SPOT II Satellite GPS Messenger

Comments about SPOT II Satellite GPS Messenger:

I spend a great deal of time in the Owyhee Desert in southwest Idaho. This is very remote country. On most outings, we never see another human. The population density is about 100 square miles per person.

I was hiking on March 14, 2010 down in the bottom of Hart Creek canyon. It is about 300 feet deep and quite steep.

I fell and shattered my femur. After administering first aid as best possible, I sent my friend to the top of the canyon with my SPOT Messenger. The International Emergency Rescue Coordination Centre (IERCC) based in Houston, Texas received 2 signals from the bottom of the canyon and then 27 more from the top of the ridge.

After calling my wife, the dispatched a Life Flight helicopter and it stopped directly above the SPOT.

Forty-five minutes later I was in the hospital in Boise. The personnel from IERCC called my wife and let her know exactly what happened and kept her updated with my status.

SPOT saved my life. It is that simple.

Comments about SPOT II Satellite GPS Messenger:

The device is small and seems well manufactured.
The device is easy to use albeit its very limited in function.

The shocker comes when one is about to activate it.
This is a unique device and hence escapes the radar that regulates fair consumer polices regarding cell phones.

The hidden policies of Spot is a bit of a shocker considering they are illegal if it applied to cell phones.

For one thing, to activate the unit, one "MUST" agree to auto renewal, which gives Spot the right to charge the credit card about a month before it the subscription expires.

Second, Spot has the right to change prices at will and NOT inform the customer about the change in price.

Third, if the customer wants to cancel auto renewal, he must also cancel the rest of the year in which he had already paid. Spot claims that the customer can request a refund for the months he did not use. I have a feeling this process is filled with bureaucracy.

Fourth, the customer has to request that the auto renewal be canceled 45 days before the end of the subscription period.

This is all too complicated and too time conscious for a consumer.

The customer should not be forced to give Spot the right to auto renew. If Spot does auto renew and the customer wants to cancel it, he should not have to request a refund for the months he did NOT use.

Comments about SPOT II Satellite GPS Messenger:

I would recommend buying a "real" Personal Locator Beacon for $300-400 and here's why.My first gen SPOT unit worked fine and I enjoyed the service - until I dropped it ONCE and it broke.I quickly found out this company has TERRIBLE customer service. So far I've lost [$] on the first unit because it broke and they do not repair or replace or even give you a discount on a new one. (now they offer a replacement insurance for $20 per year but they didn't when I bought my unit in 2008) I've lost $57 on service that they charged me unknowingly for after I called and reported it broken...they threatened me with sending my past due balance to collections, and repeatedly told me this was my fault for not calling to cancel the renewal on my service (which I did not know was happening and thought I signed up for one year of service - I have since found out that they force you to sign up for auto-renewal on your registered credit card in the terms & conditions and the card I had registered was no longer valid). AND, now I've also possibly lost another [$] that I paid for the second gen unit which I may not be able to return since it's been a while since I ordered it. (I REFUSE to use this service any longer)Their representatives are rude, they don't know what customer service means, and they are more interested in taking your money than saving lives.You will save money in the long run on a PLB because SPOT charges you $100 minimum per year to use their service - with forced auto renewal. PLB's cost more up front but are free to use: The SAME authorities and rescue services are notified in an emergency!!! You can also buy rescue insurance from other sources (such as the Colorado Outdoor Recreation Search & Rescue card). The only thing you are giving up is the cute little website that shows your location. Well, I will miss that but I'm not willing to pay hundreds of dollars to get it. All I want is to be able to call in the cavalry if I get in trouble. Just a warning...you are taking your chances with this service!!!

Comments about SPOT II Satellite GPS Messenger:

This product was never dropped, wet, or stressed. It ceased function halfway up a High Peak in the Catskills -- leaving me without an emergency device. Although a long term customer, having owned a Spot 1 before this unit, I was treated like (a) a newbie or (b) an attempted fraud artist by customer service. I even have a prepaid 2 year contract and these folks won't replace my unit -- they may review a warranty claim but in the meantime, I'm hosed.

Service and delivery comments:

I am a long-term Spot customer. The Spot 2 unit I bought stopped working on the second trip out -- about a month after purchase. The company service lines are not particularly helpful - failing to recognize a long term customer and forcing me through a drill like I just bought the device and hadn't read the instructions. I am a customer with a 2-year prepaid account. They refused to send me a return kit - which they have available - and refused to let me speak to a supervisor. This is outrageous behavior for a tech company in the modern age. I strongly recommend that REI cease carrying spot products since they cannot stand behind the product with quick service for a prepaid customer who clearly isn't trying to steal a device from them. I guess I'll see if I can reactivate my Spot 1, which thankfully worked. I don't have the time to deal with pathetic service like this. Who does?

