2-Way Messaging with a Built-In Keyboard and Unique U.S. Cell Phone Number. There’s no other Emergency Satellite Messenger that can offer that.
Here Are the Features that SPOT X Offers
- Built-In Keyboard
- Unique U.S. Cell Phone Number
- 2-Way Messaging
- Post to Social Media
- Nearly Global Satellite Coverage
- SOS Distress Call
- Flexible Tracking Intervals
- Built-In Compass
- Flexible Service Plans
- Sync with Smartphone with the New SPOT X Bluetooth
Let’s Break Each One of These Down
Built-In Keyboard
The built-in keyboard is reminiscent of the Blackberry devices but don’t overlook this unique feature. If you are ever in an emergency situation, being able to create unique messages in a hurry may be the number one priority on your list at that moment.
Most of us don’t want to put ourselves in an emergency scenario to see how we would react in a given situation but we should at least do our best to think through different emergencies and see if we can plan ahead, which might give us a definite advantage when faced with a life-threatening emergency.
Put yourself in a situation now with me and let’s think through this. You get caught by a freak snow storm in the middle of the mountains. You wake up to a very quiet morning and you fell like something is different. After opening the zipper to your tent, you discover that 2 feet of snow was quietly dumped over the entire area overnight. Worse still, you were not prepared for this, not in clothing, food, additional water and you didn’t think you would need those additional waterproof matches.
The trail has been obliterated and there are snow drifts blocking your way. You decide to wait it out but in the middle of the second day, you realize its time to use the emergency SOS distress call and also let your family and friends know you are in trouble. By this time you are cold and wet, due to no fire and you already tried to find the trail several times. Your entire body is freezing cold, and your hands are frozen and numb.
Now think about this situation and answer the question for yourself.
Would it be easier to type out a message for help with a built-in keyboard or by having to arrow around a screen and selecting the right letter to type out your message?
Personally, I would want the built-in keyboard in this scenario.
Unique U.S. Cell Phone Number
The SPOT X has its own Unique U.S. Cell Phone number so that you can message anyone around the world, directly, at any time, and they in turn can message you (which may be a great thing or not so great when your favorite person is asking you if you paid the bills or took care of the “to do” list you were promising to do before you left on your outdoor excursion).
2-Way Messaging
SPOT X provides 2-way satellite messaging when you are off the grid and beyond reliable cellular coverage. Connect your SPOT X to your smartphone and now you have the reliable messaging you were hoping for.
Exchange messages with any phone number or email address from virtually anywhere in the world. SPOT My Account comes loaded with 14 predefined messages that you have the ability to customize and sync to your SPOT X service.
Post to Social Media
I’m not sure everyone has social media accounts but you can’t deny that there are millions of people that want to post their adventure to Social Media.
Quickly let everyone know how you’re doing and where you are on your journey. You can share with the world in the great things but then you never know if you had a life-threatening emergency and a social media follower may live nearby and be able to help out in some way. Probably not, but it’s nice to think it could happen.
- SYNC WITH BLUETOOTH: Connect to SpotX to cellphone so you can communicate with family or even search and rescue; Use as a standalone communication device with it's own dedicated US mobile number to receive messages
- PEACE OF MIND: Send S.O.S. to 24/7 Search & Rescue service, message back and forth about the nature of your emergency, receive confirmation when help is on the way; Message any cell number or email address virtually anywhere
- GLOBALSTAR SATELLITE & SPOT products use GPS to determine location and transmit GPS coordinates to others; SPOT users can notify friends, family or emergency rescue their exact GPS coordinates
- WHAT'S IN THE BOX: SpotX Device, strap and carabiner, micro usb data/power cable, quick start guide, SOS mirrored sticker, warranty card and kickstand
- PURCHASE, ACTIVATE, EXPLORE: Grab a Spot X 2-way Satellite Messenger; Activate by selecting your service plan; Get out there and explore the world with peace of mind
This product was presentation was made with AAWP plugin.
Nearly Global Satellite Coverage
Here is where you need to be careful and check the satellite coverage. Unlike the Garmin inReach Mini and the Garmin inReach Explorer+, you don’t have global coverage. See the SPOT coverage map below.
So, if you’re planning on traveling to Greenland, the middle of Africa, northern Russia, central Asia, India, the Indian Ocean or the southern Pacific Ocean you may want to take another Emergency Satellite Messenger.
SOS Distress Call
The 2-way messaging is awesome but the SOS Distress Call function, at your fingertips, takes the top spot for me. Not only can you send out an SOS distress call, you can communicate easily with the search and rescue teams that are trying to locate you. They will be able to handle your situation better and more quickly if they know your exact location and the health condition you are in or are struggling with.
Your SOS call will be sent 24/7 to the search and rescue center. They will message you back and forth about the nature of your emergency and to give you an ETA when the search teams should arrive.
Now that would help me relax a little, knowing they are looking for me, they know almost exactly where I am and they know what to expect when they find me. That’s worth a million dollars…or more.
