SPOT I TO SPOT II UPGRADE ANYONE?
- Thread starter Byrdman
- Start date
Pat,
I looked over the reported pros and cons and see no reason for you to change to the "new and improved" based on the way your using your Spot.
I am looking to get one before Judy and I take off next year on the Loop but may have to wait now and see if they will be selling refurbished Spot 1's at a better price.
The main difference is size reduction and faster sat acquisition time.
Mike
I looked over the reported pros and cons and see no reason for you to change to the "new and improved" based on the way your using your Spot.
I am looking to get one before Judy and I take off next year on the Loop but may have to wait now and see if they will be selling refurbished Spot 1's at a better price.
The main difference is size reduction and faster sat acquisition time.
Mike
No plan to upgrade to the smaller version 2. I saw on another forum that SPOT had to recall the V2, upsetting a lot of folks. I recently had to deal with their customer service people regarding the billing and found them to be pretty much a pain in the ass. As long as all you have to do is press the button to let family know you are OK, it is a great system. I found that we didn't use the tracking feature (other than a time or two to test it). Haven't had to use the "Need Help" or "911" features, but the checking in mode has been great for the traveling we do.
As long as ours keeps working, the first version is good for me. Of course, the cabin on our 25 is bigger than yours on the Rossi, so we have the extra bit of space necessary. :wink: 8)
Best wishes,
Jim B.
As long as ours keeps working, the first version is good for me. Of course, the cabin on our 25 is bigger than yours on the Rossi, so we have the extra bit of space necessary. :wink: 8)
Best wishes,
Jim B.
JamesTXSD":2xok6297 said:
Well, here's my perhaps off-the-wall run in with Spot customer service. We bought my son Joe the new Spot ($150) and a one year subscription ($150) for Christmas. Joe is a long distance cyclist and regularly participates in randonneuring events, organized rides up to 1200 km. Anyway, it turned out that his wife got him another tracking device and we said go ahead and return the Spot. Fine, he takes the Spot to REI and gets credit. The unactivated subscription was purchased directly from The Spot company and they tell him only the purchaser can seek a refund . Fine, I call them and they tell me it's been 34 days since I purchased it and they only give refunds for 30 days. I ask "what should I do?" They tell me to sell it on CraigsList. I say "Thank you" and call American Express, which issues me credit with no hassle.
The billing problem I had was in regards to dropping the tracking feature. We found we don't use that and called to drop it prior to their automatic billing. Yeah, they dropped it from their end. I called again and was assured we would get the credit on our card in 8-10 days. Didn't happen. I called again the next month to see what was going on with the refund, and the kid on the phone was a real snit. His response, "Hey, you aren't the only one getting a refund."
That doesn't surprise me, considering their attitude. I asked to speak to a supervisor and was told they can't transfer a call to a supervisor, but took my number and told me a supervisor would call me back. That didn't happen. Fortunately, I had the snitty kid's name and wrote a very direct note to their customer service and posted a "here's my experience" on their testimonial page. They "review" all those notes before they are posted... I finally got a call back and we worked it out.
I like my SPOT. I use it when we're traveling. If their people handle the "911" emergency response like they handle customer complaints, I would have some fear that no one might come in a real emergency. That said, I still have my device and this year's subscription. The smaller size of Version 2 is pretty much insignificant to me since I'm not backpacking, and the additional cost of the newest version that would allow text sending doesn't seem worth it to me. (Disclaimer: I don't text on my phone, either.) I use it in place of a phone call every night when traveling... it's peace of mind for our daughter. We put down the anchor or tie off to a dock, set up the boat, and set off the SPOT. If we are in an area with no phone coverage (or in Canada, where use of our phone is really expensive), I set off the "We're OK" feature twice to make sure it gets out.
I have no problem with their automatic billing, but I think there should be an e-mail notification prior to the billing to allow customers to make any changes to their subscription. Even more important, their people should do what they say they're going to do. I have some difficulty giving my money to any business that doesn't follow through or tolerates snitty employees.
Best wishes,
Jim
That doesn't surprise me, considering their attitude. I asked to speak to a supervisor and was told they can't transfer a call to a supervisor, but took my number and told me a supervisor would call me back. That didn't happen. Fortunately, I had the snitty kid's name and wrote a very direct note to their customer service and posted a "here's my experience" on their testimonial page. They "review" all those notes before they are posted... I finally got a call back and we worked it out.
I like my SPOT. I use it when we're traveling. If their people handle the "911" emergency response like they handle customer complaints, I would have some fear that no one might come in a real emergency. That said, I still have my device and this year's subscription. The smaller size of Version 2 is pretty much insignificant to me since I'm not backpacking, and the additional cost of the newest version that would allow text sending doesn't seem worth it to me. (Disclaimer: I don't text on my phone, either.) I use it in place of a phone call every night when traveling... it's peace of mind for our daughter. We put down the anchor or tie off to a dock, set up the boat, and set off the SPOT. If we are in an area with no phone coverage (or in Canada, where use of our phone is really expensive), I set off the "We're OK" feature twice to make sure it gets out.
