SPOT 2 - Everybody should have one of these

[SledsWest]

After doing some research on SPOT, I am holding off on buying it. Seems to have a few issues. Not always able to send a signal. You have to have a paid subscription. SPOT does not work off a dedicated SAR satellite. Who knows, maybe your local S&R has no clue what this is? Still looking for a personal beacon that is 100%! That should not be to hard to find. I guess after reading some of the reviews on the internet, I am not impressed with he SPOT2.

Wherever you are getting your info from to base this decision off of, I'd stop taking advice from that place. First off, the SPOT doesn't alert the S&R, it alerts the international emergency center and they call the local EMT's/S&R/Sheriff's Dept etc as if it were a standard 911 call. Second, you aren't gonna get anything that involves using a satellite communication system for free or without a subscription. As far as "not always sending a signal", you better hold off on buying a snowmobile too cuz they don't always start when you pull the cord or push the button. Those are lame excuses for talking yourself out of an awesome communication tool that could save your life. If you don't want one, don't get one....but don't get mad when you're lost and nobody can find you when you need help. Just curl up and kiss yer a$$ goodbye. Hopefully S&R finds your body before the coyotes do.......but at least you didn't have to pay a subscription fee, right??

 

[bosscat800]

Just saying, the reason I think they are popular is because of price. With some research, you can find alot of reviews of spot and not being 100%. Maybe they call it SPOT for a reason? It has SPOTTY coverage?

 

[SledsWest]

Just saying, the reason I think they are popular is because of price. With some research, you can find alot of reviews of spot and not being 100%. Maybe they call it SPOT for a reason? It has SPOTTY coverage?

I'd love to see where you're getting your information from. Link??

 

[bosscat800]

Google is your friend! I have the links at home, will post them later tonight!

 

[newmy1]

SPOTTY coverage (which I have not read to be the case) is better than NO coverage. Your logic does not make sense bro...that is like saying "I am a hill climber but I think I will wait to buy the ABS pack until the ABS packs saves lives 100% of the time". Hypocrite way of thinking.

Sure it may not have coverage standing under a tree but what device that runs off of satellite does?

Just saying, the reason I think they are popular is because of price. With some research, you can find alot of reviews of spot and not being 100%. Maybe they call it SPOT for a reason? It has SPOTTY coverage?

 

[bosscat800]

I am at work right now, but from what I remember, CNET did one review. Cant remeber the other one, but if you goolgle SPOT reviews, they seem to get hammered! It looks like there are better ones out starting at $250.00. No subscription required off a dedicated Satellite. So, for $250.00 I have a personal beacon that works 100% of the time, no subscription. Makes alot better sense to me! Maybe, spot is still working on the product, I looked at buying one, then came across some reviews. Not trying to start trouble, just wanted a personal beacon that I can count on a 100% of the time, so far, for me, spot is not it. I like some of the ideas they have, but the lack of coverage, in trees or deep ravine, spells trouble for me, snowmobiling, hunting, hiking and fishing. If I am injured, possibly by myself, how do you get the spot to work if you are in a deep ravine or heavy trees. Gps's seem to have the technology to get a signal from those places??

 

[newmy1]

PLB's (Personal Locator Beacon) has is very reliable based on what I've read but they cost in the $600 range I believe.

 

[bosscat800]

You can find them from $250.00 up to $600.00!

 

[CatWoman]

I have the first SPOT. While the 2nd one is nice, it's not in my budget to get a new one.

We have already had a call list in place for years now. Folks we can rely on 100% if we have trouble (and vise versa). My in-laws get the updates while we are out riding, and follow our travels on their computer. They love it! They always worry (as do others), so it's a bonus for them to be able to track us. They can even show us where we stopped and had lunch...LOL.

We have it set up with them...if we push the need help...it means it's trouble with a sled. If 911....then they will also know, and be contacting folks on our call list. This would be for anything really serious.

The only times I find that SPOT hasn't gotten out for me, is when it's in my pack or handlebar bag. When I have it out, I have been able to send a signal from everyplace we've been thus far. No cell reception in most of those places (cell is off, but I do turn it on to check coverage at certain stops so I know the places I could get reception should I ever need it). There are trees everywhere here, and mountains, ravines, etc. I was a bit worried at first about coverage...but that worry went away for me after using SPOT for awhile.

The peace of mind this gives others, besides yourself, is worth it. I got ours after we had a deadly avalanche here. We were out riding that day. Passed through the avy path 15 minutes prior....and had a great day of riding. We were cautious all day after checking the conditions, and played it safe. Real downer to the day having to ride back out through that zone. A flagged path wide enough for one sled at a time for folks to travel through, while the search was still ongoing (someone thought there were more victims). I won't describe that scene....but we didn't think about the parents at home listening to the scanner & the news. They worried ALL day long that it could be us. My MIL burst into tears when she saw us. She hugged and didn't want to let go. I can easily put myself in her place, and how it must have been for them. Heck, we see that here on the 4M while waiting for news.

