With both inReach and Spot X you can use their web-based software to do things like update emergency details, add/remove contacts, enter social media details and edit predefined messages.
The SOS button is a two-stage process, with a small door that needs a good firm click to open before being able to press the button. Like the On/Off button these require a little more precision as they do not have much travel or a clear “click” when pressed.
There are two separate Back and Start/Stop tracking buttons. Typing custom messages is far faster and easier than it is on the inReach because of this. Unlike the inReach, the Spot has a full Qwerty keyboard, which I like as this gives it more autonomy than the inReach if you don’t have your phone with you. Once on, the menus are fairly easy to navigate using the main selection control and OK/Confirm button in the middle. There is also no audible confirmation like there is on the inReach. It’s not very tactile, so if for some reason you were not looking at the screen it might not be immediately obvious that you’ve turned it on. To turn on, there is a small button recessed into a protective shroud at the top right. It weighs the same as the inReach Explorer at around 190g but is slightly wider and flatter. Nice to holdĮrgonomically the Spot X Bluetooth is nice to hold and doesn’t feel big or cumbersome. Spot say that the advantage of using ground stations and 24 LEO satellites is that it’s easier to update the system with changing user needs. The inReach promises “100% global” coverage by the Iridium satellite network. Garmin inReach devices meanwhile use the Iridium satellite network, which is made up of 66 LEO satellites.Ĭoverage-wise, the Spot X Bluetooth covers most of the USA, South America, Europe, Australia, Southern Africa and China, but there are large gaps in India, Pakistan and the Middle East where coverage is restricted to SOS and one-way message cover.
In terms of infrastructure behind the device (arguably one of the most important aspects), Spot uses a constellation of 24 low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites in conjunction with 24 ground stations, which act as a bridge between the satellites and ground units. This means you can connect it to a smartphone using the Spot X App, available for both Android and iOS. The updated Spot X is physically the same weight and dimensions as the non-Bluetooth version, however, it now incorporates a Bluetooth chip. Specifically, how do the two compare when it comes to tracking? Tech stuff Lawrie Noctor took the opportunity to look again at how the Spot X truly performs against its main rival, the Garmin inReach. We reviewed the standard Spot X two-way satellite messenger in autumn 2019, but Spot have now released an updated version with Bluetooth. Get the latest news, safety notices and gear updates from our sports
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