SPOT Gen3: Getting Started

Attention anyone contemplating buying a Spot device!! I have used my SpotGen3 device several years and I have no complaints with it. However, I have serious questions regarding how they process renewals. Without any notice or warning they YANKED my REI card for almost 200 dollars Dec. 2nd 2022 . I did not give permission for this charge particularly to the fact my expiration was Dec. 31st!!!! I contacted them on Dec.19th and gave them an ear full. They said I would receive a refund no later than today, Jan. 13, Friday the 13th! You guessed it, still no refund! I just contacted the gizz balls and no apology no explanation, now today Mr. Patel is " Expediting" my refund! Don't do business with these people, that is all I gotta say. I will replace my Spot with another similar device from their competitors.

This video provided me with the information I needed AND was funny at the same time.

Be aware that they have an opt out i.e. automatic renewal. So if you don't remember and the notice they provides goes to junk mail then you'll be out of luck and that'll cost you. Before you buy Google "Spot 3 trustpilot" to get reviews. 1.7 stars out of 5 with 75 reviews.

Fucking annoying voice - Skip!

Unwatchable. I am interested in knowing more about the Spot but I am going to look elsewhere. Annoying video.

Water resistant?

I've used a Spot 1 for 10 years now and it works just fine. But, their admin and web site really suck. And with the new Spot 3 that I just purchased, their Updater app does not work. This is typical for Spot. I used their web site to transition to my new device but my old device still shows up on my account at Spot - what, did their web site take the weekend off ? I would like to get the Spot 3 to work as it has been a pretty decent. However, if you have never used Spot, don't start now. Go find another vendor.

This video is useless if you can't set it up. I can't even get mine set up. What an appalling set of set up instructions. Using the App it tells me to input my Activation Code and the box to do that is greyed out.

How long does it take to find the satellites after you turn it on? i.e. if you keep it turned off to save batteries, then suddenly need the SOS button, how long do you have to wait after turning it on before the SOS button works?

Stay away from this company, they keep increasing the annual subscription fees each year and will auto-renew at a higher rate without any notice whatsoever. I'll be ditching my Gen3 for the Garmin inReach.

I can hardly discourage using services from Spot LLC. The satellite coverage is way worse than they claim and customer service is only there to get money from you. I've asked cancellation of the service as it was not working properly in my area (France) and was first told I'll be reimbursed, then that i would'nt, once the service was shut down !!! they only care about short-term money, i was thinking about using their services in other parts of the world. Now this is definitively a no-go to me.

Warning warning read people's reviews people hate this company they don't care about you

Warning warning it cost more to renew your service the second year than it did to buy the device and have the service the first year over $200 for a 5 year old device when I originally bought the device $97 and it came with free service

SPOT, you know what would be cool? Instead of making useless attempts at humor you fixed the Updater software so it actually worked.

That was a stupid, worthless, annoying tutorial.

annoying as f.., British humor at "its best" LOL :) HAD TO TURN OFF.

I have tried several times to re-activate my Gen 3 device. All Spot contacts say the same: "it's your bank" and it's not. I am about to leave on a dangerous trip and these people are not able to activate my Spot Gen 3. This really sucks!!!

Nice video & excellent explaination. Many thanks for saving over 5000 lives.

nothing to recommend...used it 3 months, now find out that SPOT charged me for one year renewal and don't refund after 45 days...lousy service

Very irritating format. Sorry guys, comes across as unprofessional and tacky.

co

Wow that video was very annoying and not funny at all... kind of turns me off from the product. video gets a thumbs down from me!👎

i bought the delorme inreach SE
it does all of this plus receives messages,text,email,post to facebook,and tracking, and has a sos button

Dumbass video. Try too hard to be funny, isn't funny, is just annoying.

Excellent tutorial, thank you! :-)

What they don't tell you right off the bat, every button has an annual fee roughly 200-300 bucks per year all together. What a crock i took mine back and just bought a Garmin with the same functions FOR FREE.

I think a smarter move would've been to merge the Spot 2 and the Spot Connect, rather than give you an enhanced version of Spot 2.

The hassle with the Spot 2, and now Spot Gen 3, is that you're supposed to anticipate and pre-program your messages before you leave home. How are you supposed to know exactly what's going to happen to you in the field?

They solved that with Spot Connect, which allows you to pair the device with your smartphone via Bluetooth and type customized messages from the field. The downside of Spot Connect is that even for the simplest of tasks like turning on the tracking mode, you have to turn on the phone, link it to the device and activate the tracking from there. Not ideal if you're in a hurry, if you're trying to save battery on your phone, or if it's raining and you don't want to get your phone wet.

A simple Track button on the Spot Connect device would've solved that issue and save the users many hours. Or better yet, the ability to pair a Gen 3 device to the phone, would've been a kicker, but no... I guess we'll have to see what Gen 4 brings.

Sorry if anyone sees this twice...I just want the word out...not a product to recommend..slick marketing but they sell the sizzle and not the steak!

i wouldnt put it on the outside of the bag

Think I may have to get SPOT Gen3. Has anyone heard bad reports about this device.