Up until today I’ve used my SPOT unit in some pretty extreme, off-road places across North America, but based on some news out of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas just this morning, I’ll be grabbing my truck keys and my SPOT unit whenever and wherever I hit the highway.
I’ve talked about my SPOT unit before, it’s a small, rugged and hand-held GPS unit that can access a world-wide satellite network system to keep me connected virtually anywhere I roam.
Here I am in Death Valley….
Today, they crew at SPOT announced SPOT Assist, a new roadside GPS safety service for its award-winning SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger™. SPOT Assist offers the world’s only roadside assistance that operates solely via satellite. Unlike conventional services, such as OnStar, that relay positioning through cellular networks, SPOT Assist combines a GPS receiver with satellite communications technologies to deliver location-based messaging independent of cellular coverage. No more worries about your bars or your signal strength.
Now you have roadside assistance 24 hours a day 7 days a week in the Continental United States and Canada later this spring. By simply activating SPOT Assist with the “Help” button on the SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger, users can instantly alert a national roadside response center of their GPS location. Backed by a leading provider of national roadside assistance, SPOT Assist services include roadside towing, auto-accident assistance, fuel services, tire repair, battery service, lost key and lockout.
Big things come in little packages, and it is doubly true now of SPOT. Hitting wild, off-road terrains or your favorite roadways, SPOT has your back. Piece of mind wherever you find yourself.
Comments
It seems that Brian Brawdy and I are part of a brotherhood (and I guess sisterhood too) of RVers who travel alone (at least I do).
While up to now I have only tested my findmespot by having it send emails identifying my location on a Google map and having it work every time, although for some email recipients it has required highlighting the coordinates (not just clicking on the URL) and then copying and pasting it intot the address bar. Do you suppose someone knows a way of simplifying the process?
I am indeed relieved of some anxiety of actually knowing that this device has worked for someone else with whom I share a similar sense of adventure and travel plans.
Thanks.