Customer Reviews for SPOT SPOT 2 Satellite GPS Messenger - Silver
This product is no longer available. Continue shopping at Best Buy.
SPOT SPOT 2 Satellite GPS Messenger - Silver
Model: SPOT-2S
SKU: 9511012
UPC: 893049001240
Send a Web user the location of you or a loved one from anywhere in the world for tracking using Google Maps with this satellite GPS messenger. Emergency, assist, check in, custom message and track progress buttons make location reporting a snap.
Average Customer Rating:
3.5
out of 5
(20 Reviews) 20
Rating Snapshot 20 reviews
5 stars
8
4 stars
6
3 stars
0
2 stars
1
1 star
5
75% of customers would recommend this product to a friend
(
15 out of
20)
Customer Reviews for SPOT SPOT 2 Satellite GPS Messenger - Silver
Review 1 for SPOT SPOT 2 Satellite GPS Messenger - Silver
SPOT II
Customer Rating
4.0
Posted by: zman1968
from 92630
on 04/18/2012
What's great about it: Tracking, lightweight, RAM mountable
What's not so great: function buttons are small, annual subscription service
I've used this product 3 times now and have liked the tracking function of it. No issues with satellites or signal to date. I like the programmability options and custom message options.
The function buttons are small, but not a huge deal. Reliability is much more important to me.
I have it RAM mounted on my adventure bike and the shocks and jolts from my travels haven't produced any product issues.
No battery issues either.
This product has... Simple controls
About me... Budget Conscious, Use for outdoor activities (i.e. hiking, hunting, fishing), Business Professional, casual user
I would recommend this to a friend!
+1point
1out of 1found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Review 2 for SPOT SPOT 2 Satellite GPS Messenger - Silver
Very useful but needs refinement.
Customer Rating
4.0
Posted by: SimpleSailor
from West Central Florida
on 04/12/2012
What's great about it: Ability to send location to friends and family or call for help.
What's not so great: Cost to keep it activated.
I have used this on one coastal sailing trip. The positions logged were accurate with the gps log from the boat. Setup was some what slow and unclear on the website, but doable.
Email response from the support department was VERY slow. I really thought they were not going to answer. I emailed them because my waypoints didn't show up on the webpage provided. Finally, about a week later, I did get an answer. It was simply that it will not show waypoints made up before the webpage was activate. Nothing about this on the website. Why so long for a response that required no fix? Most marine/nav type companies seem to go out of their way for a quick response, almost always in less than 24 hrs. This was disappointing.
The ability to make several profiles it great. However, even when making a hiking or cycling profile, it doesn't give me the option to not include a boat description. (Probably because I have linked the Tow Boat assistance). I may have missed it, but I see no way to determine the battery condition. Overall, I am satisfied with the unit, but I hope they will ultimately refine this product further. It is useful "as is" but could be improved.
This product has... Simple controls, Easy to read
About me... Parent with kids, Use for outdoor activities (i.e. hiking, hunting, fishing), Use for long distance sports (i.e. bicycling, skiing, running), Business Professional
I would recommend this to a friend!
+1point
1out of 1found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Review 3 for SPOT SPOT 2 Satellite GPS Messenger - Silver
Peace of mind for those staying home.
Customer Rating
5.0
What's great about it: Notify friends or emergency services for help
What's not so great: Product web site is a bit awkward
We've got an original Spot tracker that has performed well. We use it for motorcycle trips and long distance riding. When the original Spot2 came out it had some pretty bad software bugs and was recalled by the company. The model for sale here must be the updated model. - the defective Spot2 was the orange color.
I like that the new model is smaller and the case has a slot to allow attaching it to something securely.
After registering the unit on the Spot web page, and choosing what type of coverage I wanted, I turned it on put it on my deck railing. Within a few minutes, the location showed up on my Spot page.
To double check its functioning, we took the Spot2 in the car on a short trip. The unit transmitted waypoints along the way as expected.
I like that the new model is smaller and the case has a slot to allow attaching it to something securely.
After registering the unit on the Spot web page, and choosing what type of coverage I wanted, I turned it on put it on my deck railing. Within a few minutes, the location showed up on my Spot page.
To double check its functioning, we took the Spot2 in the car on a short trip. The unit transmitted waypoints along the way as expected.
This product has... Simple controls, Easy to read
About me... Frequent traveler, Use for outdoor activities (i.e. hiking, hunting, fishing), Use for long distance sports (i.e. bicycling, skiing, running)
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Review 4 for SPOT SPOT 2 Satellite GPS Messenger - Silver
This was on the recall list and still sold to me
Customer Rating
2.0
What's great about it: Tracking feature
What's not so great: Poor reliability vs. PLB's
Best Buy needs to check it's Spot 2 inventory for recalls. Had to call Spot for a replacement and am still waiting for a new unit.
