VSA - Valley Soaring Association

Spot lets you track other pilots while you are on the ground

A collision avoidance system lets you "see" other pilot while you are in flight. I have one of these PCAS units in my ship:

Notes to Pilots
By Peter Kelly.

- I have had this thing working flawlessly for a number of years now. If I don't turn it on, I feel very uneasy. It is not a substitute for looking out the window. It is a tool that alerts me to traffic. Simple to operate and cheap.

- I hesitate to admit it publicly, but I will tell you that this thing has alerted me to traffic many times before I saw it come into view.

.It is called a PCAS - I think that is an acronym for Portable Collision Avoidance System. This is the MRX Model and is manufactured by Zaon Aero. Cost was about $500 - but probably up to $550 by now. Easy to install - just put a bit of velcro on the top of your panel.

WSC sells them - see Noelle.

More instructions about your SPOT

- Please rename your SPOT Messenger, so that when a viewer is looking at your "share page" he can tell who's messenger he is looking at. For example, the name of my messenger is" PK-Peter's Location "

- Those of you who have your messenger serial number displayed need to change that to read your name and/or call sign. The serial number is not of much value to those viewing your share page.

- Change your messenger name by logging onto your SPOT account. After you log on your will see your existing messenger information.

- The first column is the ESN (serial number), the second column is the Name. Click on your existing name and it allows you to change it from displaying your serial number to your name/ call sign.

Peter
gliding@sonic.net

See other SPOT tracking web pages:
- Hollister
- Soar Truckee

Don't see your SPOT trace after the flight?

The solution to this problem may be found here:

Is the device shifting around in flight?

is it sometimes vertical, rather than horizontal?

Is the SPOT device laying flat, so that it has a clear view of the sky?

Bottom line: The SPOT device needs to be immobilzed, so that it does not shift its position while you are flying. It needs to be flat so that it is face up towards the sky. One of the most popular methods (used by many pilots) is a single piece of velcro on the back of the SPOT and it is placed on the inside rail of the canopy.

The

SPOT Messenger

A device for tracking pilots/ flight following gliders (or any person carrying this device) via satellite tracking.

This unit sends a postion about every 10 minutes.

You may have your transmitter listed here so that others may monitor your flight progress. See instructions below.

THIS PAGE IS NO LONGER CURRENT - DO NOT USE

Go to:

http://groups.google.com/group/valleysoaring/web

Please note: This page is being phased out and I am replacing it with a page in Google groups for valleysoaring and for williams and for all pilot that wish to share their page with others. If you don't set up a share page, then people don't know how to look for you - other than via the alert info you may have set up.

Set up a Share Page! and list it on the Google groups pages.

Go to:

http://groups.google.com/group/valleysoaring/web

To purchase and set up your SPOT and have it listed on this page, please read the instructions below.

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Darryl Ramm - 6DX, ASH26E-See new SPOT index page at http://groups.google.com/group/valleysoaring/web/spot-shared-pages-by-pilots

Dave Greenhill - 16, Discus2-See new SPOT index page at http://groups.google.com/group/valleysoaring/web/spot-shared-pages-by-pilots

Dave Morss - 7D,-See new SPOT index page at http://groups.google.com/group/valleysoaring/web/spot-shared-pages-by-pilots

Don Davidson - Flying WSC Gliders

Eric Rupp - ER, DG300

Forest - 4ST, Stemme-See new SPOT index page at http://groups.google.com/group/valleysoaring/web/spot-shared-pages-by-pilots

Gen - GS, LS8

Ginny- G3, ASW24 -See new SPOT index page at http://groups.google.com/group/valleysoaring/web/spot-shared-pages-by-pilots

Gunard Mahl - FNX, ASH25

Jim Darke - 1B, ASW20-See new SPOT index page at http://groups.google.com/group/valleysoaring/web/spot-shared-pages-by-pilots

Jim Conger - JK, ASG29

John Fowler - 1K, HP11

Key Dismukes - PS, ASW20-See new SPOT index page at http://groups.google.com/group/valleysoaring/web/spot-shared-pages-by-pilots

