SPOT 185349 GEN4 Satellite GPS Messenger User Guide
- June 5, 2024
- SPOT
Table of Contents
SPOT 185349 GEN4 Satellite GPS Messenger
HOW SPOT WORKS
- GPS SATELLITE SYSTEM
- SPOT GEN
- GLOBALSTAR SATELLITE
- ANTENNAS
- MESSAGING SERVICES
- GPS satellites provide signals.
- SPOT Gen4 determines your GPS location and sends your location and pre-programmed message to communication satellites.
- Communication satellites relay your message to specific satellite antennas around the world.
- Satellite antennas and a global network route your location and message to the appropriate network.
- Your location and messages are delivered according to your instructions via email, text message, or emergency notification to the GEOS International Emergency Response Coordination Center.
SPOT MAPPING
When SPOT sends a text or email message to one of your contacts or to GEOS International Emergency Response Coordination Center (IERCC), it includes your GPS coordinates and a web link (email only) to view your location using SPOT Mapping.
WELCOME
SPOT Gen4 gives you a critical, life-saving line of communication when you travel beyond the boundaries of reliable cellular service. SPOT Gen4 lets family, friends, and colleagues know you are OK, or if the unexpected should happen, sends your GPS location to emergency responders all with the push of a button. Add this rugged, pocket-sized device to your essential gear and stay connected wherever you play or work.
- SPOT Gen4 needs a clear view of the sky to obtain a GPS signal to provide the most accurate location information. SPOT Gen4 is not as reliable at the bottom of a deep canyon, in a cave, or in very dense woods.
- Orienting SPOT Gen4 so that the SPOT logo is facing up toward the sky will improve performance as the antenna is located directly under the logo.
- In order to ensure the best performance, keep the SPOT Gen4 at least 12-18 inches away from any navigation equipment or GPS antennas.
HERE ARE A FEW IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER ABOUT YOUR SPOT GEN4 Before every adventure, test the Buttons/LED on your device while it’s turned off. Once the test has been completed, go outside where the SPOT Gen4 has a clear view of the sky in all directions and send a Check In message.
FOLLOW THE STEPS BELOW TO TEST THE BUTTONS/LED
Device check: Insert fresh batteries* and then perform the LED/Button test.
1| With your SPOT Gen4 off, press & hold the Track button followed by the Power button. Hold for approximately 3 seconds.|
The HELP and S.O.S. LEDs should turn green.
---|---|---
2| Press the S.O.S. and Help buttons at the same time.| All LEDs
should turn red.
3| Press the Custom Message and Check-In buttons
at the same time.
| All LEDs should turn green.
NOTE STEPS HAVE TO BE PERFORMED WITHIN A FEW SECONDS OF EACH OTHER, OR THE TEST WILL TIMEOUT. YOU CAN START OVER IF THE TEST IS NOT COMPLETED.
BUTTON TEST LED CHART
BUTTONS PRESSED| ****
HELP LED
| ****
S.O.S. LED
| POWER LED| ****
GPS LED
| ****
SEND LED
| CUSTOM MESSAGE LED| TRACK LED| CHECK IN LED
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
TRACK
+ POWER
| GREEN| GREEN| N/A| N/A| N/A| N/A| N/A| N/A
S.O.S. + HELP
| RED| RED| RED| RED| RED| RED| RED|
RED
CUSTOM MESSAGE
+ OK
| GREEN| GREEN| GREEN| GREEN| GREEN| GREEN| GREEN| GREEN
GETTING STARTED
Your SPOT Gen4 requires an active SPOT subscription to communicate. To do this, simply activate your device using the instructions outlined below.
