When out of mobile phone signal range, the SPOT Gen3 GPS Satellite Messenger and Tracker can be a life-saving device with which to alert emergency rescue services in remote outdoor locations, a welcome means of reassurance with home or contact with the office or a way to have supporters follow on the internet the progress of individuals or a group on a charity or personal challenge expedition.

The SPOT Gen3 GPS Satellite Messenger and Tracker builds on the very successful track record of the original SPOT1 and SPOT2 GPS tracker and messenger devices and adds further functionalities that make this an extremely powerful device for a wide range of outdoors enthusiasts and outdoor-work professionals.

SPOT Gen3 GPS Satellite Messenger and Tracker offers:

• Improved performance
• Motion-activated Basic, Unlimited or Extreme tracking
• User-set Unlimited or Extreme tracking frequency
• Longer battery life
• USB power input option

With the push of a button, you can send a pre-written check in OK message or a pre-written customised message such informing a specific objective has been achieved, you could send a pre-written non-emergency help message such as telling someone to contact an associate or you could alert the emergency responders if you have an emergency situation.

In addition, you can send out a regular tracking signal so your contacts can follow your progress online on a map or from coordinates sent to your mobile phone or email.

And now with SPOT Gen3, even on the Basic Tracking service, you can set SPOT to send tracking signals only when the SPOT is on the move. With the Unlimited Tracking service, you can determine – and modify as you wish – the signal sending frequency to be every 5, 10, 30 or 60 minutes to match your activity type. And if you opt for the Extreme Tracking service, this even lets you choose to send a tracking signal every 2 and a half minutes.

Charity fund raisers biking across Europe or walking Hadrian's wall, for example, can set up a Share page so that anyone given the website address can track their progress on a map online to feel much more involved with the money-raising effort.

Enhanced Services

SPOT Gen3's customised tracking features takes your SPOT experience to the next level. Only with SPOT Gen3 is tracking motion-activated regardless of the level of tracking you choose (Basic, Unlimited or Extreme). A vibration sensor tells your SPOT to send track updates when you are moving and to stop when you do – a great new battery-saving feature and you no longer have to remember to re-set your tracking after 24 hours.

Unlimited Tracking lets you change your tracks to send every 5, 10, 30, or 60 minutes to match the sort of progress or activity you are on and again there is now no need to re-set after 24 hours.

Extreme Tracking also lets you set your track rate down to every 2 mins 30 secs.

Enhanced Features

Longer battery life: SPOT Gen3 has approximately twice the battery life of the previous SPOT version.

Now there are more options for how you power your SPOT3:

• 4 x AAA Energizer Ultimate Lithium 8x Batteries (L92)
• 4 x AAA Energizer NiMH re-usable batteries (NH12)
• Line power with a 5V USB connection (SPOT Gen3 is not waterproof when line powered)

S.O.S.

With the push of a button, GEOS International Emergency Response Coordination Centre provides your GPS coordinates and information to local response teams – for example contacting 911/999/112 or other emergency responder depending on location as well as notifying your emergency contacts about the receipt of a distress signal. For genuine emergency use only.

Note: Even if SPOT cannot acquire its location from the GPS network, it will still attempt to send a distress signal (without exact location) to GEOS, which will still notify your contacts of the signal and continue to monitor the network for further messages.

911 emergency services powered by GEOS Search and Rescue.

Check In

Let family and friends know you are OK when you are out of mobile phone range. Send a pre-programmed text message with GPS coordinates or an email with a link to Google Maps to your contacts with your location. With the push of a button, a message is sent via email or SMS to up to 10 pre-determined contacts and your waypoint is stored in your SPOT account for later reference. Your stored waypoints can be easily integrated into a SPOT Shared Page or SPOT Adventure account.

Once you have activated your SPOT Gen3 Messenger and set up your account, you can change your contacts and customize your message at any time you have access to your SPOT account. When you push the Check-in button, you send one pre-programmed message to your contacts. Your contacts will receive an SMS text message including coordinates or an email with a link to Google Maps showing your location.

