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Customer Product Reviews

SPOT™ Satellite Personal Messenger

If your outdoor adventures take you to remote areas, the Satellite Personal Outdoor Tracker (SPOT) could be a lifesaver. It's the world's first satellite messenger capable of sending alerts to family, friends or a 911 center. The 911 button sends your coordinates to North American authorities every five minutes until the alert is canceled. The unit's HELPbutton sends a personalized note, current location coordinates and a link to a Google Map? to up to five cell phone numbers and e-mail addresses if you need assistance, but don't require emergency services or immediate rescue. The TEST/OK button verifies that the unit works or sends an "all is well" message. Built to handle extreme conditions, SPOT is water-resistant to 3-1/2 ft., buoyant, rated to handle salt, fog, and humidity; it operates in temperatures from -40?F to 185?F and at altitudes ranging from -300 ft. to 21,300 ft. An On/Off power button prevents accidental activation and transmission. SPOT works in North and South America, Europe, Russia, Australia and hundreds of miles offshore independently of cell phone systems. Included AA lithium batteries last up to 14 days in tracking mode, seven days in 911 mode and supply power to send upwards of 1,900 messages. Wt: 7.4 oz. Requires annual subscription with manufacturer.

Average Customer Rating:

4.2 out of 5

53 of 60 (88%) customers would recommend this product to a friend.

Customer Reviews for SPOT™ Satellite Personal Messenger

Overall Rating:

4 out of 5

Preventing accidental activations, October 28, 2009
By JReddyline from Boise, ID

"Thinking about getting a First Generation SPOT Messenger but worried about accidentally calling 911 and initiating a rescue you don't need? Here's a simple solution:

I purchased a Pelican 1010 watertight case that is slightly larger than the SPOT. The tight-fitting clear case prevents any of the buttons from being pressed accidentally and still allows the device to transmit a signal. (The SPOT will fit in the foam padding with a little coaxing).

Plus, the case has three tie down points so you don't have to rely on the loose belt clip on the SPOT. I folded the pertinent instructions and placed them under the belt clip where they will be dry and accessible if I need them.

The next generation SPOT has a protective cover over the 911 button to prevent accidental activations, but retrofitting the original SPOT with the Pelican case is great way to take advantage of the sale price AND avoid an unneeded $5,000 helicopter rescue bill."

Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes

Review 2 for SPOT™ Satellite Personal Messenger

Overall Rating:

5 out of 5

spot, September 9, 2009
By colorado1hunter1 from Colorado

"worked good for all my check ins"

Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes

Review 3 for SPOT™ Satellite Personal Messenger

Overall Rating:

5 out of 5

Buying one today, August 24, 2009
By OutsideAdventure

"I was with a buddy over the weekend and he broke his foot walking down a ledge. He pushed 911 and within 1 1/2 hours an emergency helicopter had landed in a clearing where we packed out buddy 200 yards.

There is no way we could have packed him out of there and the time it would have taken for one of us to hike out, alert the proper authorities and get him to safety would have taken all day. By that time he was already treated at the local hospital.

Have no knowledge of the tracking features. The 911 feature is the one that really counts."

Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes

Review 4 for SPOT™ Satellite Personal Messenger

Overall Rating:

4 out of 5

SPOT working very well, August 10, 2009
By kltl from Monte Vista, Colorado

"I purchased a SPOT Satellite Personal Messenger about one month ago and it is working perfectly. My sons and I have been in the San Juan Mountains in Southern Colorado most of the month and it appears that all our "OK" messages have been received. The tracking feature has worked just as well. We have not had to use the "Help" or "911" feature. It has given me much more confidence being out alone in the mountains. I send "OK" messages 3 times a day. My husbands know to expect them and is happy to receive them, knowing we are safe. I would recommend this product but please take time to read about the product first and plan a day or two to use the product at home before you take off on any trips. I have already recommended this product to friends & family."

Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes

Review 5 for SPOT™ Satellite Personal Messenger

Overall Rating:

3 out of 5

SPOT Messenger, August 6, 2009
By NoTrees from TX

"I purchased the unit for my 86 yr. old father, who fly-fishes in remote areas of WY. The unit seems to take several minutes to work, and OK messages have not been 100% reliable. Still, better than nothing, and we'll keep using the SPOT until a better product comes along. The Google map feature is excellent when it does work."

Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes

Review 6 for SPOT™ Satellite Personal Messenger

Overall Rating:

1 out of 5

Don't waste your money, July 20, 2009
By BruceAC

"Immediately after receiving the SPOT unit as a Xmas gift I had to send it in for warranty repair because the lights would not blink in unison, a malfunction indicator. They repaired and sent it back (you pay shipping both ways).

When I got it back I tried several times to send an "I'm OK" message as a test before heading out. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it did not even though I had a clear view of the sky in the Twin Cities of Minnesota.

I just returned from my cabin in northern Minnesota. I sent an "I'm OK" message as a test. The green light turned solid for 5 seconds indicating the message was sent. When I returned home I had no message on my computer, neither did any of my SPOT team members.

I have zero confidence in this devise and wouldn't even bother carrying it with me should I venture outside of cell pohne range and will try and get a refund.

As an aside if you call their customer care service number you will listen to music forever as you wait for a service person to answer your call."

Would you recommend this product to a friend? No

Review 7 for SPOT™ Satellite Personal Messenger

Overall Rating:

5 out of 5

SPOT™ Satellite Personal Messenger, July 5, 2009
By Kyle09 from Laveen, AZ

"A must have on all outdoor outings. Whether you hike, hunt, fish, even great for the dunes or mud bogging/rock crawling. It's just simply great for all outdoor uses, even when on the road. With the SPOT Assist service you can call for a tow truck to your exact location when in need of tire change, fluids, lockout, and more. It's cheaper than OnStar™ and you get to take it into which ever vehicle you decide to use. It also helps to log your trips when you get back home to record when and where you went to those cool nature sites you visited. You can't beat any other product with the services you get from SPOT. Pay for your service once a year and use it when ever you wish (NO monthly payments), no hidden fees or gimmicks. If you go outdoors, you need this. Give yourself and your loved ones the assurance your OK. Or when in need of that emergency that we never expect to come, give yourself the chance to survive or save the life of someone else. Get SPOT, be safe, and enjoy God's creation."

Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes

Review 8 for SPOT™ Satellite Personal Messenger

Overall Rating:

5 out of 5

a must in remote areas, July 1, 2009
By NearDeer from O'Neill, NE

"It worked great on a fly in Canada fishing trip. Messages were sent reliably if sent following the instructions of having it set in a clear area for 20 min."

Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes

Review 9 for SPOT™ Satellite Personal Messenger

Overall Rating:

2 out of 5

Will Spot save your life?, July 1, 2009
By chiefheater from New Jersey

"Granted I've had the unit a short time, but unfortunately, I've tested the Spot for "OK" checks in New Jersey and New Hampshire and received no contacts nor has my son or my wife who are my "help" contacts. My property in New Hampshire has little or no cell connection and was relying on Spot for an emergency. I was alone on the property and transmitted two "OK" transmissions of which neither was received by anyone. I have gotten some transmissions go through in New Jersey but I usually hunt and fish alone and Spot may not work, don't bet your life on it!"

Would you recommend this product to a friend? No

Review 10 for SPOT™ Satellite Personal Messenger

Overall Rating:

1 out of 5

Spot satellite Messenger, June 23, 2009
By ddnutzy from Sturbridge, Ma.

"I have used the Spot on five different hikes for a total of 31 miles.On each of the hikes I tried to use the tracking mode which never gave out a signal. On each one I used to ok button on at least five different locations. Of the twenty five sent,I only got four responses sent to my email at home. I also had my Garmin 60 csx on the whole time and never lost the gps signal which averaged six satellites through the hikes.
I called Spot and was told that you had to have a clear view of the sky so that makes it a useless piece of equipment here in New England where most of my hiking is in wooded areas. It probably works fine in New Mexico.
It seems to me that the Spot has a real poor antenna on it."

