Comments about SPOT II GPS Satellite Messenger:

I love this thing! Just click a button and it sends a notice to whoever you have listed in your contacts, letting them know all is well. Since it also sends my GPS coordinates, I can use it to track my fishing trips. It also gave me peace of mind knowing it has the added feature of being able to send an SOS to the Coast Guard, if ever needed. Works great!

Comments about SPOT II GPS Satellite Messenger:

Annual fee costs more than the device. They add in hidden charges. They force you to use an automatic annual credit card charge. They make it hard to cancel.

Comments about SPOT II GPS Satellite Messenger:

My SPOT has worked pretty well over the years since I got it. I have done a lot of coastal sailing with the SPOT for "check-in messages" and tracking.

Customer several weeks ago asked in his SPOT review "I have heard that the new DeLorme Inreach uses the Iridium system for pole to pole coverage, and that it is a 2-way device - so you know the message got through."

I got to test my new DeLorme InReach, over the past several weeks. Yes it does provide coverage on 100% of the planet [Iridium confirmed this to me], which gives me a lot more coverage on my InReach unit.

Delivery confirmation on InReach was easy to understand, both on the unit [Green LED stops flashing when message got through], and via the smartphone/tablet App ["crosshairs" appear next to text message when it successfuly got out.]

SPOT has been a pretty good unit to use. The additional functionality and coverage I get on my InReach unit is really nice.
I'll probably give my SPOT to my daughter to use, she'll enjoy it a lot. I just need a more modern unit for my needs.

Comments about SPOT II GPS Satellite Messenger:

Very confusing to use. Confusing, illogical and incomplete instructions. Temperamental. May be useless in an emergency.

Comments about SPOT II GPS Satellite Messenger:

I bought the SPOT at the Ft. Lauderdale store after a sales rep. promised me that is had full ocean coverage.

That has simply not been the case. I was told that the Pacific Ocean is covered, but when I was about half-way to Hawaii on my trawler, most of my messages were not getting through.

I then reviewed again their coverage map, and it shows that HI is actually fringe coverage. Not what I was told by the sales rep.

The other inconvenience is that as a 1-way only device, I can never be sure if the message actually got through or not.

As a result, more often than not, my email contact do not get my check-in messages, so what good does that do praying that the message got through when there is no confirmation that it actually did?

The product concept is good, but just does not work as advertised. I would be better suited for a 2-way satellite communicator.

Comments about SPOT II GPS Satellite Messenger:

Used it in Mexico:
1. Phoenix-Bahia de Kino by car the tracking worked as advertised.
2. Fishing out of Bahia de Kino to the islands, tracking agin perfect.
2. Flying from Scottsdale Az to Loreto in Baja in a Cessna 414 the tracking was flawless

Now my wife track my whereabouts, to the inch :-(

The I'am OK messages were deliver and received fine. Will never leave home without my SPOT!
Easy to use and install. Buying onother one for an american living in Bahia de Kino for his fihing expeditions.

Comments about SPOT II GPS Satellite Messenger:

I got a SPOT for Christmas for my sailboat. I do a lot of sailing in the Atlantic and was excited to get the device for simple safetly at sea.

The unit is waterproof [thank God given all the rain it has tolerated] but the quality of service has been poort at best.

My contacts rarely get my check in messages, and when I have used it for tracking, a lot of the pings missed.

Wished they had better coverage in the Pacific. I'm planning a trip to Hawaii, but they dont have coverage there.

I have heard that the new DeLorme Inreach uses the Iridium system for pole to pole coverage, and that it is a 2-way device - so you know the message got through.

Has anyone got any feedback on the InReach - because I need some affordable communications at sea that is a lot more reliable that the SPOT I have.

Comments about SPOT II GPS Satellite Messenger:

Used this product on a trip to remote areas of Alaska hunting Kodiak bear. No cell phone service since camp is primitive. My husband was able to let us know he was fine by programming in preset message. It also shows you a website that you can click on to see satellite location.

Comments about SPOT II GPS Satellite Messenger:

this unit is purely for people to feel better about safety, not as a useful piece of safety gear. There are much better units out there for the price, once you've spent the money registering it and paying the fees, you could have had a much better unit that won't leave you dead for lack of or misprocessed payment.

Comments about SPOT II GPS Satellite Messenger:

Very difficult rebate process to navigate. I sent all information but was turned down for rebate as they said I did not include bar code from box which was included. I should just return to West for a refund and buy a new Garmin unit or another brand. The unit works perfectly and is a great tool to let others know where you are and that you are safe.