Spot X

[Jonathan St. Cloud]

I am aware of the reviews on Garmin vs Spot. But was wondering if anyone has real world experience soaring with the Spot X and what are their thoughts of the Spot X? Thank you

[Tom BravoMike]

On Wednesday, July 15, 2020 at 1:15:09 PM UTC-5, Jonathan St. Cloud wrote:
> I am aware of the reviews on Garmin vs Spot. But was wondering if anyone has real world experience soaring with the Spot X and what are their thoughts of the Spot X? Thank you

I have owned and flown with original SPOT, than Gen3 and now SPOT X (the older, no Bluetooth version). I find the Flex plan with the option to suspend it for non-flying months financially sensible. Technically, it seems to be quite reliable, and the recent software on PC is quite decent to say the least. Have not used the text-messaging feature in flight ('Don't text when driving') but I know it works. All in all, I'm quite satisfied with it and don't plan to change it for any other options at the moment. The Bluetooth version brings with it even more interesting features, I believe, like connecting with your cellphone for text communication.

[[email protected]]

On Wednesday, July 15, 2020 at 2:15:09 PM UTC-4, Jonathan St. Cloud wrote:
> I am aware of the reviews on Garmin vs Spot. But was wondering if anyone has real world experience soaring with the Spot X and what are their thoughts of the Spot X? Thank you

Had the original spot currently use an inreach mini, Saw this the other day might be of interest. Review on a new tracker and mention of a second new one.
https://www.outsideonline.com/2414796/zoleo-satellite-communicator-review

[RR]

"Zoleo also omits location tracking" which is one of the biggest items for a pilot. Showing where you were before you were incapacitated, and with luck, still transmitting from the ground.

RR

[Tango Eight]

On Wednesday, July 15, 2020 at 2:15:09 PM UTC-4, Jonathan St. Cloud wrote:
> I am aware of the reviews on Garmin vs Spot. But was wondering if anyone has real world experience soaring with the Spot X and what are their thoughts of the Spot X? Thank you

I know one glider pilot with Spot X. I don't often look at the SSA - Glideport Aero tracker, but the one time I looked at one of his traces on the tracker it exhibited the same drop out problem every Spot 1/2/3 user has experienced.

T8

[Tim Taylor]

Must be something wrong on the east coast. My Spot almost never misses any data points. Both 1 and 3 have been rock solid.

[Jonathan St. Cloud]

On Saturday, July 18, 2020 at 7:07:02 AM UTC-7, Tim Taylor wrote:
> Must be something wrong on the east coast. My Spot almost never misses any data points. Both 1 and 3 have been rock solid.

I had a gen 3 and it never missed a beat. I donated it to my glider port for the young pilots to use.

[Tango Eight]

On Saturday, July 18, 2020 at 11:50:13 AM UTC-4, Jonathan St. Cloud wrote:
> On Saturday, July 18, 2020 at 7:07:02 AM UTC-7, Tim Taylor wrote:
> > Must be something wrong on the east coast. My Spot almost never misses any data points. Both 1 and 3 have been rock solid.
>
> I had a gen 3 and it never missed a beat. I donated it to my glider port for the young pilots to use.

So which is more relevant here, the report of not quite rock solid reliability (thanks for the laugh, that's a good one) or the report of UNreliability?

It's a darned good thing that the folks that build our gliders are better engineers than some of the guys that fly 'em.

T8