Besides the inconvenience, these Spot 2's have too may failures, especially around water. The tracking feature is nice but I would not trust my life with this unit. Carry a Personal Locator Beacon in addition for Coast Guard emergencies.
Besides the inconvenience, these Spot 2's have too may failures, especially around water. The tracking feature is nice but I would not trust my life with this unit. Carry a Personal Locator Beacon in addition for Coast Guard emergencies.
About me... Use for long distance sports (i.e. bicycling, skiing, running)
I would recommend this to a friend!
+1point
1out of 1found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Review 5 for SPOT SPOT 2 Satellite GPS Messenger - Silver
Not a happy Camper...
Customer Rating
1.0
Posted by: SewSew
from Florida
on 03/13/2012
What's great about it: The cocept
What's not so great: Failure to work especially in a wet environment.
This SPOT was difficult to set up. Yes, the SPOT phone assistants were friendly but it took many calls to get going. Then when sailing in an adventure race the unit wouldn't send positions during the event. The SPOT thought we were still at home. I bought (2) more spots and they both stopped working due to water intrusion. So, I would not recommend buying a SPOT and certainly would not trust it to relay help or 911 messages when you need it most.
This product has... low reliability
About me... Use for outdoor activities (i.e. hiking, hunting, fishing), Use for long distance sports (i.e. bicycling, skiing, running)
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
+3points
3out of 3found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Review 6 for SPOT SPOT 2 Satellite GPS Messenger - Silver
Good Product. Works as advertised
Customer Rating
4.0
Posted by: Av8ing
from Mississippi
on 01/25/2012
What's great about it: Easy
What's not so great: A little pricey.
Controls are simple, messages are easy to configure.
I'm having a little problem getting support questions answered.
I'm having a little problem getting support questions answered.
This product has... Simple controls, Easy to read
About me... Frequent traveler, Use for outdoor activities (i.e. hiking, hunting, fishing)
I would recommend this to a friend!
+2points
2out of 2found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Review 7 for SPOT SPOT 2 Satellite GPS Messenger - Silver
Underwhelming
Customer Rating
1.0
What's great about it: Not much, accurate when it gets a signal
What's not so great: Pain in butt to configure, slow, doesn't work in large areas in India
Never could get it to work in India. Took forever to Get a signal and work in Atlanta. Close to useless as an emergency device.
This product has... confusing set up protocols
About me... Frequent traveler
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
+6points
7out of 8found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Review 8 for SPOT SPOT 2 Satellite GPS Messenger - Silver
Great way of tracking
Customer Rating
4.0
Posted by: pspa
from phoenix
on 01/22/2012
What's great about it: Seems to work well even in confined areas
What's not so great: some concern about sos button accidentally getting pressed
Haven't had a chance to ck battery life yet but it's been working well even in footprint mode which transmits a lot more frequently. Used domestically, including in mountainous areas. Will be using internationally in the future.
This product has... Simple controls
About me... Frequent traveler, Use for outdoor activities (i.e. hiking, hunting, fishing)
I would recommend this to a friend!
+1point
1out of 1found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Review 9 for SPOT SPOT 2 Satellite GPS Messenger - Silver
Very Dissapointed in this "Unfinished Product"
Customer Rating
1.0
What's great about it: Concept is great....
What's not so great: Soimpy did not live up to marketing messages, and consumer "hype". Just very unfinished product.
Purchased item for Dad's birthday this past Sept.. He is a professional guide in North America, Africa, etc.
Took very very long time creating the account, customer care had to get item to sync up since unit froze out of the box, and unit would turn off on its own - even after we downloaded the software upgrade.
LEDs were a bit confusing - and many of the transmitted messages did not make through.
No mention was made about the limitations in Alaska, where his service was very poor at best.
In short, he gave the product back to me, and I have no use for it.
This product has... Inaccurate, Short battery life, poor operation indicators, limited service in alaska
About me... Use for outdoor activities (i.e. hiking, hunting, fishing), professional big game guide
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
+4points
7out of 10found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Review 10 for SPOT SPOT 2 Satellite GPS Messenger - Silver
Great. Works as expected
Customer Rating
5.0
What's great about it: Easy to use; great technology.
My wife wore the Spot while competing in the Panama City Ironman race and I was able to catch her at all of the transition spots because I knew where she was on course. Very nice!
