This is an example page intended to illustrate a way to enahnce the usefulness of your SPOT tracker "HELP" function.
For a similar page demonstrating a way to ehance the SPOT tracker "SOS" function, see spjones.com/sosexample. The directory is secured, requiring a userid and password, which are: demouser and demopw.
NOTES FOR USE BY ANYONE WHO WANTS TO USE THIS EXAMPLE PAGE:
My SPOT SOS message is configured to send out something like this:
This is [Your Name Here]. I need some help. It's not an emergency. [http://ridetoeat.com/helpexample] for more info.
YOU SHOULD NOT PUT PRIVATE INFORMATION ON A PAGE LIKE THIS
If you ever travel where the dominant language might be different from whatever language you write this page in, you should include the google translate doohickey below.
Hi, this is [YOUR NAME HERE].
If you were just emailed a link to this page, I have pressed the "Help" button on my SPOT unit and need some assistance.
You can presume this is NOT an emergency requiring immediate medical or police assistance.
This page is set up in advance to explain what's probably happening. If this is an actual emergency, I first pressed the "SOS" button, which is like calling 911, so emergency services will be automatically dispatched.
The way SPOT works, it sends the help message once every 5 minutes for 1 hour, then quits, unless I start the help sequence again. So please don't be concerned about multiple messages.
Here is the likely situation:
I am unable to proceed and need some form of non-emergency assistance. I likely do not have access to cellular service (bad signal, lost phone, dead battery, whatever) but you can try to call or text me. Sometimes text works even when calls don't.
Most likely there is a mechanical problem with my bike.
[OPTIONAL GENERIC OR SPECIFIC STATEMENT ABOUT YOUR TRIP OR NORMAL SPOT USAGE. e.g:] I was likely motorcycling when I sent the Spot HELP alert. I sometimes use my SPOT in "Tracking" mode which should produce a location event once every 10 minutes.
Where Am I?
Below are two maps --one from FIndMeSPOT.com and one from SpotWalla.com. They use the same data and each should contain my most recent SPOT locations. They have different features, use whichever seems the easiest for you.
SPOT uses both GPS and communications satellites and depends upon good transmission conditions. Map updates are normally delayed several minutes. In poor conditions the delays can be longer or possibly won't update at all. So refresh periodically to check for updates. The SpotWalla map typically updates a few minutes later than the FindMeSPOT map.
Location time stamps use Central time, you'll have to adjust if I was in a different time zone.
SPOT MAP
(Click here to view the SPOT map larger, in a separate window.)
DEVELOPMENT NOTE:
NOTE TO THE SPOT OWNER: Follow these steps to set up the map screen below:
Name the Page (I recommend something like "Emergency Locator")
Be sure your device is clicked
Select the messages to share. You may want to show all message types, or possibly just Help and OK. Think the situation through ahead of time and be sure the results match your intention. More messages might help "tell the story" in a way that could enhance search and rescue efforts.
Select a duration, from 1 to 7 days. Please understand that data scrolls off, so if you say 1 day and have an emergency situation, your previous spot messages will drop off the map once they become 24 hours old. That may be fine, but longer than 1 day may be needed for some search and rescue activities... you may want to choose a longer time.
Click "Yes" next to "Share Message Detail"
Click "Make Shared Page Public"
Click "Create".
Make note of the link that SPOT generates, For example: http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0tkTTjqvpPD7GjGtpq7XHHDhXIQMtYH5M.
Use the link above to replace the "http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=****" values in this page. Copy/Paste works well for this step.
NOTE: If there have been no messages of the type you checked above during that time frame, you will get a "No Messages To Display" notice.. This is normal and correct. If you want to test the screen, just send a spot message (don't use Help unless your peeps know you're testing) and the screen will work once the message gets through to SPOT.
NOTE: PLEASE BE AWARE that "track" datapoints could be legally admissable evidence regarding your location and possibly speed prior to the emergency, possibly increasing your risk of criminal or civil liability associated with the emergency event. The privacy disclaimer at the top of the page may or may not protect you from that -- it may depend on the State or country in which your emergency occurred, and how good your lawyer is. It may be prudent to presume it will not protect you.
You could decide not to show track messages, instead showing only Help/OK/Custom messages, but that might block critical information from rescuers who may be searching for you. Make sure you have thought it through before you decide.
On the information frame on the left, click the small "+" symbol next to a Spot message to display the full data about that message, including the exact coordinates and time.
SpotWalla MAP
(Click here to view the SpotWalla map larger, in a separate window.)
DEVELOPMENT NOTE:
NOTE TO THE SPOTWALLA USER: Follow these steps to set up the map screen below:
(these steps presume some familiarity with SpotWalla)
Fill in all the normal values, but you may want to ensure the end date is far in the future, because that is the latest date this trip map will display.
You should probably not check the option to apply "secure zones". This map is only for emergency use.
You should opt to "hide and prevent this trip from being embedded or displayed in searches
You should not hide the time component of each location. The time could be critical to potential rescuers.
Click the "Create" button at the bottom of the page
Your new trip should be located in the list of trips. Make note of the value in the "link:" field, and use it to replace the http://spotwalla.com/tripViewer.php?id=****" values in this page. Copy/Paste works well for this step.
NOTE: PLEASE BE AWARE that "track" datapoints could be legally admissable evidence regarding your location and possibly speed prior to the emergency, possibly increasing your risk of criminal or civil liability associated with the emergency event. The privacy disclaimer at the top of the page may or may not protect you from that -- it may depend on the State or country in which your emergency occurred, and how good your lawyer is. It may be prudent to presume it will not protect you.
You could decide not to show track messages, instead showing only Help/OK/Custom messages, but that might block critical information from rescuers who may be searching for you. Make sure you have thought it through before you decide.
On the map, click a location icon to display full data, including the exact coordinates and time.
What you should do:
First please try to contact my spouse, XXXXX, to coordinate any response. Call him/her at xxx-xxx-xxxx home, xxx-xxx-xxxx cell. If he/she does not respond at either number, please leave a voicemail message on each, and take action yourself.
Try contacting a law enforcement agency in my apparent vicinity, report what you suspect is a non-emergency, and ask if they would please investigate my situation.
If that doesn't work, please initiate the "Rider Needs Assistance" process at ST-Owners.com. This will alert a nationwide group of riders who are likely to find someone local to help:
Click the "prefix" dropdown and select "2-Stranded",
Fill in the title and body with appropriate information.
Please send an email summarizing your actions to [my spouse] at 1234xyz@hotmail.com and copy my cell phone text mail at 1234567890@mycellcompanytext.com.