The SPOT Satellite Messenger
could save your life

The SPOT satellite messenger is not a conventional GPS tracking device. It is more of a locator and emergency safety device. Like other trackers, it works by receiving its' location from its' on-board GPS receiver, but here the likeness stops. It communicates its location by transmitting to the commercial satellite network. The SatNav network then relays the information to a world-wide, ground based antenna system which then sends that information to specified cell phones via SMS text messaging or pre-set e-mail recipients or, in case of emergency, to the emergency call center. To view their coverage are just click on SPOT coverage map.

It works with two AA Lithium Ion batteries and has a battery life of 1 year on standby, 14 days in location mode and 7 days in emergency mode. Once activated, SPOT satellite messenger acquires and sends your GPS coordinates (called SPOT casting) to your SPOT account every 10 minutes. This feature may be turned off by pressing the help button for 3 seconds and can be turned on by pressing help for 5 seconds. Anyone with access to your account information can log on and view your route, complete with virtual views provided by Google Maps™. To continue tracking on longer journeys, the SPOTcasting SM function must be re-activated every 24 hours. Obviously the more you use the 24 hours tracking feature, the shorter the battery life. Solution: if you can't use a charger, carry extra batteries.

SPOT is designed for maximum reliability. SPOT performs a self-diagnostic test each time it is powered on. Additionally, SPOT strongly recommends that you send and verify an OK/Check message each time before use. This allows you to evaluate your entire messaging system, from the operational condition of the messenger to the readiness of those you’ve chosen to notify of your messages. SPOT satellite messenger has a separate power button to ensure long battery life and to help avoid sending messages accidentally. To turn SPOT on, press the ON/OFF button. You must then wait an additional 2 seconds before activating any SPOT function. When power is on, the indicator light will blink once every 3 seconds. This is also helpful for making SPOT more visible in the dark. To turn SPOT off, press and hold the ON/OFF button for 3 seconds.

SPOT has four buttons, the on/off button, the help button, 911 and check in. When you press the OK button, SPOT acquires your location from the GPS network and routes it through the SPOT satellite messenger network. Your contacts receive either an SMS text message on their mobile phone with your message and coordinates, or an email with your message and a link to Google Maps™ showing your location. If you have a problem that is not a 911 emergency, you can press the help button. Once activated, SPOT acquires your location from the GPS network and routes it along with the HELP message through the SPOT satellite network every five minutes for one hour or until canceled. Your contacts will receive an SMS text message including coordinates, or an email with a link to Google Maps™ showing your location. If you have an emergency, press the 911 button. Once activated, SPOT will acquire its exact coordinates from the GPS network and send that location along with a distress message to a GEOS International Emergency Response Center every five minutes until canceled. The Emergency Response Center notifies the appropriate emergency responders based on your location and personal information – which may include local police, highway patrol, the Coast Guard, our country’s embassy or consulate or other emergency response or search and rescue teams – as well as notifying your emergency contact person(s) about the receipt of a distress signal. Even if SPOT satellite messenger cannot acquire its location from the GPS network, it will still attempt to send a distress signal – without exact location – to the Emergency Response Center, which will still notify your contacts of the signal and continue to monitor the network for further messages.

By selecting the desired "Track" messages in your account log and clicking "Show On Map," your entire route can be displayed through Google Maps™. You can then share your adventure with friends and family by using the new share feature by giving them your log-on information. You can also save your tracks for viewing at a later date.

The SPOT satellite messenger pricing plan is unique and can be viewed by clicking SPOT Pricing. They also offer a unique Search and Rescue insurance plan for $7.95 per year. To get the details click HERE

Unit Dimensions: 1.5" thick x 4" long x 2.75" wide
Weight: 7.37 ounces
Battery Type: 2 AA lithium batteries
Battery Life: tracking mode: Approx. 14 days
Housing: water- temperature -and shock-proof

What's in the Box:

SPOT Satellite Messenger GPS
User's Guide
GEOS Emergency Response Services printed guide
2 AA Lithium batteries (Energizer brand)

Owner Reviews - SPOT Satellite Messenger

Amazon

By Dan Randall "gadget nut", May 15, 2009

My son left on April 30 on a solo bicycle ride from Virginia to Oregon - the trans-america route. Although he is 23 we worry about him and when he sends us the OK message each day we are thrilled. It is also great fun to follow his progress all across the US using Google Maps. I highly recommend the SPOT.

By Samir Yebara, February 5, 2009

The item looks great, easy to set up, but, very dissapointed with the GPS.Tried the OK option, like 5 times, and only worked sending e-mails twice.Whenever the day is kind of cloudy, unfortunately, IT will not work, if the day is sunny and clear sky, will probably work. I hoped for a product to work on any weather condition, because when you are in trouble, you dont need to be praying for clear sky.

I hope they can upgrade their GPS receiver or their system.

Spot Satellite Messenger

By B. Wood, January 1, 2009

I wanted to like SPOT. Really, I did. I tried my best to overlook the low-power signal & lousy antenna performance, but after seeing how few of the "tracking" messages actually got through, I never felt like I could trust this thing to save my bacon when it really counted. I believe this is a "beta" product that should never have made it to market. It's an interesting prototype, but no where near ready to be relied upon if you're out in the wild. I suppose if you find yourself with a broken leg or something out in the open, with a clear view of the sky and you have the time to sit and wait for up to an hour for it to send a signal, and then you don't mind never knowing if it actually sent a message or if help is on the way, ... you get my drift.

By Benjamin D. Weiss "ZoomText", December 29, 2008

I recently purchase a SPOT for my son, who is a mountaineer. The idea of being able to track him on his excursions - and give him the ability to summon a rescue team sold me in a minute. But I wish I had read all the reviews on Amazon.

After a long day of testing, I found the unit to be totally unreliable. Only about 5% of all OK and Help messages were successfully sent. It does not work in a car at all, even when pointing it through a sun roof. It won't work with tree cover. Even with a clear path to the sky, it is very unreliable. This could be because of cloud cover (just a theory), but cloud cover is exactly what a mountaineer is going to experience.

Owner Ratings - SPOT Satellite Messenger

Amazon

57 Reviews
5 star = (25)
4 star = (13)
3 star = (4)
2 star = (5)
1 star = (10)

GPS Magazine: 171 owner votes: 2.8 out of a possible 5

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