SPOT Personal Tracker
from SPOT Inc.
Total customer review : 109 Reviews
- Satellite messenger with GPS tracking for keeping users safe on adventure trips.Purchasing a service plan is required in addition to purchasing the SPOT unit.
- SpotChecking feature alerts friends and family of your precise location
- SpotCasting function lets friends and family follow your progress in real time
- Sends GPS coordinates and distress message to Emergency Response Center
- Satellite technology works around the world; measures 2.75 x 4.38 x 1.5 inches (W x H x D)
Length : 810
Weight : 80
Width : 610
CurrencyCode : USD
FormattedPrice : $99.99
Length : 600
Weight : 105
Width : 590
- Product DescriptionSPOT. THE WORLD'S FIRST SATELLITE MESSENGER.
With the SPOT Satellite Messenger, you and your loved ones have peace of mind knowing help is always within reach. SPOT is the only device of its kind, using the GPS satellite network to acquire its coordinates, and then sending its location with a link to Google Maps™ and a pre-programmed message via a commercial satellite network. And unlike Personal Locator Beacons, SPOT does more than just call for help. Tracking your progress, checking in with loved ones, and non-emergency assistance are also available, all at the push of a button. And because it uses 100% satellite technology, SPOT works around the world even where cell phones don't.
Coverage
SPOT works around the world, including virtually all of the continental United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe and Australia, portions of South America, Northern Africa and North Eastern Asia, and hundreds or thousands of miles off-shore of these areas.
Messenger
- ALERT 9-1-1 - Dispatch emergency responders to your exact location
- CHECK IN - Let contacts know where you are and that you're okay
- TRACK PROGRESS - Send and save your location and allow contacts to track your progress using your password and Google Maps™.
- ASK FOR HELP - Request help from friends and family at your exact location.
- ALERT 9-1-1 - Dispatch emergency responders to your exact location
- Amazon.com Product DescriptionGive your loved ones full peace of mind when you're on the mountain with the Spot Satellite Messenger. Whether you're just checking in, allowing others to track your progress, or calling for help, Spot gives you a vital line of communication with friends and family when you want it, and emergency assistance when and where you need it. Spot employs a GPS satellite network to acquire its coordinates, then sends its location to the recipient of your choice, complete with a link to Google Maps and a pre-programmed message. Unlike personal locator beacons, however, Spot does more than just call for help. The SpotChecking feature, for example, lets you notify your SpotTeam--the friends and family you've chosen as your contacts--and tell them all is well, notify them of your location, or save waypoints so you can review your route at a later date. You can also activate the SpotCasting feature to let friends and family follow your progress in real time (every 10 minutes). Anyone with access to your account information can log on and view your route, complete with virtual views provided by Google Maps. SpotCasting is a terrific feature for mountain climbers looking to celebrate their accomplishments with their loved ones.
The most important feature, however, is Spot's ability to call 911 in the event of a life-threatening or other critical emergency. Once activated, Spot will acquire your exact coordinates from the GPS network, and then send that location along with a distress message to a GEOS International Emergency Response Center every five minutes until cancelled. The Emergency Response Center will then notify the appropriate emergency responders based on your location and personal information. Responders may include local police, the highway patrol, the Coast Guard, an embassy or consulate, or other emergency response and search-and-rescue teams. Even if Spot can't acquire its location from the GPS network, it will still attempt to send a distress signal--without your exact location--to the Emergency Response Center, which will still notify your emergency contacts of the signal and continue to monitor the network for further messages.
Spot works around the world, including in virtually all of the continental United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, and Australia, and portions of South America, Northern Africa, and Northeastern Asia. And provided you're in a good coverage area, Spot offers a 99 percent probability of sending a successful message within 20 minutes. As a result, Spot is ideal for anyone with a taste for outdoor adventures, including boaters, kayakers, sailboarders, archaeologists, skiers, climbers, pilots, business travelers, snowshoers, and just about anyone else.
Spot requires two AA lithium batteries, with a battery life of up to one year in standby mode, 14 days in SpotCasting mode, or 7 days in 911 mode. And thanks to the water-resistant housing (safe in 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes), you needn't worry about using Spot in adverse conditions. Spot measures a compact 2.75 by 4.38 by 1.5 inches (W x H x D), weighs 7.37 ounces, and carries a one-year limited warranty.
