the d. l. clark company was founded in 1886 in allegheny , pennsylvania , now part of pittsburgh , by david l. clark ( 1864 – 1939 ) , an irish-born candy salesman .

in 1921 , clark brothers chewing gum company was spun off as a separate corporation ( and later sold to philip morris ) .

the d. l. clark company was family-owned until sold in 1955 to beatrice foods , who sold it in 1983 to the pittsburgh food and beverage company .

the pittsburgh food and beverage company entered bankruptcy in 1995 , and many assets from the d. l. clark company , such as the rights to the clark bar and zagnut bar , were sold .

other candy names include honest square , black jack/wild cherry/banana caramel , peanut butter log , coconut , light ( coconut frosted peanut butter crunch ) , teaberry/tendermint/winter green/fruit punch/cinnamon/peppermint / sweetwood gum , boomer , zig zag , and alligator eggs .

with some of the remaining assets , clark bar america , inc. , was created ; this was acquired by necco ( new england confectionery company ) in 1999 for $ 4.1 million ( $ 6 million today ) .

d . l . clark company

guide to the d . l . clark company papers and photographs 1923 - 1992
collection spotlight : d . l . clark company records | heinz history center library and archives
2 thoughts on “blue collar candy : the history of the d . l . clark company”
guide to the d . l . clark company papers and photographs 1923 - 1992 | historic pittsburgh
city council declared january 1986
save d . l . clark month .
history of the d . l . clark co . & the clark gum company from the victory old - time candy store
blue collar candy : the history of the d . l . clark company – a visit to the idea factory
my goal remains to eventually write the story of the d . l . clark company and seek publication . this is an ongoing passion and project .
this collection has been made accessible as part of an nhprc - funded basic processing grant . for more information on the d . l . clark company records , please see the collection’s finding aid .
although much of my work is fiction , i have invested some considerable time into a few nonfiction projects over the years . one nonfiction topic that is of special interest to me is the history of the d . l . clark company , former producer of the clark bar and zagnut . the d . l . clark company has an incredibly interesting history that would immediately appeal to anyone fascinated by 20 th century pittsburgh lore .
the clark brothers chewing gum company made teaberry and tendermint gum . by 1931 , the candy bar business was so large that clark decided to sell the gum company and it was renamed the clark gum company .
the d . l . clark company traces its roots to pittsburgh’s north side in 1886 when david l . clark , an irish immigrant , first began selling candies out of a horse - drawn wagon . in 1911 , the clark company considerably expanded their business by acquiring a candy and cracker company in the north side . during these years of development , the clark company quickly became renowned for their innovations in candy production . in particular , the company is known for its addition of mint , peanut butter and coconut to chocolate candies .
the d . l . clark company was founded in 1886 when clark started manufacturing candy in two back rooms of a small house in pittsburgh ' s north side . he began selling his candy in the streets of pittsburgh . during his lifetime , his company became a leading candy manufacturer .
the d . l . clark company remained in the hands of the clark family until it was sold to the beatrice food company , who operated the company until 1983 when it was sold to the pittsburgh food and beverage company . in 1995 the pittsburgh food and beverage was thrown into bankruptcy . the company was shut down for several months and its assets divested . restructured as clark bar america , the company operated until may of 1999 , when it was purchased by new england confectionery company ( necco ) , the oldest candy manufacturer in the united states .
the d . l . clark company records consist of photographs , postcards , newspaper clippings , advertisements , correspondence , annual reports , stock exchange documents , and newsletters related to the d . l . clark company . photographs , advertisements , and promotional literature document the various candy products manufactured by the clark company , such as zagnut bars , peanut butter logs , yogurt delights and clark bars . a vhs tape contains recordings of clark candy commercials . numerous photographs capture clark candy window and aisle displays , including a 1959 clark bar halloween window display at pittsburgh’s dollar savings bank . other photographs record clark candy cameos in films such as poltergeist , wiz kid , and open all night .
by 1920 the d . l . clark company was making about 150 different types of candy , including several five - cent bars , specialty items and a bulk candy line . clark was also manufacturing chewing gum in a building across the street from his candy factory . in 1921 they incorporated clark brothers chewing gum company as a separate business .
