Spot X vs Gen 3

[Redthies]

Anyone using either of these care to chime in on the differences, what you like or don’t like, and how you would do it today if you had a chance to change it up?

My understanding is that the X can be used to trace a track on the screen like a regular GPS? I don’t have a gps other than what’s in my phone, which so far has worked well enough in areas with no cell service using iHunter maps. It can also send regular text type messages, correct?

Can you send created on the fly messages with the Gen 3, or is it just pre selected ones like “all is well” or “send help, I effed up” type stuff?

Since neither is terribly expensive, and my wife has suggested I really don’t “need” another shotgun, budget isn’t a factor. That said, I also don’t want to spend money foolishly. The service plans seem to be the same cost for both units.

Thanks for any input!

[RyoTHC]

If budget isn’t a factor don’t even consider either of those devices.

Garmin 66I and never look back. You can thank me later, and your wife will thank me if and when it saves your skin.

[jac]

I have the spot X and it works well. The keyboard could be a little more refined but I have no trouble with it. We used it more then the sat phone last year. There is a pretty good delay between messages

[Redthies]

If budget isn’t a factor don’t even consider either of those devices.

Garmin 66I and never look back. You can thank me later, and your wife will thank me if and when it saves your skin.

She’ll thank me more if you set me up with your secret white tail spot!

Seriously though, I’ll look at the Garmin as well. Have you used the Spot before?

Yikes. Closing in on $900 before taxes for the 66i. That’s like an X with two more for backup...

[Redthies]

I have the spot X and it works well. The keyboard could be a little more refined but I have no trouble with it. We used it more then the sat phone last year. There is a pretty good delay between messages

What sort of delay? Like 1/2 hour or?

[jac]

I think the delay depends on how far north you are. It also seems to depend where the satellites are in relation to you. Some times 5mins, average 10-15mins and some time’s maybe 30mins in the outside. It’s just not fast like our iPhones which we are all used to. Works well

[Goatfarmer870]

I have a gen 3 and have tested it a bit but the fact you don’t know if your message went through isn’t too cool. That said I still keep it with me. Just another small monthly payment haha. Saw a CO with one in their truck so it can’t be too bad

[jac]

The spot X is like a phone you text back and forth. It doesn’t say delivered but when you
get a response you know it went through

[Karma]

x2 for the Garmin. I've had a spot gen 3, and a spot connect, and now have a Garmin inReach. So nice to have the 2 way messaging.

[Redthies]

Which Garmin do you have Karma? The Spot X is 2 way messaging capable.

[Darksith]

Depends if you just want a communicator, or you want the GPS features as well. I have a Zoleo bc I don't really need the GPS function, its probably the best for communication, but it also requires your cell phone to work, its not stand alone. That being said I can text or email any contract I have and anyone that has my Zoleo phone number can do the same to me. You can also suspend your subscription to avoid activation fees the next time you want to use it. Just another option, but like I said its strictly a communication tool

[jac]

The spot x is like a phone you message back and forth like normal text

[Redthies]

Depends if you just want a communicator, or you want the GPS features as well. I have a Zoleo bc I don't really need the GPS function, its probably the best for communication, but it also requires your cell phone to work, its not stand alone. That being said I can text or email any contract I have and anyone that has my Zoleo phone number can do the same to me. You can also suspend your subscription to avoid activation fees the next time you want to use it. Just another option, but like I said its strictly a communication tool

Thanks. I was considering that one too. I wouldn’t mind GPS too, but it’s not totally essential.

[Redthies]

The spot x is like a phone you message back and forth like normal text

Do you have one? How is the GPS portion of it?

[jac]

Yes I have one, I never have used the gps part of it yet. I have gaia gps on my I phone which’s is really good. I bring my spot x and my iPhone, spot x for communication, iPhone for gps/ camera and I always bring a e book to read on my phone.

[Darksith]

Yes I have one, I never have used the gps part of it yet. I have gaia gps on my I phone which’s is really good. I bring my spot x and my iPhone, spot x for communication, iPhone for gps/ camera and I always bring a e book to read on my phone.

do you use Gaia with a basic or pro subscription? Does it offer any better details than google earth? Bing map quality would be awesome!

[jac]

The thing with Gaia is you can use it like a gps with no cell service. I had the premium last year but I only got the normal version this year.