WITH YOUR SPOT GEN4
WHAT YOU NEED
- Your SPOT Gen4
- One of these power sources:
- 4 AAA Energizer® Ultimate Lithium 8x batteries (L92); included
- 4 AAA Energizer® NiMH rechargeable batteries (NH12)
- User Guide
INSTALL THE INCLUDED BATTERIES
- A coin or pocket knife can be used to loosen the screws to open the battery
- Write down the ESN and Authorization Code for use during service
- Install 4 AAA Energizer® Ultimate Lithium 8x batteries or NiMH rechargeable
- Replace cover and tighten screws fully to maintain SPOT Gen4’s waterproof
- Keep your batteries
AT FINDMESPOT.COM
WHAT YOU NEED
- Personal contact information
- Emergency contact information
- Valid email address
- Credit card information
- SPOT electronic serial number (ESN) and authorization code
ACCOUNT SETUP
- Go to com/Activate.
- Existing SPOT customers should log in to their current SPOT My Account to add their new New customers will need to select: New Account Activation.
- Follow the instructions given within the activation portal; do not skip forms or
- Choose the services you wish to add to your SPOT Gen4 and confirm your order to finish the activation
SERIAL NUMBER (ESN) AND AUTHORIZATION CODE
These codes are located inside the battery compartment of your SPOT Gen4. You will need these codes when setting up your account on FindMeSPOT.com/Activate.
FUNCTIONS
- S.O.S. With the push of the S.O.S. button, the 24/7 GEOS International Emergency Response Coordination Center provides your GPS location coordinates to local response teams for the quickest response to your emergency.
- TRACK Track your adventures at an interval as low as 2.5 minutes while motion-activated tracking conserves battery life. With the new SPOT Mapping you can view and share your SPOT locations for a minimum of three years.
- CHECK-IN Quick and easily let contacts know you’re OK.
- HELP/SPOT S.O.V. (SAVE OUR VEHICLE) Alert specific contacts that you need help in non-life-threatening situations. Or use SPOT S.O.V. for professional roadside assistance services. . (Example: Flat tire, need a lift.)
- CUSTOM MESSAGE Stay in touch while off the grid by using a custom message.
- POWER Press the power button to turn SPOT Gen4 on; LEDs will illuminate. Press and hold the power button until it blinks rapidly to turn SPOT Gen4 off.
- GPS LED Indicates whether or not SPOT Gen4 is able to see the GPS satellites & obtain your GPS location.
- MESSAGE SENDING LED Indicates whether or not your most recent the message was transmitted.
- USB PORT Used for firmware and settings updates
USING SPOT GEN4
POWER
You can power your SPOT Gen4 using the included 4 AAA Energizer Ultimate Lithium 8x batteries or using 4 AAA Energizer NiMH rechargeable batteries. NOTE: The Gen4 cannot charge rechargeable batteries. The USB is only for firmware and setting updates. To turn SPOT Gen4 on: Simply locate the Power button on the upper left corner of the device, press and hold the button; the LEDs will illuminate green. To turn SPOT Gen4 off: Press and hold the Power button until the Power LED blinks rapidly. To conserve power: Your SPOT Gen4 will automatically turn off after one hour of inactivity.
SELF TEST
SPOT Gen4 performs a self-test when you initially turn on your device. During the self-test, all LEDs will blink green in a rotating manner to indicate self-test is in progress. If all visible LEDs flash red, the SPOT self-test has found a failure, please call Customer Relations. If the Power and GPS LEDs blink red in unison, SPOT Gen4 has a GPS failure, but may still be able to transmit an S.O.S. or Help/SPOT S.O.V. message without your GPS location.
INITIAL SYSTEM TEST
Perform an initial system test to evaluate your messaging system, from the operational condition of the SPOT Gen4 to the readiness of those you’ve chosen to receive your messages.
- Once you have set-up the message contacts for SPOT Gen4 in your SPOT My Account, go outside where SPOT Gen4 has a clear view of the sky in all directions.
- Turn SPOT Gen4 on – press and hold the Power button; LEDs will illuminate.
- Press and hold the Check In button until the function LED blinks green.
- Leave SPOT Gen4 outdoors. The GPS LED will blink green as SPOT Gen4 acquires a GPS fix. Once SPOT Gen4 acquires your GPS location, the Message Sending LED and GPS LED will blink green in unison for
- 15 seconds to notify you that your message is being transmitted with your GPS location. The Message Sending LED will continue to blink green until the message cycle is complete.