initially , i turned my research into a lecture ( blue collar candy : the history of the d . l . clark company ) . i have been fortunate enough to share this lecture with several historical organizations throughout the pittsburgh region over the last four years .
by 1920 , the clark company was producing close to 150 different kinds of candy . the clark company also ventured into the market of chewing gum production at this time . the most enduring evidence of this venture is the company’s production of teaberry gum . over the next ten years , d . l . clark recognized the growing market for candy bars and subsequently decided to concentrate production on five - cent chocolate bars . consequently , the company became internationally renowned for its production and sale of chocolate bars , including the clark bar and the zagnut bar .
all throughout these years of production , the clark company remained at the north side location it acquired in 1911 . as a result , the oversized clark sign atop the factory became a longstanding pittsburgh landmark . in 1983 , the confectioner company , leaf , inc . acquired the d . l . clark company . although leaf , inc . closed the north side factory in the spring of 1986 , it chose to sustain clark candy manufacturing in the pittsburgh area by relocating production to a plant in o’hara township . leaf , inc . then sold the rights to the clark bar to pittsburgh food and beverage company . after years of financial instability , this company reconstituted itself under the name of clark bar america in june of 1995 . in may of 1999 , this company was purchased by the new england confectionary company ( necco ) . clark company candy continues to be manufactured by necco today .
pittsburgh in the 19th and 20th centuries could , at times , be rough around the edges : the crackle of blast furnaces ; the roar of locomotives ; and the blast of steamboat whistles . those features made up the steel city we know and love – but that city had a sweeter side . amidst the coal barons , railroad tycoons , and industrialists , existed one of our nation’s most successive chocolatiers and confectioners –david l . clark . clark , an irish – born immigrant , established the d . l . clark company and helped pioneer various types of candy throughout the early 20th century . from the clark bar to the zagnut and every treat in between , d . l . clark company products have brought smiles to the faces of pittsburghers for over 125 years .
the history of clark bar begins all the way back in 1886 when a man named david clark ( see the connection here ? ) created the d . l . clark company after years of excelling in a multitude of professions . being the tough american entrepreneur with the “can do” attitude that he was , david clark quickly grew his candy manufacturing business into a national success , creating innovative candies filled with coconut , mint and peanut butter . you know , all the good stuff . the d . l . clark company produced many successful treats throughout its time in operation , with the most famous one being the reason you’re reading this right now : the clark bar . after several years of changing ownership , the clark bar has found a secure home with necco , a company known for its commitment to producing the classics , like the clark bar , at the high level of no - nonsense quality as david clark did back in 1886 .
bbb reports on a company that is out of business for one year from the date the company closes its doors or ceases to do business .
the clark gum company is still operating under the same name . click on the packets below for more information about that particular flavor .
i was immediately engrossed by the details of the company’s history . david l . clark was an irish american , who had started his own confectionery in the back of his house . those early efforts would expand into a brand that would become synonymous with pittsburgh and introduce products that would continue to be made long after the company ceased to exist .
today , workers complained , they have enough trouble getting local politicians interested in their problems , much less anyone in washington , d . c .
the clark bar has legions of hard - core fans , all addicted to the 114 - year - old chocolate - and - peanut - butter concoction first whipped up by irish immigrant david l . clark in a house on the north side .
once , the d . l . clark co . dominated pittsburgh ' s north side from its headquarters on martindale street . in those heady days , the plant was a hive of activity that buzzed at a volume unknown in recent years . hundreds and hundreds of workers swarmed daily into the plant beneath the towering red - and - white brick smokestack with the words
clark bros .
running down its 170 - foot length .
on friday , 20 - odd workers straggled quietly from clark ' s o ' hara plant , the broken and bankrupt remnant of the once - mighty candy bar company clark had founded and made famous beyond his wildest expectations .