I don’t know what bing maps are

[m5wilson]

I have a Spot X and have never used anything else for reference. I bought it because at the time the unit was cheaper than the Garmin inreach and from what i could tell the plan was cheaper. So far it has worked ok, i just rarely use it. The messages do seem to have a big delay (i think all do) but I don't think I have had any not send. You can save points and tracks but there is no real map on the unit for reference. One feature that is very nice especially if you have someone at home who is concerned is that you can set up a private page. Then send the web link and your password to whoever you'd like and it will show your track on a google earth map. They can see where you are when you moved etc. makes it better if your plans change and you forget to send a message which I do frequently.

The biggest downside is now i get in trouble for not checking in. But honestly before I couldn't anyway and it's the last thing on my mind when I'm out.

Let me know if you have any more questions ill try to answer them.

[Redthies]

I have a Spot X and have never used anything else for reference. I bought it because at the time the unit was cheaper than the Garmin inreach and from what i could tell the plan was cheaper. So far it has worked ok, i just rarely use it. The messages do seem to have a big delay (i think all do) but I don't think I have had any not send. You can save points and tracks but there is no real map on the unit for reference. One feature that is very nice especially if you have someone at home who is concerned is that you can set up a private page. Then send the web link and your password to whoever you'd like and it will show your track on a google earth map. They can see where you are when you moved etc. makes it better if your plans change and you forget to send a message which I do frequently.

The biggest downside is now i get in trouble for not checking in. But honestly before I couldn't anyway and it's the last thing on my mind when I'm out.

Let me know if you have any more questions ill try to answer them.

Thanks for your reply. The X seems to be way cheaper than the Garmin equivalent. I think I’d like the ability to send and receive messages without using my phone, and as far as the gps goes, I think if I could leave a waypoint at camp, and then at least have a track, or the ability to see if I’m moving back towards camp from a different direction, that would be enough. My iHunter app and its maps seem to work well even without cell service, but it would be good to have a separate and redundant system.

[ryanb]

Everyone I know that's tried spot x has trashed it. Buy a Garmin. I have the old inreach explorer+, it's great. GPS and reliable communication in one. Get the cheapest plan they offer and pay for the overages when you need to use it. Paying for the higher plan is not worth it unless you use it regularly 12 months a year.

I've tried everything, inreach, spot, had a Globalstar satellite phone until the pricing for out of control, used iridium phones for years at work...The Delorme/inreach/Garmin devices are where it's at for reliability and cost balance.

[caddisguy]

I have a Spot Gen 3. It sends pre-defined messages and does tracking as well.

You can make the OK, Custom, Assist buttons say whatever you want, but you have to configure it on their website before you go.

I once set my OK button to "I'm OK. 3x in 1hr means bear down, come help" ... that came in handy. Dumped a big bear just as the heat was kicking in. Hit OK on the spot each time it had finished the prior message while I worked on the bear. Wife and brother showed up just in time for the packout :)

Careful adding the phone numbers / emails though. Turns out for years I was sending "I love you and miss you like crazy" (custom button) to some random dude, along with my GPS coordinates. Never realized it because my wife was getting the message via email and didn't know it was supposed to go through txt too.

It does take 15-20 mins for a message to go through. It seems mostly reliable. Out of a couple hundred messages sent, I think we had 3 that did not go through, but did not show up as a failed send (red light) on the unit. That said, if I ever had to use the SOS button, it's enough I'd wonder if the message went out... though I "think" (look it up to be sure) that SOS keeps transmitting while a subsequent SOS press cancels it.

It's good enough for me anyway. A bit pricy though. I think my subscription was around $230 USD this year. There are probably better options for the money. I reach maybe?

[Redthies]

Turns out for years I was sending "I love you and miss you like crazy" (custom button) to some random dude, along with my GPS coordinates.

This is some funny Shiite! Maybe he came to check you out but you weren’t his type?

[caddisguy]

This is some funny Shiite! Maybe he came to check you out but you weren’t his type?

Lol maybe. A friend of mine suggested (after this all came to light) that I send one last message...

"I thought we had something special. Fine! If you don't want to play MY game, I'll come to you"

I told him I'd probably end up with a restraining order, to which he replied "well, if it's not an indictable offense you're not even trying"

I have some strange friends.

[m5wilson]

Everyone I know that's tried spot x has trashed it. Buy a Garmin. I have the old inreach explorer+, it's great. GPS and reliable communication in one. Get the cheapest plan they offer and pay for the overages when you need to use it. Paying for the higher plan is not worth it unless you use it regularly 12 months a year.

