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Post By MilesofSmiles
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4 May 2012
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Location: Alcester UK & Idilevo, Bulgaria
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SPOT Connect - Anyone used these ?
I had a standard SPOT messenger but stupidly left it in a hotel in Izmir, Turkey a couple of years ago and never managed to get it back (but did manage to get it disabled by SPOT before someone pressed the SOS button).
Anyway, last year on a RTW trip I bought a SPOT Connect in New York-got it back to the hotel and found I couldn't use it because I could not download the App from the US Apple site as I was a UK citizen and had no US address to register with APple plus the added problem that the SPOT Connect wasn't available in the UK at that time so I there was no SPOT Appon the UK Apple site. However, when I finally got back home I found that the UK Apple site was now giving out the App that I neede - I couldn't be bothered at this stage so I just left the SPOT sitting in my garage.
Today I dug out the SPOT and set about activating it.... but it said that I had to update the Firmware. Plugged it into my account OK and started the download but it keeps failing halfway through - Anyone else had this problem ?
I am fast coming to the conclusion that the original SPOT is miles better than the SPOT connect which is totally useless at thge moment and not the most user friendly device I have seen - I am about to chuck it the garbage !
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4 May 2012
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Location: On the road to Africa
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Wish I could help, but can't I'm afraid.
However, wouldnt mind your opinion regarding whether you think the Spot Messenger is actually worth having though? Been thinking of getting one for an Africa trip but wasnt sure if worth the expense or how easy it is to set up / use etc.
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4 May 2012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wearthefoxhat
However, wouldnt mind your opinion regarding whether you think the Spot Messenger is actually worth having though? Been thinking of getting one for an Africa trip but wasnt sure if worth the expense or how easy it is to set up / use etc.
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I used the SPOT for a couple of big trips and it was very useful for my wife to know (a) where I was and (b) that I was OK even when i was in areas without wifi or telephone coverage. I was also comforted by the SOS facility  but never actually used it thankfully so I don't know how effective the cavalry really are.
It is a bit on the expensive side though - I thing the unit was £90 something (British pounds) and the annual subscription for all roaming (which includes and update every 10 minutes so that the actual route can be mapped back to Google) cost around £100 - really depends on where you are going I think - if you have good comms/phones/emails etc and not intending to do anything risky like off road on your own then a SPOT might be a bit over the top but nonetheless the Messenger was a good gadget (Can't say the same for the Connect though !)
Martin
PS There might still be a free one lurking around Izmir
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5 May 2012
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Well... my problem with SPOT Connect is still not sorted. I emailed the customer service centre and they sent a reply giving me an international number to ring the cost of which will start making this device a costly investment so I have decided to throw it away.
My advice is steer clear of the SPOT Connect - it is nowhere near as good as its predecessor.
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20 Sep 2012
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I purchased the original SPOT and to this day I still only use this unit. The later version is small, under powered and batteries run out quickly. As for any other SPOT device, I would just turn away from them as they seem to be even less useful. As with sat phones, the original designs worked the best and had the most power. Later smaller designs have always been underpowered and short batter life.
Stick to the original design.......
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21 Sep 2012
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An alternative is "delorme inreach" a two way satellite Messager.
i have a review here:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...messager-65983
I dont have a spot and can`t compare it. But the delorme device works well, you can also test livetracking in my blog (signature)
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