact for the reality of loss of SPOT tracking information?
16. Have you as Challenger really prepared your Shore Contact, family, and friends that there will be no way to contact you from Chokoloksee to Flamingo?
17. Do your Shore Contact, family and friends understand what YOUR SPOT messaging means?
- My Help message is configured to inform "I have a situation that requires assistance. Look for a call if possible with cell coverage." What I need to say is "I have a problem and require external help. Look for repeated HELP until resolved. I will try to call for help via cell and VHF radio."
- My Custom message is used to notify I have a rest stop, camping stop, or a repair where I will be able to continue on my own after the pause. My Custom SPOT message - "I have to stop for a while. Look for OK when things are ready to go."
- My SOS gives the Search and Rescue authorities as much information to be prepared to help me survive a serious and grave situation requiring external assistance. My SOS message says:
  
  "Brad is a big guy that understands the serious nature of his circumstances if activating the PLB. 6'2" 240 pounds white male. Paddling either an orange 14.5 foot kayak or paddling a tandem 22' kayak by himself that is orange/yellow top with white hull.
  
  Brad is prepared with survival gear in his PFD for any paddling trip.
  
  Brad wears a yellow PFD with highly visible reflective strips and carries a VHF radiio.
  
  His cell phone should be accessible in a waterproof lanyard XXX-XXX-XXXX."
Posted 6 years ago #
NorthernLight
Member

Agreed Scareman - here is my two cents and advice for what its worth....

1. Give your contact your SPOT shared page link. This will assist in two circumstances..either (a) when the WaterTribe tracker goes down or is slow or (b) if it should happen you drop out of the challenge but elect to continue on the course. WaterTribe will no longer track you but I'm sure your family would like to know where you are!

2. Communicate with your contact on how you will use SPOT. If you're planning to hit an OK every 6 hours but your contact is expecting 10 minute tracks with an OK every two..its a recipe for unneccesary worry. Be aware of the challenge rules..and make sure you are all on the same page.

3. Enter the Derby! Besides being good training and a way to maybe earn a prize, it gives you valuable practice in the use of SPOT. I think that a lot of "user error" with SPOT is simply not having spent enough time with our most loveable device.

Posted 6 years ago #
Chekika
Member

NorthernLight aka Emily wrote:

Agreed Scareman - here is my two cents and advice for what its worth....

2. Communicate with your contact on how you will use SPOT. If you're planning to hit an OK every 6 hours but your contact is expecting 10 minute tracks with an OK every two..its a recipe for unneccesary worry. Be aware of the challenge rules..and make sure you are all on the same page.

Unfortunately, I don't think the EC rules are clear enough on this. Here are the rules in question:

16. Correct Use of SPOT Required

a. At least one working SPOT is required for all boats.
b. You should be in Tracking Mode while moving on the water. If you don't have a tracking subscription, you can send OK messages about once an hour instead.
c. Send an OK Message when stopping for a period of time OR at a checkpoint OR after a dangerous situation has been overcome - like a storm. Note that the OK Message at the checkpoint is your official time for that checkpoint. If you don’t send an OK Message, you weren't there.
d. Send a Custom Message when stopping to camp or anchor for a period of time. This can also be used for a checkpoint. Note that if you have an old SPOT that does not provide a Custom Message, then us the OK Message.

It seems that a competitor can interpret these rules to mean that the OK message need only be sent at checkpoints, and no OK messages need to be sent in between.

I interpret it to mean that OK messages should be sent regularly, about every hour.

If this were clarified it might also solve the problem Emily raised.

Keith

Posted 6 years ago #
PrivateHam
Member

I agree regarding the OK or tracking requirements. It creates an unfair advantage when one competitor is following the rules and others are virtually invisible.

As far as the race tracking map, my background is in .net programming and I would be more than happy to look at the system to see if it can be improved so that it scales better when under a heavier load.

Posted 6 years ago #
Cwolfe
Member

I believe the SPOT is an accessory. We should go back to mandatory shore contact report daily with shoe contacts reporting on the forum. I think the OK should only be used for major turns(ie going up the Shark, unexpected stops, prolonged stops and checkpoints. Excessive use of OK dilutes their value. The custom can be used to tell your mate that he or she is the best or to remind them that you appreciate their tolerance of your obsession. Just my opinion. I think using the SPOT time as the officialte is bush league and erroneous.

I also think that the event has grown to earn a high quality tracker with a easy, self explanatory front end interface with a platform that can consistently handle the data and the surge of users.

I am just saying that the quality of the website should be on par with the quality of the event and the participants.

Respectfully,
Cwolfe

Posted 6 years ago #
Chekika
Member

Charles, I like your advice you gave to Bob Bradford today, but I disagree with you on SPOT use.