I have no problem with their automatic billing, but I think there should be an e-mail notification prior to the billing to allow customers to make any changes to their subscription. Even more important, their people should do what they say they're going to do. I have some difficulty giving my money to any business that doesn't follow through or tolerates snitty employees.
Best wishes,
Jim
Thanksfully, I have not had to use the 911 button. Life is good...so far.
I do like the tracker as when I travel my nieces/nephews have a good time with it and post other maps. I love the check in OK at the start and end of each day too. I set one of my settings to my cell phone number (which works fine about 75-85% of the time where I travel)...as to alert me to the OK message going thru. Thanks Halcyon for that Ahaa idea I should have had...but did not.
I thought that the newer unit had a stronger unit too... as when traveling in an RV and heading north...we had to move the unit to the aft window for it to track us...or, just put the sucker on the roof...which worked great, other than the climb up the ladder at the end of the day. Also I have found it just like the roof... or, out on the forward deck. I can remember it better out front when I can see it. Have had my neice call me one time to be sure I was OK... as the spot had me stopped in one location...as I was, but , forgot I had it on the roof... out of site, out of mind...and, the blender was working fine in my small cabin on ALOYSIUS.
So, I think I will just keep this one going...and Pap'... when you get ready for one let me know. We may revisit this at some point and I get the newer unit. You have helped so many of our C-Brats in your area, I may just gift you the older unit, and turn me on a second unit. That way, I have less exposure to any customer relation folks....and, I would have been able to help one of our brats who for sure goes out of his way to help those of us who travel in his home water area.
Byrdman
I do like the tracker as when I travel my nieces/nephews have a good time with it and post other maps. I love the check in OK at the start and end of each day too. I set one of my settings to my cell phone number (which works fine about 75-85% of the time where I travel)...as to alert me to the OK message going thru. Thanks Halcyon for that Ahaa idea I should have had...but did not.
I thought that the newer unit had a stronger unit too... as when traveling in an RV and heading north...we had to move the unit to the aft window for it to track us...or, just put the sucker on the roof...which worked great, other than the climb up the ladder at the end of the day. Also I have found it just like the roof... or, out on the forward deck. I can remember it better out front when I can see it. Have had my neice call me one time to be sure I was OK... as the spot had me stopped in one location...as I was, but , forgot I had it on the roof... out of site, out of mind...and, the blender was working fine in my small cabin on ALOYSIUS.
So, I think I will just keep this one going...and Pap'... when you get ready for one let me know. We may revisit this at some point and I get the newer unit. You have helped so many of our C-Brats in your area, I may just gift you the older unit, and turn me on a second unit. That way, I have less exposure to any customer relation folks....and, I would have been able to help one of our brats who for sure goes out of his way to help those of us who travel in his home water area.
Byrdman
Sorry to be coming in late to this discussion, but I am waiting for the May arrival of the DeLorme PN-60w which will provide the ability to send text messages through a SPOT satellite (no receive function, though).
Warren
Warren
I'm late to the party, too. I'd be interested in any feedback on my Spot-2 operating protocol, which I describe here:
Realtime float plan management with Twitter and SPOT-2, perhaps?
Here's the main point of that post:
Realtime float plan management with Twitter and SPOT-2, perhaps?
Here's the main point of that post:
El and Bill
New member
Our iPhone has a free app (called Latitude) that sends our GPS location to those family members we've listed - displays on a Google Earth map or satellite view. They send their locations, when traveling, to us via the same app on their iPhones. Great for staying in touch without disturbing anyone. No 911 or Help so we carry our ol' SPOT with us when traveling, just for those features (hope they work).
Ooops - let the 'cat out of the bag' about us owning a piece of Apple stuff.
That iPhone is now equipped with Navionics charts of the east coast, west coast and interior lakes all for under $50 and is our cruising backup with the GPS locations noted on the charts. Pretty nice and easy for planning and land 'cruising' - oh, also has a free app for tides and we see weather radar to track storms and their motion. Oh yes, even has a phone and connection to the Brats, email, and web. Hmmm - when are you going to get one, Pat?
Ooops - let the 'cat out of the bag' about us owning a piece of Apple stuff.
That iPhone is now equipped with Navionics charts of the east coast, west coast and interior lakes all for under $50 and is our cruising backup with the GPS locations noted on the charts. Pretty nice and easy for planning and land 'cruising' - oh, also has a free app for tides and we see weather radar to track storms and their motion. Oh yes, even has a phone and connection to the Brats, email, and web. Hmmm - when are you going to get one, Pat?