Communication Functions:
- Alert 9-1-1 dispatches emergency responders to an exact location
- Ask for Help sends a request for help to friends and family with your location
- Check In lets contacts know where you are and that you are okay
- Track Progress sends and saves your location and allows others to track your progress using Google Maps
Spot employs a GPS satellite network to acquire its coordinates, then sends its location to the recipient of your choice, complete with a link to Google Maps and a pre-programmed message.Battery Life:
- Power ON, unused: Approximately 1 year
- SPOT casting continuous tracking mode: Approximately 14 days
- 9-1-1 mode: Up to 7 consecutive days
- HELP mode: up to 1900 messages
- SPOT check OK up to 1900 messages
Specifications:
- Weight: 7 ounces
- Waterproof to a depth of 1 meter for up to 30 minutes
- Operating Temperature: -40ºF to +185ºF
- Operating Altitude: -300 feet to +21,300 feet
- Humidity and Salt Fog Rated
- Alert 9-1-1 dispatches emergency responders to an exact location
- Amazon.com Product DescriptionGive your loved ones full peace of mind when you're on the mountain with the Spot Satellite Messenger. Whether you're just checking in, allowing others to track your progress, or calling for help, Spot gives you a vital line of communication with friends and family when you want it, and emergency assistance when and where you need it. Spot employs a GPS satellite network to acquire its coordinates, then sends its location to the recipient of your choice, complete with a link to Google Maps and a pre-programmed message. Unlike personal locator beacons, however, Spot does more than just call for help. The SpotChecking feature, for example, lets you notify your SpotTeam--the friends and family you've chosen as your contacts--and tell them all is well, notify them of your location, or save waypoints so you can review your route at a later date. You can also activate the SpotCasting feature to let friends and family follow your progress in real time (every 10 minutes). Anyone with access to your account information can log on and view your route, complete with virtual views provided by Google Maps. SpotCasting is a terrific feature for mountain climbers looking to celebrate their accomplishments with their loved ones.
The most important feature, however, is Spot's ability to call 911 in the event of a life-threatening or other critical emergency. Once activated, Spot will acquire your exact coordinates from the GPS network, and then send that location along with a distress message to a GEOS International Emergency Response Center every five minutes until cancelled. The Emergency Response Center will then notify the appropriate emergency responders based on your location and personal information. Responders may include local police, the highway patrol, the Coast Guard, an embassy or consulate, or other emergency response and search-and-rescue teams. Even if Spot can't acquire its location from the GPS network, it will still attempt to send a distress signal--without your exact location--to the Emergency Response Center, which will still notify your emergency contacts of the signal and continue to monitor the network for further messages.
Spot works around the world, including in virtually all of the continental United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, and Australia, and portions of South America, Northern Africa, and Northeastern Asia. And provided you're in a good coverage area, Spot offers a 99 percent probability of sending a successful message within 20 minutes. As a result, Spot is ideal for anyone with a taste for outdoor adventures, including boaters, kayakers, sailboarders, archaeologists, skiers, climbers, pilots, business travelers, snowshoers, and just about anyone else.
Spot requires two AA lithium batteries, with a battery life of up to one year in standby mode, 14 days in SpotCasting mode, or 7 days in 911 mode. And thanks to the water-resistant housing (safe in 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes), you needn't worry about using Spot in adverse conditions. Spot measures a compact 2.75 by 4.38 by 1.5 inches (W x H x D), weighs 7.37 ounces, and carries a one-year limited warranty.
