View Full Version : Spot Gen3 Message Programing
Hey all-
Quick question for Spot Gen3 users, or anyone familiar with their somewhat archaic website design. I'm looking to set up my alerts/messages for friends/girlfriend/family, and have seen it mentioned that it's possible to send different messages to all of these people. I've looked around the website, and have been able to set up "profiles", but have not been able to activate more than one profile at a time. It instead shows an "active" check next to the most recently edited one.
Not here to debate effectiveness of the device, it is what it is, haven't had an issue with it yet. Simply looking for some assistance with the website/settings. Any insight would be great...
Thanks :)
Texaco
CarlZ993
03-06-2014, 15:46
I have the Gen 2 version. I'm not aware of being able to send different messages to different people.
I'm going off of this information from their owner's manual/brochure that came with the device:
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e308/djflyy/Continuation%20Main%20Album/Screenshot2014-03-06at33839PM.png
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e308/djflyy/Continuation%20Main%20Album/Screenshot2014-03-06at33832PM.png
I believe you can send 2 different messages.....I have the main one set that "all is ok" and then believe I set the second one for my wife that said that said "thank you so much for allowing me to go off hiking when I wish". Not home right now but will try and look this up later.
Damn Yankee
03-06-2014, 18:19
Sounds as if you can make up to two groups with as many people as you want in each group
I know that you can create different profiles, but I believe you can only use one at a time. Since I'm still using Gen 1 & 2 SPOTs, I probably should keep my mouth shut :)
But I'm going to follow this thread because I would like to upgrade to a Gen 3 in the near future.
You can actually create 3 different messages with the GEN3 not including the official SOS message.
Msg 1: Checkin/OK
Msg 2: Help msg to send to friend(s) or family member(s) telling them you need some help, not an emergency services type help but basic, "i need a ride"
Msg 3: Custom message for that special someone :), maybe to let your wife/husband etc know you're thinking of them
and then SOS
To get to this you only need one profile, and this is the one that should be active with your device. To get to it you
login to your SPOT account
Select the "My Spot Devices" tab
Under the "Contact Details column for your device/profile select "view/edit"
that will take you to a page that has all the options listed above and the ability to customize the msgs.
Hope that gets you there
@psyenz- Thanks for the info! I've seen that screen, but never thought of the custom message as that "2nd" option. Makes total sense now. Thanks for the insight!
Now to come up with what to say... especially the family "help" one... seems like there'd be a huge range of things to say given the circumstances and depending on my location.
Sailing_Faith
03-12-2014, 11:36
I have a 2nd generation. I have the following 4 buttons programmed with these messages.
ok button; "I am ok, here is my current location." I hit this when starting to hike, or raising the anchor. I also hit it through the day as I make progress....
Msg button: "I have reached my destination for the day, or a significant milestone or goal." I hit this when I make camp, drop anchor or moor, or if I reach someplace I was hiking to... Like a mt. Peak or a waterfall.
Assist: "I need assistance, but no emergency. Please pick me up, or contact Towboat US." Important to talk to the people on your list about this before hand so they don't call a ranger or the USCG.
SOS: "I have an emergency that requires assistance, please contact appropriate authorities." Make sure you arrange in advance to have specific people not only make the notification (spot will do it also) but that the people all know of each other and coordinate. You don't want 5 separate calls made to report your hitting this button.
Great info Sailing_Faith. I'll certainly use some of that to design my own settings.
While I've got this thread open, has anyone found a way to record the GPS data for more than the 7 days that the Spot service allows? I.E. any external site that will record it? I vaguely remember seeing a website that was tracking A/T hikers with the Gen3 devices, but despite tons of Googling, I've yet to find it again. It'd be cool to track the whole trip and be able to look at it when I'm done.
Sailing_Faith
03-12-2014, 14:45
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0k74N72e5suub7IY433h3m03C2KUPpG s4Nt yet. Going on 3 years, and I use it constantly. I would love for you to find a way....
This is my spot page. (http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0k74N72e5suub7IY433h3m03C2KUPpG s4)
I did hear there was someone who figured it out, and would allow you to track your hikes on their page... I did not look into it since much (most) of my spot use is at sea.
good luck!
Great info Sailing_Faith. I'll certainly use some of that to design my own settings.
While I've got this thread open, has anyone found a way to record the GPS data for more than the 7 days that the Spot service allows? I.E. any external site that will record it? I vaguely remember seeing a website that was tracking A/T hikers with the Gen3 devices, but despite tons of Googling, I've yet to find it again. It'd be cool to track the whole trip and be able to look at it when I'm done.
Hey Texaco and Sailing_Faith: check out trackleaders.com (http://www.trackleaders.com/trailtracking,) They will track your data for the entire AT or PCT, or CDT or..... You still have to set up a share page on the SPOT website and then setup on track leaders. I'm using this service for my thru, you can see the use on one of the pages on my blog (http://meontheat.blogspot.com) : Finding a Laf (http://meontheat.blogspot.com/p/test.html) I provide links to both SPOT and Trackleaders there
Hope to see you on the trail, I hit the approach on 25-mar. trail name: LAF (LostAndFound)
Hey Texaco and Sailing_Faith: check out trackleaders.com (http://www.trackleaders.com/trailtracking,)
You. Are. Awesome.
I think this is the exact site I saw a while back that I couldn't find again. I've e-mailed them and will try and be registered. See you on the trail!