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SPOT II Satellite GPS Messenger
The SPOT II Satellite GPS Messenger offers improved GPS acquisition and a 30% smaller and lighter design to send your location, status, messages and calls for help.
- The SPOT II Satellite GPS Messenger offers improved GPS acquisition and a 30% smaller and lighter design to send your location, status, messages and calls for help
- New features and enhancements include faster and stronger GPS function, GPS acquisition light, sent message light and safety flaps over SOS and Help buttons
- New design also sports an extra message button, separate tracking button, tracking message queue, replaceable button covers and illuminated buttons
- An affordable alternative to PLBs, satellite phones and cell-based GPS trackers, SPOT II 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
- "SOS" function dispatches emergency responders to your exact location
- Use "Help" feature to request assistance from friends or family
- "Check-in/OK" 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; commercial SPOT satellites transmit information
- Rugged unit works in extreme temperatures (-22° to 140°F) and altitudes (-328 ft. to 21,325 ft.) and can be submerged 1m for up to 30 minutes
- SPOT II Satellite GPS Messenger is light, small and easy to carry
- Optional features include Track Progress automatic tracking service and guaranteed extraction assistance in countries lacking emergency services
- 3 AAA lithium batteries (included) provide up to 3 months of standby power, 7 days in Track Progress mode and 6 days in SOS mode, or 700 Check-in/OK messages
- Requires $99 annual subscription; $12.95 for optional extraction assistance in countries without emergency services (available at www.findmespot.com)
Imported.
Item 784892
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SPOT II Satellite GPS Messenger- Reduced to: $79.93
- Originally: $99.95
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SPOT II Satellite GPS Messenger Customer Reviews
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviewsPros
- Compact (57)
- Easy to use (45)
- Waterproof (28)
- Reliable (26)
- Lightweight (20)
Cons
- Unreliable (49)
- Difficult to use (9)
- Not durable (6)
- Bad customer service (4)
- Difficult to store (4)
Best Uses
- Hiking (20)
- Backpacking (13)
- Day trip (11)
- Kayak / canoe / rafting (10)
- Sailing (8)
- Reviewer Profile:
- Advanced (80), Casual/ recreational (30), Professional (20), Power user (5)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (98), Yes (10)
Reviewed by 139 customers
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Displaying reviews 1-10
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Pros
- Easy To Use
- Waterproof
Cons
Best Uses
- Backcountry Hiking
- Kayaking
Comments about SPOT II Satellite GPS Messenger:
I've had the SPOT out a few times to play and it worked great right from the start. I plan on using it in a 340 kayak race so my crew and family can track my progress and find me. So far in all the test including full underwater, forgot it was on my pfd when I was working on rolls in the pool it has passed.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Compact Design
- Easy To Use
Cons
- Long Term Cost
Best Uses
Comments about SPOT II Satellite GPS Messenger:
I do a lot of solo backpacking and I wanted a device that could be used in an emergency situation to get help as well as give my wife peace of mind while I was out of cell phone contact.
The device is simple to use and can be configured to send a pre-formatted text message that you have arrived at a checkpoint with the push of a button. The device can also upload your GPS coordinates/position to allow others to track your progress and, of course, it can be used to summon emergency help.
I used this device on roughly 2 dozen solo trips over an 18 month period in northern Michigan and Colorado. Without fail, it performed flawlessly. Battery life is good. Signal was good. It felt like a nice blanket on a cold night. Things were great until I went to cancel the service.
While I found the device to be useful, it was nearly impossible to cancel the subscription service. The company (at the time and perhaps currently) requires an annual subscription that is automatically set to auto-renew on a yearly basis. In order to cancel the subscription, SPOT requires a mile of red tape and seemingly impossible tasks to accomplish in a timely manner. In short, you can't just cancel. The customer service department is not at all helpful and after several calls trying to cancel without luck, I finally canceled the credit card associated with the subscription so it would not auto-renew.
If the company would allow a monthly subscription or a better way to cancel the service then my rating would be higher. As it stands now, SPOT is like a bad marriage.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- none
Cons
- Activation Fee Refund
- Unreliable
Best Uses
- Hiking
Comments about SPOT II Satellite GPS Messenger:
Don't trust your life to this product. Usually unable to connect to satellite even on clear level terrain. Activation fee not even partially refundable after 45 days. This could cost you more than money.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Compact Design
- Reliable
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about SPOT II Satellite GPS Messenger:
I like it.
If you want just an S.O.S., go with the Resquelink etc. I backpack with Scouts. The Scouts Mom's love getting camp location at night as does my wife when I am packing alone.
If your a big boy, read the fine print, understand this comes with yearly fees and must notify them to terminate months before renewal. I read it, understood it and got the full deal.
When sending, do not rush the unit. If sending location, set it down and let it do it's thing. It worked every time for me when I STOPPED and had Southern exposure. Moving it was more hit and miss (track) mode. So it isn't perfect..
If you want just an SOS this is not the unit you want as I believe there are better quality units for just that purpose. (no fee for just S.O.S operation)
The canned (pre-made messages) are fine for me right now. To send messages I will wait for the units to get smarter as it appears to cumbersome to tie to smart phone etc... To toss this unit in a bag and hike with... sure.
