Author Topic: SPOT Trace / GPS tracker?  (Read 3977 times)

Offline nikwax

  • Gaggle Mentor
  • ****
  • Posts: 600
  • Location: Portland, Oregon
SPOT Trace / GPS tracker?
« on: January 11, 2015, 11:18:45 AM »
Winter in the northern half, and thoughts turn to obcessing about equipment...


A neighbor had their camping trailer stolen, and another neighbor recommends the SPOT Trace. Wondering if anyone has used one in a vehicle and what sort of results you've had? Insurance discounts available? In the US it's $100 for the device and $100/year for the service (REI sells them so you would potentially see 10% off on the device).


Any other GPS Trackers available?

http://www.findmespot.com/en/index.php?cid=109
2014 Ducati Multistrada GT
2011 Norge GT 8V "Otto Valvole" (gone after 32k miles)
2001 BMW R1150 GS (gone after 100,000 miles)

Online Bisbonian

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • Posts: 1575
  • Living the Dream
Re: SPOT Trace / GPS tracker?
« Reply #1 on: January 11, 2015, 11:40:23 AM »
The only experience I have is from a guy who bought a motorcycle off me in November and decided to ride it home from Tucson to San Francisco starting at 11pm.

He shared his Spot link with me so that I could see where he was. I checked the next morning and his Spot showed him just west of Phoenix. I figured he stopped for the night. The next day (and the next) it showed him in the same location and I began to get worried. Turned out his batteries died or something.

Not sure that I would rely on it all that much.

Offline rocker59

  • Global Moderator
  • Gaggle Hero
  • *
  • *****
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • Posts: 24010
  • "diplomatico di moto"
  • Location: NW Arkansas
Re: SPOT Trace / GPS tracker?
« Reply #2 on: January 11, 2015, 12:00:05 PM »
"Spot Trace" and "Spot Tracker" are two different products.

Lots of ADVrider types have been using the Spot Tracker for years and it seems to work well.

As for Spot Trace, I'm not familiar with it.  They advertise it as "Anti-Theft Protection", but it's not.  It merely allows you to track down your stolen item, if the thief hasn't disabled it.  I assume it's hardwired to the vehicle's battery, which would be fine on a car that's driven regularly, or an RV with huge deep cycle batteries, but seem like it would be the source of dead batteries on motorcycles that spend lots of time parked in the garage.

Interesting idea, and maybe attractive, if the insurance companies will give you a discount. 
Michael T.
Aux Arcs de Akansea
2004 California EV Touring II
"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." - Theodore Roosevelt

Offline nikwax

  • Gaggle Mentor
  • ****
  • Posts: 600
  • Location: Portland, Oregon
Re: SPOT Trace / GPS tracker?
« Reply #3 on: January 11, 2015, 12:27:22 PM »
Has its own battery.
2014 Ducati Multistrada GT
2011 Norge GT 8V "Otto Valvole" (gone after 32k miles)
2001 BMW R1150 GS (gone after 100,000 miles)

Wildguzzi.com

Re: SPOT Trace / GPS tracker?
« Reply #3 on: January 11, 2015, 12:27:22 PM »

Offline rocker59

  • Global Moderator
  • Gaggle Hero
  • *
  • *****
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • Posts: 24010
  • "diplomatico di moto"
  • Location: NW Arkansas
Re: SPOT Trace / GPS tracker?
« Reply #4 on: January 11, 2015, 12:31:33 PM »
Has its own battery.

It has options.  I, for one, would not want to rely on AAA batteries for an asset that spent a lot of time parked/stored, with little use.

-(4) AAA Energizer® Ultimate Lithium 8x batteries (L92) — INSTALLED
-(4) AAA Energizer® NiMH rechargeable batteries (NH12) — SOLD SEPARATELY
-Line power with a 5v USB connection (NOT waterproof) — INCLUDED
-Waterproof DC Power Cable — SOLD SEPARATELY (Get it now!)

http://www.findmespot.com/en/index.php?cid=109&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=trace

« Last Edit: January 11, 2015, 12:33:44 PM by rocker59 »
Michael T.
Aux Arcs de Akansea
2004 California EV Touring II
"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." - Theodore Roosevelt

Offline nikwax

  • Gaggle Mentor
  • ****
  • Posts: 600
  • Location: Portland, Oregon
Re: SPOT Trace / GPS tracker?
« Reply #5 on: January 11, 2015, 05:25:19 PM »
Not arguing against that, and, I had two of the Spot Trackers, sold both of them with the original Li batteries, the second one was eight years old.


That said, maybe hardwire with battery backup. Assume that a thief would disconnect the main battery fairly soon on a stolen vehicle.
2014 Ducati Multistrada GT
2011 Norge GT 8V "Otto Valvole" (gone after 32k miles)
2001 BMW R1150 GS (gone after 100,000 miles)

Offline nikwax

  • Gaggle Mentor
  • ****
  • Posts: 600
  • Location: Portland, Oregon
Re: SPOT Trace / GPS tracker?
« Reply #6 on: January 11, 2015, 06:16:16 PM »
I found several discussions on Adv, also lots of reviews on Amazon.
2014 Ducati Multistrada GT
2011 Norge GT 8V "Otto Valvole" (gone after 32k miles)
2001 BMW R1150 GS (gone after 100,000 miles)

Offline Yukonica

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • Posts: 1092
    • Borealbreeze Bernese Mountain Dogs
  • Location: Yukon Territory, Canada
Re: SPOT Trace / GPS tracker?
« Reply #7 on: January 11, 2015, 06:41:47 PM »
Not necessarily concerned about theft per se... but I travel remote areas year-round and have kept a SPOT in my kit for the lat several years.
NiCad's don't last a full day. Alkaline are better but not by a great seal. Lith's are spendy but are worth every penny in terms of function. They work at 30 below, they hold a reserve charge for a long, long time, and they provide power well past anything you'd expect.
If you want an 'anti-theft device' I think hard wire and hidden is the best approach. My Spot (original generation) shuts transmission off after 24 hours of inactivity. Newer ones apparently don't do this.
And as a final spoiler; the tracking feature is a $50/year add-on to the service.
One may write one's destiny but the unknown delivers it.

Offline nikwax

  • Gaggle Mentor
  • ****
  • Posts: 600
  • Location: Portland, Oregon
Re: SPOT Trace / GPS tracker?
« Reply #8 on: January 12, 2015, 11:50:43 PM »
Not necessarily concerned about theft per se... but I travel remote areas year-round and have kept a SPOT in my kit for the lat several years.
NiCad's don't last a full day. Alkaline are better but not by a great seal. Lith's are spendy but are worth every penny in terms of function. They work at 30 below, they hold a reserve charge for a long, long time, and they provide power well past anything you'd expect.
If you want an 'anti-theft device' I think hard wire and hidden is the best approach. My Spot (original generation) shuts transmission off after 24 hours of inactivity. Newer ones apparently don't do this.
And as a final spoiler; the tracking feature is a $50/year add-on to the service.


Spot Trace is a different gizmo than the Tracker and different service.
2014 Ducati Multistrada GT
2011 Norge GT 8V "Otto Valvole" (gone after 32k miles)
2001 BMW R1150 GS (gone after 100,000 miles)

 

***Wildguzzi Official Logo High Quality 5 Color Window Decals Back In Stock***
Shipping in USA Only. Awesome quality. Back by popular demand. All proceeds go back into the forum.
http://www.wildguzzi.com/Products/products.htm
Advertise Here