Home -> Hiking -> GPS -> Spot Satellite GPS Messenger

Up to date as of 2010

1.  Introduction
2.  Battery test

1.  Introduction

In August 2007, Globalstar announced the introduction of the SPOT Satellite Messenger product, to be marketed through its latest subsidiary SPOT, Inc., later named SPOT LLC.

Spot is a Satellite Emergency Notification Device (SEND).  The first-generation Spot was somewhat of a disappointment - messages sent from the unit were often lost.  The second-generation Spot came out in late 2009.  It introduced major improvements over the first-generation Spot, but it had a battery-life flaw and so a recall went out.  They have fixed the battery problem and reports from the field have said that the latest Spot works incredibly well. 

Spot allows your location to be sent out every 10 minutes so that friends and family can view where you are at any time on Google maps.  You can also send out some canned messages like "I'm okay" or "Need help".  You can even send an SOS directly the GEOS International Emergency Rescue Coordination Center which will send out a rescue team to your location.

2.  Battery test

In May 2010 I purchased the Spot Satellite Messenger and performed a battery test with NiMH recharcheable batteries.  Spot strongly encourages the use of non-rechargeable lithium batters, but I prefer to use NiMH rechargeables in all my electronic devices that take AA and AAA batteries.  I pushed the tracking button and left the unit on indoors, and not near a window.  Within 10 minutes my first message appeared on my Spot Shared Page.  The web page reported a new message every 10 minutes.  After 3 hours the Spot power button started flashing red to indicate low battery strength.  However, the unit continued to send a message every 10 minutes for an additional 58 hours (for a total of 61 hours).