- Verify that the message was received by your Check In contact list. You can also view your sent messages in your account at SPOT Mapping.
S.O.S.
SPOT Gen4’s S.O.S. function should only be used for critical, life-threatening situations. Pressing the S.O.S. button sends an alert directly to GEOS International Emergency Response Coordination Center (IERCC). GEOS notifies the appropriate emergency responders of your S.O.S. based on GPS location and personal information. Depending on your GPS location, responders may include local police, highway patrol, the Coast Guard, your country’s embassy or consulate, other emergency response centers, or search and rescue teams. Sending false S.O.S. messages may subject you to liability for additional charges.
USING THE S.O.S. FUNCTION
To send an S.O.S. alert, open the protective flap then press and hold the S.O.S. button until the function LED blinks green. The GPS LED will blink green when SPOT Gen4 sees the GPS satellites and while obtaining your GPS location.
Once your GPS location is obtained, SPOT sends your S.O.S. message with GPS location. The GPS LED and Message Sending LED will both blink green. The Message Sending LED continues to blink green until the next scheduled message to notify you that your most recent message was transmitted. If no GPS signal is found, the GPS LED will blink red. If possible, you should move to a location with a clearer view of the sky. The first message will be sent within one minute after activation with or without your GPS location. For all subsequent messages, SPOT will keep looking for your GPS location for up to 4 minutes. The S.O.S. message will send every 5 minutes (with or without GPS) until cancelled or the power source runs out.
TO CANCEL S.O.S.
Press and hold the S.O.S. button until the LED blinks red. Let SPOT Gen4 work until the S.O.S. button stops blinking red to finish sending the cancellation message. The Message Sending LED will blink green indicating it has sent the cancel message. Turning off your SPOT Gen4 while in S.O.S. mode DOES NOT send an S.O.S. cancel message.
HOW SPOT PRIORITIZES S.O.S.
S.O.S. messages are the top priority for SPOT. When you send an S.O.S. message, your SPOT Gen4 stops sending all other messages to allow for uninterrupted transmission of the S.O.S. message.
HELP/SPOT S.O.V.
For non-life-threatening situations, ask for help from friends and family or gain a direct line to professional assistance providers using SPOT S.O.V. (additional service plan required). When you press Help, your contacts will receive SMS/text or email messages with your GPS coordinates. Email messages also include a link to view your location. With SPOT S.O.V., roadside professional services will receive your Help message and current GPS location to dispatch assistance. However, SPOT S.O.V. services provided by Nation Safe Drivers are only available in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Washington, D.C., and Canada. Visit FindMeSPOT.com/SPOTSOV to learn more on SPOT S.O.V. including pricing.
USING THE HELP FUNCTION
To send a Help message, open the protective flap then press and hold the Help button until the LED blinks green. The GPS LED will blink green when SPOT Gen4 sees the GPS satellites and while obtaining your GPS location. Once your GPS location is obtained, SPOT sends your Help message with GPS location every five minutes for one hour. The GPS LED and Message Sending LED will both blink green. The Message Sending LED continues to blink green until the next scheduled message or until the mode ends. If no GPS signal is found, the GPS LED will blink red. If possible, you should move to a location with a clearer view of the sky. SPOT Gen4 will keep looking for your GPS location for up to 4 minutes. If no GPS location is found in 4 minutes, SPOT sends your message without GPS location; the GPS LED will blink red and the Message Sending LED will blink green in unison.
TO CANCEL
Press and hold the Help button until the Help LED blinks red. Leave SPOT Gen4 on while the Help cancel message is sent, turning off your SPOT Gen4 DOES NOT cancel the Help message. When it is finished, the Message Sending LED will blink green indicating it has sent the cancel message.