About me... Use for outdoor activities (i.e. hiking, hunting, fishing)
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Review 11 for SPOT SPOT 2 Satellite GPS Messenger - Silver
Does what it's suppose to do.
Customer Rating
5.0
What's great about it: Deliver message where cell phones cannot
What's not so great: Annual fee
If I wrote this review 6 months ago, I would have given it 2 or 3 stars. Because after the $100 purchase and $80 annual payment, it just sat in my backpack. What I told the wife was...what if someone gets hurt 2 hours into a hike. Need to hike back the 2 hours, hop into the car and drive to find cell connection in order to call help. But the reality is that the local trails are so popular that help is found easily.
But then my mom when on a trekking on the other side of the world. Cell phone was useless and pay phone was scarce. This is where Spot 2 was perfect. Once a day, she pressed that little "OK" button and the family received an email with her location on Google Map. It was a peace of mind knowing that she was safe and entertaining to track her travels.
Spot 2 does not do much in today's digital world. It's only able to send an "OK" message, personalized pre-programed message, need help, and the SOS to emergency personnel. There's a tracking feature but that cost more. But if you're traveling in a remote area, or out of the country and not want to incur high cell charge, Spot 2 is perfect for sending simple messages.
So my Spot 2 will sit in my backpack for another 6 months or more until the next far away trip. But I don't mind it.
I would recommend this to a friend!
+9points
10out of 11found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Review 12 for SPOT SPOT 2 Satellite GPS Messenger - Silver
Product did not work, poor service from SPOT
Customer Rating
1.0
Posted by: dmaddj
from Palmyra, IN
on 09/21/2011
What's not so great: It did not work; poor customer service from manufacturer
I purchased this SPOT to keep my wife and family informed of my progress on a recent backpacking trip and to make sure that I could contact 911 if necessary. I tested the device before I went, and it worked fine. However, when I began my trip, the device would no longer power on. I switched to new batteries, it still wouldn't power on. It was dead, and never would work again. After arriving home (fortunately, didn't need emergency services during my trip), I attempted to contact SPOT. Couldn't get a person on the phone (even though I waited on hold for 20+ minutes and tried at different times of the day). I used the form on their website to contact them and explain the problem. A week later, I got an email back from someone called "AGENT ID 5545: 150228350" who obviously didn't bother to read my email asking if I was trying to use the device inside or without a clear view of the sky. I responded to this email asking for my money back for the service. It's been a week, and I have yet to receive a refund. Hopefully, I will.
As for Best Buy, they shipped the product to me quickly and the return process was very easy. Even though I bought it online, I was able to return it in the store without any problem.
My recommendation: don't buy this product!
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
+11points
14out of 17found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Review 13 for SPOT SPOT 2 Satellite GPS Messenger - Silver
SPOT II: Good Insurance
Customer Rating
4.0
What's great about it: User interface is user-friendly and intuitive.
What's not so great: Latency for OK message sometimes takes a few minutes.
I've used SPOT I for a number of years, and decided to upgrade to SPOT II because of a more user-friendly interface and better satellite reception. I attach it to my pilot parachute which is used during aerobatic flights. I fly a Decathlon, so SPOT has a clear view of the sky through the skylight in the cabin roof both from the front seat during solo flights, and the backseat when instructing. I set up the unit for tracking, and activate this feature on start-up, so should someone accessing my SPOT web page want to see where I've been, the information is readily there. Also at the end of each flight I activate the OK message which usually immediately sends out an email to those on my list (there are times when about a 10 minute delay on the OK message occurs due to system latency). Should I ever have to bail out of the airplane, I feel confident that should I be able to activate the SOS feature, search and rescue (S&R) would be able to locate me. I recommend SPOT II to those who want others to know their status and as a means to have S&R locate them. SPOT II is easy to operate and the AAA batteries so far have proved long-lived.
I would recommend this to a friend!
+6points
6out of 6found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Review 14 for SPOT SPOT 2 Satellite GPS Messenger - Silver
Delivers as promised
Customer Rating
5.0
What's great about it: Easy to set up and use
What's not so great: small yearly fee, but it is small
I have a couple of these now and they work as described on the packaging. With a small yearly fee, it will track you anywhere and is a good safety item for anyone who enjoys outdoor activities!
GET ONE!!!
I would recommend this to a friend!
-1point
1out of 3found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Review 15 for SPOT SPOT 2 Satellite GPS Messenger - Silver
Costly service for short time use
Customer Rating
1.0
What's great about it: Lots of cool features.