annual reports , correspondence , by - laws , stock exchange documents , and a spring 1977 issue of sweet talk , the clark company’s employee newsletter , shed light on clark company business practices . annual reports from 1929 to 1953 document the major financial transactions of the company . the correspondence in this collection dates to 1926 and revolves around the sampling stage of teaberry gum production development . another material worthy of note is a 1967 procedure manual that contains detailed information regarding the composition and production of various clark candies . clippings taken from pittsburgh newspapers document both the debates surrounding the closing of the north side clark company factory and the plans surrounding the factory relocation to o’hara township .
god bless the necco company for saving clark bars !
says a web site created by mark harp , a baltimore musician and clark bar connoisseur who can offer a detailed explanation on the flaws of butterfingers and 5th avenue bars .
the company doesn ' t break out figures for individual brands , but said clark bar is a solid contributor to necco ' s $ 100 million in annual sales . next month , necco will bring back a coconut crunch line from the clark family and begin offering a new package size of the smaller clark bar jrs .
copyright © 1998 - 2018 - victory seed company - all rights reserved victory seeds ® , victoryseeds . com and victorysweets . com are trademarks of the victory seed company . all other brands and trademarks are property of their respective owners .
clark employees alvin mitchell , left , and russ sarver talk with reporters outside the company plant in o ' hara . mitchell has been a clark employee for 32 years ; sarver is a 34 - year veteran . ( steve mellon , post - gazette )
clark bars are an american institution near and dear to our black - and - gold pittsburgh hearts . they were formulated right here in our hometown of mckeesport , pa at the turn of the century by a gentleman named david l . clark . the candy bar was originally made just a few blocks from the warehouse where our candy company has resided since 1927 ! since our founder ernest prince was friendly with mr . clark , we were probably the very first candy wholesalers in the nation to offer this treat .
the company later changed its name to “dl clark company” and moved to downtown pittsburgh . it graced the city with an illuminated candy - bar sign and remained until 1955 when it was acquired by beatrice foods . over the years , they would be acquired by leaf confections and then again by hershey , who returned the candy bar and its headquarters to its roots in pittsburgh . it remained for three short but blissful years until new england confectionary company acquired it .
in 1886 , so the story goes , an irish immigrant named david l . clark began making candy in a small house on the north side , peddling his product on the streets of pittsburgh . it was a low - key venture , one without fanfare or flamboyance .
for weeks , clark bar america ' s work force had dwindled until only a skeleton crew was left friday . production of the company ' s signature chocolate - and - peanut - butter flavored clark bar stopped days ago at the request of pearson candy co . of st . paul , minn , which has offered $ 1 . 68 million for clark ' s trademark and production line .
nothing worse than a stale clark bar . you could crack a tooth .
necco plans to eventually increase the clark bar ' s exposure in the midwest and even the far west . already , the massachusetts company ' s existing accounts along the east coast have boosted sales in places such as new york city .
despite their equanimity , workers like sarver spoke with some bitterness about putting their life into a company to get nothing in return . they criticized the management .
it started with the company ' s namesake wafers , which have been around for decades . the only gimmick necco wafers offer is an odd tendency for the wintergreen ones to throw off sparks when they ' re cracked or chewed under proper conditions . yet , the company continues to sell more than four billion annually .
chapin said clark bars have been a steady seller since the company was founded in 1996 . buyers often seem to be people who ' ve lived in pittsburgh or been through the area . real estate agents and people marrying clarks regularly order in bulk .
david l . clark ( 1864 - 1939 ) was born in ireland and came to america when he was only eight years old . he entered the candy business working for a small manufacturer in new york . after three years as a salesman , he bought a wagon , horses , and merchandise and went into business for himself .
by claiming your business profile , businesses can add custom text or descriptive information about their services , insert company logos , and add photographs for consumers to view .