Communication Functions:
- Alert 9-1-1 dispatches emergency responders to an exact location
- Ask for Help sends a request for help to friends and family with your location
- Check In lets contacts know where you are and that you are okay
- Track Progress sends and saves your location and allows others to track your progress using Google Maps
Spot employs a GPS satellite network to acquire its coordinates, then sends its location to the recipient of your choice, complete with a link to Google Maps and a pre-programmed message.Battery Life:
- Power ON, unused: Approximately 1 year
- SPOT casting continuous tracking mode: Approximately 14 days
- 9-1-1 mode: Up to 7 consecutive days
- HELP mode: up to 1900 messages
- SPOT check OK up to 1900 messages
Specifications:
- Weight: 7 ounces
- Waterproof to a depth of 1 meter for up to 30 minutes
- Operating Temperature: -40ºF to +185ºF
- Operating Altitude: -300 feet to +21,300 feet
- Humidity and Salt Fog Rated
- Alert 9-1-1 dispatches emergency responders to an exact location
Absolute Waste of Money and Unreliable at Best I've never written a bad review of an item but this one warrants it. This "tracker" (I specifically put it in quotes to convey my feelings on it being called a tracking device) does not work as advertised. We bought the device for a trekking trip through Peru; we paid the $100 to activate the service. So, all in all we're about $200 into the device. The unit arrived at my house in the US and I tested the device before we left. It worked perfectly. Then comes using it internationally...wow is all I can say. Long story short -and I won't bore you with the details- it didn't work as advertised. We attempted to send 17 messages and 2 actually made it. Yes, '2' as in only 2, and these were sent from Lima (meaning that it didn't work anywhere else in the country). I thought to myself "maybe GPS reception is just terrible here" so I checked my handheld GPS. Sure enough, I had full strength. At this point I'm pretty upset that we're relying on a device that doesn't work in a place where we've been told it would, but what am I going to do since I'm in Peru in the middle of nothing. We got back to the US and I contacted SPOT about the problem. This is their response: "We appreciate your feedback as every customer is important to us. It is unfortunate that your unit didn't perform as you expected and the only thing we can do at this point is provide detailed instructions on the ok message...If you are still unable to successfully transmit after following the instructions it may be that your unit is defective and you can submit a warranty claim at [...]." So, in all, the unit doesn't work as advertised and their customer service is...well..terrible. The message above took about a week to get. This device may be perfect for the US, but if you plan on traveling internationally then I wouldn't recommend SPOT at all. Realistically, an international cell phone is a)cheaper and b)more reliable than this device. The money spent on this device ($200) is more than enough to call from anywhere in the world. More so, if you are hurt and do send an emergency message from the device and a team is sent to find you, you're responsible for that bill NOT SPOT. Think of how expensive an ambulance ride is and multiply that times 20. That being said, if you do buy it then expect a bad customer services experience. I hope this wards you off of wasting $200, but if you do buy it then good luck to you.
Unreliable I have had my Spot for about a year, and I do a lot of motorcycle riding in the mountains. It seems to have really hard time getting a message out if you are not in wide open spaces. I just went on a 7 hour motorcycle ride in the mountains, covering 150 miles. I sent 5 OK check-in messages druing the ride, and only 1 got through. That doesn't realy fill me with confidence that an emergency message will get out if needed, or let my friends know my location when I vary from my planned track. A good choice if you are in wide open spaces, but maybe not in the mountains, and definitely not in the forest.
Basically worthless...so much so that it's maddening. Let me avoid generalities and provide instead a very specific anecdote about my experience with this product: I purchased the Spot before a trip to Venezuela to see Angel Falls (which is deep in the backcountry). I frequently go places that are off the grid, and this seemed like a great way to give my wife peace of mind. She gets a message a couple times a day saying I'm okay and I'm located at X-location...great right? Here's the problem, the Spot only worked when I was in urban areas. As soon as I got into the backcountry, no dice. I followed the instructions explicitly and yet zero messages got through. I'm no novice at GPS communication--and the Spot could not get messages out in many situations when a normal GPS navigation device would have had no problem getting satellite signals. I could have just used my cell phone to keep in touch with my wife and it would have been equally effective to the Spot. The Spot actually created a very bad situation in which I thought my wife was getting frequent "All Okay" messages, when in fact she was hearing nothing. The only feedback you get that your transmission is working is the blinking green lights, but you never know for sure that your transmission goes through. So there I was with false peace of mind thinking my messages were going through, when my wife was worried sick. I would have been better off without the Spot entirely--then I could have at least told her to not expect any communication from me for 4 days. I firmly believe that the Spot is more of a liability than an asset.
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