SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger User manual
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The great outdoors can be a big, uncertain place. But you’ve just
purchased the most peace of mind available for the active outdoor
adventurer or smartly-prepared individual. SPOT is the world’s first
satellite messenger, using the GPS satellite system to determine your
location and communications satellites to transmit that information to
the chosen recipient. SPOT gives you and your loved ones peace of mind
by allowing you to notify them or a GEOS International 9-1-1 Emergency
Response Center of your exact location via Google Maps™, and to send for
assistance in time of need around the world, completely independent of
cellular phone or other land-based radio coverage. To begin using SPOT,
visit findmespot.com to select a service plan and activate.
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Satellite Personal Tracker
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GPS satellites provide coordinates.
SPOT messenger’s onboard GPS chip determines your exact coordinates and sends your
location and message to the SPOT satellite system.
SPOT commercial satellites relay your message to specific satellite antennas around the
world.
Satellite antennas and supporting equipment route your message and location to the
appropriate network.
Your message is delivered according to your instructions via text message, email or
emergency notification via the response center.
Powered by Google Maps™
When SPOT sends a text or email message to one of your contacts or to a GEOS International 9-1-1
Emergency Response Center, it includes your exact coordinates and a web link to view your
location using Google Maps™.
What You Need To Get Started
Your SPOT comes with:
•SPOT Satellite Messenger
•2 AA Lithium Batteries
• User’s Guide
You will need to log on to www.findmespot.com to register your SPOT messenger and
activate service. To do so, you need to have the following available:
•Personal information
•Credit card information
• SPOT unit serial number and 8-digit authentication code located inside battery
compartment
ESN
001000000
Auth
84810156
ESN
001000000
Auth
84810156
Installing Batteries
Improper installation of batteries could result in damage to the unit. Use only lithium batteries
with SPOT.
1) Using a screwdriver or built-in rings, loosen screw in belt clip and swing to the side.
2) Loosen 2 screws holding battery cover in place.
3) Install AA lithium batteries as shown.
4) Replace cover and clip, then tighten screws.
Creating Your Account
Log on to www.findmespot.com. Follow the instructions online to choose your subscription
plan and register your SPOT unit. Once complete, you can set up your personal account
information, activate your emergency 9-1-1 services, and create your SPOTteam – the
friends and family members you wish to receive your SPOT messages via cellular short
messaging service (SMS) and/or email. For questions or additional support, visit
www.findmespot.com or call 1-866-OK1-SPOT (1-866-651-7768).
(NOTE: SPOTteam members can be changed at any time simply by logging into your account. For worldwide phone
contacts or for support outside the U.S., visit www.findmespot.com.)
Additional Services
At www.findmespot.com you can also purchase additional service options, like SPOTcasting
tracking service, which allows you to use waypoints to mark your progress in real time as you
travel, and GEOS rescue service, which provides a global private Search and Rescue Benefit.
To learn more about GEOS Alliance services, visit www.geosalliance.com.
Request help from
friends and family
at your exact
location.
Let contacts know
where you are and
that you’re okay.
Send and save your
location and allow
contacts to track
your progress using
Google Maps™.
Dispatch emergency
responders to your
exact location.ô
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)"11&/The SPOT Satellite Messenger
gives you a line of communication with
friends and family when and where you
want it, and emergency assistance when
and where you need it. For the low cost of a
service subscription, SPOT works around
the world, even where cell phones don't.
911
ASK FOR HELP CHECK IN TRACK PROGRESS ALERT 9-1-1
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SPOT has a separate power button to ensure long battery life and to help avoid sending
messages accidentally. To turn SPOT on, press the ON/OFF button. You must then wait an
additional 2 seconds before activating any SPOT function. When power is on, the indicator
light will blink once every 3 seconds. This is also helpful for making SPOT more visible in the
dark. To turn SPOT off, press and hold the ON/OFF button for 3 seconds.
Use this option in the event of a life-threatening or other critical emergency.
The Emergency Response Center notifies the appropriate emergency responders
based on your location and personal information – which may include local
police, highway patrol, the Coast Guard, your country’s embassy or consulate, or
other emergency response or search & rescue teams – as well as notifying your
emergency contact person(s) about the receipt of a distress signal. Even
if SPOT cannot acquire its location from the GPS network, it will still attempt to
send a distress signal – without exact location – to the Emergency Response
Center.
Press and hold the 9-1-1 button for at least 2 seconds. A distress signal and your exact
location will be sent to an Emergency Response Center every 5 minutes until cancelled.
Once activated, the indicator light will blink green every 3 seconds, and turn solid green
for 5 seconds when a message is being sent.
