Wilderness Safety

dragonflyinthesky · Aug 3, 2011

(Katie, I think this is a good idea for a thread. If you agree will you make it as a separate thread? I would love to see ideas and tech items to help those of us interested in the wilderness areas. 4x4tour gave another member some very good advice about a gps (maybe he can post what he uses) and I remembered a few times I have been lost in the wilderness.  It takes moments and very little distance to loose ones bearings even for experienced outdoorsmen. I ran across this video today off msnbc news services about a young woman who was lost for 4 days and with a broken leg. She was lucky. <A href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp=44000588&#44000588" target=_blank target=_blank>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp=44000588&#44000588</A>

sl1966 · Aug 3, 2011

Invest in one of these. It's a great way to show family and friends where you are and are ok, or get help from emergency services if needed ...<div> </div><div><a href="http://www.findmespot.com/en/" target="_blank">http://www.findmespot.com/en/</a></div><div> </div>

4x4tour · Aug 3, 2011

Steve, This is the set-up I have, and reccomend.  Ive had it for a year, and still havent learned many of its capabilities. I like how it uses your laptop screen as a 2nd monitor, so its easier to see all the fine points.  It shows terrain in 3d, which is really cool.  Plus, it has all the camgrounds, hotels, banks, hospitals etc.. all pre-loaded.  <A href="http://shop.delorme.com/OA_HTML/DELibeCCtdItemDetail.jsp?item=30785&section=10741" target=_blank>http://shop.delorme.com/OA_HTML/DELibeCCtdItemDetail.jsp?item=30785&section=10741</A> AJ

sl1966 · Aug 3, 2011

AJ that's so much better than just a regular Spot! Thanks for turning me onto it.<div> </div>

4x4tour · Aug 3, 2011

To the service, or the this thread? lol

twokniveskatie · Aug 4, 2011

<div>i think this is an excellent idea. i'll set something up tomorrow.......i think i'll expand it to include a few different threads on safety<img border="0" align="absmiddle" src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/thumb.gif"></div><div> </div>

dragonflyinthesky said:
(Katie, I think this is a good idea for a thread. If you agree will you make it as a separate thread? I would love to see ideas and tech items to help those of us interested in the wilderness areas. 4x4tour gave another member some very good advice about a gps (maybe he can post what he uses) and I remembered a few times I have been lost in the wilderness.  It takes moments and very little distance to loose ones bearings even for experienced outdoorsmen. I ran across this video today off msnbc news services about a young woman who was lost for 4 days and with a broken leg. She was lucky. <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp=44000588&#44000588" target="_blank">http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp=44000588&#44000588</a>

4x4tour · Aug 4, 2011

While we're at it, I also use the "driveway alarm" that works forever on batteries.  Sleep like a baby knowing no one (or bear, big cat etc...) is going to approach the van/camper without you knowing about it.  I mount one sensor on each side if Im in BFE.  Usually, my police trained German Shepherd, Gunner (pic below), is enough security...lol  But, this can be a single woman's savior...   <A href="http://www.harborfreight.com/wireless-driveway-alert-system-93068.html" target=_blank target=_blank>http://www.harborfreight.com/wireless-driveway-alert-system-93068.html</A>

twokniveskatie · Aug 4, 2011

i have decided to start a new section on safety topics, as suggested by Dragonfly.....<div> </div><div>there will be a thread on firearms, so lets wait and discuss this there....</div><div> </div><div>weapons and self-protection can get pretty hot as a topic, so i want to keep all discussions in that one thread, to avoid hijacking other topics.......and hope that we can limit the discussion to information exchange and not debate

</div>

sl1966 · Aug 4, 2011

4x4tour said:
While we're at it, I also use the "driveway alarm" that works forever on batteries.  <a href="http://www.harborfreight.com/wireless-driveway-alert-system-93068.html" target="_blank">http://www.harborfreight.com/wireless-driveway-alert-system-93068.html</a>

How is this with wind and bugs? I'd hate to be woken up by a moth or breeze.

vonu · Aug 4, 2011

twokniveskatie said:
i have decided to start a new section on safety topics, as suggested by Dragonfly.....<div> </div><div>there will be a thread on firearms, so lets wait and discuss this there....</div><div> </div><div>weapons and self-protection can get pretty hot as a topic, so i want to keep all discussions in that one thread, to avoid hijacking other topics.......and hope that we can limit the discussion to information exchange and not debate </div>

<div> </div><div>Debate is good, argument is the result of those who don't respect it.</div>

4x4tour · Aug 4, 2011

Steve,

How is this with wind and bugs? I'd hate to be woken up by a moth or breeze.