HOW SPOT PRIORITIZES HELP
Help/SPOT S.O.V. messages are a high priority for SPOT. Help/SPOT S.O.V. takes priority over Check In, Custom Message and Tracking functions. Pressing the S.O.S. button takes priority over the Help/SPOT S.O.V. message in order to ensure the S.O.S. message is sent. There is no need to cancel any other modes to enter into Help or S.O.S. mode.
CHECK IN AND CUSTOM MESSAGE
Let your contacts know where you are by sending a message with your GPS location. Check In and Custom Message functions work the same way. This gives you the flexibility to send different messages to different contacts, or tailor messages for a specific purpose. Let your contacts know you’ve made camp for the night, reached your goal, or are doing fine. With the push of a button, your contacts receive your pre-programmed message by text or email complete with your GPS location.
USING THE CHECK IN OR CUSTOM MESSAGE FUNCTION
Press and hold the Check In or Custom Message button until the function LED blinks green. The GPS LED will blink green when SPOT sees the GPS satellites and will continue blinking while obtaining your GPS location. Once your GPS location is obtained, SPOT sends your message with GPS location. The GPS LED and Message Sending LED will both blink green. The message is sent three times over a 20 minute period to the SPOT network – this is to ensure maximum reliability in getting your message out. Only one message will be sent to your contacts. The Message Sending LED continues to blink green until the next scheduled message or until the mode ends. If no GPS signal is found, the GPS LED will blink red. If possible, you should move to a location with a clearer view of the sky. SPOT Gen4 will keep looking for your GPS location for up to 4 minutes. If no GPS location is found in 4 minutes, SPOT does not send your message. To try again, simply press and hold the function button. If the message does not send, the Message Sending LED will blink red. Check In or Custom messages can be sent while Tracking.
TO CANCEL
You can end the transmission of a Check In or Custom Message by pressing and holding the function button until the LED blinks red. This action does not cancel any message already transmitted.
TRACKING
With SPOT Gen4, your friends and family can track your progress in near real- time using Shared Views within SPOT Mapping, giving them a virtual breadcrumb trail of your adventure. New enhanced Tracking options of 2 ½, 5, 10, 30, and 60 minutes allow you to choose the rate of Tracking that fits your adventure; additional service fees may apply. Learn more at FindMeSPOT.com.
USING THE TRACKING FUNCTION
Press and hold the Track button until the function LED blinks green. The GPS LED will blink green when SPOT Gen4 sees the GPS satellites and will continue blinking while obtaining your GPS location. Once your GPS location is obtained, the GPS LED and Message Sending LED will both blink green indicating that SPOT Gen4 is sending your track as a waypoint. The Message Sending LED continues to blink green until the next scheduled message or until the mode ends. If no GPS signal is found, the GPS LED will blink red. If possible, you should move to a location with a clearer view of the sky. If no GPS location is found within 4 minutes, SPOT will not send this particular waypoint. The GPS LED will blink red for approximately 15 seconds, the Message Sending LED will blink red until SPOT Gen4 is ready to send the next waypoint. SPOT will try to obtain your GPS coordinates again at your next scheduled track interval.
TO CANCEL
To stop sending track messages, press and hold the Track button until the LED blinks red or power off SPOT Gen4.
MOTION-ACTIVATED TRACKING
SPOT Gen4 has a built-in vibration sensor that sends tracks only when you are moving. When the device is stationary for more than five minutes SPOT Gen4 will enter Suspended Track mode. SPOT Gen4 will automatically send one more track from your resting location. While at rest. SPOT Gen4 will not send tracks. Tracking will automatically resume after the vibration sensor detects the unit has begun moving again.
TRACKING SERVICES
Basic Tracking: With Basic Tracking, messages can be preset to send tracks at intervals of 5, 10, 30, or 60 minutes. SPOT Gen4 will send tracks at your chosen rate for as long as your device is turned on and moving. Tracking doesn’t stop until you do. Extreme Tracking Upgrade: SPOT Gen4 offers an extreme tracking upgrade. With all of the same tracking features as Basic Tracking, Extreme Tracking has the added ability to track down to 2.5 minutes. To set your rate of tracking, sign in to your SPOT My Account at FindMeSPOT.com and choose ‘view/edit’ SPOT Features from the My SPOT Devices tab. Please note: Making any change to the rate of tracking requires you to update the settings.