Help

Alert your personal contacts that you need help in non-life-threatening situations.

Once activated, SPOT acquires your location from the GPS network and routes it along with the HELP message through the SPOT satellite network every 5 minutes for one hour or until cancelled. Your contacts will receive an SMS text message including coordinates or an email with a link to Google Maps showing your location.

Important note: Even if SPOT cannot acquire its location from the GPS network, it will still attempt to send a HELP message (without exact location) to your personal contacts.

Custom Message

Stay in touch while out of mobile phone contact by sending your custom message. Set up a message before leaving to send to contacts with your GPS location. Use this feature as a secondary OK message or transfer your personal help alert to this message function if you are using a SPOT Assist service on your Help button.

The Custom Message functions exactly like your Check In message. 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 perhaps enhance the story with photos and a blog.

Once you have activated your SPOT Messenger and set up your account, you can change your contacts and customize your message at any time you have account access. When you push the Check In button, you send one pre-programmed message to your contacts. Your contacts will receive an SMS text message including coordinates or an email with a link to Google Maps showing your location.

Tracking

Allow friends and family to follow your progress online in near real time and save waypoints so you can review your entire route at a later date.

Once you activate the tracking mode, SPOT acquires and sends your GPS coordinates to your SPOT account and, if you choose, your Shared Page. 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 choose to make your Shared Page private or public. Just share that URL with your friends and family and they can easily track your adventures. Upload your tracks to SPOT Adventures, a social portal, where you can set up a profile and blog with others sharing their SPOT Adventures.

SPOT Gen3 Specification

• Dimensions (H x W x D): 8.72 x 6.5 x 2.54 cm (3.43 x 2.56 x 1 inches)
• Weight: 114 g (4 oz) incl Lithium batteries
• Operating temperature: -30°C to +60°C (-22°F to +140°F)
• Operating altitude: -100 m to +6500 m (-328 ft to +21,320 ft)
• Humidity rated: MIL-STD-810F, Method 507.3, 95% to 100% cond
• Vibration rated: Per SAE J1455

Included in the Box

• SPOT Gen3 GPS Satellite Messenger and Tracker
• USB Cable
• Strap
• Carabiner
• Set of Batteries

Service Programmes

Satellite Subscription is purchased on a 1- or 2-year basis from the official SPOT site for any SPOT Gen3 services to be enabled. Current costs (shown in euros unless stated otherwise) are as follows:

€139 per year satellite service subscription includes:

• SOS: Notifies the emergency response centre of your GPS location.
• CHECK IN/OK: Lets contacts know where you are and that you are OK.
• HELP: Asks friends and family for help.
• CUSTOM MESSAGE: Sends a custom message to your friends and family.
• MOTION-ACTIVATED TRACKING: Vibration sensor tells SPOT3 only to send tracking signal when unit is moving.
• FACEBOOK: Share your GPS location and message on Facebook.
• TWITTER: Share your GPS location and message on Twitter.
• SPOT ADVENTURES: Share your progress on a live map, create adventures and add photos and comments.

Upgrade Services:

• UNLIMITED TRACK PROGRESS: €39 per year upgrade option. Send and save your location and allow contacts to track your progress using Google Maps. Variable choice of tracking frequency every 5, 10, 30 and 60 minutes.
• EXTREME TRACK PROGRESS: €99 per year Upgrade Option. Send and save your location and allow contacts to track your progress using Google Maps. Variable choice of tracking frequency every 2.5, 5, 10, 30 and 60 minutes.
• GEOS MEMBER RESCUE BENEFIT: €15 per year (if purchased at initial activation). GEOS provides the SOS monitoring included in your basic subscription service. You can upgrade to the GEOS Member Benefit for reimbursement of up to $100,000 (US dollars) in search and rescue expenses – even coordinating a private search and rescue contractor if needed to get you to safety.
• Quick Reference Guide