in truth , the workers ' quiet exit from clark bar america provided a perfect bookend to the company ' s humble beginnings . after 113 years , three locations , untold millions of candy bars and a parade of owners , the circle had almost closed .
i guess they ' re fed up with it ,
karis said , referring to public assistance used to bail out the company during difficult times in the past .
in 1985 , when clark was teetering toward failure and its parent company , illinois - based leaf inc . , talked about closing the pittsburgh plant and moving operations to chicago , the late mayor richard caliguiri formed a task force and pledged to work to reverse the decision .
there was still hope that someone would buy the company from owner jim clister during a bankruptcy court auction next month and keep the business here , hope that someone would preserve a pittsburgh icon .
the workers are represented by the same bakery confectioners and tobacco workers union that was active at clark bar america .
i grew up in pittsburgh . i will always remember the 5th grade field trip to the clark candy factory on the north side . clark bars , zagnuts , teaberry gum to name a few . great times , great candy
when leaf announced a second time that it would move its clark bar operations to chicago , local officials again rallied .
customers order everything from jujubes to wax soda bottles . st . paul - based pearson candy co . , another bidder for clark last year , also has products on the site , including the bun bar bought from clark bar america in 1998 .
in 1989 , necco gobbled up candy house buttons , those sheets of paper with little buttons of candy on them . at that point , the company was selling a total of about $ 20 million worth of candy a year .
despite clark’s many owners and a few controversial ingredient changes ( that were fortunately reversed ) , clark bars remain a tried - and - true classic combination of crunchy peanut butter and creamy milk chocolate . today , this retro candy qualifies as a piece of edible americana .
when considering complaint information , please take into account the company ' s size and volume of transactions , and understand that the nature of complaints and a firm ' s responses to them are often more important than the number of complaints .
supervalu reports selling about 15 cases a week each of clark bars and clark bar jr . bags out of its xenia , ohio , warehouse . that compares to about 24 cases of the six - pack snickers bars and about 35 cases of snack - size snickers cases .
fans such as harp are the real assets that necco bought last year when it paid $ 4 . 1 million for the assets of clark bar america .
distribution outside the pittsburgh region has long been spotty . the search for a clark fix helped spur harp ' s creation of his fan site in late 1998 .
i was an employee of clark bar america for 7 years . i was there until the end . i was very young at the time but i was aware of the great history of the clark bar name . this is a very interesting article and i just wanted to say hi , from someone that was there .
already , company officials report the candy has proven its sticking power among consumers . although necco rushed to get bars out as early as july 1999 , the three production lines bought at auction weren ' t really operational until january . within months , necco reports , the business was profitable .
zimbalatti couldn ' t estimate the number of people who now make clark bars , since the work varies with the seasons . winter clarks , a white version popular in the summer , aren ' t made year - round . summer is the busiest time for cooking up the smaller clark bar jrs . , which are popular at halloween .
i am 66 . the fact i got to be this age constantly amazes me . don’t ask why it would be too embarrassing to explain ! my father was a cab driver for yellow cab when i was around 5 or 6 . mom always stuffed me in the 1955 pontiac for the drive to the cab company to pick him up at 2 or 3 am . ( hey , i was 5 ! ) the clark candy factory was right next door and i can still recall the sweet smell of the chocolate as i sat in the back seat waiting for dad to get off . i still eat clark bars to this day !
bankrupt , hammered with high rent at the regional industrial development park , plagued with poor product placement in supermarkets , clark bar america ' s life in pittsburgh seemed to be winding down .
they were hankering for the clark bar . a strike by more than 400 workers had stopped production at the north side plant , at the time , one of the largest candy manufacturers in the country .
as they made their way from the plant , television news cameras dutifully recording the undramatic moment , clark ' s employees refrained from outbursts , jeers , chants and breakdowns . they went out with a aplomb .
yes , long may both of these classics wave ! the future of the clark bar is precarious as necco hasn’t found a buyer but lets keep hope high and fingers crossed… thanks for visiting candyfavorites . com !
the candy ' s emotional appeal - - not to mention the 100 or so jobs it supported - - helped fuel at least two drives to keep clark in southwestern pennsylvania . both efforts ended in bankruptcy court .
