SPOT Satellite Messenger

Is there a spot for SPOT in your backcountry emergency kit?

At first glance, the SPOT Satellite Messenger sounds like a great safety device to keep you in touch with the outside world in the event of an emergency. But it has some pros and cons that potential buyers must carefully consider.

What is SPOT? It's a one-way communication device with a built-in GPS receiver that can send position and short, pre-coded text messages, to the Globalstar satellite phone system. It sends four types of messages:

1. Alert 9-1-1
   This message is sent when the user wants to summon help in the event of an emergency. When the Globalstar Command Center receives this message, it will notify the rescue agency nearest to your location and pass on your contact information. If you have created a contact list when you registered your SPOT device, those people will also be contacted when your SPOT unit sends an alert.
2. Ask For Help
   This is a non-emergency message which indicates that you need help, but that it is non-life-threatening. For fourwheelers, the obvious example would be that your vehicle is broken down and you are stranded. The people who you have put in your contact list, your "SPOTteam," will be notified of the message via SMS and/or email. They will be able to view your position via Google Maps.
3. SPOTchecking
   This message logs your current position to your SPOT account and is essentially a way of saying that you are fine. Kind of like calling your Mom when you're travelling. Members of your SPOTteam will be notified and can view your position via Google Maps.
4. SPOTcasting
   This is very similar to SPOTchecking, except that the logging of your location is automatic. Every 10 minutes, the SPOT device will send your position to the Globalstar network where it will be logged to your SPOT account.

The SPOT service is by subscription only. The basic package is USD$99/year and that covers the first three message types. To get SPOTcasting, you have to pay an additional USD$49. The list price for the SPOT device itself is USD$150.

So how does this compare to something like a digital Personal Locator Beacon (PLB)?

• The main difference is that a PLB does one thing, and one thing only. It is used only in an emergency. Nothing else. If you use it to summon a SAR team so you can ask them to bring back an ignition coil, you will face a very hefty fine and possibly criminal charges. Absolutely no possibility to use it to log your position or let anyone else follow your travels.
• The PLB frequency is monitored by public rescue organizations. There is no subscription fee. You buy the PLB and that's it. Nothing else to buy.
• The PLB has better coverage and is less susceptible to signal blockage. The SPOT service is globally limited (good coverage in most developed countries, though).
• Your average digital PLB costs around USD$600. That's FOUR TIMES more expensive than the SPOT. But then there's the USD$99/year subscription fee for the SPOT, which means SPOT starts costing more than the PLB after 5 years.

So if you want a device solely for the safety factor of being able to summon help in a life or death situation, I would opt for the PLB. It's cheaper in the long run, and has a better chance of getting the message out to the rescue organizations.

From a gearhead's perspective, the Ask For Help and SPOTcasting features are what would draw the interest of most fourwheelers and get them to look at SPOT instead of a PLB. Being able to assure your friends and family that you're safe and sound in the middle of a four-day backcountry journey in your P.O.S. 4x4 is a strong selling point. However, depending on your location, a VHF or HF amateur radio would be able to do the same thing for less money while providing two-voice communication as well. But amateur radios require that you study and pass the test to get your radio license. And if you want to automatically log your position so your friends can see where you are, that'll require further investment in gps/radio gear and time to learn how to use it. On the other hand, there's no subscription fee, so it'll be cheaper than the SPOT after a few years, too. But coverage may be more limited compared to SPOT. In short, if you want the SPOT's location logging ability and aren't willing to jump through hoops to get it, it's better to go with SPOT than learning how to do something similar with amateur radio.

So does the SPOT have a spot in my backcountry safety kit? No. If they sold it with no subscription fee for emergency alerts, and then added on for additional services, then maybe. But at USD$150/year for emergency and non-emergency messaging, it's too much money.

Visit SPOT's webpage: www.findmespot.com