SYSTEM FUNCTION AND INDICATORS
SPOT MESSAGE SCHEDULE
SPOT Gen4 is designed to provide outstanding quality and reliability. For optimum reception always place your SPOT Gen4 with the logo side up in a clear view of the sky. Reception can be inhibited due to hills, buildings, metal roofs, or other obstructions so it is normal that some messages may not go through. That is why SPOT automatically sends multiple messages in every mode, giving you excellent overall reliability. In some modes, this means multiple attempts to send the same message, while in other modes it means regularly updating GPS coordinates and sending a new message with the most up-to-date information.
GPS
- The GPS LED notifies you whether or not SPOT Gen4 is able to see the GPS satellites and obtain a GPS location.
- Green – The GPS LED blinks green if SPOT Gen4 sees the GPS satellites and is looking for/has found your GPS location.
- Red – The GPS LED blinks red if SPOT Gen4 cannot see the GPS satellites and/or cannot find your GPS location. If the GPS LED blinks red, you should move to a location with a clearer view of the sky.
- PLACEMENT OF YOUR SPOT GEN4
- The placement of your SPOT Gen4 can make a difference. For best reception, always keep the logo pointed towards the sky (the satellite antenna is located under the logo).
MESSAGE INDICATORS
For all functions, SPOT Gen4 lets you know what it is doing.
INDICATOR
|
BLINKING GREEN
|
BLINKING RED
---|---|---
GPS
|
Searching for GPS signal
| GPS location fix failed, move to a new location
MESSAGE SENDING
| Message transmission schedule in progress|
The last message was not sent
CHECK IN OR CUSTOM MESSAGE
|
Message sequence in progress
| Message sequence has been cancelled
HELP
| SPOT Gen4 in Help/SPOT S.O.V. mode| Help/SPOT S.O.V. has been cancelled
S.O.S.
| S.O.S. is engaged| S.O.S. has been cancelled
TRACKING
| SPOT Gen4 in Track mode| Track sequence has been cancelled
POWER
| On| Low battery
GPS PERFORMANCE
SPOT Gen4 uses an advanced GPS chipset with extremely high sensitivity to give you maximum performance. While the SPOT message transmitter is also very high quality, there may be times when SPOT Gen4 will have a GPS signal, but the message won’t be able to reach the satellites due to environmental blockage. Make sure that you have a clear view of the sky at all times.
CARE AND SUPPORT
BATTERY LIFE AND USAGE
For reliable performance, use AAA Energizer® Ultimate Lithium 8x batteries (L92) or NiMH rechargeable batteries. The power LED will blink red when batteries are low. Colder conditions and extreme heat can impact battery life. Always carry an extra set of batteries with you. Non-lithium batteries will work with SPOT Gen4 but are not recommended for optimal performance. Test your SPOT Gen4 before each trip by sending a Check In message to yourself. SPOT Gen4 performance and battery life may be degraded in operating environments where the SPOT GPS chip must take a longer time to acquire your GPS location, such as trying to send a message under dense foliage. For optimal performance, operate your SPOT Gen4 with the logo side up in clear view of the sky. Using non-recommended battery types may degrade the performance of your SPOT Gen4’s message transmission. SPOT Gen4 is designed to be rugged for outdoor use. Dropping the unit on hard surfaces (while not recommended) should not damage it, but can cause a loss of power and may damage the batteries. Power loss turns off your SPOT Gen4, stopping any current mode of operation. If dropped, SPOT recommends replacing the batteries for optimal performance. Warning – Replaceable Batteries – CAUTION: Risk of explosion if battery is replaced by an incorrect type. Dispose of used batteries according to the instructions. Warning – Blasting Area: To avoid interference with blasting operations, turn your SPOT Gen4 off when in a “Blasting Area” or in areas posted “Turn off two- way radio.” Obey all signs and instructions. Warning – Potential Explosive Atmosphere: Turn off the SPOT Gen4 when in any area with a potentially explosive atmosphere and obey all signs and instructions. Warning – Pacemakers: The Health Industry Manufacturers Association recommends that a minimum separation of six (6”) inches be maintained between the SPOT Gen4 and a pacemaker to avoid potential interference with the pacemaker. Aircraft Use Warning: Keep SPOT Gen4 at least 12 inches away from aircraft navigation systems or GPS antennas. SPOT Gen4 may interfere with the signal reception of GPS-based devices, causing intermittent loss of GPS information and momentary operational disruptions.