Comments about SPOT II Satellite GPS Messenger:

[...] Long story short, back in October 2009 I purchased a Spot 2 personal messenger device from REI. Right out of the box it didn't work, I tried to exchange it for another device, but couldn't since Spot had started a recall of the devices. Spot's customer service was not only unhelpful, but were extremely rude every step of the way. I waited until March, five months after my initial purchase, and when a replacement unit was still not available, I returned my dead unit to the Anchorage REI store and purchased an ACR personal locator beacon. At this point it still took over a month and numerous phone calls to spot to convince them to refund my subscription for service I had never received. REI was wonderful through this process, but I can't say the same for Spot and would not recommend their service to anyone.

Comments about SPOT II Satellite GPS Messenger:

I purchased a SPOT 1 when they first came out. Unless you are on top of the mountain they can't connect with a satellite. It then quit working as was replaced on warranty. A long wait.
So, I bought a SPOT II thinking it would work better than the first generation. No so. Bottom line, we hike and snowshoe in the Sierra Nevada and the Lake District in the U.K. SPOT just doesn't work unless you happen to live in Kansas.
The SPOT II has failed and the SPOT folks are difficult to work with. Bad attitudes to be polite. Don't buy SPOT, they just aren't worth it.

Comments about SPOT II Satellite GPS Messenger:

GPS function stopped working on the second trip. SPOT warranty would not return my emails even after calling and speaking to them. Had to return back through REI. Kudos to REI - You can always depend on them to warrant the products they sell.

Comments about SPOT II Satellite GPS Messenger:

Used twice on extended thru hikes. First time approx. 25% of the "I'm OK" messages got thru to my wife. Second trip ZERO made it to her. Called SPOT, was insulted, given ludicrous directions (my favorite was to turn the unit off to send the "I'm OK") and basically told I was on my own. Can't trust the 911 system if the "I'm Ok" is so dysfunctional. Great idea, terrible company and poor functionality.

Comments about SPOT II Satellite GPS Messenger:

I just returned from a vacation to Mexico and took Spot II satellite messenger along for the ride and of course to test it out. I never owned the previous one, so I can't comment on that. I visited Puerto Vallarta, Guanajuato and Guadalajara respectively. I used it in each city and sent messages to several people back here in California. I even logged on to the website while in Mexico and updated the custom messages. All messages were received. The only problem I had is when I used my Spot II from our balcony at our hotel in Puerto Vallarta. I knew I may encounter problems, as I did not have a clear view of the sky or at least a relatively clear view to the sky above. The Vallarta message put our location about 200-300 yards away and out into the ocean from our hotel location. This was the only problem I encountered. I have to say, not a bad one either. All other messages were received and all GPS locations were spot (no pun intended) on, or at least within a few feet from their transmission site. Yes, I did have to return my Spot II for a replacement when I first purchased it and it made me a little more than angry, but once I got the new one back and activated it, I was impressed. I am sure that the other PLBs are great, but having the ability to send messages other than I may be dying, is just great for loved ones. I would always recommend the Spot II to everyone. Just test it out, time and time again, so you know how to use it and the website. I have had no issues with the website at all. Sure the website could be better, but so could many others. Your life should not ever depend on any one single device, but I think Spot will do its job if needed. And yes, I do spend time out in the wilderness, often miles from civilization, while I wear my other REI purchases of course! Have fun and be safe.

Comments about SPOT II Satellite GPS Messenger:

I had the original SPot and recently upgraded to the SPot II (I waited until all the recall business was through). This is a great product so far, it has worked in very rural places and in high mountains and canyons.

This really gives my wife piece of mind, especially when I have the kids with me (ages 5 - 10). Before the Spot, if we went camping for 3-4 nights, she would never know how we were until the trip was done and we were headed home.

Now, she can track where we are live, and each night before we shut down, we send the "OKAY" signal, and same in the morning.

Great insurance as well, knowing you can call in help if ever need it.

I used the SPOT I since it came out, and the Spot II seems to work just as well for us, and it is way smaller and lighter now.

I take it with me everywhere, fishing, climbing, hiking, camping.