Seriously, why do these things fail to work correctly?

I just had two teens and my father out for nine days and attempted to signal back home our progress along the way. The ONLY transmission that went through was on our last day - and it came through at 1:00 am (it was sent around 4:30 pm).

I don't have much faith that in the case of a real emergency, this device would be of help - more like a false beacon!

Any thoughts?

Any chance that you turned the unit off before the signal had enough time to get out? That's the only thing I can think of other than equipment failure. The signal at 1:00am after being sent at 4:30pm is a head-scratcher.

I have a SPOT 2 and used it in June. We sent a couple messages per day and, to my knowledge, they received them all. None of this helps you much, but it might be worth contacting SPOT to discuss.

Just remember the led next to the envelope is "message sending" not "message sent". I leave mine on till it auto offs, and no failures.

The late one - don't know.

I have used a SPOT for years. Of all the several dozen check in messages I have sent, only one did not go through. That particular one was sent on a heavy overcast day with drizzle.

Otherwise, I always place the unit out in the open away from trees and set it on a rock. I press the check in button and leave it alone. Always works and I find it extremely reliable and trustworthy.

SPOTS are not waterproof and I would suggest at least keeping it in a zip lock bag. If I would have followed my own advice, I would not have wrecked the one I had.

Tom

"Otherwise, I always place the unit out in the open away from trees and set it on a rock. I press the check in button and leave it alone. "

Exactly same. Usually set on fire ring.

I have had consistent success with my Spot Gen 3 now for 4 years now. But to get "transmissions" to go thru, the Spot needs to have an unobstructed view of the sky. The signal is pretty weak, even tree cover will interfere. The unit must be right side up facing the sky for best results.

I've seen how weak the signal is and would not trust it for my only "SOS" message. If you want a SOS button that will perform well in an emergency, than a PLB is what you want.

The USB charging port will allow water into the unit and will cause damage. This is a stupid feature for a thing that is advertised to help save someone's life. But, I suppose, is a marketing thing to appeal to the masses. InReach has gone the same route.

So I feel your pain, but accept it for what it is....something that allows family and friends to follow along, when it works (making it work usually requires careful diligence by me).

I have sent a message from inside my tent under tree cover, so YMMV. But treating the message sending indicator as sent seems to be the most common cause of failure to communicate.

I've seen it take 15-30 minutes for the signal to get through and for the device to change modes.

Any chance you didn't wait long enough? I made that mistake my first time with it.

I've used Spot 2 and 3 for years.
Failures are almost always operator error.
The unit needs to be laying flat, facing a clear sky. Hanging down off a thwart, it might not send.

Joe