SPOT Satellite Messenger - 2008 BCS

Before using the SPOT, I thought it was pretty much a lame little gimmick for people who got lost in the woods and had to call 911, but that is hardly the case. We used a SPOT unit on a two week trip to Alaska, and not only did it work flawlessly, it was fun, easy to use and when we got back home tons of people said how cool it was to be able to casually follow our progress.

The SPOT works by taking a GPS fix, then sending it up to a satellite, which in turn beams it down to a webserver, which converts your GPS waypoint into a Google Earth map so that when someone gets a message, they click on the link and it instantly opens Google Earth and shows them where you are. It seems like a lot of technology to possibly go wrong, but somehow it doesn't.

I was worried about the battery life, but afterwards found out that it is similar to an avalanche beacon - you can leave these things running for days on end, or even an entire week-long trip and the battery will still be good.

The downside of them is that the website that you have to use to set up your account is very confusing and not intuitive. They also have a SPOT Adventures website where you can share your SPOT info with the world, but that is also too complicated for a single-celled ski mountaineering brain like mine to figure out. Hopefully these will be simplified in the future.

But, overall an excellent product.

I've used the Spot for 5 months. I'm still on the same set of batteries. It works pretty good. I'm surprised that it gets reception in the woods sometimes and other times doesn't in the wide open. Always let it "warm up" and lock on before using heading out. That really increases your coverage. I would like to see an optional signal booster. I use the tracking a lot and thier website is great.

Also in CO. Travel all over the state for outdoor stuff. As soon as you leave I-70 you get no cell service, as Cowboy states. I oftentimes hike alone and Spot's OK feature is brilliant for me. I send an "ok" every hour or so to let my husband know I'm good. It's really cool that the coordinates map on Google, and your friends/family can see exactly where you're at on the map. I feel good that I could call 911 if I really got in trouble. The optional $100k of rescue cost insurance through Lloyds of London for $8/year is a steal and comforting. The unit is sturdy, and seems like it is waterproof. I've already dropped it several times on the rocks with no problems (wish cameras came that bomber).

HOWEVER, the tracking feature, where it automatically sends info on your position every 10 minutes (which you have to pay $50/yr extra for), doesn't work well at all. Don't waste your money on it. Like any GPS device, it doesn't pick up signals in the woods, and it seems to not be able to triangulate fast enough to get you located if you are moving all the time.

So, if you want to use it to periodically let your loved ones know you're good and let them see where you are once in a while on the map, want the security of being able to call in the cavalry in a dire situation - great, A++, get it.

If you are super geek, like some of my friends and think you are going to get a nice real-time track laid out with the tracking feature while your running or hiking, forget it. Probably not for you. The technology might get there someday, but it's not in this 1st gen version.

I took it to Kotzebue Alaska 3 weeks ago and worked like a swiss watch, and use it on occaision here in Calif. where I live. I use it, trust it, and recommend it. Spouse loves it, more people should use it. It is so multi-dimensional. A must have.

I have only had this unit for 1 year and have used and tested it vigorously and my conclusion is that I either bought the best one ever built or some of the other reviewers do not know how to operate the spot. This thing works in my basement 30-40 percent of the time and in my truck 100% of the time. I have used it in the mountains under full cover and it works great and is very easy to operate and understand. It has also proven to be waterproof as well as durable. I do wish that it had a screen that enabled the user to change messages on site and would give a message that would let the user know that the message has been sent. I have never had to use the 911 option so I do not know how well it works. One thing for sure if you are out of cell phone service and you need help you have a much better chance with the spot in hand.

The device consistently transmitted successful signals inside my S. California (stucco and plaster ceilings) home with grey overcast skies. It has also worked in my truck when placed against a partially opened glass sunroof.

As of this writing Im not experiencing problems with the GPS signal not getting through. The device is built solid. The instructions are weak. A plastic reference card is needed to carry with the device. The Google interface is ok. Backcountry needs to stock the carrying case. Service is way cheaper than a GPS sat phone or a regular cell phone for that matter.

3 stars only because of the poor documentation. People visually scan instructions and then try to apply logic and intuition to learn.