Would you recommend this product to a friend? No

Review 11 for SPOT™ Satellite Personal Messenger

Overall Rating:

3 out of 5

it works, June 16, 2009
By 1Kimber from salinas Ca

"I gave it 3 out five there is nothing to compare it to. In testing by putting it in the back of my truck and driving around for a day it worked fine. It tracked ok and when I pushed the ok button again it sent out that I check in. 2 e-mails 4 text messages fine, but not to my Nextel.
When I used it to track me on a hike, checking out hunting spots it did not do so will. I had it in the case on my hip it tracked me 4 times in 2 hours. My GPS don’t work will on my hip ether. Next time I will put on the top of my back pack. My GPS likes that.
I would be scared to use it in the Grand Canyon or something like that. Like a GPS it needs a clear view of the sky!

As far as I know, there is nothing ells like this out there. It’s a lot cheaper than a satellite phone"

Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes

Review 12 for SPOT™ Satellite Personal Messenger

Overall Rating:

5 out of 5

Must Have Item, June 15, 2009
By 907Rider from Anchorage, AK

"This items is a must have item for anyone that enjoys any type of remote outdoor activities."

Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes

Review 13 for SPOT™ Satellite Personal Messenger

Overall Rating:

4 out of 5

Still learning, May 18, 2009
By LDuane from Longmont, Colorado

"Only had the SPOT a few weeks and still learning.
I mostly use the SPOT in a backcountry airplane while flying in the Colorado Rockies and south eastern Utah with initial tests looking like it should work ok.
The instructions on how to share trips are almost nonexistent.
It would be nice to let my friends and other pilots see where I've been but no such luck yet.
Another odd detail about tracking is that it numbers the trip backwards. Your last "track mark" at the end of your trip shows as the #1 instead of the #1 being your first track mark.
It's not a big issue but is a little goofy."

Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes

Review 14 for SPOT™ Satellite Personal Messenger

Overall Rating:

1 out of 5

Very Disappointed-Only works in clear-wide open, April 26, 2009
By KyHiker

"Just got the unit and took on a backpack trip to the Big South Fork area. Only sent out signals when on the clear bluffs-of course my cell phone would text also. The biggest problem is there is no way of knowing if the signal got out. My wife become quite concerned after not hearing anything for 3 days. I assumed the OK signal went out twice a day when I sent them. I will be sending this back and hope to get a refund on the subscription."

Would you recommend this product to a friend? No

Review 15 for SPOT™ Satellite Personal Messenger

Overall Rating:

4 out of 5

Spot Satellite Messenger, April 9, 2009
By oldhunter65 from SW US

"After receiving my Spot unit, I have been using and testing it. I have used the OK and Help features. I do like the reassurance that I do have some contact and able to let my contacts know that I am ok and they know specifically where I am. Because often times plans do change. I have found out that the location sent is where the unit is when the satellite comes in contact with the unit. Sometimes that is not the location I had intended to be reported. The instructions say to keep unit on for 20 minutes after you send a message. What I don't like is that the Help message is limited to what you have put in thru editing your profile. So people don't know if I need help to pack out an elk, lost my keys, ran out of food, etc. There is no way to edit your message unless your have computer access. If I had computer access then I wouldn't need the Spot. The upside is that my contacts would know that I needed some help and where to look. I also find that it is hard to tell when the unit has actually broadcast my message. I put my cell phone in as a contact and that works if I have cell coverage. I've been trying to devise a code of ok and help messages to narrow the type of help I need. The googlemap information has been quite useful to me when I return."

Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes

Review 16 for SPOT™ Satellite Personal Messenger

Overall Rating:

5 out of 5

Works As Advertised, February 15, 2009
By HighDesertBill

"SPOT works as advertised. I have owned my SPOT for 14 months and think it is excellent. You should go to SPOT's home page and review their coverage map. They advertise that under ideal conditions 99%, or more, messages get through. My SPOT works best when I get it out in an open area, get it horizontal and I give it no less than 20 minutes to uplink. Sometimes waiting 20 minutes seems forever, but giving it this amount of time is necessary for SPOTs satellite constellation to optimize over me to (hopefully) receive my signal. I have seen it take 19.9 minutes for my third OK uplink signal attempt to make it to the satellite. Have patience. You will be safer with SPOT and your friends/family will appreciate knowing where you are."

Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes

Review 17 for SPOT™ Satellite Personal Messenger

Overall Rating:

5 out of 5

Fills the void, January 27, 2009
By Anonymous from Colorado

"The SPOT is filling a need for me in the mountain west by allowing me to communicate with family when I am out of cell phone range. I am also planning to utilize the technology on a trip to Alaska in September far off of the cell phone grid. The subscription service is real reasonable the first year and we will see after that but peace of mind for loved ones is pretty valuable. The additional benefit of being able to execute a 911 call when in a life threatening situation has already saved several lives. The SPOT is easy to use and is quite compact and will be a constant companion when I am on the go. It is not just for wilderness use but can be valuable when traveling as well!"

Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes

Review 18 for SPOT™ Satellite Personal Messenger

Overall Rating:

5 out of 5

SPOT™ Satellite Personal Messenger, January 27, 2009
By Anonymous from Belgrade, MT

"Actually works as advertised. Have used spot successfully on mountain cross contry ski trails on cloudy and blustery days. Have used spot successfully in canyon areas. Have used spot successfully in Yellowstone National Park where cell service does not have a chance on overcast snowy days.

Set-up and notification entries are easy."

Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes

Review 19 for SPOT™ Satellite Personal Messenger

Overall Rating:

5 out of 5

Spot satellite personal messenger, January 20, 2009
By cajunjoe from Saint Bernard, LA

"Piece of mind. On the water or in the field, where most cell phones don't work."

Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes

Review 20 for SPOT™ Satellite Personal Messenger

Overall Rating:

5 out of 5

It Will save your Life!, January 20, 2009
By dondot01 from Wasilla, Alaska

"I live in Wasilla, Alaska, about 40 miles North of Anchorage, AK. We were taking an ATV trip through the middle of nowhere, lots of trees, brush, rivers etc. and hard to see from the air while on a 4 wheeling (ATV) day trip. I started my "SPOT" showing our start coordinates where we unloaded the ATV's and at the start I had sent one message going to each person I had on my email/tracking list who was with us that summer day. All riders were to receive the same message as my wife was to receive. I failed to check each message to see if they were all the same, since you have the option of saying whatever you want each recipients to receive, My Wife was the only one that received a message that said "Serious injury, Send Emergency help immediately!"! Everyone else received the correct message which "was that we had reached our destination, were safe and follow our route on Google through email!" My point here is that SPOT did work properly in rainy, cold, overcast and in the heavy woods did mark our route, show each location every Ten minutes for the entire trip, where we stayed for longer times in one location, when we would stop for lunch break or just to rest and since it showed us continually on the move, and after my wife desperately contacted the Alaska State Troopers who sent others out to locate us and determine our conditions did notice that we had continued to travel to our predesignated destination "Knik Glacier" an 80 mile ATV round trip through some of the worst terrain that you could ever hope to travel through, Rivers to cross and occasionally get stuck in and have to be winched out! The Alaska State Troopers did have the sense to notice that we were still traveling toward our destination and at the predesignated point did start our return back to our unload point! My wife was right there in my face with the email that was sent to her, along with other caring wives asking me to explain why she received this email and could see that we were okay! It turned out that the message to her was the only one that had not been changed from the one "SPOT" had entered from the factory! I had failed to check all the messages prior to my planning the trip! The bottom line is that it worked in an area where if it were ever to be tested, that part of Alaska would be the place that would prove its worth! Their were no charges by the State Troopers for their search, only to me from my wife for her being the only one to get the wrong message! Buy one, my opinion is, it is well worth it if your life means anything to you or anyone else! Many of my friends and others here in Alaska have purchased them only from me relating my experience with it!"

Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes

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