Despite the mixed reviews I figured I’d buy the device and try it out myself for one month, given that Cabelas will allow me to return it within 30 days. So, i'll be out $25 for activation and $14 for one month's use.

The device seemed to work OK when testing around town, as long as I was outdoors and away from buildings …. Like in a parking lot. However, as soon as I was up on the mountain it became much less reliable. Ironically, I was in the alpine for the opener and it really can't get any more clear and open for sat connection than that!

Some messages would be sent and tell me they were delivered, others would be delivered but tell me they weren’t so I would send multiples for no reason. I didn’t get many replies to my messages only to find my email flooded with messages that friends/family sent to me but that could not be delivered to my device …. Lame. The device seemed better at delivering my messages to friends/family than it was at delivering theirs to me.

Overall, SpotX has issues and I can’t recommend this as a reliable back country communications device, despite the attractive pricing.
I am returning it to Cabela’s and trying the InReach mini now.
Pros:

  • Great screen. The devices has a simple, black and white screen that is very easy to read. It’s not reflective, very much like a Kindle e-reader type screen.
  • Keyboard and screen are illuminated
  • Menu is intuitive and fairly easy to navigate
  • 14 allowed preset messages (that don’t count toward your monthly quota) unlike InReach’s 3 messages.
  • Cheaper than even the inReach mini by $100
  • Dedicated keyboard is SO nice. It is very quick to type out custom messages, unlike inReach devices (unless you're typing on the phone over blutooth of course)
  • Cheapest freedom plan is $12 compared to $15 from InReach.
  • Syncing the device through the computer to your Spot online account (where you edit all your contacts, preset messages etc) is very simple. It would be great for people that weren’t very tech savvy.


Cons:

  • Some icons are hard to decipher at first
  • Some messages will display (?) telling me they weren’t delivered, but then I’d get a reply so you can’t ever really tell if the message was delivered or not.
  • Doesn’t seem to work indoors. It really wants you to be in the open like in a field. Forest canopy is an issue as well.
  • Battery life is not that great at all. I had it on less than my cell phone and by the end of 3 full days the device was dead.
  • Incosistent turnaround times. Sometimes i'll send a message and get a reply within 1 minute. Other times the reply comes back in 20mins and sometimes never only to find it in my email 3 days later when i come back home.
  • Antenna is about the size of a shotgun shell. It does get in the way a little.