Press and hold the 9-1-1 button for at least 3 seconds. The blinking green light will blink red
to indicate that it is preparing to send a “Cancel” message, and will then turn solid red for 5
seconds to indicate that the message has been sent.
911
Use this option in the event of a non-life-threatening situation to notify
your SPOTteam – the friends and family you have chosen to notify – that
you need assistance. Or, in the event of a life-threatening emergency, 9-1-1
and HELP can be activated simultaneously to notify both the Emergency
Response Center and your SPOTteam that you are in distress. Even if SPOT
can not acquire its location from the GPS network, it will still attempt to send a distress signal
– without exact location – to your selected contacts.
Press and hold the HELP button for 2 seconds. The SPOTteam members you have specified in
your online account will receive a pre-programmed distress message via text message and/or
email with a link to Google Maps™with your exact location. Once activated, the indicator light
will blink green every 3 seconds, and turn solid green for 5 seconds when a message is being
sent. SPOT will automatically determine your coordinates and send your message every 5
minutes for 1 hour in this mode.
Press and hold the HELP button for 3 seconds. The indicator light will change from green to red
to indicate that it is preparing to send a “Cancel” message, and will then turn solid red for 5
seconds to indicate that the message has been sent.
Use this feature to let your SPOTteam know that all is well, notify them of
your location, or save waypoints so you can review your route at a later date.
Press the OK√button. The SPOTteam members you have specified in your
online account will receive a pre-programmed SPOTcheck message via text and/or email with
a link to Google Maps™with your exact location. Once activated, the indicator light will blink
green every 3 seconds, and turn solid green for 5 seconds when a SPOTchecking message is
being sent. For maximum performance, leave the SPOT messenger on and with a clear view of
the sky for 20 minutes.
You cannot cancel a SPOTcheck message, but you can stop any unsent SPOTcheck messages
by turning off the messenger at any time. Unsent SPOTcheck messages are automatically
disabled when you activate either 9-1-1 or Help.
Use this feature to send your location to your SPOT account every 10 minutes so
your SPOTteam can follow your progress in real time, or to save waypoints so you
can view your full route at a later date. (NOTE: Additional fees may apply for this
service. See account information at www.findmespot.com to learn more.)
Press and hold the OK√button for more than 5 seconds. The green indicator will begin
blinking every 3 seconds, and the SPOTteam members you have given access to your online
account can view your progress. Your exact location is updated every 10 minutes for 24
hours. To continue tracking after 24 hours, you must activate the unit again. Once activated,
the OK√indicator light will blink green every 3 seconds, and turn solid green for 5 seconds
when a SPOTcasting message is being sent. SPOTcheck must be inactive for SPOTcasting to
be activated.
Turn unit off by pressing and holding the ON/OFF button for 3 seconds, or press and hold the
OK√button for 5 seconds to terminate SPOTcasting. SPOTcasting is automatically disabled
when you activate either 9-1-1 or HELP.
GPS Coordinate Acquisition
The first time you turn on SPOT, or after moving more than 600 miles since its last use, SPOT
will normally determine your coordinates within 4 minutes. In rare instances, this could take
longer. After that, SPOT will normally determine your GPS coordinates in less than
one minute.
SPOT Message Schedule
The SPOT network, both hardware and software, are designed to work together to provide
outstanding quality and reliability. With a perfect view of the entire sky, the SPOT network
is designed to successfully send virtually every message. In everyday conditions, the view
to the sky is often blocked due to hills, buildings, or other obstructions. It’s normal for some
messages to be blocked by your environment. That’s why the SPOT Messenger is scheduled to
automatically send multiple messages in every mode – giving you excellent overall reliability.
Message Indicators
For all functions, SPOT lets you know what it’s doing. While preparing to send a message, the
function indicator and ON/OFF lights will blink green every 3 seconds, in unison. Once SPOT
has determined your GPS coordinates and sent your message, the indicator lights will turn
solid green for 5 seconds and then continue flashing in unison. If the lights blink out of unison,
this indicates that the messenger was not able to determine GPS coordinates, usually due to a
blocked view of the sky. To correct, move the SPOT messenger to an area with a clearer view
of the sky, where SPOT will automatically continue searching for a GPS signal. The lights will
blink in unison once it is successful.
Coverage
SPOT works around the world, including virtually all of North America, Europe and Australia,
portions of South America, Northern Africa and Northeastern Asia, and hundreds or
thousands of miles off-shore of these areas. It is important that you check coverage for your
destination before traveling.