Just animals/people.  I aim it upwards, so squirrels dont activate it.  But, since you probably consider it a nice feast, you could pluck 'em one by one...lol I even camouflaged the white sensor (not the window area) by painting it green with fake plant leaves siliconed to it.  I leave it about 20 feet away from my van, pointing at it.   No one ever sees it, not even during the day... For the money, it's an excellent camp site warning device.  The sensor's 9volt will last about 4 to 5 months, and the receiver's three C batteries last a year or so. AJ

sl1966 · Aug 4, 2011

4x4tour said:
Just animals/people.  I aim it upwards, so squirrels dont activate it.  But, since you probably consider it a nice feast, you could pluck 'em one by one...lol I even camouflaged the white sensor (not the window area) by painting it green with fake plant leaves siliconed to it.  I leave it about 20 feet away from my van, pointing at it.   No one ever sees it, not even during the day... For the money, it's an excellent camp site warning device.  The sensor's 9volt will last about 4 to 5 months, and the receiver's three C batteries last a year or so. AJ

<div> </div><div> </div><div>hahahaha  ... I hate to admit it, but I've had squirrel too (tastes like chicken). To be fair I only started eating stuff other than cows, turkeys, ducks, chickens, and pigs in my late 30s. Mostly out of curiosity. I had jackrabbit and loved it which is why I decided to hunt them for meat.</div><div> </div>

Suanne · Aug 4, 2011

4x4tour said:
I leave it about 20 feet away from my van, pointing at it.   No one ever sees it, not even during the day... For the money, it's an excellent camp site warning device.

Very clever AJ.  I'm wondering if these would work just as well attached to each side of your vehicle, pointing outwards (vs. towards it).  What do you think? Suanne

vonu · Aug 4, 2011

Suanne said:


4x4tour said:

I leave it about 20 feet away from my van, pointing at it.   No one ever sees it, not even during the day... For the money, it's an excellent camp site warning device.

Click to expand...

Very clever AJ.  I'm wondering if these would work just as well attached to each side of your vehicle, pointing outwards (vs. towards it).  What do you think? Suanne

<div> </div><div>They'd work well aimed out a window, as well.</div>

4x4tour · Aug 5, 2011

They will work great mounted on the sides (on the outside).   Mounting them inside like Vonu suggests, would be a mistake in my opnion.  There would be areas left uncovered, like directly underneath and the sides of said window.   Trust me... having it outside, pointing at the camper is the best way for the most coverage, from one sensor (3 sides), as compared to having it point out just one window, thereby covering just that one side...  Ive tried it many ways,  and I know what works for me...   Picture it in your head, and you'll see what I mean...   AJ

bobbert · Aug 5, 2011

Does the Earthmate PN-60w required a paid subscription in order to send text messages?

4x4tour · Aug 5, 2011

That is the MySpot part of it.  You can get just the myspot, if you have a compatible phone, I think (havent checked).  I wanted the state of the art offroad/terrain/city GPS unit, and the PN-6W was highly recommended (they make a PN-6 that isnt wireless).  The MySpot part of it was what totally sold me on it.     It's 99 a year I think.  They had to recall my "MySpot" device, and extended 6 months of service for free.     There's also a forum at the Delorme home page.    The main reason I bought the service is because my parents have a campsite out of cell coverage.  For piece of mind, I lke to be able to send emergency text messages with my coordinates embedded for quick emergency evacuation.  In one of my pre-written texts, I inform my brothers of the local 911 number, which he then calls right away (without having to look for it) and forwards my coordinates.   Voila!  911 on the way in minutes.   I have 3 contacts in my "emergency red button" text list.  So, all 3 get the same text (better chances of someone's response).   And you can send regular texts.  You get like 99 a year or something (havent checked).   For travelers, The Pn-6W and MySpot is a hard combo to beat.

Suanne · Aug 5, 2011

4x4tour said:
  For travelers, The Pn-6W and MySpot is a hard combo to beat.

I have just a stand-alone SPOT unit (the 2nd generation) that doesn't integrate with my smart phone.  I'm glad to have it for any possible emergency situation that might happen.  So far, I haven't needed to use it for any emergencies, but I do use it to send "all is well" messages to family and friends when I'm out of cell phone range. I have an integrated GPS system in my car that works great while on the road, and a mapping (w/GPS) program on my laptop that I use for planning trips.  That laptop software (CoPilot Navigator) needs to be replaced. So here are some questions ... Does the Delorme-SPOT system allow the user to do route planning on a laptop?  Does it distinctly show BLM and NFS land?  Does it show BLM & NFS campgrounds?  Do you use the keyboard on your laptop to send texts via the SPOT? Thanks, Suanne

4x4tour · Aug 5, 2011

Does the Delorme-SPOT system allow the user to do route planning on a laptop?  Does it distinctly show BLM and NFS land?  Does it show BLM & NFS campgrounds?  Do you use the keyboard on your laptop to send texts via the SPOT? Yes to the the first 2, and no to the last (the gps is easy to text with).   Here are some pics of my laptop screen of random locations.  Also, you can zoom in/out with ease.

Tara · Aug 6, 2011

Woah, can you do that of anywhere?  

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