Larry Hood - HD, Antares-See new SPOT index page at http://groups.google.com/group/valleysoaring/web/spot-shared-pages-by-pilots

Larry Roberts - YE, ASG29-See new SPOT index page at http://groups.google.com/group/valleysoaring/web/spot-shared-pages-by-pilots

Matt Epperson - Flying WSC Gliders-See new SPOT index page at http://groups.google.com/group/valleysoaring/web/spot-shared-pages-by-pilots

Matt Heron - 22T, Ventus

Michael Mitton - MM, ASW27B-See new SPOT index page at http://groups.google.com/group/valleysoaring/web/spot-shared-pages-by-pilots

Mike Green - MG, DuoDiscus

Pete Alexander -98, ASG29-See new SPOT index page at http://groups.google.com/group/valleysoaring/web/spot-shared-pages-by-pilots

Peter Kelly - PK, ASH26E-See new SPOT index page at http://groups.google.com/group/valleysoaring/web/spot-shared-pages-by-pilots

Ramy - TG, ASW27 -See new SPOT index page at http://groups.google.com/group/valleysoaring/web/spot-shared-pages-by-pilots

Ray Sanford - 1PS, DG505 (Silverado)

Rich Parker - 7HV, Discus

Sergio - C2, Ventus 2C-See new SPOT index page at http://groups.google.com/group/valleysoaring/web/spot-shared-pages-by-pilots

Scott - SD, ASW27-See new SPOT index page at http://groups.google.com/group/valleysoaring/web/spot-shared-pages-by-pilots

Rick Anderson - YC,

WSC 1, 2, 3 and 4 - Placed in different gliders, depending on the day. -See new SPOT index page at http://groups.google.com/group/valleysoaring/web/spot-shared-pages-by-pilots

Yuliy Gerchikov - L8, DG-800

If you want to buy a SPOT unit, then phone Noelle at WSC at 530-473-5600.

If you have a SPOT* and you want people to see your track, we can put your name, along with an internet link to your "Share Page" in the above list. The format will be "First Last Name - Call Sign, Glider Model Designation".

Here is what you need to do, if you want to Share Your Adventure.....

Log on to SPOT using your user name and password - don't send that info to me. You need to do the following by yourself.

SPOT home page is:
http://www.findmespot.com/home.aspx

Near the bottom of the home page, on the left column, click
Manage My Service

Enter your user name and password.

Next- See the grey tabs? click on "Share"

You are having SPOT set up a public page, not a private one. No one will see your password or personal info.

SPOT will set up your page for you. Copy the URL link to that new page and paste it into an email to yourself or into some text document on your computer - but save it somewhere!

You should also have SPOT email the link to you as a back-up, but things sometimes get corrupted or lost in the mail.

In any case, after you have the Share Page all set up and you know that it does work, THEN send ME a copy of the URL so I can link it to your name here on this page, but PLEASE check it first.

You need to 'cut and paste' the address of your share page and send it to me, pkelly:

gliding@sonic.net

Please include the info as you wish it to appear on the above list - your first and last name and the model of the glider you will be flying. I will post that info on this page.

* Notes about SPOT:
The proper name for the devices is a "Spot satellite messenger"
Thank you to Darryl Ramm for the following input.

The Spot satellite messenger does not send location information when it is turned on. Turning it on will never result in any messages being sent. Turning it on will just fire up the internal GPS engine. To send the "Track Progress" (aka SPOTcasting) messages (automatic ~10 minute reports) you have to turn the messenger on, wait 2 or so seconds (to do anything), and then hold down the "OK" button for at least 5 seconds (less time will just send a single OK message and not put the messenger in SPOTcasting mode).

The SPOT messengers will only stay in SPOTcast (tracking) mode for 24 hours. The units normally use Energizer Lithium AA cells at about $1 each. These have more capacity than alkaline AA cells and avaialbe from Amazon and elsewhere. In a pinch a SPOT messenger can run from alkaline cells, but I suspect the low battery warning will come on pretty quickly.

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