I’ve had a SPOT Gen 3 a year now. I got it for a backpack hunting trip in northern Nevada and have used it for training hikes “just in case”.
Once again this year I’m going back to hunt in Nevada’s Jarbige Wilderness Area so I can avoid the damnable trail bikes and ATVs that scare game. So it means taking my SPOT beacon.
This year I’m resetting my messages to reflect the situation.
HELP/ASSIST BUTTON-> “Call AAA and send them to my trailhead for a tow” (I’ll be parked at a remote trailhead that has a steep, deeply rutted entrance road. I’m driving a very non off-road vehicle, a Prius v wagon. It is a delicate task getting the Prius wagon down the rough trailhead road without ripping out the bottom. It could rain heavily or even snow at 7,500 ft. and make the trailhead road impassable for my car. BTW, I will have tire chains.)
CUSTOM MESSAGE BUTTON-> “Got a deer/elk. Will call later.”
OK BUTTON-> “In camp for the night.”
This beacon was reliable last year in reporting my daily hunt routes and sending messages from the mountainous area so I’m satisfied with the SPOT performance.