SpotWalla - NEW ADV Location Page

So do you have to pay for the extra "tracking" subscription from spot to use this feature or can you just send out "ok" messages and spotwalla connects the dots?

added my spotwalla location. let's see if i will run into someone on one of my road trips. we'll need a whole lot more participation then what we have now. I have been using spotwala for some time now and it is a huge improvement over the spot page.

Even if you don't subscribe to the SPOT tracking service option and just send 'OK' messages, Spotwalla will pick these up and use them as your last known location and post you on the ADV shared location page.

[You will of course need to set up a Spotwalla account and link it to your Spot account].

In time we will end up with many ADV riders on this facility and it just takes time to get the word around. It has the potential to bring together members who may live 'just around the corner' ?

(Does ADV already have this facility though - I'd like to seek out any members near me...)

So... is the answer to the first part of Pete's question 'yes' or 'no'?

I've successfully activated my Spot but did not pay the $US49.95 subscription service. I then created a Spotwalla account, but I'm not seeing any tracking updates on my 'trip' page/map. Is my Spotwalla map blank because I haven't paid the subscription service with Spot?

I'm confused by this because it's my understanding that 'OK' messages (which I have successfully sent) would appear in Spotwalla regardless of whether tracking is active or not.

Farcall

No, you do not need the subscription service as the spotwalla page for the ADV group only displays your last transmitted position which would be your last OK message. I had mine in Toronto the other day and then went to Hong Kong for Christmas, sent a message from there and now it shows my last position as Hong Kong.

You set up a personal "trip" page and leave "breadcrumbs" by sending out OK messages as you go along and that will plot each point.

Hope that helps.

Thanks Pete.

Still confused. I'm a total noob with this Spot / Spotwalla stuff so no doubt I'm completely misunderstanding something simple. Perhaps if I step thru what my understanding of things and what I'm chasing maybe someone can help me...

- have been given a Spot2 for Christmas
- have seen other adv'ers Spot tracking pages, so I am familiar with what is displayed there but understand tracking info is not retained for very long (7 days?)
- have read that tracking data is retained in Spotwalla for quite a while longer (12 months?)
- want to use the Spot tracking feature
- have not paid the Spot tracking subs service
- have joined Spotwalla and setup my first 'trip'
- my Spot is sitting outside ATM (has been for the last 2hrs) with GPS and 'tracking' lights both green
- expecting to see tracking marker/s appear on my Spotwalla trip page, but nothing appears (page is refreshing regularly)
- successfully sent an OK message to my wifes phone approx 1hr ago but nothing displays on Spotwalla trip page

What am I missing?

No, SpotWalla only needs you to send an I'm OK message - no need for the tracking service at all. I am signed up for tracking but never use it, though I do use SpotWalla when travelling.

Maybe you've not got SW set up properly?

I believe that the answer is 'no'. Spotwalla should pick up on the manually-sent 'OK' messages. Are you sure you have everything linked up correctly?

I like the idea in theory. But, I think for now the better option would be for someone in every state/territory to volunteer to be "coordinator" for non-injury emergencies (mechanical problems, etc...). Spot users in that state/territory would list the "coordinator" as the email/sms recipient for the "Help" button, then he/she would then check the map for the location of the rider and post a "Rider Needs Help" thread in the appropriate regional. He/she would then coordinate offers to help so to not have more folks than necessary heading for the same place.

The "coordinator" wouldn't even have to be in each state/territory, he/she could be in each region or just one person in each country, or smaller areas than states.
I suggest that the person who volunteers to take this on is someone who has access to a computer or other internet device at most times in order to be able to check the map and post up. There would probably need to be an alternate contact person, in case the primary is the one who needs help.

If your SPOT tracks are not showing up on your Spotwalla map or the ADV location page - in your Spotwalla account check under Devices / Interface setups and ensure you have setup a Shared page in your SPOT account. Instructions are on the above pages.

privacy and over-exposure is a big concern of mine. it's each user's responsibility to employ the tools at their disposal to safeguard their location data. spotwalla allows you to define one or more regions anywhere on the globe where locations should not be displayed. these "regions" are known as secure zones and can be used to secure one's home, place of work, grandma's house...

http://spotwalla.com/help/devices.php#home

there are other ways spotwalla users can control their degree of exposure. for instance, controlling the types of messages that update their location on a location page, or the message types that appear on a trip. i use OK messages to mark where i'm spending the evening. when joining a public location page or creating a public trip, i configure them to not show OK locations. family and close friends get a link to a private trip that shows these locations.

point is... take control of your location data and use the tools at your disposal. if you don't, some jagoff might.

jason

Added my location via my smartphone (tag is 'GIS'). If any of you inmates are on your way to/from Alaska, chances are you'll be coming through my neck of the woods (Prince George, BC). If I'm showing as in town, drop me a line - especially if you're needing a place to stay. I'm always up for meeting/hosting fellow ADV'ers.

