Spot Satellite Messenger with GPS Tracking

Spot Satellite Messenger with GPS Tracking | Peace of mind in the wilderness

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Spot Satellite Mes...

	Spot Satellite Messenger with GPS Tracking SPOT SPOT, 2007 average customer review:based on 24 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Stay in touch via satellite technology ? whether you're just checking in, allowing others to check your progress, or calling for help.100% satellite technology works where cell phones don'tVital line of communication with friends and familyEmergency service when you need it4 key functions for sending messages to friends, family or emergency respondersWorks around the worldSatellite service subscription requiredWaterproof to a depth of 1 meterFloats in waterCommunicate with friends and family and get emergency assistance where and when you need it.

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Very cool!

My company recently purchased four of these units for those of us who travel to remote areas where there is no cell coverage. So far, we have been very impressed with this little device!

It's great that not only can you send check-in messages to your friends and family, but you can see where you were, exactly, when you get home. The accuracy is unbelievable! I pressed the check-in button from several different locations across California, and later when I looked at the locations on Google Maps (with the link provided by SPOT) it was dead-on, precisely where I was - in every instance! It is so accurate that it literally pin-pointed the exact parking spot I was in when I left the office. If I ever need rescue, I know it will bring the search teams to my exact location.

The only drawback I have seen is that occasionally the website doesn't get updated with the messages, or it takes a long time. One day I pressed the check-in button 4 times during my journey and only 3 messages were posted online. Granted I did not have the unit in the best location (inside a truck). But knowing that when you send help and 911 messages it transmits much more often, I still feel very safe carrying the unit.

One thing to keep in mind: the unit requires an annual subscription of $100, and then if you want to use the tracking feature it is an additional $50/yr. But what is your life worth?

For the price and features, it is a MUST HAVE for those of us who go into the wilderness where cell phones don't work.

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Peace of mind in the wilderness

This unit provided peace of mind for our entire group during a wilderness canoe trip this past summer. We were able to keep our loved ones assured that we were O.K. and share our location with them every day, and we had the assurance that should something go wrong we would be able to summon help. Every message that we sent was recieved. The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is because you have to sit there and stare at blinking lights if you want to be assured that your message was indeed sent. Perhaps in future models they will have a "message sent" light that would allow you to be aware of that important fact without having to sit and stare at the unit. I would definately recommend this unit to anyone who is traveling to a region where cell phone service is spotty or unavailable.

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Spot Satellite Personal Tracker

The reason for purchasing the Spot Tracker is when I go sailing in the Gulf of Mexico. I have used it around home just to test it out. It really works good and family members out of state can keep track of my locations on their PC. The only reason I didn't give it a 5 star rating is because I haven't use it when sailing. I have no reason to believe it would not work perfect.

wouldn't trust my life to this...

i recently used the SPOT for a 3 week hiking trip in the sierras. it took me a few days to get used to setting it up for tracking. i'm not a big fan of "press once for..." and "hold for 5 seconds for..." button use. especially when there is no feedback other than a few blinking lights. some sort of audio or vibration feedback would be comforting in addition to the indicator lights. or an lcd display that told me exactly what the status was, if the signal was received, if the tracking mode is indeed on, etc...

in tracking mode, i was surprised at the end of my trip to see where the gaps were. it inconsistent with the terrain and tree cover. hours of blank spots where tracking waypoints should have been marked, sometimes above the treeline with open sky all around. the limited ability to function properly when tracking leaves me doubtful that this would do the job if i had a serious emergency.

i don't understand the lack of provision for some sort of tethering cable. the belt clip is entirely insufficient for keeping the device in place... i wanted to keep it on top of my pack so that it would have the best satellite visibility but didn't want use anything that would cover the case and impede the signal.

as this is the first year of release, i'll be curious how many false-alarms occur due to the exposed buttons. steve howe, the editor of backpacker magazine, had his send a distress signal by mistake when something in his pack pushed against the button. seems like there should be some sort of secondary protection, like a slide cover over the HELP and 911 buttons. to be fair, the 911 button has a raised edge surrounding it, making it difficult to set off inadvertently, but not impossible.

a small gripe that i have, is that at the end of my trip, the website didn't make it clear where to find my tracked path. it's under a tab labeled "messages"... mmm not very clear kids.

i like the premise for the SPOT, i just wished it was more reliable. i'll be curious to see how this product develops in the future.

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

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