Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Winter 2022 Issue.
I frequent locations that don’t have cell service, where I’ve come to appreciate two-way satellite communication devices. And while earlier personal locator beacons simply alerted SAR, modern two-way messengers like the Spot X do that and a lot more, like allowing you to send and receive SMS text messages, mark POIs, and perform navigation functions.
On extended backpacking or vehicle-based trips, the ability to easily compose longer messages on the fly is a valuable feature. This is especially true when plans or routes change, and you want to let dispersed team members or front country support stay up to date. With these needs in mind, I took the Spot X, with its full QWERTY keyboard, into the field on multiple occasions to determine if its form and function were up to the task.
The Spot X is similar in size and weight to an iPhone 13. It sends and receives SMS text messages to phone numbers or email addresses via the Globalstar satellite network. Service plans range from $12 to $40 per month and can be billed without a contract or annually (best pricing). Spot offers a range of additional à la carte services, each with added monthly fees. These include Spot Mapping, Enhanced Tracking, Global Overwatch and Rescue Plan, Product Replacement, and Save Our Vehicle.
Its high-contrast screen was easy to read in full sunlight, and battery life was excellent, lasting for multiple days in standby and through 12+ hours of in-motion use (with 2.5-minute tracking). Significantly longer battery life can be achieved by utilizing longer tracking intervals. The SOS button and micro-USB port are protected by hard covers to prevent accidental presses and water or dirt ingress. The full QWERTY keyboard facilitates quick one-off message composition without a smartphone.
In practice, the Spot X has great features, but the user experience felt lacking. The keyboard buttons produce a tactile click when depressed, but frequent unregistered button presses led me to prefer composing messages in the accompanying smartphone app (defeating the advantage of the keyboard). Also, the dedicated “track,” “back,” and “power” buttons provide no tactile feedback and require a very solid press, making them difficult to hold for turning on/off and initiating tracking. I also frequently received messages noting an error with the keyboard, which automatically paused tracking. Finally, I often had limited satellite reception with the Spot X when located on the dash of my truck, leading me to question if it’s the right tool for vehicle-based use.
While the price of the Spot X is competitive, and the appeal of a full keyboard is tempting, the overall function and performance left me wanting more.
$250+service | findmespot.com
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