What's not so great: It is a worthless and expensive toy and not for the average outdoorsman
I just went online to register my Spot Satellite GPS Messenger--sure, if you read the summary of all it will do, it sounds great, so I bought one. Big Mistake..when you try to activate it, you are hit with a $105 or more charge, for BASIC SERVICE ONLY!!!! On one page, it says the basic service is $12.95, the when you try to check out, it brings up a $105 dollar charge. All together, you could spend several hundred dollars a year on service charges! Unless you spend a large portion of your time in the wild, and I mean more than a days walk from the nearest dwelling, this SPOT is worthless. Also, be sure to read the disclaimers from the GEOS section, you will be responsible for any charges of rescue--because their lawyers have all the bases covered! Yes, there are people out there that get paid to go to places where this gizmo may be helpful, but for the average guy, this thing is more than worthless, it just an expensive toy!
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
+2points
30out of 58found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Review 16 for SPOT SPOT 2 Satellite GPS Messenger - Silver
Great tracker
Customer Rating
5.0
What's great about it: Good price, easy to use
What's not so great: Nothing yet
I purchased this to track my 16 year old son who is flying solo cross country. His phone tracker doesn't work in a lot of places that he flies, but this one works very well. It is a huge help for me when he is flying 300 miles away. I like that it has the SOS button and the I'm OK button. I expect him to use it for many years.
I would recommend this to a friend!
+12points
15out of 18found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Review 17 for SPOT SPOT 2 Satellite GPS Messenger - Silver
Works for my 8 year old
Customer Rating
4.0
What's great about it: It works like advertised.
What's not so great: Not great indoors and a bit slow on start up.
I got this for my 8 year old who rides a bike around alone. It took about an hour to train him on and then he was up and running with it and found it very easy to use. Now my 8 year old knows he can push the SOS button and the police will come to his location. Also, if things are going good and he made it to his destination then he can easily send me an "OK" message with his location. It works well and a nice safety device for peace of mind.
I would recommend this to a friend!
-2points
11out of 24found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Review 18 for SPOT SPOT 2 Satellite GPS Messenger - Silver
Works Great
Customer Rating
5.0
What's great about it: Simple to use
What's not so great: Nothing Yet
I travel around my region alot for buisness. I got this to let my young daughter and wife know where I am. I have gone to some pretty remote areas and it has worked everytime. I also have to keep a time card for travel and on site times. This comes in handy for that. When filling out my time card I know exactly when I arrived at a site and departed a site. I love it. I have the SPOT 2 so I can not speak for the original SPOT. I personally have not had a problem with the device, it has worked every time. The advantages to having this little device by far out weight any disavantages any one can come up with. GREAT VALUE FOR THE PIECE OF MIND.
I would recommend this to a friend!
+9points
11out of 13found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Review 19 for SPOT SPOT 2 Satellite GPS Messenger - Silver
The new SPOT GPS ROCKS
Customer Rating
5.0
What's great about it: It now has message lights so you know that a signal got out
What's not so great: Nothing
So you need some peace of mind out there on your adventure, then this is for you. I owned the first SPOT and it had some issues such as poor GPS lock and spotty performance plus it was heavy and it didn't work too well.
The new SPOT is wonderful, it works they way it should. If you follow the directions and give it a clear view of the sky then it rocks. The lights on it now tell you that your message got out and you don't have to worry if it got sent like with the old one. It is very light and it is just great. This could save your life so don't get cheap about it. Know that you have help right at your finger tips.
The new SPOT is wonderful, it works they way it should. If you follow the directions and give it a clear view of the sky then it rocks. The lights on it now tell you that your message got out and you don't have to worry if it got sent like with the old one. It is very light and it is just great. This could save your life so don't get cheap about it. Know that you have help right at your finger tips.
I would recommend this to a friend!
+6points
12out of 18found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Review 20 for SPOT SPOT 2 Satellite GPS Messenger - Silver
Works as advertised
Customer Rating
5.0
What's great about it: Good GPS coverage, light, battery life
What's not so great: The manual could be a little better
I did not buy mine at Best Buy as they are not in the stores yet, but I obtained one last week. I went out with it at the weekend and it worked really well even in the fairly thick trees of the Tonto Forest near Payson, AZ.
You have to subscribe to the service that then relays your messages on. The first one there was a slight delay of about 15 minutes but testing after that was fine. It is lightweight so is easy to handle. The manual only tells you have to perform a self test and has limited information on how to operate, but essentially the self test and operate are the same thing.
I never had the original SPOT but reading lots of reviews that one uses an older GPS chipset and is heavier. In my mind if you have to pay for additional services you might as well pay the $50 extra to get the best device.
I would recommend this to a friend!
+5points
5out of 5found this review helpful.
Share this review:
