I have one and like it. It’s not perfect but it generally does what is advertised. My wife likes it when I’m out of contact and I like it because I hate cell phones and this works far more often. Too bad you don’t know 100% for sure your message got through and it could be smaller and lighter but I’ll continue to use it and carry it. I have the normal service and the “tracking” feature.

I have one that worked perfectly in the Grand Canyon when a hiking partner broke both bones in his lower legs 600 vertical feet below the rim on a very remote route. NPS received our distress signal 2 min. after setting it off, they got 47 position updates in the 6 hours it was on……that being said it took 6 hours before we got any help. My conclusion – great product but after you set if off you better be busting your ass to change your situation and not sit around waiting for help.

Anyone have one that I can borrow for the first week in April? I don’t see myself using it for the entire year, so I don’t really want to buy one. I’d be interested in working out a monetary exchange for using it also.

I’ve been using this for 6 or so weeks and it generally works as advertised. At this point, I’m still keeping it in a mesh pocket on the back of my camelback while riding. This positions the unit at roughly 45 degrees when I’m riding along. Realizing this is not the optimal “vertical” position that SPOT mandates for use, it still transmits fairly regularly while in tracking mode. I’ve noticed that while in this position (45 degree angle), it transmits just fine except when my back is facing SW or NW….I imagine this is a function of the satellite locations at any given time. When in a vertical position, it works perfectly most of the time while in tracking mode. When it does not, I just reset it back into tracking mode.

I have one, and I’m not as impressed as I’d like to be. I have the basic “low cost” $99 a year service—no tracking. The documentation doesn’t really specify the difference between what the difference between the basic and the extra tracking service does.

One ‘gotcha’ is that with the basic service you can only send messages every 20 min. They simply won’t go more often. I often have no idea if the message was sent or not. With a few big bikepacking trips planned, I hesitate to rely on it as much more than extra weight in my bag.

I have had my Spot for about a year. 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. Does this mean that if I crash and need help I have a 20% chance taht my message will get out? What if I am too injured to climb to the top of the nearest mountain where I have unobstructed skys? A good choice if you are in wide open spaces, but maybe not in the mountains, or the forest.

stan — the unit will try a lot harder to get help and 911 messages out. It continually tries to get a signal and will even send a message without a GPS lock. So, I would expect much better than 20% chance in case of emergency.

One problem is people that only use OK (not track mode) will pull the SPOT out, hit OK, then put it away. It can take several minutes to get a new GPS fix and send the signal out, so you need to leave the unit facing up and with a clear view of the sky for about 20 minutes after hitting OK. People that use the track feature have a lot better luck with messages getting out for this reason.

First of all, it doesn’t work unless you have wide open sky.  Perhaps if you are concerned about getting lost on a prairie this product may work. I got a message out from a parking lot at a football stadium but could not get a signal from a city park with a few trees. So, if you are headed to the mountains, leave this piece of junk at home. Second, the company will re-bill you automatically. They hide this in the fine print so you get a surprise a year later. Customer service (misnomer) is VERY RUDE and will NOT refund what they auto bill you. This product and company are just short of fraudulent. STAY AWAY!

Have used this product for 3-4 years and am very satisfied. I ride by myself often, and it allows me some peace of mind in case I wreck alone. I have never had it not get a signal out (in ‘OK’ mode). The trick, as mentioned, is that it does take around 5-10 minutes to get the gps lock and signal sent. Be patient grasshopper. I have tested it in low tree cover and tall pines. Always sent. I only have basic service, and will always ride with it in my pack.

* It uses a simplex satellite data service – this means there no confirmation that a message has been sent.
* Best used with tracking mode enabled.
* When send ‘OK’ messages, remember to stay still for 20 mins.

I have had a SPOTv1 for three years. I take it on all my backcountry adventures (on cycle and foot) and have now successfully used it in three continents :).

My family like knowing where I am, and the tracking combined with trip plan it works well to assure them that I am fine. No emergencies so far, but the gives me both persistent send for help, and when followed by families or friends, if it failed due to a canyon or tree cover etc, failure to follow advance plans, a long time without position updates would be an additional indicator as to where I am, based on my last known time and position.

Are there any similar satelite devices that allow 2 way texting between 2 people?

Garmins inReach Explorer+ allows 2 way texting.

Waste of money. I’ve had mine five years and it worked once when I first used it. I tried to ring and get some help, but the customer support isn’t helpful, downright rude actually. Subscription is through the roof (started out at AUD$200, now is around AUD$400). Better off going with something else, something more reliable, especially for the outrageous price.