Spot-like for free?

[FeloniousDunk]

I've been thinking about getting a Spot but can't get over the $150 plus $100/year price. 

In my search, I came across this.  http://www.instamapper.com/overview.html  Does anyone have any experience or thoughts on this Iphone app for realtime Google Maps integrated gps tracker? 

Looks like it does what a Spot does but through an Iphone and for free.  And more generally, I'm a low tech phone guy but it's about shot and I may be interested in one of these "smart" phones if the gps is trail worthy.  Any thoughts on that?

[ScottM]

The biggest limiters are battery life and cell phone reception.  The former is more of a deal killer, even for just laying down a track of your own ride on the phone.  The latter may or may not be an issue depending on where you ride.

[FeloniousDunk]

Ah, didn't think about needing cell reception for that app to work.  Definitly won't apply for many trips around here at all then.

[John G]

The question would be does it queue the data it collects or just drop it if it doesn't get reception?  If it uploads the series of tracks when it is able to find reception, it might work ok, just not continuously.

[afie]

Google "gps tracker". You can get ones that will store a weeks worth of travels (i.e. batteries will last a week but you can find ones that are replaceable)

[ScottM]

Google "gps tracker". You can get ones that will store a weeks worth of travels (i.e. batteries will last a week but you can find ones that are replaceable)

Most Garmin units will do this too.  If the GPS has an SDcard slot you can set it to log each day's track to the datacard.