ELT, PLB, and Tracking Device Options

[Shaunus]

Hi Guys

In light of the sad recent Mozam highlighting of how necessary it is to have one, or a combination, of these devices, I would like to get an idea of the various options out there. Its a obvious that we all need one, but price may be a factor for many pilots, or are there affordable options?

Also, I am thinking that if you are only able to afford one unit, that a tracking device may be the way forward as this technology will give S&R an idea of where you are just prior to the device being destroyed - in the event it is destroyed.

Thanks for the advice in advance!
Shaun

[paulw]

Hi Guys

In light of the sad recent Mozam highlighting of how necessary it is to have one, or a combination, of these devices, I would like to get an idea of the various options out there. Its a obvious that we all need one, but price may be a factor for many pilots, or are there affordable options?

Also, I am thinking that if you are only able to afford one unit, that a tracking device may be the way forward as this technology will give S&R an idea of where you are just prior to the device being destroyed - in the event it is destroyed.

Thanks for the advice in advance!
Shaun

I think the Spidertracker which PJL mentioned seems to be good option specifically for remote areas with no Cell phone coverage (so the Google Navigation system won't always work) and the ELT can crash and burn.

[Dobbs]

The Spidertracker has been given a lot of support recently and I am seriously considering buying one, however, before I do, I have some questions -

- Is the Spidertracker only a means for someone who is expecting you, that if you are overdue, can go onto the internet and trace your path?
- Can it be set up to notify S & R if it is activated by yourself, and is so, do S & R attend to this signal with the same sence of urgency than say if it was a PLB?
- Can the Spidertracker only be used for that 10% of the time where you are beyond normal comms should help be needed
- Lastly, why would one choose Spidertrack over a PLB?

BTW - the first three questions I posted on their website some 10 days ago, and I have still not received a response.

[markus_m2]

My vote is Spidertracks, I've been saying that since the day we installed ours...Best is of course a combination of technologies.
To answer your questions:

- Is the Spidertracker only a means for someone who is expecting you, that if you are overdue, can go onto the internet and trace your path?

The Spidertracks has an SOS button, once pressed it sends an SMS and Email to nominated numbers / addresses. HOWEVER, the SOS button needs to be activated in an emergency, i.e. manual intervention. This is the ONLY weak link I can find with the Spider system - no automatic activation.

- Can it be set up to notify S & R if it is activated by yourself, and is so, do S & R attend to this signal with the same sence of urgency than say if it was a PLB?

I'm sure you can set it up as such. Can't say though. I have it setup with my wife, parents and a mate, all have been briefed on what to do if a SMS / Email comes through.

- Can the Spidertracker only be used for that 10% of the time where you are beyond normal comms should help be needed

Don't quite understand the question.
I use the Spidertracks every day - we rent our aircraft out to pilots flying through Botswana, Namibia and the likes. With Spider I can check their location anytime and make sure they reach their destination safely each day.

- Lastly, why would one choose Spidertrack over a PLB?

Spidertracks will survive an accident! That is to say, your track / breadcrumb trail leading to an accident site is stored on a server somewhere, anyone can be nominated to have access to this information.
PLB / ELT could get destroyed by an accident before sending out a distress signal.
Besides this the Spider has loads more functionality in non-emergency situations
[/quote]

[Dobbs]

Hi Markus_m2 - thank you for your "experienced" answers.

To clarify the question on the 10% of the time - my understanding is that the packages which are sent every couple of minutes is where the cost comes in. So my question is, can I buy the unit for a once off cost, and then as and when I want to use it, I pay the variable cost only for that duration? So I fly 100 hours per year, and only activate the unit to track me for around 10 hours in a year.

[t-bird]

We use SPOT in Australia.
http://www.findmespot.net.au/

It uses satellites is portable and your friends could track you on the internet. It is also possible to sms using the Satellites.
Unit is about Au$ 200
Yearly subscription Au$ 115
Tracking cost Au$ 45

[markus_m2]

Hi Markus_m2 - thank you for your "experienced" answers.

To clarify the question on the 10% of the time - my understanding is that the packages which are sent every couple of minutes is where the cost comes in. So my question is, can I buy the unit for a once off cost, and then as and when I want to use it, I pay the variable cost only for that duration? So I fly 100 hours per year, and only activate the unit to track me for around 10 hours in a year.

