Perry's Blog - Latest Comments

Perry [Member] in response to: Bibbulmun Track 2011 :: Wrap-Up

Perry [Member] — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 04:47:09 +0000

Hey Mouser... it's a bit embarrassing: "it started as a wart on my head" -- but we loved (nearly) every minute of the walk and just about every minute of the write up (nothing like it to refresh the memories :)

mouser [Visitor] in response to: Bibbulmun Track 2011 :: Wrap-Up

mouser [Visitor] — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 22:18:05 +0000

it's amazing to see how seriously you took to documenting the walk.. you gave it the momentous treatment it deserved. i wish we could send you all around the world to write a book about things like this..

Jan [Visitor] in response to: Bibbulmun Track :: Preparations

Jan [Visitor] — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 11:28:22 +0000

I'm so incredibly impressed with the extent of your planning. What an undertaking to do all those drop offs on the way back from Albany. Bet it was exciting when you later walked into the places you'd been to on the drive. Can't wait to read the rest :-)

Perry [Member] in response to: SPOT 2 GPS Messenger: Battery Test

Perry [Member] — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 04:03:51 +0000

An important point about T-Next's experience is that just because the SPOT thinks it's sent a message does not mean that the satellite has received it.

And I imagine in such a "low powered" device, that there is not a lot of room to play with. Therefore: it is essential to test your device with the batteries you plan to use. As lithiums, NiMH, etc all have different discharge curves. I'm not sure at what point the SPOT doesn't send with enough grunt to get it to the satellite: but it is significant that the success rate on the last day's messages was 50% (nowhere near the overall 95%!!)

Also note that this test was only Check-in messages, not tracking: I have not thought too much what difference that would make??

T_Next [Visitor] in response to: SPOT 2 GPS Messenger: Battery Test

T_Next [Visitor] — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 16:09:08 +0000

Just confirming the low battery problem: the Spot will go a long time with the low battery light blinking but perhaps should not be trusted. On a long day hike, I started out with green battery light then after half hour the red battery light started blinking.

I was 'tracking' and had successful GPS signal lights and successful message lights for the entire day, including a couple of 'check in' messages but NOT ONE of those messages got through, this resulted in an overdue hiker report to law enforcement because I was late getting out, and unnecessary worry and embarrassment. All the while I thought the signals were getting out because the message light was blinking green through the whole time.

Perry [Member] in response to: Bibbulmun Track :: Preparations - Week Minus 2

Perry [Member] — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 12:06:47 +0000

Someone has to Paul, and I'm glad you are!

Paul Fahey [Visitor] in response to: Bibbulmun Track :: Preparations - Week Minus 2

Paul Fahey [Visitor] — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 10:09:49 +0000

I'm watching you

Perry [Member] in response to: Bibbulmun Track :: Preparations - Week Minus 2

Perry [Member] — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 13:00:09 +0000

LOL: Sandi really does like the song... just not the whole day long ;)

And it definitely sounds better with two... and one more makes three!!