Spot Gen 4 Satellite GPS Messenger

I've had several models of Spot devices over the years, and this is the best one yet. Message transmission is incredibly fast and reliable - almost instant in many cases. The batteries last a very long time, too. I use it several times a week as I travel to remote, mountaintop locations for work, and can easily let my family know I've arrived safely and, using the custom message feature, let them know heading home. If I had one complaint, it is that the unit turns off after maybe an hour. It would be nice if it stayed "armed" to send a message for longer, so you don't have to hold the power button for 3 seconds and allow it to re-acquire GPS before sending another message. The first gen model stayed on for days and I loved that feature. But seriously, this is an awesome PLB and half the price of other brands. Go for it.

Very good product, I had a little difficulty understanding how it worked, but it was super easy. I went trekking in Venezuela and used it; it worked great, thank God I didn't need to use the SOS function, and the product tracked everything perfectly.

Great product. Good value for the price.

The device itself is fine. The problem is with the required service to make it work. I ultimately had to return this and go with a more reputable brand that cares about reliability. When I first bought the device I was completely unable to use it the first weekend. Their website to set up an account and pay for the service was down and made it impossible to create an account to activate the SPOT. They have no customer service outside of M-F, 9-5. So instead of going on a hike with our new Spot, we waited. On Monday I called and they explained "it was just a server issue", and "nothing to worry about". While on the phone the issue was resolved and I proceeded to create my account and sign up. Fast forward a few weeks. We came down out of the mountains to panicked friends and family because, while the SPOT confirmed that the check-in messages were delivered, they, in fact, were not. Tried several more times while in civilization, each time the SPOT confirmed the message was sent. No messages were ever actually delivered. Waited (again, until Monday during working hours) to reach out to support. They confirmed, again, that it was "just a server issue, nothing to worry about because they are now aware of it and working on a fix". The attitude of the company is what sealed the deal to completely stay away from them: they had no regard for the fact that it straight up didn't work. They didn't care that it could have been a life or death emergency and their product didn't work. No acknowledgement that there was a real issue, just a small "blip" that was getting fixed. This device is for emergencies and needs to work. Repeated "small" server errors don't seem to bother them. I suggested they maybe have a system status page to let customers know if there's an issue. That suggestion was met with argument: "Why would anyone want to know when the system is down" and "our engineers don't know how to update the website if they know there's a problem". Yikes. Bottom line: I don't trust this company to communicate in the event of an emergency. Twice bitten is enough for me. Device has been returned, service refunded, and I'm not looking back.

Great device and worked during a long hiking trip perfectly. Written instructions are a bit confusing so I suggest watching the videos on how to operate it.

I've only tried this around town so far. Seems accurate enough. I tested the SOS and custom messages. My buddy has one and I was told it's a must have for off-road trips on my motorcycle (I often go out solo for days at a time) This will allow me to at least send a message to my wife when I set up camp. When the messages are sent it also gives the GPS coordinates so that's pretty cool. You do have to pay for a subscription, there are different levels of price depending on how many messages you feel you'll send. You also pay separately for the SOS option. Small price to pay if I break a leg out in the middle of nowhere. Or find someone else who has.

Straight forward to use, has always worked well and been reliable for me. Easy to send friends a link so they can keep track of my progress. I like it better than the inreach gps.

Excellent produit, il fonctionne très bien et les frais d’activation sont raisonnables et flexibles.

...und neben den versteckten Zusatzkosten sind da noch die Sonder-, die Extra-, die Einrichtungs- und die Registrierungskosten.