Oh I see...
Well it's up to you to leave the unit unplugged for the other 90 hours - I sometimes unplug ours when doing loads of circuits for example. But at something like R7 an hour it's hardly worth thinking about.
But, that's on the pricing option we've chosen, which costs us $20 a month base fee. You'd have to check out their different pricing options - check it on their website.

[cobra]

We use SPOT in Australia.
http://www.findmespot.net.au/

It uses satellites is portable and your friends could track you on the internet. It is also possible to sms using the Satellites.
Unit is about Au$ 200
Yearly subscription Au$ 115
Tracking cost Au$ 45

spot coverage, SA?

[t-bird]

Hi Cobra

That is a pity SPOT is a very nice system

[PJL]

Dobbs wrote:- Can the Spidertracker only be used for that 10% of the time where you are beyond normal comms should help be needed.

Yes, there is a pay on demand option. ie when you use Spidertracks and it sends a message you pay for that message at a higher rate than if you bought a monthly package, but yes its avaiable.

I use "The Regular Flyer" option

Go and check this out!!! http://www.spidertracks.com/fleetpro/plans-and-pricing

PJL

[Calle_Hedberg]

Hi,

I just posted my reasoning and equipment related to this under the Missing aircraft in Moz thread - it's relevant for this thread too. I haven't looked at the details of each tracking system, though, so cannot provide any cost-benefit analysis (the IndigoSat tracker I'm using is more expensive and I believe more oriented towards commercial charter ops etc than recreational flyers).

Regards
calle

[HeliKnight]

Hi Guys,

I work for IndigoSat South Africa and I am posting this so that people are aware of the options available and not as a sales pitch.
With that said, the previous products we had where very much focused on the commercial market. We have in the past 12 months expanded our product line to include options that are extremely cost effective for the GA market.
We believe that a tracking device is a safer option than a PLB purely because if something should go wrong and the unit was destroyed in an impact, you will always have tracking data up to that point.
This immediately gives SARS a starting point.

We have a portable hand held unit called the Indigo Xplorer TS.
The device works on the Iridium network and is roughly the size of a cell phone.
It has a touch screen for sending text based messages to the tracking software which is web based and shows a live view of where the aircraft is and keeps all history so that you can go back and analyze your flight at a later stage.
The cost of the unit is $1295 US. (Basically the cost of a good headset)
There is a once off $50 activation fee to get the unit on the network.
The monthly cost is $50 (basically about R450)
This includes 12000 bytes of data each month.

The 12000 bytes will give you 400 positions on the map.
i.e.:
update rate set on the unit to 5 min intervals:
400 positions at 5min gives you 33.3 hours of tracking included in the monthly fee.
Additional airtime can be purchased as a top-up as needed.

So basically, if you don't fly more than 34 hours a month, your cost will only be the R450 per month and there are no contracts. This is billed on a monthly basis in advance.
Brochure for the unit is on our website http://www.indigosat.co.za/index.php/pr ... xplorer-ts but there are other products we also have available that don't have the messaging options. Some of which are not yet listed on our website.
The best is just to contact us directly.

I hope that this is not seen as a commercial advert, but rather as a way to show GA pilots that there are cost effective options available to give you the best chance of being found should something go wrong.
I am a pilot myself and personally would never fly without mine.

Dave Brindley

[paulw]

I use the Spidertracks every day - we rent our aircraft out to pilots flying through Botswana, Namibia and the likes. With Spider I can check their location anytime and make sure they reach their destination safely each day.

...and nice for a flying school who want to track their students on x-countries...getting lost, etc.

[Mike Wissing]

A 406 with GPS subscription in the plane as well as a PLB is first prize, hands down.

[hed]

Hi Guys,

Resurrecting this old thread .... I am trying to find the most economical satellite tracker for use in GA flying across southern Africa. I know Spidertracks still is the gold standard, but considering I only do these extended flights 3 or 4 times per year, the monthly subscription of US$39/month (plus an additional US$3,30/hr) feels like a bit of waste.

Has there been any new tech that has come on the market lately or is there a product without the subscription that anyone can recommend, which might do more or less the same thing?

Thanks,

Heye
ZS-MGA
Cessna 210