The instruction must be read more than once and sections noted to reverence back to. If youre in a stressful situation you will forget. If someone else is trying to use the device for you, they wont know. Again, a plastic reference card is needed. Otherwise I would give 4-1/2 maybe 5 stars.

Up here in Northern Colorado we have terrible cell phone service. And most of the time when you go into the mountains here you get no cell phone service at all. Never, ever. Even if you climb to a peak. That is where this device shines. It is a link to the outside world. Whatever that need be. At the very least you get to communicate to others that you are "A" ok. And when you get back home the tracking feature can be quite fun. I just wish this thing was a bit lighter in weight. It does not rank among one of the items you want your buddy to carry instead.

The marketing for this device is excellent however the research and development that went into it is really lacking. It's not reliable at all and should be used for fun only, not when life safety is a factor.

I purchased the SPOT for emergency use during a sailing trip across Lake Michigan. Because we were out of cell phone and radio range, we needed a device to let family know we were okay and notify the Coast Guard in the event of an emergency. The SPOT stopped transmitting our signal after 90 minutes and family members became so worried that they called the Coast Guard.

SPOT is difficult and confusing to use. It's impossible to tell if it's actually working so we had no idea that it had stopped sending our location to family members.

The device requires a "clear view of the sky" which is a major understatement. The middle of Lake Michigan on a clear day was not adequate for the device apparently.

I would never recommend this device to anyone and am grateful for return policies!

First let me say the device and service work basically as advertised. I have used it on two trips and locally around town to get familiar with the usage. My issue is with the usability. The various combos of blinking lights can .take a few days to get used to. It is also not clear from the directions that you are not able to do "Tracking" mode and then do a "Check OK" while tracking is enabled. I called customer support and they told me to turn the device off, turn it back on and then hit the check OK. I am also concerned about the Help and 911 buttons getting pressed accidently... There have actually been a number of occasions when the 911 was hit mistakenly and the user had no idea.... The device should have an audible alarm for 2 to 3 minutes to make sure the user is aware the button has been hit. I have also noticed that the Tracking mode (an additional service charge beyond the $99 per year cost) does not actually send an update every 10 minutes... on average I have seen the updates sent every 30 to 45 minutes. This is good but definitely not as advertised.

I tried using this item for the first weekend during So Cal fire storms and the ash in the air must have affected the GPS. Every 5th message seemed to transmit and with no location available. Also during a heavy rain storm no transmission. Even on clear days some messages took 30 mins or more to reach recipient. The Spot Tracker has worked where my cell phone did not and that's why I bought it. Somewhat spotty mountain coverage, no pun intended. The added tracking service seems overkill, but some may find that useful.

I have used this while camping, hiking, also during a 15 day trip to Peru. It worked from Machu Picchu, all along the middle range of the Andes (in hail & rain), from the middle of Lake Titicaca in Peru and all over California.

It keeps my family from worrying and lets friends check in on where i am!

I'll be taking it to Chirripo in Costa Rica and Rainier in 2009!

Plus, i like knowing that i have that just in case :)

My wife worries when I disappear into the wilderness for a multi-day backpack. This reassures her that I am OK...or not. I also like to go solo so if I do get into trouble...at least I have some way of calling for help if I should ever need it. Works like a charm.

I just got home from a 2 week trip in Alaska. My SPOT worked like a swiss watch all over the state, including Barrow and Prudhoe Bay! I looked at the coverage map on SPOTs website and looks like they do have statewide coverage up there. I would recommend SPOT for anyone.

So far, so good. Do not pay extra for the "Tracker" service as it eats up the battery, and you can send/save the same data by occasionally pressing the "OK-Check" button.
I bought this for my hunting/backcountry skiing husband. He is happy to carry it, and I sleep better knowing where he is and that he is OK. The various mapping features are very cool.

I work for the U.S. Coast Guard and local search and rescue team in Alaska. The SPOT seems to have a huge blackout area up here and we get sent out to look for people who aren't lost all the time. Their family doesnt hear from them for a while because the SPOT can't find a satellite in this vast wilderness. It might work in the lower 48 but up here I'd get a ACR 406.

Might work OK in the middle of town, but when you really need it in the back country it is spotty at best. I wouldn't bet my life on it.