I just wanted to share a bit of my experience with this. I don't at all regret this purchase, nor the yearly subscription price.

 

[bosscat800]

Quadswest must have some backwards thinking. If you own a sled that only runs right 90% of the time, you are ok with this??? Not me! Im sure everyone is probably going to do the same, fix it, or DUMP IT!! Spot2, does not work for me!! That means, I researched it, decided to many serious problems and chose not to buy it. Seems to me, you will be getting snugly with your spot2, hoping that it sent a message, while I will go a different route and have 100% chance of reascue. Two place I found the reviews, CNET,equipped.org! If you dont want the truth, I would suggest you not read those reviews!! Google spot2 reviews and check them out! Be warned, not to pretty!!

 

[Sxrlar]

http://maritimeprotectionproducts.com/spot-2-satellite-gps-messenger-orange-p-36384.html

Pretty good price if someone wants one.

 

[bosscat800]

If you wait long enough, they might start giving the spot2's away???

 

[SledsWest]

Quadswest must have some backwards thinking. If you own a sled that only runs right 90% of the time, you are ok with this??? Not me! Im sure everyone is probably going to do the same, fix it, or DUMP IT!! Spot2, does not work for me!! That means, I researched it, decided to many serious problems and chose not to buy it. Seems to me, you will be getting snugly with your spot2, hoping that it sent a message, while I will go a different route and have 100% chance of reascue. Two place I found the reviews, CNET,equipped.org! If you dont want the truth, I would suggest you not read those reviews!! Google spot2 reviews and check them out! Be warned, not to pretty!!

I didn't find any reviews on the two sites you mentioned here but I did find some on REI.com and Amazon.com. Just like anything electronic, its not going to be 100% fail proof. There are limitations, but the benefits out weigh the risks. As I read through all the comments and reviews, I noticed that I had not had any of the bad experiences with my SPOT 2 that these people are talking about. I like mine, it does what I want it to do and so I am simply letting other people know about the product and how useful it can be. Like I said earlier, if you don't want one then don't get one......its your life.

 

[Summitseeker]

Just ordered mine today! I have had numerous incidents over the years and giving family peace of mind is worth it to me! It may even save my life some day!

 

[bosscat800]

I believe I have already made up my mind, just dont agree with your title, that everyone needs a spot2!

 

[newmy1]

Move along Bosscat, you are now simply stirring the pot. Waste your breath somewhere else.

I believe I have already made up my mind, just dont agree with your title, that everyone needs a spot2!

 

[bosscat800]

If you want to read a review on the spots, go to equipped to survive.org. The main page has a number of tags on them. As for newmy, not stirring the pot! Just letting people now that we have a better choice for personal beacons! I am not against buying a spot in the future, just think they need to do alot of imroving! I think spot is popular because they have strong advertising and they are trying to make the product affordable! It is just by chance this thread came up, because I was looking into these myself. Not everyone is going to agree with what you believe or myself. I am fine with that. Just hope people look around and shop before buying!

 

[newmy1]

Bosscat, then post up some facts to support what YOU belive. survive.org appears to be some high schoolers personal web site? I've googled the spot per your suggestion and find very little negative reviews of the product.

I'm sure there are others that are contemplating buying a SPOT or altnernate product, help the forum by posting facts to support your opinion please.

 

[mod03rmk800]

I like my spot. Have the tracking feature that friends and family can look at when ever and see roughly where I am. Have had to use it once, and it worked as it should. Something to think about, if you are going to go into the backcountry be as prepared as possible to deal with the ramifications that go with it. Any device like the spot is great but only one tool in itself. One has to do more for themselves than push a button and assume that it transmitted correctly,the info is handled after the transmission properly and finally people are actually able to handle your rescue. I hoped people were coming but in the back of my mind thought the worse. Dug a snow pit and settled in for the night(4 degrees and 10mph winds in lightweight klim gear without a proper fire source is tough on ya, fixed the fire source problem) Help did arrived and all was good!
Only time I noticed that it had any problem tracking was when I turned it on for the first time of the day and began traveling right away without finishing its "start up" which usually takes 15-20 minutes. Took it about an hour to lock into a satellite, but worked good after that. I did notice that after 9/11 while out hunting the next day, the satellites must have been messed with as my GPS was about 180 degrees out at different times of the day which created an interesting experience. That has me thinking that during different situations that satellites can and will be manipulated whenever.
I still like my spot.

 

[summitboy]

My issue with the Spot is the spotty coverage. In my opinion if you have Spot coverage you would be better to invest in a Sat phone. They both don't do coverage everywhere which is too bad. It's a budding technology for sure. Kind of funny GPS works so well but Sat and Spot don't. It will get better with time, I hope, as long as the Sats don't start falling out of the sky at the same time. Someone has to pay for them !!!