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<\/a><\/p>\nThe SPOT Gen3 is 6.5 cm tall, 9 cm wide, 2 cm deep, and weighs under 125g. The pocketable device is rugged-looking and ready for a tough life outdoors. The device was designed to be vibration and condensation resistant, and can be used at temperatures ranging from -30 C to +60 C and altitudes from 100m below sea level to 6,500m above.<\/p>\n
The power button is on the left side and there is a USB port on the back, with a rubber plug to keep water and grime out. There are five buttons on the front with symbols to describe their various functions: Help\/SPOT Assist, SOS, Custom Message, Tracking, and Check In. Each of these has a corresponding LED that serves as confirmation when used.<\/p>\n
The SPOT Gen3 GPS can be powered by four AAA batteries or through the USB connection using a power bank. The battery compartment, situated on the back, is accessible by unscrewing two small D-ring bolts on the back of the device.<\/p>\n
The device can be tracked live on a smartphone app or the web portal powered by Google Maps. You can set the device to update its location every 10, 30 or 60 minutes and should you chose to buy the upgraded package, you can also set the location intervals to 2.5 or 5 minutes. Once you have activated your SPOT Messenger and set up your account, you can change your contacts and customize your message at any time.<\/p>\n
To change tracking times, enabling\/disabling movement alerts and enabling\/disabling DOCK mode your device you need to connect it to your computer. Luckily the interface is very usable and easy to navigate. The device does not have to be connected to add contacts, link social media accounts or modify messages.<\/p>\n
Functions<\/h2>\n
SOS function<\/strong> Spot Assist<\/strong> Check In<\/strong> Custom Message<\/strong> You can also have access to your waypoints in your SPOT account so you can review your route at a later date. Or link your SPOT account to SPOT Adventures and save a map of your adventures using your SPOT waypoints, and enhance the story with photos and a blog.<\/p>\n Tracking<\/strong>
The SOS button, for emergency use only, sends for help when you can’t by sending a signal and GPS location to GEOS International Emergency Response Coordination Center, who will contact local emergency services to organise a rescue. SPOT’s website claims 4,421 rescues and counting to date.<\/p>\n
Pushing the “Spot Assist” button will notify your contacts that you are in a non-life-threatening situation and need help.<\/p>\n
The “check in” button lets friends and family know you are okay when out exploring the wilderness by sending a “I’m OK” text message with your current GPS coordinates or an email with a link to Google Maps to up to 10 pre-determined contacts. Your waypoint is stored in your SPOT account for later reference and can easily be integrated into a SPOT Shared Page or SPOT Adventure account.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
This feature is used as a secondary OK message and functions exactly like your Check In message , but rather than just sending “I’m Ok” you can pre-program a custom message.<\/p>\n
Once you activate the tracking mode, SPOT acquires and sends your GPS coordinates to your SPOT account and, if you choose, Shared Pages. Creating a SPOT Shared Page allows you to share your GPS route with your friends and family easily in near real-time on the web through a personal link. You can make your Shared Page private or public. Upload your tracks to SPOT Adventures, a social portal, where you can set up a profile and blog with others sharing their SPOT Adventures.<\/p>\n