The SPOT data is more for the friends, family, and onlookers, as well as CP times. This year I kept a thread going on the Hobie forum about approximately 17-18 Hobie boats. It had about 1700 hits during the week. These are Hobie users from all over the world. In addition, I have 6-8 personal aquaintences I like to track. I'm related to none of them, but I loved tracking them, noting they stopped at a place like Shark River Chickee, or pointing out that Sundance/Daughter had missed the Shark River cutoff in the dark (they corrected that quickly,) or predicting when Dogslife would get to Flamingo, and when he would leave for the Finish taking the tides, winds, and mud flats into account. I think SPOT data and the Mapper are the reason for such widespread interest in the WT EC. It is immensely informative and entertaining--all over the world.

Keith

Posted 6 years ago #
Cwolfe
Member

Keith. Why doesn't the tracking mode work for the interested followers and the OK be used to highlight areas of interest and change?

C

Posted 6 years ago #
Chekika
Member

Yes, the tracking mode would be great, but it is not a required subscription. Pressing OK regularly serves the same purpose I think.

Maybe Chief could work out a deal with SPOT for a 30-day tracking subscription (say $15.) SPOT tracking would get good advertising and users would get the benefit.

Keith

Posted 6 years ago #
JoeWildlife
Member

I'm not here to pile on the complaints about the SPOT or the mapper. I'm sure it wouldn't be easy to find a program that can do what it does...if a replacement program is deemed necessary. But the system sure did show its limitations this year. The first few days of the race was terrible...long wait times for a response from the server. It got better later, assuming because fewer people were using it. Sometimes the little yellow tracking points would show up, sometimes not. And there were those frozen icons of some people.

The MR340 race organizers used a tracker program a couple years. Kattack and Raceowl, if I remember. Not sure if either has the awesome imagery as the basemap.

I like to see the OK message only used when getting underway after a stop. Or after the storm or a tough crossing. I also like when the custom message simply said "rest stop". People at home love being spectators using the SPOT system. As a participant, I like knowing that people can follow along. I'm all for it.

Joe

Posted 6 years ago #
Scareman
Member

SPOT Tracking mode would be great for followers, and reduces the WaterTribe mapping load. Maybe a separate page on the newer WaterTribe.org site would host the event roster with a linked SPOT shared page.

Also, I was pleased to learn and access the Facebook WaterTribe Group during the 2014 EC. I enjoyed how easy it was to get and share info on the Facebook page - meaning I could post pictures directly from my PC onto Facebook without having to go to a web host, upload, and then copy a link, and then paste that link into the WaterTribe forum post.

I like requiring shore contact every 24 hours where they update the forum, race manager, or CP captain, and I think this should be mandatory. However, with such large challenger numbers, this can be overwheliming and tough to keep track of. Maybe there should be a separate page on the forum for each Challenger's 24 hour update and plans that could be accessed by the race managers - this would be efficient so it would not fill or cross 3 forum pages if all 140 entries were posting.

If you are in the Wilderness Waterway or in Florida Bay, your shore contact should know your plans and that you may be without land based human contact for 36-72 hours in the Everglades or 24 hours in Florida Bay. There is a pay phone in Flamingo so anybody can call collect from that phone while you are at CP3 (do not have to have AT&T there to call out.). Also, the shore contacts should know that there is probably no way WaterTribe can get message out to Challengers in this Unsupported Adventure Challenge.

I personally use many OKs to log speed, time, waypoints, landmarks (chickees) and other pertinent data on the tracker. That way it is easier for me to review what happened during the crazy adventure.

Also remember, the EC is not the only event now and there are specific issues that need to be addressed in the North Carolina events, as well as the Okoume events.

Posted 6 years ago #
spiritwalker
Member

For years I have followed the Yukon River Quest Race via their tracker and I'm not aware of any system crashes or stalling. They too us SPOT to track the competors. The system lets you know how far the competor is away from their check point. Below is a link to their website and the Tracker link is all the way to the right on top. You can even replay prior year races.

http://www.yukonriverquest.com/

Posted 6 years ago #
DaveOnCudjoe
Member

Spot is a valuable tool for the race manager and a convenience for the interested parties ashore. That being said it has been proven unreliable year after year. The shore contacts posting to the forum worked well enough but many had shore contacts that were incompetent at best so that system left something to be desired as well except for those challengers who chose to make it work. I miss the "pithy comments" in the logs. Dave

Posted 6 years ago #
Hollywood
Member

Update:

I am working with Chief on a solution to resolve the missing tracks for individuals and if this works I will post up what information is needed. Thanks for your patience and stay tuned!

~Hollywood

Posted 6 years ago #
BeastOarman
Member

I like the tracking and only using OK to stop/start the day and after a storm. Keeps it simple, I do not need more to think about. I forgot to turn tracking on at one point, never mind if we had to do more.

Posted 6 years ago #
DonKeyHoTey
Member

SPOT assessment: spotty at best. First gen unit in first year: didn't work at most critical time, offshore in serious squall. Last year: lost in blue water within first few hours by water tearing unit in its vinyl pouch from its carabiner clip (clipped on poop deck). SPOT folks admitted to me that it was a poor design/mfr. Replacement Gen 3 unit keeps shutting itself off -- including during this EC. And this is worth $100-150 for the hardware and $150/year for basic service?

DKHT

Posted 6 years ago #

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