ロードバイクで携帯電話圏外の峠道を走ることもあり１年前ぐらいに「SPOT GEN4」を購入しました。 用途としてはサイクルジャージの背中ポケットに入れて、カミさんへの位置情報共有が主になります。 あと平日は、もしもの災害時に備えて、家族に状況だけでも通知できるように仕事カバンにいれてます。 ※実際は衛星通信ガジェットのロマンに惹かれた方が強いです(笑) ※技適マークの関係があるので日本の正規代理店で購入しました。 ちなみに、この手のデバイスだと「Garmin Inreach mini」と比較することが多いと思いますが 以下の点においてはこちらが勝っていると考えます。 ・リチウムイオン乾電池がメチャクチャ長持ち。 乾電池式なのでバッテリーの経年劣化を気にする必要もない。 （ほぼ毎週のように、追跡モードで5～7時間程度の運用をしていますが、まだ一度も電池交換していません。） ・位置情報やチェックインメッセージをたくさん送信しても追加課金されることはない。 （毎回、位置情報を10分に1回送信する設定にしていますが一切追加課金なしです。） ・チェックインやSOSなどのオペレーションがすべてボタン長押しだけなので操作がシンプル。 （緊急時を考えるとシンプルな操作性は大事） ・液晶画面などデリケートな部分がなくラフに扱っても壊れにくい。 （長く使うには頑丈さも大事） 逆にデメリットは以下ですかね。 ・メッセージ受信などの双方向通信が出来ない。 ・SOS、定型文送信以外の機能がない。 やっぱり、双方向通信が出来ないことが気になりますが、 自分の場合、携帯電話圏外に数日間滞在するようなこともないため 衛星を使った双方向通信は特に必要性を感じていません。 ※どうしても携帯電話圏外でメッセージ受信したい人は「Garmin Inreach」をどうぞ(笑) あくまで自分の感想ですが、「位置を共有する」「状況を通知する」「命を守る」ということに関して「SPOT GEN4」は良くできたデバイスです。 「Garmin Inreach」と比較した場合ですが、日本での運用を想定した場合、多くの人は「SPOT GEN4」で十分、 携帯電話圏外で数日過ごすような環境で、メッセージ受信したい人は「Garmin Inreach」って感じですかね。 日本で使っている人はそれほど多くないデバイスだと思いますが、ご購入を検討されている方に少しでもお役に立てれば幸いです。

Bought for paragliding in remote locations. Purely used for tracking (subscription required), but allows family and friends to know where I am at all times just in case with an online map. Does need batteries replaced fairly often with heavy use as not a rechargeable item. Easy to use, but limited on what messages to send. I would only really use in an emergency or just a check in message when out solo. Perfect in places like the Lake District where sometimes there is no phone signal.

Io mi trovo molto bene, e non capisco come possa avere una cattiva nomea. Non è una specie di smartphone satellitare: è uno strumento salvavita e, quindi, reputo che lo Spot Gen 4 sia completamente diverso da tutti gli altri prodotti. E' un prodotto Globalstar (proprietari dell'omonima rete satellitare con copertura quasi mondiale) che consente di: non farti disturbare dai parenti a casa (che vogliono sapere come stai, cosa stai vedendo, cosa stai facendo, ecc.) perché non può ricevere messaggi; tenere tranquilli i parenti a casa (possono monitorarti via web con frequenza di tracciamento da 5 a 60 min. senza pagare nulla perché il tracking è incluso nel prezzo dell'abbonamento ed è illimitato); dire ai tuoi parenti che, se hai bisogno, chiami tu (puoi mandare ai tuoi parenti un messaggio di check-in con posizione precisa per dire "tutto apposto"; se hai bisogno che loro si mettano in contatto con un compagno di viaggio, puoi pre-impostare un messaggio ad-hoc; se c'è una situazione di urgenza puoi chiedere a chi sta a casa di intervenire, mandando un apposito messaggio con posizione GPS aggiornata, cosicché possano contattare le autorità del luogo; in caso di pericolo imminente puoi lanciare un SOS gestito da FocusPoint International (centrale operativa americana attiva 24/7) che si occupa di richiedere e sollecitare senza senza ritardi l'invio in emergenza dei soccorsi pubblici locali ed eventualmente (con soli €50/anno in più) se i soccorsi pubblici locali non fossero sono disponibili, di organizzare un intervento SAR privato coprendone tutti i costi); il piano (eccetto servizio SAR privato, denominato Overwatch X Rescue Plan) con tracking incluso costa €14/mese... Ma cosa vuoi di più?