I have a SPOT X and I hate it. It works, but the text buttons are almost completely unresponsive. I really have to mash HARD to get my text entries to register. Once all of my mashing is done, the transmit function works fine. I've never had to use it in an emergency, but I do test it before each trip to remote areas. I was going to let my subscription lapse and switch to a competing product, but just got an offer to buy a Gen 3 SPOT with a year of coverage for $150. That could be a REALLY good deal. The GEN 3 uses a Bluetooth connection with your phone to do the text entries and that could eliminate the hardware problems I've had with my SPOT X buttons being non-responsive. Does anyone here have experience with the SPOT GEN 3?

Flyhound wrote:I have a SPOT X and I hate it. It works, but the text buttons are almost completely unresponsive. I really have to mash HARD to get my text entries to register. Once all of my mashing is done, the transmit function works fine. I've never had to use it in an emergency, but I do test it before each trip to remote areas. I was going to let my subscription lapse and switch to a competing product, but just got an offer to buy a Gen 3 SPOT with a year of coverage for $150. That could be a REALLY good deal. The GEN 3 uses a Bluetooth connection with your phone to do the text entries and that could eliminate the hardware problems I've had with my SPOT X buttons being non-responsive. Does anyone here have experience with the SPOT GEN 3?

The gen3 does NOT have bluetooth or text entries at all. It's simply 3 pre-customizable message buttons, an SOS button, and tracking. That being said, I've been very happy with mine, and I think the $150 deal is a steal. I'd say go for it.

I use mine everyday for work. Dispatch actively tracks all the pilots who are out flying and my messages get sent to company people who can make decisions and are set to:
- "Got where I'm going, all good."
- "Stuck at an airport, send a mechanic and another plane for my passengers"
- "Landed off airport, send a plane."

I figure my bases are pretty well covered with those 3 plus the SOS button. I've tested the message ones, but never the SOS. Having someone actively track you is great. Pretty obviously when something happens. Mine is set to 2.5min intervals.Everyone said SPOT sucks in Alaska and to get an Inreach when I moved up here but mine has worked flawlessly. Fully custom text messages would be nice but $$$$.

If I'm going to be forking out $20-$25 a month for the subscription, then I want two way communication and the better satellite network. I don't care if the unit is $300 more.

After switching to InReach because of what appeared to be pretty bad coverage by SPOT, my SPOT subscription automatically renewed. For the year.

I called the company, and tried to get them to turn it off, and refund unused months......Nope, forget it was the response. I asked to speak to a supervisor or manager, politely. Was told that I'd chosen auto renew, and that's the way it is.

I told them to remove auto pay from my subscription. I also tried to get the credit card company to deny the charge, but they came back that it was a legitimate charge.

Since I don't trust them, I canceled the credit card I used for that subscription.

SPOT seems to be a truly customer oriented company.

I'll never deal with them or trust them again.

MTV

ASA: I recently received a marketing survey from SPOT because I was a loyal customer. The marketing survey asked about my potential interest in a satellite unit that would connect to my phone with Bluetooth. I just assumed that was the Gen3. Nope, it must refer to some future product. I'll stick with my buggy SPOT X for now and just use the preprogrammed messages so I don't have to fuss with the dysfunctional keypad. Perhaps one of the Garmin units is in my future but I've got all kinds of grievances with GARMIN over my panel mounted GNS430W. Why are satellite companies so evil?