In 4 years this unit will be obsolete. Smarter, faster, easier devices are coming with two-way messaging. For now, if you want hands on communication look at renting a satellite phone or go to more costly one piece units.
This little unit worked great for me as I grasp that we are dealing with multiple communications systems, inter linked to send a message from varying geographic conditions... give the little guy a chance to do it's thing. I spent 2 weeks in the back country and it worked great.
Never pushed the sos, and have confidence it will work and hope I never have to.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Compact Design
- Easy To Use
- Reliable
- Waterproof
Cons
Best Uses
- Backpacking
- Camping
- Paragliding
Comments about SPOT II Satellite GPS Messenger:
I originally owned the original SPOT, and now own the SPOT II. I upgraded purely due to the size, weight, and the addition of the custom message button on the SPOT II. I do not understand all the negative comments this device gets, as I have had nothing but positive experiences with my device, and the SPOT service over the past five years or so.
On usability:
The original SPOT I took a tiny bit of memorization, or notes scribbled in sharpie on the device itself, to remember what long and short presses did with each button. This was eliminated with the addition of buttons on the SPOT II - very easy to use.
On Reliability:
Maybe I'm just lucky, but I haven't had any connectivity issues with either the SPOT I or the SPOT II. every ok message I've ever sent weather it be in an open field, or in a forest of trees has gone through. My original SPOT I allowed my friends and family to track me along the highline trail in the high Uinta's of Utah for 10 days from under forest pines as well as high ridges. I even lost my SPOT once in the woods! Got home, got the coordinates it was broadcasting (it was in tracking mode), and found it within 9 feet of the coordinates it was broadcasting under a tree!
As a paraglider pilot I depend on this device to send ok and help messages to my fellow pilots when I land in remote areas and need a ride, or to just tell my fellow pilots and family I'm ok after a day of flying. Again - every one of my sent messages have been received.
On SPOT service:
The only time I've had to contact customer service was a positive experience. I was flying one day with a group of pilots, and one of the pilots in our group didn't check in, or land in the area we planned to meet. We got excessively worried about him, but since he had not included us in his SPOT message list, or given us his SPOT URL we had no way of looking to see if he was ok, or was having an emergency. We called SPOT customer service, and with nothing other than his name they were able to tell us that NO, he had not activated "help" or "SOS", and that YES his spot device was still moving. To there credit they would NOT tell us where he was since they had no idea who we were. That's good customer service in my opinion.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Compact Design
- Easy To Use
- Reliable
- Waterproof
Cons
Best Uses
- Personal Watercraft
- Sailing
Comments about SPOT II Satellite GPS Messenger:
I love the simplicity of the device. Fire it up, send a message (choice of two presets). Usually it sends within a few minutes after acquiring a good signal. The tracking mode is cool to let people watch your tracks - updated every ten minutes. Comes with a handy holster and strap, Velcro, etc. for mounting it.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about SPOT II Satellite GPS Messenger:
Annual renewal is expensive ($100). They put on a hidden $50 fee. They charge your credit card automatically every year. Expect to pay $300 before you catch on.
Pros
- Compact Design
- Works Most Of The Time
Cons
- Customer service
- Difficult To Use Website
- Service Plans
Best Uses
- Location Tracking
Comments about SPOT II Satellite GPS Messenger:
Works most of the time. My complaints are with customer service and its shady business practices.
Service and delivery comments:
I would like to reiterate what other reviews are saying about the customer service and service plans. The customer service is rude and unhelpful. The website is painfully slow and difficult to navigate. The auto-renewal policy is only mentioned in the fine print, which is difficult to find and full of legal jargon. There is no opt-in or opt-out option. There is no paper or electronic billing. There is no effort on their end to alert you when money is due or when the credit card on file is no longer valid.
I'm very disappointed that REI would promote a product with such horrible customer service and shady business practices. I would not recommend this product to anyone.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
Cons
- Difficult To Use
- Unreliable
Best Uses
Comments about SPOT II Satellite GPS Messenger:
Don't buy if you expect this will send a message to save you in an emergency. It's a toy that will update your location via satellite maybe a quarter of the time; the rest of the signals will never make it though. This is what I found using it on several mountaineering and backpacking trips.
Also, if you want to buy this toy (which I don't recommend), VERY CAREFULLY read their full Terms and Conditions which is hidden deep in their web site. You'll find pages and pages of legal contract terms that gives them right to bill you for many additional charges to you fail to follow their terms to the letter.
Stay away from this operation!
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Compact Design
- Waterproof
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about SPOT II Satellite GPS Messenger:
I purchased a Spot II about three years ago to track my progress during the Colorado Trail Race. Over the years, I've used it for hundreds of hours (racing and training), and it has performed as expected. Tracking is good, but not perfect--if not facing directly skyward, some tracking points won't get through. Two summers ago, I used the 911 feature in Canyonlands National Park when I came across an elderly man who was suffering from a heart attack--and it worked flawlessly.
Note that vibrations may kill your Spot. Friends who have carried Spots on their handlebars seem to have far more failures than those who carry them in their packs. I carry mine in a small pouch on the top of my shoulder strap, so that it more-or-less faces up whether I'm riding or hiking.
Especially for multi-day solo races and rides, my Spot is mandatory equipment. It provides a healthy degree of security, while allowing friends and family to follow along. I also pop it into my pack for longer day rides and other adventures.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
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