these workers , most of whom had just ended what might have been the last shift at clark bar america inc . , were taking their historic role in stride . after all , they reasoned , what could they do ?
a half - century ago , the clark bar was more than a mere treat prettily packaged in a red - and - blue wrapper . it was a precious commodity that satisfied the sweet tooth of a nation at war .
grocery distributor supervalu , which supplies many shop ' n save and foodland stores , puts clark bar in the regional category . that means the candy isn ' t carried everywhere , and it ' s relegated to the candy aisles .
at least twice more during the war , workers shut down production . by then , clark ' s daily shipments to the armed forces had risen to 1 . 5 million candy bars , or about 80 percent of its production .
i grew up with the clark bar , although i hardly knew that particular candy bar as anything unique among the world of confections . oddly enough , the clark bar was actually the one candy item at my grandparents’ house that was distinctly “off limits” to any visiting grandchildren . as a child , candy hunting at my grandparents’ house was a tradition . my grandmother stockpiled chocolate candy and proceeded to stash the treats all over the place – often in very humorous and creative ways .
his dad sold the candy in a baltimore luncheonette , but that closed years ago . harp said he now receives e - mail from other people trying to find clark bars .
it ' s a nationwide obsession ,
he said .
we knew the day was coming . we just made the best of it ,
said russell sarver , 57 . with 34 years of employment under his belt , sarver has the most seniority of anyone on clark ' s payroll .
the clark bar is a classic ! my father’s side of the family , the magees , are from pittsburgh since 1789 . i am 65 ( yipes ) and have recently fallen in love with clark bars only to learn of its pittsburgh heritage . seems a good match ! the other historical candy bar that i can’t live without is goldenberg’s peanut chews . made in philadelphia since 1912 these candy bars were used as food rations during world war i . absolutely spectacular both of them and long may they wave !
that made good sense to me . my grandfather’s name is clark . the five - year - old me was fully satisfied thinking that my grandmother had diligently sought out candy for my grandfather that just happened to have his name in blue lettering on the wrapper .
of course , that was wonderfully convenient . i didn’t know anyone named “goodbar” or “twix” , so for a long time i satisfied myself with avoiding the clark bar and thoroughly enjoying whatever else i might find hidden away in the recesses of my grandparents’ dining room .
on dec . 14 , 1942 , 11 days after the strike began , workers resumed production after an arbiter was appointed by the war labor board . the federal government had stepped in , and clark bars were considered by the government to be an
essential
wartime product .
clark bar ' s resume matches up to any of those . one of its famous marketing hits came during world war i when , for the first time , each bar was individually wrapped to ease shipment to american troops . soldiers from all over the country then went home with a taste for the crunchy candy .
i rediscovered the clark bar two decades later while on a field trip with a group of students in downtown uniontown . my mind was immediately perplexed with how i had been able to forget such a clear memory from my childhood – let alone an absolute local history bonanza . that rediscovery touched off many years of research .
alvin mitchell , 53 , who lags just behind sarver with 32 years on the job , complained that public assistance was going to build sports stadiums but not to help a work force that numbered roughly 100 people early this year . greg karis , 39 , lamented that the 17 years he spent at clark were the best ones of his life .
hi joshua , what an interesting read . i never knew the history behind the clark bar . i love the memories of your grandparents . i have quite a few of my own as well . it sounds like you have a pretty large mission in front of you i hope all goes well ! thank you for sharing with us at # simplifywednesdays . i hope to see you again next week ! shared and tweeted
a few days after the presentation , i received a letter from renee exler of monongahela , pennsylvania , who is a member of the monongahela area historical society and pittsburgh history and landmark foundation . what i received turned out to be a copy of a letter renee had sent to andy masich , the president and ceo of the heinz history center in pittsburgh , pennsylvania . renee was kind enough to pass a copy along to me . the letter spoke well of the presentation , pointed out my research to mr . masich , and stated that , “people around the world have heard of the clark bar , perhaps eaten one , but this great pittsburgh history would be lost…if it wasn’t for someone like joshua scully . ”