Flexible Tracking Intervals
The SPOT X has several tracking intervals to choose from which can improve how people follow you or can extend your battery life with longer tracking intervals. Select from 2.5, 5, 10, 30 or 60 minute tracking intervals.
Friends, family and other adventurers will be able to follow your progress with SPOT’s easy to use Google map interface.
This image was taken from a recent hike of mine using the SPOT Gen 3 Emergency Satellite Messenger and it was set at the 10-minute tracking interval. The image is from the SPOTs website.
Built-In Compass
A built-in compass and programmable waypoints will help you navigate along your route. You never know what things you will like or what will be important to you on a trip so experiment and see which one of these services you like the best.
Flexible Service Plans
Here are the annual service plans provided by SPOT, paid monthly.
Here are the flexible monthly service plans.
My Final Thoughts
The SPOT X is the only Emergency Satellite Messenger that has the built-in keyboard and unique U.S. Cell Phone number. Only you can decide how much or a priority this is to you.
Update January 2021
I bought and have tested both the SPOT X and SPOT X Bluetooth, in November 2019 and November 2020, respectively. The SPOT X is a powerful satellite messenger but I have been disappointed by not being able to access topo maps while on the trail. I purchased the SPOT X Bluetooth in November 2020, hoping that having my SPOT X Bluetooth would solve this problem. It did not. I contacted SPOT X technical support twice to make sure I wasn’t missing something. They confirmed that the only way to view maps was when you are within cell phone coverage. If you are only using the satellite coverage then you won’t have access to maps.
So, if you are traveling in or typically travel to a country that has the satellite coverage area, than this may be the right Emergency Satellite Messenger for you.
Please Email Me with your questions or thoughts on the SPOT X Review or Leave a Comment Below.
You can also explore more Satellite Messengers models HERE or Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) HERE.
- SYNC WITH BLUETOOTH: Connect to SpotX to cellphone so you can communicate with family or even search and rescue; Use as a standalone communication device with it's own dedicated US mobile number to receive messages
- PEACE OF MIND: Send S.O.S. to 24/7 Search & Rescue service, message back and forth about the nature of your emergency, receive confirmation when help is on the way; Message any cell number or email address virtually anywhere
- GLOBALSTAR SATELLITE & SPOT products use GPS to determine location and transmit GPS coordinates to others; SPOT users can notify friends, family or emergency rescue their exact GPS coordinates
- WHAT'S IN THE BOX: SpotX Device, strap and carabiner, micro usb data/power cable, quick start guide, SOS mirrored sticker, warranty card and kickstand
- PURCHASE, ACTIVATE, EXPLORE: Grab a Spot X 2-way Satellite Messenger; Activate by selecting your service plan; Get out there and explore the world with peace of mind
This product was presentation was made with AAWP plugin.
If you would like to see all the Satellite Messengers in another review, see my Emergency Radio Reviews.
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SPOT X Satellite Messenger
Pros
- 2-Way Messaging
- Built-In Keypad
- Unique U.S. Cell Phone Number
- Post to Social Media
- Built-In Compass
Cons
- Size & Weight
- No Smartphone Interface
Wow, i must confess i am really impressed with some of these quality i have seen in this device. You hardly see a device with a 2 ways messaging quality, also the fact fact that it has its own number is another thing I haven’t seen in some other if these hiking device. I know of just the guy who would need this device. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Dane for your comments. These Emergency Satellite Messengers truly can be a life-saver and give you peace of mind that communication is possible when cell service is non-existent or spotty. Let me know if your friend gets one and likes it.
Rick
This spot X actually surpasses all my considearions for a beacon. I’ve never seen a beacon capable of being a satellite messenger that could also work this much effectively. This is truly awesome and would be a great purchase for me. Thanks so much for sharing this review on it. It surely boast of some great features I must say. Very great beacon this is.
You are absolutely right. I think more people need to become aware of products like this and actually how affordable they are. Having the SOS distress call feature and also being able to text most anywhere in the world, even when you’re outside of cell service is a tremendous benefit.
Rick
Thanks for this informative post, I have used it to keep in contact with family and friends in places where there was no cellular coverage which is much of what I experience most times when i go hiking with friends. It’s great that you get an actual phone number so people can text , I’m extremely pleased with this product. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for your response. I guess I often think about the SPOT X for hiking or other outdoor adventures but having it around when your cell service is spotty or non-existent would be a huge plus.
Rick
Hello there, thanks for this useful information. My husband goes on hiking with his boys and sometimes stay away for a week. I have dealt with it over time but recently I’m beginning to get worried when we don’t get to speak for more than a day. I love the qualitu of this SPOT X device and its 2way messaging ability especially. I’ll love to get one for him to help us communication when he is out. Hope I can get it on Amazon.?
Hi Chole. This would make a great gift, even if it’s not his birthday yet, especially when there are young boys on the trip.
You can get this on Amazon by clicking on the CLICK HERE in the link below:
https://hikingemergencybeacon.com/spot-x/
Or by BUY NOW at the bottom of this link on the page you are on.
https://hikingemergencybeacon.com/spot-x-review/
I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any other questions.
Rick