SPOT Gen4 Satellite Communicator

$150.00

SPOT Gen4: Are a new case, 4 AAA batteries and an ounce more weight. For that you get a more rugged and ergonomic case and significantly longer battery life — 78–156 days of tracking, 8hrs/day (60min intervals). It also adds Motion Activated tracking – SPOT Gen4 sends tracks at a chosen rate for as long as the device is turned on and moving, conserving battery life. And this solves the problem of turning it off at rest stops and forgetting to turn it back on.

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If you are on very limited funds, and are willing to go with basic 1-way messages and SOS services, the SPOT Gen4 Satellite GPS Messenger with the Basic Service Plan is still the lowest cost option, especially if you use your SPOT on a monthly basis. It is also a good choice for those that desire simplicity in their backcountry experience. Like other Satellite GPS Messenger SOS Devices, the SPOT Gen adds an important margin of safety for remote backcountry trips — but without becoming an intrusive piece of electronics. So NO 2-way texting… but at the press of a button, you can call for emergency help. There are also buttons to let loved ones know you are safe, or that you need a non-emergency pickup. Messages arrive at your contacts with a GPS location and a link to a map to see where you are. The SPOT doesn’t let you create and send messages in the backcountry like the Garmin inReach units, but it also costs a lot less! That being said, data plans are the bulk of the cost to operate a satellite communicator, so in the long run the SPOT is not going to be all that much cheaper.

Compared to Garmin units, SPOT Gen3 uses replaceable (4) AAA Batteries. And a single set of lithium batteries lasts a long time — 78–156 days of tracking, 8hrs/day (60min intervals) — far and away the longest life of any major satellite communicator. The batteries can be easily replaced mid-trip with a spare set. In comparison, the inReach has less tracking time and a non-removable battery that has to be recharged via an external USB battery. But this battery efficiency comes at a price. The SPOT’s low 0.4 watt transmission power, and the fact that its patch antenna is rarely if ever oriented properly (needs to be flat and facing up!). This means fewer successful waypoints/messages sent in difficult reception areas. And the SPOT’s GlobalStar Satellite Network has less coverage than inReach’s Iridium Network. Or field experience corroborates this lower reliability.

Finally, depending on how much you use your unit, the annual service plan for the SPOT may or may not be less expensive than the as-needed Freedom Plan for the inReach. Note that over time the service plan is far and above the major cost for the inReach or SPOT.

PROS Low cost, simple. Long battery life, easily replaced AAA batteries. No need for a phone to operate it. Less intrusive to backcountry experience vs. tempting 2-way satellite communicators like Garmin inReach.

CONS Only 1-way communication (a serious disadvantage!). Less reliable communication. Heavier than the competition. No custom message compose. Data plan not that cheap, so in the long run not really saving much money vs. 2-way devices like Zoleo or Bivy Stick.