Delorme's Earthmate PN-60w gets Spot compatibility, can beam your tweets into space
By Tim Stevens 
posted January 6th 2010 7:32AM
posted January 6th 2010 7:32AM
Okay, so we don't get out all that much, especially this time of year, but when we do we have this lingering dread about being disconnected. What if we miss a text from our BFF? What if we get a Facebook request from Super Fun Annoying Wall? What if we skip a tweet from @FakeAPStylebook? Delorme's latest takes care of that, relying on satellites to beam all your social networking signals from outer space. The Earthmate PN-60w is the GPS end of things, with a 32-channel receiver, three-axis compass, and all the tracking, waypoint, and breadcrumb functionality you'd expect from this sort of device. The PN-60w can then pair with a Spot Messenger for sending text messages, Facebook updates, and tweets from the most desolate of backwoods. The PN-60w is said to be avail sometime this spring, and you can pre-order yours at Amazon now for $549.
"so we don't get out all that much"
I really, really didn't see the "out"
It can send info to social networks, but can't receive them.
http://gpstracklog.com/2010/01/delorme-pn-60w-with-spot.html
cmon, are you people so much addicted to social networks ??
@madmax123 It's not even for being addicted to social networks, it for those who can't shut up on social networks.
5 years from now, you send a tweet, "help im lost, i broke my leg, and im without food or water!"
unfortunatly no one uses twitter anymore, and you die. If only you got the latest crapgadget that used the most recent social networking. "yodalmobile"!
you can send up to 180 character messages to all your groups of people who dont care that you just woke up, and about to brush your teeth!
yes!!!! who cares about the cure for cancer when we have technological advances like these?!
@jac0bean Until "Cure4Cancer" reaches the top of the trending topics and someone remembers they've got it...
@d0mth0ma5 i guess you could tweet that you got cancer...
or any number of life changing announcements. much more convenient then getting everyone together in a big room.
coming out of the closet
getting married
getting divorced
if i slept with you in the last two weeks you have herpes...
i guess twitter isnt all that bad
@jac0bean
In 5 years these things will more than likely have two way voice, so I doubt that you would be tweeting. Unless of course you aren't the person who uses the latest technology...in which case you wouldn't be buying this anyway!
@jac0bean
http://www.theonion.com/content/video/internet_archaeologists_find
I don't give a crap about the tweet and facebook crap of the device, but what if it did something more useful instead. Like beam the gps location to a tracking website. This might be useful for tracking our kids or whatever. But if it's just for tweet then screw it.
@nxp3
I have had a SPoT for years and now have a second generation SPoT. Go look at the website...that is what the Tracking messages WILL do.
In Track mode, you will get a map of your coordinates.
Check out this post for full details on the PN-60w and SPOT Communicator. While the social networking is a feature it's certainly not the big item. We're most excited to let you send a text message to your friends and family directly or to emergency response letting them know details about your situation, all when you're out of cell phone range. Oh yeah, check out the wirelss mesh network between GPS devices, see the location of all the people in your group! I hope this helps clarify, let me know if you have any questions...
http://blog.delorme.com/2010/01/06/delorme-and-spot-handheld-gps-meets-satellite-communication/.
Chip Noble
Team DeLorme
@Chip Noble
Tell me more about the Mesh Networking...I currenlty don't own a DeLorme, but it sounds like I might want to get one.
@Chip Noble And what if you would actually IMPROVE the GPS features of the device. I happen to have PN-40 and fully regret its purchase - takes aaageees to acquire satellites from cold, forget about it in the woods, tracking doesn's work unless the screen is on => battery drains out quickly.... Not even speaking about mapping software... sooo much last century.... C'mon people, forget about the social crap and make GOOD GPS device!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@kashtan We've actually done a lot to address your concerns about battery life with a new power management system, we're expecting significant increases there. We've also increased the internal memory and increased the speed of the device. We aren't hearing about long acquire times but if you send me an e-mail we can talk through any other problems you are having. We've got some exciting updates to Topo USA coming as well. E-mail me and I'll see what we can do to help you feel better about your purchase.
Chip Noble
Team DeLorme
Is there a monthly/yearly/per text service charge for being able to post via satellite? I looked for but did not find this info.
I didn't think those satellites were in 'outer' space.
Look at the coverage though. Globalstar's coverage area is amazing.
"It can send info to social networks, but can't receive them."
This device uses Globalstar's simplex network (one way). Globalstar's duplex will be online again within a couple years...then you will be able to send messages back to the device.
We haven't determined pricing yet but there will be a yearly subscription for text messaging like the tracking subscription for SPOT. There's more information in the comment section on our blog where this topic has come up.
Chip Noble
Team DeLorme
More details are on our blog but a mesh network will allow you to see the location of any other PN-60w devices that are in range. Range is half a mile on average with distances approaching one mile with good line of sight. We're pretty excited to be able to add this to our GPS device for real time tracking and data exchange.
Chip Noble
Team DeLorme