I've tried everything, inreach, spot, had a Globalstar satellite phone until the pricing for out of control, used iridium phones for years at work...The Delorme/inreach/Garmin devices are where it's at for reliability and cost balance.

If I were to do it again I would probably buy a Garmin. Although I have no real reason to other than the Spot X has never wow'd me but it also hasn't failed me so I haven't bothered to change it. It has worked for what it is but I don't find myself wanting to use it. It sits in my pack as an extra safety measure.

[Greenthumbed]

I have a Spot Gen 3. It sends pre-defined messages and does tracking as well.

You can make the OK, Custom, Assist buttons say whatever you want, but you have to configure it on their website before you go.


I once set my OK button to "I'm OK. 3x in 1hr means bear down, come help" ... that came in handy. Dumped a big bear just as the heat was kicking in. Hit OK on the spot each time it had finished the prior message while I worked on the bear. Wife and brother showed up just in time for the packout :)

Careful adding the phone numbers / emails though. Turns out for years I was sending "I love you and miss you like crazy" (custom button) to some random dude, along with my GPS coordinates. Never realized it because my wife was getting the message via email and didn't know it was supposed to go through txt too.

It does take 15-20 mins for a message to go through. It seems mostly reliable. Out of a couple hundred messages sent, I think we had 3 that did not go through, but did not show up as a failed send (red light) on the unit. That said, if I ever had to use the SOS button, it's enough I'd wonder if the message went out... though I "think" (look it up to be sure) that SOS keeps transmitting while a subsequent SOS press cancels it.

It's good enough for me anyway. A bit pricy though. I think my subscription was around $230 USD this year. There are probably better options for the money. I reach maybe?
Im wit Caddisguy. I have the Gen 3. Seems to work well. I’ve never had to hit the SOS button, but I’m sure it works. The OK button works just fine and it makes the wife happy. I don’t want another gadget to text on. I text enough when I’m not hunting. It’s nice to just have the thing do what it’s function is and that’s it.
if you don’t go with the basic plan you can pay by the month and don’t need to pay all year round if you’re not using it for part of the year.

[srupp]

Hmm just got the genx SPOT 2 weeks ago
sent 60 messages..all received. Most replied within 10 minutes..
Haven't tried the tracking yet..
was at Sheridan..message to van island and return message in 10 minutes
Srupp

[Aaron600]

Garmin 66i is $$$$. Don't waste ur time or $$ with other platforms

[srupp]

Garmin 66i is $$$$. Don't waste ur time or $$ with other platforms

Hmm no failures with SPOT in 10 years..
new unit flawless in 60 uses.l
srupp

[Springer]

The Spot works and the new ones you can text on are great. The downfall of Spot is paying for it all year long and how much does it really get used over the year .
Now Garmin you can pay for the time its used and cancelled for the rest of the year if not. using it ..........However now that Garmin has been hacked and if they don't pay up the 10 Million Bucks to the hackers there may be zero use of Garmin on those heading out in the hills for Sheep right now.

[Redthies]

I believe you can get a plan with Spot that is month by month.

[Darksith]

The more I look into things, the more I like my Zoleo. Dedicated phone number so anyone can contact you anytime. Your phone is so powerful, leaving it behind seems silly. It can be my offline GPS with downloadable maps with multiple layers including things like Bing maps which have aerial photos of most areas in BC that contain way more detail than Google Earth. I have tested my Zoleo, and it ran for 14 days without being turned off, checking for messages every 60 minutes. If you turned it off while you slept you would add 30%+ to that battery life.
Your phone is also your camera, and so many other things. This allows me to send and receive emails and to text anyone that I want or vise versa. The only thing that would be better is to have some sort of data transfer that would allow me to share my location on say social media, but hey Im not in the mountains to be on social media and I try hard to take holidays away from cell service.

[jac]

What is the monthly cost of the zoleo? If it’s a good price I would get that most of the time have your phone anyway. Music, book gps, flashlight and camera all in one

[Springer]

I believe you can get a plan with Spot that is month by month.

If this is true someone please chime in and verify. I have never heard of spot being on a monthly plan??

[Springer]

I had to go have a look for myself. Looks like they have a flex plan. $60 should get you hooked up.for one Month anyway. Or add on the monthly payments after for $15 a month. Not bad. Still though Spot Get X does not give you confirmation your message was sent and received..

[Redthies]

If this is true someone please chime in and verify. I have never heard of spot being on a monthly plan??

The info is right on their website.

[Redthies]

What is the monthly cost of the zoleo?

Yes DS, what does it cost?