"totally wrong about the GPS. If it's not working, Spot can not locate you at all."
anyone who has owned one of the earlier handheld GPS units knows that they were crap under summer foliage and natural/urban "canyons".
the newer units use a much better chip technology that allows them to maintain connectivity with the GPS satellites.
The SPOT.. in several reviews apparently uses an older chip similar to the ones used in the older handheld GPS units and the problem is that even if the SPOT can "talk" to a Globalstar satellite... if it does not have a GPS "fix", i.e. it cannot generate a lat/long then what gets sent to the Globalstar Satellite is going to lack the lat/long info and so.. back at their help desk they get a "911" but no lat/long... so they don't know where to send help.
and that is why the SPOT needs to have a modern chip in it so that if you are under tree cover or in a canyon and need help.. you need your SPOT to be able to:
1. - get a lat/long fix from the GPS satellites 2. - send that lat/long to the Globalstar satellites
If it cannot do BOTH 1 and 2 - then you're in trouble.
and you're in worse trouble if when you push the "911" you don't know if the transmission was successful.
the SPOT needs to have a light on it that is entitled "message received" that lights up to indicate that your 911 INCLUDING your lat/long position WAS RECEIVED by rescue folks.
High-sensitivity handheld units have been on the market for a while and they work pretty good in tree cover but they can still lose a signal in a canyon.
For a unit to be dependable enough to stake your life on - it's got to be able to "get out" in challenging conditions.
Otherwise.. I agree with a previous commenter.. this thing could get you killed... if you were badly hurt and decided to stay put because you thought that this thing successfully notified help.
I think the concept is good but it's not ready for prime time and needs a 2.0 version.. start with the better chip... and perhaps have a light that says "we've received your signal and help is coming" or some such.
Let the hive mind of Engadget get that for you.
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