Has anyone used the SatPaq satellite tester?

Quote from satpaq.com, emphasis added:

“The satellites are called geostationary because they don’t move relative to your position on earth. This means the satellites are always in view and your communications are always real time. “

Baloney! If a mountain or canyon wall is between you and the satellite, messages will NOT go through, in either direction. And if you are at latitudes higher than roughly 70 degrees, the satellite is below the horizon and your messages will NOT go through. Oh, and that satellite should be unobstructed by trees or bushes. And you shouldn’t have a licensed microwave tower near the path between you and the satellite:

https://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/telecom/wireless/controversial-satellite-messaging-startup-higher-ground-cleared-for-takeoff

“If any interference comes to light, Higher Ground must be able to immediately override or shut down any or all interfering SatPaqs.”

Unlike most competitors that cover all or most of the world:
“The SatPaq can be used anywhere in the 50 United States and in international waters around the U.S.”

Otherwise, they use the same GEOS get-me-outta-here service that almost all other satellite communicators use. Except they charge 70 message units to contact GEOS – I’ve never seen an extra charge to contact emergency services before.

There’s no standalone SOS button. Your smartphone better be operational and have sufficient charge to send and receive SOS messages. Almost all other satellite communicators have standalone SOS buttons.

And it’s heavier than the more expensive but far more capable Garmin inReach mini.

It also tied for last place with the Spot X in Outdoor Gear Lab’s recent comparison of satellite communicators (which OGL very incorrectly call “personal locator beacons”):
https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/topics/camping-and-hiking/best-personal-locator-beacon

But it’s cheap to buy and relatively cheap to send messages.

Not for me.

— Rex

My use of it would be south of the 42nd parallel in the western states, so coverage isn’t a dealbreaker. I like $55 for 150 messages which would last me a year at twice-daily check-ins when I’m in the back country.  Garmin’s safety plan costs $144 for 12 months.

But how does the SatPaq work in practice?