For the latest coverage information, visit www.findmespot.com
If SPOT is unable to acquire its GPS coordinates, it will still attempt to send a satellite
message, without coordinates, when either the 9-1-1 or HELP functions are activated. In the
rare case that SPOT cannot obtain your GPS coordinates, but sends a 9-1-1 message, the
Emergency Response Center will contact the primary and secondary contacts on your account
to notify them of the distress message. The Emergency Response Center will then continually
monitor the SPOT network for further messages.
Battery Life and Usage
•Use only AA lithium batteries in your SPOT messenger. Alkaline or other battery
technologies are not compatible and may damage or cause malfunction of the device.
•Lithium batteries properly installed in the SPOT messenger should last for several years
stored. The ON/OFF light will flash red when lithium batteries have approximately 30% of
their life or less left. If the ON/OFF light flashes red, or if you are unsure as to the battery
life remaining, replace the batteries. Always test and verify your SPOT device before
any trip.
•Under normal usage a full battery charge should meet or exceed the following:
– Power ON, unused: Approx. 1 year
– SPOTcasting tracking mode: Approx. 14 days
– 9-1-1 mode: Up to 7 consecutive days
– SPOTcheck OK/√: 1900 messages
Belt Clip Usage
For maximum GPS performance in SPOTcasting mode, hold the SPOT messenger away from
the body with a clear view of the sky until the lights turn solid for 5 seconds (after
approximately 4 minutes) before attaching the device to your belt.
Operating Conditions and Climate
Your SPOT Satellite Messenger is designed to go anywhere. However, like all electronic
devices, it has its limits. SPOT relies upon GPS and low earth orbit satellites to fix your
location and send your messages. To work, the SPOT logo (which is directly above the
transmitter) needs to have an unobstructed view of the sky, either outdoors or in a glass-
enclosed area such as in a vehicle. For safety, keep the following in mind regarding the care
and usage of SPOT:
•SPOT floats, but the SPOT logo needs to be facing the sky for the unit to work
•Waterproof to a depth of 1 meter for up to 30 minutes
•Operating Temperatures: -40ºF to +185ºF
•Operating Altitude: -300 ft to +21,300 ft
•Humidity and Salt Fog Rated
•OSHA Certified Intrinsically Safe to Class 1, Division 1, Group A-D standards
Cleaning
Follow these general rules when cleaning the outside of your SPOT messenger:
•Make sure power is OFF.
•Use a damp, soft, lint-free cloth. Avoid excess moisture near buttons or openings.
•Don’t use aerosol sprays, solvents, alcohol or abrasives.
•Do not attempt to open the SPOT unit case.
Troubleshooting
Spot performs a self-diagnostic test each time it is powered on. Additionally, for maximum
security, Spot strongly recommends that you send and verify an OK/Check message each time
before use. This allows you to evaluate your entire messaging system, from the operational
condition of the messenger to the readiness of those you’ve chosen to notify of your
messages.
•OK/√indicator light blinks RED every second immediately after ON/OFF button is pressed:
- Unit Self-Test failed. Contact manufacturer.
•ON/OFF indicator light blinks RED every second:
- Low batteries. Replace with new AA lithium type batteries. The ON/OFF light will
flash red when lithium batteries have approximately 30% of their life or less left. If the
ON/OFF light flashes red, or if you are unsure as to the battery life remaining, replace the
batteries.
- Improper battery type. SPOT is designed to use AA lithium batteries. Alkaline or other
battery technologies are not compatible and may cause malfunction of the device. However,
in a critical situation, non-lithium batteries may allow the unit to operate for a limited period
of time if no lithium batteries are available.
•Not all scheduled messages are received:
- The SPOT network, both hardware and software, are designed to work together to
provide outstanding quality and reliability. With a perfect view of the entire sky, the SPOT
network is designed to successfully send virtually every message. In everyday conditions,
the view to the sky is often blocked due to hills, buildings, or other obstructions. It’s normal
for some messages to be blocked by your environment. Therefore, SPOT automatically sends
repeat messages, resulting in excellent overall reliability.
For additional questions or support:
Visit www.findmespot.com or call 1-866-OK1-SPOT (1-866-651-7768).
Warranty
SPOT is warranted by Axonn, LLC for 12 months from the date of purchase against
manufacturing defects. For warranty details and procedures, visit www.findmespot.com.
© 2007, SPOT, Inc. www.findmespot.com
TM
• ROHS and WEEE compliant.
• OSHA certified Intrinsically Safe to Class 1, Division 1, Group A-D standards.
• Certified to FCC and CE emissions, immunity and safety regulations.
• Meets FCC part 25 regulations, Canada type approval, CISPR Publication 22 (1985 1st Edition), RTTE
Directive (1999/EC) and IEC 60950 safety standard.
© 2007, SPOT, Inc. All rights reserved. For more information, visit findmespot.com.
UserGuide v20070824
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