Are you an avid hiker or camper? Do you worry about your loved ones’ safety when they’re out and about? Are you tired of losing your luggage or your kid’s backpack? Look no further than the Spot Trace Satellite Tracking Device. This handheld satellite tracker uses cutting-edge technology to track anything from moving vehicles to personal items, with coverage from the Globalstar Satellite Network.
With Spot Trace, you can preprogram status messages at waypoints and receive GPS coordinates to ensure your belongings are always within reach. Plus, in case of emergencies, you can notify friends, family, or emergency rescue of your exact GPS coordinates.
The Spot Trace box includes the device, 4 AAA lithium 8X batteries, a 5V USB power cable, and a quick start guide. Please note that a subscription is required, but with two service plans available, you’ll be able to choose the one that best fits your needs.
Don’t let fear hold you back from exploring the world. Purchase a Spot Trace Satellite Tracking Device, activate it by selecting your service plan, and enjoy peace of mind on your next adventure.
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Colton –
I have previously/currently owned two other trackers. The first had a much more rudimentary presentation of information, so I replaced it with this one: SpyTech STI GL 300 ( Spy Tec STI GL300 Mini Portable Real Time Personal and Vehicle GPS Tracker ). I was unhappy with the battery life in that one, and so I ordered the Spot Trace. My review is based upon comparisons of the two. To be fair, I am not using the Trace to track an asset in case of theft; I am using it for continuous monitoring of an asset for varying amounts of time.I was attracted to the Spot Trace for two reasons: better battery life to begin with and the ability to change the reporting frequency, which in turn increases the battery life.The Spot Trace was easy to activate and pretty much ready to use within minutes of receiving it. However, it was at this point that I realized one of the features that I was most interested in did not live up to my expectations. You cannot change the reporting frequency on the fly. The Trace has to be connected via USB to your computer for a firmware update in order to change that. Initially, I was going to use the Spot Trace as a back up to the SpyTech, set at 60 minute intervals and increase the reporting frequency once the SpyTech battery became low. Not possible. There went that plan. My choice to upgrade to “extreme tracking” turned out to be a waste of money for this reason because I’ll never set it to 2 ½ minutes for the entire duration of monitoring.I also wanted to see what the tracking looked like, so I dropped the Trace into the bag I take to and from work. I left the Trace set to the factory default settings, reporting at 5 minute intervals. The app and website both provide adequate information to see the location of the Trace. However, two key pieces of information that are missing from the Trace tracking messages that I have become accustomed to in the SpyTech are current battery status and speed. The Trace will tell you when your battery is low, but this doesn’t help you when your asset is on the move. And being able to know the speed is something very helpful to me.Next, I modified the Trace to report at 10 minute intervals. I’m not really sure what the problem is here, but I got no reports from the Trace between the intial “movement detected” message, and the “asset stopped” message. There were no tracking reports during my two-hour drive. I then changed the Trace back to the factory defaults and it worked just fine. After both changes, the Spot Trace Updater indicated that the firmware was correct. I have not yet attempted to contact customer service because, frankly, I am irritated. I will update this review once I have.I ended up not using the Trace immediately as I had planned. In order to accommodate the batteries that provide the extra life, the Trace is significantly larger and heavier than the SpyTech. Thus, it is harder to hide where I had been hiding the SpyTech, so it will require a little ingenuity and a bit of time.The pluses that I see in the Trace are:• extra battery life• lights stop blinking after 20 minutes “in order to be unnoticeable.”The cons I see in the Trace are:• harder for me to hide (your mileage may vary)• battery status is only reported when low• speed is not reported• changes to some settings, including the reporting interval, require firmware updates• after changing the reporting interval, the Trace did not provide any tracking updates at allThat’s my two cents. Again, my use is not quite the intended objective of the Trace. So it may be perfect for you. I do recommend you read the user guide prior to purchasing, just so you know what you are getting. I don’t think Amazon will let me post the link to the user guide, but you can find it easily online.Bonus: there is currently a 50% rebate on the Spot Trace when purchased between 5/19/2017 and 9/4/2017 and activated by 9/9/2017. The rebate is available through the Spot website.
Ann O Nymous –
My main reason for purchasing was for communication when out of cell service areas. I was surprised when I could send messages from inside my vehicle and house. You don’t always need clear sight of the sky for it to work.The GPS is basic but has everything you need for direction, locating and storing waypoints.One thing to add is you have to download the user manual, you really need to read it so you can customize settings to your preferences.
Carlos R –
I’m really pleased with this device and service. For me it has more functions than I expected. Programmable for any occasion, 14 predefined messages, 250 waypoints and 70 contacts is way more than I will need.First, you need to know what this is: It is a satellite 2-way messaging unit with several other functions. It’s not a cell phone and will not work as fast as one. Takes time and need clear sky view for some minutes in order to send a message and confirm.That been said, I find this unit affordable for day to day users. Normally satellite communications are very expensive, but Globalstar made this unit at a great price and also service is very affordable for an emergency communications device. Living in Puerto Rico south part of the island I know how frustrating it is to lose cell phone signal often. Now I have peace of mind having my SpotX with me.Unit sometimes is not as responsive as expected. Normal for sturdy, shock proof and waterproof devices.UPDATE: after several months of use, the SpotX has proven to be an effective way of communication where there is no cell phone coverage. It has worked even inside small planes. Looking for high ground greatly increases time of transmission.
west valton archer –
The Spot X gave me no problems during a week in the Rockies. It functioned as intended.Note that you will need a laptop or desktop to download & update the firmware prior to/during activation. Read and follow the activation instructions and you should have no functional problems with the unit.Once you’ve activated & subscribed the unit is fairly intuitive. The keys are small, (it is a full QWERTY keyboard) and typing in messages takes a little longer than on a smartphone. The typefont is on the small side and reading in direct sunlight can be difficult, not unlike a smartphone.I did not use the tracking function so I cannot speak to the accuracy, however, sending a “check in” message provides the Lat/Long & elevation of your location to the recipient.I sent several messages to contacts and all were received.For all intents and purposes, the Spot X does it’s job.
Carlos R –
Product has a great size and an easy to use software. The subscription for the satellite service is super cheap and affordable compared to competitors. The exterior it’s a rubber that is sturdy and has good grip and the screen lights up well. Definitely helps for solo hikers to feel secure and safe no matter where you are on the planet.