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SPOT Connect shipping (really, we mean it this time)

April 1, 2011 By 2 Comments

SPOT-Connect-Android

UPDATE: Read my hands on review of the SPOT Connect

My bad, the SPOT Connect didn’t show up a month ago. But it’s finally here – both REI and GPS City have it in stock. And the SPOT Connect app (pictured above) is live in the Android Market and Apple’s App Store. So now you can go out into the wild and still let your spouse know how much to worry, via your smartphone, even without a cell signal. Or tweet about your broken leg or post it to Facebook. How cool is that? Hopefully it will even work below freezing – despite today’s recall announcement on another SPOT product, I still plan to get one. How about you?

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Filed Under: Android apps, Featured, iPhone apps, Mobile, Mobile apps Tagged With: ,

DeLorme Earthmate PN-60w review

November 2, 2010 By 34 Comments

DeLorme Earthmate PN-60wThe Delorme Earthmate PN-60w updates the PN-40 with improved battery life, expanded internal memory, activities (similar to Garmin’s profiles) and the ability to link wirelessly to other PN-60w’s and the SPOT Satellite Communicator. Power management is one of the biggest improvements, as short battery life was a common complaint about the PN-40.

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Filed Under: DeLorme handheld GPS, Featured, GPS Reviews, Handheld/Sport Tagged With: ,

DeLorme PN-60w with SPOT Satellite Communicator review

October 12, 2010 By 83 Comments

DeLorme_PN60w_spot_reviewA serious tool for backcountry adventurers

Call me crazy, but I love all day mountain bike rides where I go so far back that I’m unlikely to see another human; the more isolated and rugged, the better. I prefer to do these with my biking partner (the most wonderful wife in the world), but all too often I’m out there solo. What’s a crash-prone, wilderness-seeking, aging mountain biker to do? Get the Delorme Earthmate PN-60 with SPOT Satellite Communicator, that’s what. This combo (the two separate units are shown above) is the first consumer product to combine a GPS receiver with the ability to compose a custom message in the field and send it via satellite.

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Filed Under: DeLorme handheld GPS, Featured, GPS Reviews, GPS Tracking, Handheld/Sport Tagged With: ,

DeLorme PN-60w / SPOT deal and testing update

September 21, 2010 By 6 Comments

DeLorme PN-60w SPOT

UPDATE: I have reason to believe that this deal may be gone by tomorrow. I suspect that DeLorme may have saddled dealers with a minimum resale price, though that is purely conjecture on my part.

UPDATE 2: Hmm, the deal is still there as of 9/22. Maybe I got bad info. The page now says the rebate is in effect through 9/25.

UPDATE 3: Looks like its now priced at $449.00.

UPDATE 4: I’ve posted reviews of the DeLorme Earthmate PN-60w and the PN-60w / SPOT Communicator combo

J&R Computer/Music World has the DeLorme Earthmate PN-60W Handheld GPS with SPOT Satellite Communicator on sale for $399.95 with free shipping, $90 less than Amazon’s price this morning. This is an amazing deal for a just released product that allows you to text friends, send an SOS, or post to Twitter or Facebook where there is no cell reception.

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Filed Under: DeLorme handheld GPS, Featured, Handheld/Sport Tagged With: ,

SPOT gets some competition

February 11, 2010 By 8 Comments

ACR-PLB-350C The SPOT Satellite Messenger is getting some new competition from personal locator beacons (PLBs). These emergency devices utilize the Cospas-Sarsat satellite system designed to aid in search and rescue missions. The advantage SPOT has enjoyed, is the ability to send non-distress signals. Today, Cobham Life Support-ACR Products announced a new service that will take advantage of PLB’s self-test function to send non-distress messages via text and email.

While PLBs are more expensive than the SPOT Satellite Messenger, this newly-leveraged functionality will be priced at $39.95 to $59.95 per year, significantly lower than SPOT’s $99.99 basic plan. Another differentiating factor is that the PLB can continue to be used for emergency extraction, even if the subscription plan expires. These advantages may help drive sales volume, allowing further reductions in unit costs.

The extent to which messages can be customized is unclear. For the most advanced functionality, the ACR PLB 350C (pictured) is required. The news release cites “the added features of multiple text and e-mail messaging, trip planning, and GPS test location.”

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Filed Under: Featured, Handheld/Sport Tagged With: ,

DeLorme PN-60w with SPOT Satellite Communicator

January 5, 2010 By 10 Comments

DeLorme PN-60w SPOT
UPDATE: I’ve posted reviews of the DeLorme Earthmate PN-60w and the PN-60w / SPOT Communicator combo

We’ve got some big news for backcountry types today. DeLorme and Spot have jointly unveiled the first combination ruggedized GPS navigator and satellite communicator. The DeLorme Earthmate PN-60w with SPOT Satellite Communicator can send customized text messages to individuals or groups. While emergency messaging or personal locator beacon capability is something I’ve been wanting to see in a handheld GPS receiver for awhile, plans are for the PN-60w to offer even more.

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Filed Under: DeLorme, DeLorme handheld GPS, Handheld/Sport Tagged With: , , ,