Comments on: Mod Your 1st Gen SPOT — Avoid Embarrassment

By: Jonathan Shefftz

Jonathan Shefftz — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 02:30:55 +0000

Just noticed that the new Spot Connect will allow all sorts of messaging options via a Bluetooth connection with an Android phone. Also has a dedicated “SOS” button.

By: Lou

Lou — Fri, 14 May 2010 16:00:48 +0000

I’d simply have to conclude that the designers at SPOT had some kind of mental problem or something when they came up with that original design. Or perhaps they hired designers who had never carried a pack or been in the backcountry. Really really strange. Like, yippe, it floats, but be careful if you carry it.

By: Louie

Louie — Fri, 14 May 2010 15:01:37 +0000

The reason I put all the tape on the spot is that It got turned on once in my pack. It didn’t send any type of message, but still ran down the batteries a bit.

By: Jonathan Shefftz

Jonathan Shefftz — Fri, 14 May 2010 14:30:36 +0000

Yipes, that is bad!
On the one hand, the Spot 2.0 design seems to solve that problem.
On the other hand, amazing that design wasn’t incorporated into the first release.

By: maadjurguer

maadjurguer — Fri, 14 May 2010 14:24:45 +0000

@Jonathan….the one false alert I had was just as you have described….the SPOT was off and in my pack. What must have happened is that when I set my pack down any number of times, the two buttons were depressed by being jabbed by some rocks or other pointy things on the ground, thus activating the 911 signal. I ran into Sheriff officers 20 later asking if anyone had an emergency locator and was in trouble. Very embarrassing, but I was also impressed with the response. Nevertheless, I devised the cover after that….I too am confounded with why SPOT never thought to build a rudimentary cover originally as they did on the 2.0.