but , in the past year , the faithful have transferred their adulation to cambridge , mass . , home of the candy ' s newest owner . the
. bought the recipes and manufacturing equipment at a bankruptcy auction a year ago .
harp knows pittsburgh was the birthplace of the crunchy bar . he watched from afar last year as the former owners ran out of money and headed into bankruptcy court .
i cared deeply ,
he said , in an e - mail interview . his main concern seemed to be that the beloved candy not disappear .
sales remain strongest in southwestern pennsylvania and ohio , where the bars are a regional favorite .
we get tons of consumer letters ,
said lory zimbalatti , marketing manager for necco . many express gratitude for the candy maker ' s role in feeding their cravings .
necco has built an entire business on the simple premise that few people are as loyal as candy consumers .
about a decade ago , necco began assembling a counter full of so - called nostalgic brands , long - time favorites that can be hard to find in certain parts of the country .
in 1990 , a deal for the stark candy co . snagged the sweetheart conversation hearts that have been in valentine boxes forever as well as the sticky mary jane molasses and peanut butter candies . a few years later , necco picked up haviland thin mints , formerly owned by borden .
we considered it a perfect fit with our other brands ,
said zimbalatti .
lengthy tenure isn ' t unusual in the candy business . m & ms ; were first sold in 1941 and remain a preeminent brand .
you could almost look at the whole candy category as a nostalgic one ,
said jim corcoran , vice president of trade relations for the national confectioners association in mclean , va . he thinks many purchases are driven as much by memories as by taste .
necco ' s niche has been finding candies that people will actually hunt out . many of its brands qualify for inclusion at
, a florida - based web site devoted to supplying fans of hard - to - find favorite foods .
the site carries only products still being manufactured - -
it ' s just that you can ' t find it in your area ,
said president colleen chapin .
i was just on the phone with necco saying , ' where is my order ? '
chapin reported , cheerfully .
necco moved manufacturing to an existing plant in massachusetts , under the theory that lower overhead expenses would make the balance sheet work .
that ' s been a major factor in necco ' s ability to make a profit so quickly , zimbalatti said .
in addition , she said , necco has a few other advantages - - it has enough other products to keep workers busy despite seasonal shifts , and can give customers ' a variety of choices .
necco is aware many fans are still forced to search for clarks . its internet site lists several chains that carry the bars - - ames , dollar general , phar - mor and rite aid , for example .
we are selling slightly fewer than a year ago ,
said ray west , spokesman for supervalu ' s central region . he said the drop has not been significant .
harp hopes to find more in stores around him . it ' s still a hit - or - miss proposition at this point .
even more important is the question of whether necco makes as good a bar as the last guys . so far , so good , according to harp .
i ' ve only had the snack - sized so far , and they were very fresh and delicious ,
he wrote .
note : this page is for historical purposes only . it was last updated in 2012 and is no longer being maintained .
this entry was posted in business and industry , hidden collections . bookmark the permalink .
enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email .
access to the digitized content on this website is permitted for noncommercial educational and research purposes only . we are willing to hear from any copyright owners who are not properly identified so that appropriate information may be obtained and provided to users . upon request , we will remove material from public view while we address a rights issue . for more information , please contact library @ urltoken .
privacy & cookies : this site uses cookies . by continuing to use this website , you agree to their use . to find out more , including how to control cookies , see here : cookie policy
despite her efforts , we were often successful in finding the “goodies” . there was always a variety .
the monongahela area historical society was the first organization to host the lecture in 2012 .
and then there’s the zagnut , which has really created a niche all to itself .
david matter has led oxford development co . into new businesses , diversifying the long - time developer . ( tony tye , post - gazette )
machinery stopped . workers walked away , wondering if they would ever return , knowing that if they didn ' t , they wouldn ' t receive any severance pay because of concessions made when clister bought the business in 1995 . four employees will return to the plant next week to clean up and ship out whatever remains .
just a year after the united state entered the war , a newspaper story appeared here beginning like this :
