R ev iew D ra ft United States Department of Agriculture Evaluation of the Forest Service SPOT Satellite Technology & Development Program Messenger 2500–Watershed and Air 2200–Range 2300–Recreation 2400–Reforestation and Nurseries 2600–Wildlife 3400–Forest Health Protection 5100–Fire 5300–Law Enforcement 5400–Lands 6700–Safety and Health 7100–Engineering December 2008 0825–2842–MTDC Evaluation of the SPOT Satellite Messenger Andy Trent Project Leader Theron Miller Project Leader USDA Forest Service Technology and Development Program Missoula, MT 4E42J44 Operational GPS Support December 2008 The Forest Service, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), has developed this information for the guidance of its employees, its contractors, and its cooperating Federal and State agencies, and is not responsible for the interpretation or use of this information by anyone except its own employees. 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USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. i Contents Introduction _______________________________________________________________________1 SPOT Satellite Messenger ___________________________________________________________2 Test Procedures ____________________________________________________________________6 Test Locations _____________________________________________________________________7 Open Canopy Test ______________________________________________________________________ 7 Medium Canopy Test ____________________________________________________________________ 7 Heavy Canopy Test ______________________________________________________________________7 Test Results _______________________________________________________________________9 Regional Field Tests _______________________________________________________________10 Emergency Communications _____________________________________________________________ 10 Reliability of Transmission and Reception __________________________________________________ 10 Web Tracking Service___________________________________________________________________ 11 Overall Impressions ____________________________________________________________________ 11 Conclusions ______________________________________________________________________12 Thanks to: Fred Buhr, Seth Carbonari, Dan Logan, Bill Dunning, Joe Williams, T.J. Friend, Bob Roth, and Chuck Harding. ii Introduction he Forest Service Chief Information Office (CIO) requested the Technology and Development Program T(T&D) to evaluate the SPOT Satellite Messenger for T • Forest Service field employees aren’t always potential use by Forest Service employees. The CIO received able to establish communications using cell requests for technical approval to purchase the SPOT device phones, satellite phones, or Forest Service to be used as an auxiliary safety device for field employees. radios. The small, rugged global positioning system (GPS) device • The SPOT Satellite Messenger can reliably (figure 1) from SPOT Inc., a subsidiary of Globalstar Inc., send emergency messages, even under a forest canopy. allows users to send an “OK” (check-in), HELP, or Alert 911 • The device’s primary disadvantage is that distress message with their current GPS location to desig- it can only send messages but cannot nated employees, family members, or friends. Messages are receive them. delivered using the Globalstar satellite constellation either by • Field employees might find the device useful as a backup for emergency e-mail or by a short message service (SMS) text message to a communications. mobile phone. The CIO wanted an evaluation of the reliabil- ity of this new device to transmit messages under a variety of canopy types and in different types of terrain. This report describes the results of T&D’s evaluation. The device was tested under open, medium, and heavy canopy types at three GPS test courses in western Montana and northern Idaho. The devices also were tested by field employees around the country to determine such things as reliability, ease of use, and transmission capabilities, and to gather the employees’ overall impressions. Figure 1—The SPOT Satellite Messenger is a small, rugged device that allows users to send distress or check-in messages that include their GPS location using the Globalstar satellite constellation. 1 SPOT Satellite Messenger he SPOT is a small, rugged, satellite-based personal way to know for certain that messages have been successfully messenger and GPS tracking device. It contains a transmitted. The device sends redundant messages to TTGPS receiver and internal antenna and transmitter. improve the likelihood that messages are sent successfully. The SPOT enables users to send its GPS location and a The SPOT device is waterproof, rugged, and self- preconfigured message using the Globalstar satellite system’s contained. It is 4.38 inches long by 2.75 inches wide by 1.75 simplex data network to designated recipients. Recipients inches thick and weighs about 8 ounces. It runs off two AA will receive an e-mail message and/or a text message on a 1.5-volt lithium batteries for about 14 days when it is in the mobile phone. Delivery options, e-mail addresses, and tracking mode or it can send about 1,900 check-in messages. mobile phone numbers are configured on the user’s account The SPOT device uses the simplex (or one-way) frequen- at the SPOT Web site (http://www.findmespot.com). Each cy of the Globalstar network to transmit messages. The message contains the GPS location with a link to Google duplex (two-way) frequency used by Globalstar’s phone/data Maps displaying the location (figure 2). service has experienced problems over the past few years The SPOT device provides one-way communication because some of the electronics in the satellites have degrad- only. Messages are sent from the device to user accounts. ed. This problem has not affected the simplex frequency. The device cannot receive messages. Additionally, there is no Figure 2—Anyone with access to a user’s account can see where the user is on a Google map. Accounts can also be set up to send e-mail or text messages that include a link to Google Maps. 2 SPOT Satellite Messenger The SPOT device has four reporting methods: when the Alert 911 feature has been activated • Alert 911—When the Alert 911 feature is and stays green for 5 seconds when a message activated during emergencies, the device will is being sent. The Alert 911 distress message determine its location and send the coordinates can be canceled by holding the 911 button for 3 along with an Alert 911 distress message every seconds. The indicator light blinks red, then 5 minutes to the GEOS International Emer- stays red for 5 seconds while the cancel gency Response Center. The center notifies message is being sent. local emergency responders based on the user’s • HELP—The HELP feature can be used when coordinates and personal information stored in help is needed but the situation is not life the user’s account. The center also notifies user- threatening (figure 3). When the HELP feature defined emergency contacts that it has received is activated, the device determines its location a distress signal. The user must press and hold and sends the coordinates along with a precon- the 911 button for 2 seconds to activate the figured message to a list of contacts. Messages Alert 911 feature. This requirement helps are received by e-mail and/or a simple message prevent accidental activations. The device keeps system text message on a mobile phone. Up to sending Alert 911 distress messages until the 10 different e-mail accounts or mobile phones unit is powered off, the battery is depleted, or can be configured to receive the HELP mes- the Alert 911 distress message is canceled. An sage. E-mail and mobile phone accounts are indicator light blinks green every 3 seconds configured in the user’s account on the SPOT Figure 3—In this case, field employees were testing the HELP feature in Alaska. When the HELP feature is initiated, messages are sent every 5 minutes for 1 hour. 3 SPOT Satellite Messenger Web site. The device will send the HELP message on a mobile phone. Up to 10 different message and location every 5 minutes for 1 e-mail or mobile phone accounts can be set up hour. The user must press and hold the HELP to receive the message. The SPOT device will button for 2 seconds to activate the HELP send three redundant messages to help ensure feature. This requirement helps prevent that a message is