COVERAGE
SPOT works around the world, including virtually all of North America, Europe, Australia and portions of South America, Northern Africa and Asia, as well as hundreds of thousands of square miles off-shore of these areas. It is important that you check SPOT’s coverage for your destination before traveling. Visit FindMeSPOT.com/Coverage to view the latest coverage map.
OPERATING CONDITIONS AND CLIMATE
Your SPOT Gen4 is designed for adventure. However, like all electronic devices, it has its limits. SPOT Gen4 relies on GPS and low earth orbit satellites to fix your location and send your messages. The transmitter (located underneath the SPOT logo) needs to have an unobstructed view of the sky, either outdoors or in a glass-enclosed area such as a vehicle dashboard. For safety, keep the following in mind regarding the care and usage of SPOT Gen4:
- IP68 water-resistant: Up to a depth of 2 m for up to 30 minutes
- Operating temperatures: -22 F to +140 F (-30 C to 60 C)
- Operating altitude: -328 ft to 21,320 ft (-100 m to 6,500 m)
- Humidity and Salt Fog rated
- If you exceed 700 mph (Mach 1) GPS accuracy degrades
CONTACTS
Additional charges may apply in some regions. Standard text messaging charges from your mobile phone provider may also apply.
CLEANING
Follow these general rules when cleaning the outside of your SPOT Gen4:
- Make sure the power is OFF
- Use a damp, soft, lint-free cloth and avoid excess moisture near buttons or openings
- Do not use aerosol sprays, solvents, alcohol, or abrasives
- Do not attempt to open the SPOT Gen4 case
TROUBLESHOOTING
SPOT Gen4 performs a self-diagnostic test each time it is powered on. SPOT recommends that you send and verify a Check In message before each trip. This also allows you to evaluate your entire messaging system, from the operational condition of the SPOT Gen4 to the readiness of those on your contact list. For more information, visit the Support section on FindMeSPOT.com.
LEARN MORE
Visit FindMeSPOT.com for the latest information on SPOT Gen4 and other SPOT products and services. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, please do not hesitate to contact us.
CUSTOMER RELATIONS
Visit FindMeSPOT.com/ContactUs.
LIMITED WARRANTY
Your SPOT Gen4 has a Limited Warranty for 12 months (24 months for European Customers) from the date of purchase against defects in materials and workmanship only. For full details regarding the Limited Warranty and warranty claim procedures, visit SPOTwarranty.com or FindMeSPOT.com.Your SPOT Gen4 has a Limited Warranty for 12 months (24 months for European Customers) from the date of purchase against defects in materials and workmanship only. For full details regarding the Limited Warranty and warranty claim procedures, visit SPOTwarranty.com or FindMeSPOT.com.
DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY FOR EUROPEAN CUSTOMERS
SPOT LLC declares that this SPOT Gen4 is in compliance with the essential requirements and other relevant provisions of Directive 2014/53/EU. The declaration of conformity may be consulted at FindMeSPOT.com/Regulatory.
References
- SPOT Satellite Communication Devices | Saved by SPOT | US
- SPOT My Account
- User Support and FAQs | Saved by SPOT | US
- SPOT Satellite Coverage Map | Saved by SPOT | US
- Regulatory | Saved by SPOT | US
- SPOT Additional Services | Saved by SPOT | US
- SPOT Device Warranty Claim | Saved by SPOT | US
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