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SPOT Satellite Personal Messenger Reviews
Mountain Biking > Mountain Bike Gear > GPS
MTB GEAR STATS
Avg Rating:   |
2 gear reviews |
| MSRP: $149.99 | |
| Tags: | |
| 0 members own this | 1 members want this |
Description
* The world's first satellite messenger, SPOT sends your coordinates and messages via commercial satellite to inform others of your location and status.
* Offers an affordable alternative to personal locator beacons, satellite phones and cell-based GPS trackers
* Provides virtually full coverage in North America, Europe and Australia
* Also covers portions of South America, northern Africa and northeastern Asia, along with thousands of miles of offshore areas
* ''Alert 911'' function dispatches emergency responders to your exact location
* Use ''Help'' feature to request assistance from friends or family
* ''Check In'' allows you to transmit your location and that you are okay
* Track your progress by sending and saving points along your route to Google Maps?
* GPS satellites determine location; reliable SPOT satellites transmit information
* Rugged unit floats, works in extreme temps and altitudes and can be submerged up to 1m
* Weighs less than 8 oz. and is small and easy to carry
* Optional features include SPOTcast automatic tracking service and guaranteed extraction assistance in countries lacking emergency services
* 2 AA lithium batteries (included) provide 1 year of power (unused), 14 days in SPOTcast mode and 7 days in 911 mode, or 1,900 SPOTcheck ''OK'' messages
* Requires $99 annual subscription; $7.95 for optional extraction assistance in countries without emergency services (available at www.findmespot.com)
* The world's first satellite messenger, SPOT sends your coordinates and messages via commercial satellite to inform others of your location and status.
* Offers an affordable alternative to personal locator beacons, satellite phones and cell-based GPS trackers
* Provides virtually full coverage in North America, Europe and Australia
* Also covers portions of South America, northern Africa and northeastern Asia, along with thousands of miles of offshore areas
* ''Alert 911'' function dispatches emergency responders to your exact location
* Use ''Help'' feature to request assistance from friends or family
* ''Check In'' allows you to transmit your location and that you are okay
* Track your progress by sending and saving points along your route to Google Maps?
* GPS satellites determine location; reliable SPOT satellites transmit information
* Rugged unit floats, works in extreme temps and altitudes and can be submerged up to 1m
* Weighs less than 8 oz. and is small and easy to carry
* Optional features include SPOTcast automatic tracking service and guaranteed extraction assistance in countries lacking emergency services
* 2 AA lithium batteries (included) provide 1 year of power (unused), 14 days in SPOTcast mode and 7 days in 911 mode, or 1,900 SPOTcheck ''OK'' messages
* Requires $99 annual subscription; $7.95 for optional extraction assistance in countries without emergency services (available at www.findmespot.com)
Reviews
Pros: Peace of mind
Easy to use
Cons: Peace of mind comes at a price
Sometimes misses the 10 min check-in points
Recommendation: I got this for when I was out on my motorcycle, as I often ride remore areas on my own. It gives me and my partner a great deal of peace of mind in the event something bad were to happen. I always use the 10 min check in feature so can be tracked, but I have found the signals can be sketchy at times, especially in a canyon for instance. One thing which I am not sure about is the necessity to physically push a button when summoning emergency help, and to do this one needs to be both conscious and able to reach the unit. Not always the case after an accident, hence the potential need for an efficient tracking system. I now use it all the time on my MTB also, as the potential for injury is great, but hopefully if the worst happens, I would be conscious and able to push the panic button! It also comes with 100K worth of search and rescue insurance as an option if desired. I recommend it highly, if only for the peace of mind, which cannot be underestimated. Let's hope I never have to use it...
Easy to use
Cons: Peace of mind comes at a price
Sometimes misses the 10 min check-in points
Recommendation: I got this for when I was out on my motorcycle, as I often ride remore areas on my own. It gives me and my partner a great deal of peace of mind in the event something bad were to happen. I always use the 10 min check in feature so can be tracked, but I have found the signals can be sketchy at times, especially in a canyon for instance. One thing which I am not sure about is the necessity to physically push a button when summoning emergency help, and to do this one needs to be both conscious and able to reach the unit. Not always the case after an accident, hence the potential need for an efficient tracking system. I now use it all the time on my MTB also, as the potential for injury is great, but hopefully if the worst happens, I would be conscious and able to push the panic button! It also comes with 100K worth of search and rescue insurance as an option if desired. I recommend it highly, if only for the peace of mind, which cannot be underestimated. Let's hope I never have to use it...
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Add to 'Gear Wishlist'
Cons: Limited tracking interval. Doesn't save track points more than 7 days (why?).
Recommendation: If you're going out for multiple days and will be out of cell phone range, this is a good tool to have. Keeps loved ones informed and can be used to call rescuers in an emergency. Paying for annual service is a pain but I guess it's necessary.