I just activated my SPOT last night and added myself to the ADV Location page. Thanks for setting it up.

I joined, ready for my Prudhoe Bay trip!

I'm there... Jgr.

This isn't quite what you are looking for (not exactly anyway) but the new SPOT connects allow you to post to Twitter and you can display your latest Twitter post here using Twitsig.com

See below;

<A href="http://twitsig.com/s1marks.jpg%22%3E%3C/a" target=_blank>


This little Graphic will get update everytime I post a message from my SPOT connect. If you click on it you can see where I was when I posted this.

The process of getting your SPOT Connect to update your last message to ADVrider is pretty simple.

Here are the steps to set this up;
1) Set yourself up an account on Twitter (yes, that's http://www.twitter.com). I suggest you use the same Twitter username that you use on ADVrider if it is available (if not use something close like Mr. Fisherman-ADV). Add the same graphic image to your Twitter account that you use here on ADVrider, it will help people here identify your SPOT messages easily.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>
<o></o>
2) Link you Spot Connect to your Twitter account, I don't remember exactly how you do this but I recall you log onto your SPOT (http://www.findmespot.com/en/) click on 'My Account', click on the ‘Share’ tab. Near the bottom of the screen is a twitter a fire eagle and a Facebook Icon, click on the ‘Click Here’ link next to them and follow the process to connect you SPOT connect to your new twitter account. (Add your Facebook account whilst your there, you never know when that might come in handy). When I make changes like this to my SPOT account I have to Export them to my DeLorme PN60W, I’m not sure how this is done with other devices (like smart phones etc.) I assume there is a similar process.<o></o>
<o></o>
3) Now try sending a TEST message, using your SPOT connect, to your Twitter account using your PM60W or your Smartphone equivalent. Check your twitter account to see if it arrives.<o></o>
<o></o>
4) Assuming your new Twitter account is operational and getting messages from your SPOT connect. Go to http://www.twitsig.com, enter your ‘Twitter name’ in the box and click on the ‘Get Code’ button. Copy the code that appears in the box beneath where it says “To use on a forum or anywhere that supports BBCode use:” it will look a bit like this [***URL=http://twitter.com/s1marks][/URL***[/COLOR][/URL]]<o></o>
<o></o>
5) Place this code in your next Post on ADVrider. The little graphic you’ll see (which will look much the same as my one) will automatically update every time you make a new post to your Twitter account (so if you are going to tell you Granny how much you love her on Twitter beware….all your pals on ADVrider are going to see what you wrote). I use my Twitter account exclusively for posting my location and messages from my SPOT connect.<o></o>

Just to give you a little more idea of what is happening here. You SPOT is not posting directly to ADVrider, but it IS posting directly to Twitter. The Twitsig site is taking that last post to Twitter and updating the graphic it hold of your last message on Twitter. The URL code you posted in step 4 is going to automatically show the graphic (with you last SPOT message now embedded in it) on ADVrider.<o></o>

Regards S1

Thanks for the idea. I can see where that would be a useful tool. I was just thinking of a quick and simple way to alert a regional board of an inmate needing assistance. I guess you could always just pick someone that posts on that board and ask them if you could direct a help message to their email addy or text. That way that member could post the link on the board and anyone that was able and willing could lend a hand.
If there was an email address for each regional board or some other method that you could somehow use to automatically post the help message and position that would be even better. I am not sure if that is even possible, it was just a thought.
Anyway thanks for answering the question..

This has been discussed previously and the reliability and timing of this alert is really not practical because there maybe no one online or available and if you were relying on 'online help' it's difficult to co-ordinate and you could be waiting days. Secondly if you live in a first world country help is never that far away and this would be useless in a second or third world country.

Even travelling in the back country of the USA, Canada and Australia I was amazed when way way out of cell phone range, someone always came along when I needed help.

THE most important feature of a Spot unit is the SOS/911 service when you are in dire straights and need emergency assistance - this works very well regardless of where you are.

Here is a perfect example of how it would work very well.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=715433

Timing has nothing to do with it. If I had some bike trouble in backcountry oregon or in idaho and I am from B.C. and am a member of a forum as large as this, I would rather take my chances on someone being on line that lives around where I am and knows the area and can summon others that might be willing to help, than some one back at home, a thousand miles away . It would certainly be better than hoping that someone comes along. I very rarely see anyone on the trails when I am riding.

If I am hurt then the SARS call goes out and I am contacting a different set of people.