american soldiers all over the world are begging and bartering for candy . . .
that interruption was preventing 400 , 000 candy bars a day - - 40 percent of the plant ' s production - from going to the war effort .
the image of battle - hardened gis desperately scrounging for candy bars , like oliver twists in fatigues , seems absurd . but , according to one observer at guadalcanal in the south pacific , candy bars - - knownas
pogie bait
to the enlisted men - - ranked close to ammunition in terms of importance .
they could take the bombings and the snipings , and they could get along without vegetables and fresh meat ,
the observer wrote .
they wouldn ' t yearn so much for the bright lights and the movies and the girlfriends - - if only they had some pogie bait . candy - - just candy . and there isn ' t any .
in oct . 1943 , the u . s . labor secretary even became involved in bringing the workers back on the job , and the following year , government officials promised that soldiers and sailors would be on hand to safeguard them as they entered the plant .
it will take all our inegenuity and strength to save it again . it ' s more important because of the history behind it ,
former county commissioner chairman tom foerster said in sept . 1990 . former gov . casey pledged the state would do everything it could to keep leaf in pittsburgh .
now we go home and cash the next to last check ,
sarver said just before he and mitchell drove away . meanwhile , a woman was emptying sandwiches from the vending machines inside the plant and packing them into a truck .
html public
- / / w3c / / dtd xhtml + rdfa 1 . 0 / / en
urltoken
historic pittsburgh is a collaborative effort from multiple institutions in the greater pittsburgh region and is hosted by the university of pittsburgh’s library system .
bbb rating is based on 13 factors : get the details about the factors considered .
licensing information is provided in the bbb business profiles to inform the public about industries that may require professional licensing , bonding , or registration . better business bureau encourages you to check with the appropriate agency to be certain any requirements are currently being met .
bbb promotes truth in advertising by contacting advertisers whose claims conflict with the bbb code of advertising . these claims come to our attention from our internal review of advertising , consumer complaints and competitor challenges . bbb asks advertisers to substantiate their claims , change ads to make offers more clear to consumers , and remove misleading or deceptive statements .
bbb reports on known significant government actions involving the business ' s marketplace conduct .
bbb reports on unauthorized use of the better business bureau ' s name and / or logo for as long as the business continues to use it in any advertising , or for one year after the business ceases any repeated unauthorized uses .
bbb reports on a business’s bankruptcy as long as the business remains in bankruptcy .
bbb reports when mail sent to the business was returned by the postal service .
the bbb customer review rating represents the customer ' s opinion of the business . the customer review rating percentages are based on the total number of positive , neutral , and negative reviews posted .
there are no reviews for this business . be the first to leave a review !
bbb business profiles are provided solely to assist you in exercising your own best judgment . information in this bbb business profile is believed reliable , but not guaranteed as to accuracy .
bbb business profiles generally cover a three - year reporting period . bbb business profiles are subject to change at any time . if you choose to do business with this business , please let the business know that you contacted bbb for a bbb business profile .
as a matter of policy , bbb does not endorse any product , service or business .
1101 fifth avenue , mckeesport , pa 15132 1998 - 2016 selavy ltd . / urltoken


spot is a gps tracking device that uses the globalstar satellite network to provide text messaging and gps tracking ( depending on the subscription type purchased ) .

it has a coverage area that includes a large portion of the planet , with the exception of extreme northern and southern latitudes and parts of the pacific ocean .

spot is simplex and can not receive user data .

with the purchase of a basic ( annual ) subscription , spot allows short ( 41 character ) user-defined text messages to be sent to a list of telephone and e-mail addresses .

this basic subscription also allows users to push their location to emergency services .

for an additional cost , spot can transmit a breadcrumb trail of gps points , which users can configure to be displayed on a custom web page .

these points are transmitted every 10 minutes , but include only latitude and longitude data , no elevation/altitude is possible .

in march 2010 , spot claimed to have successfully " helped initiate more than 550 rescues in 51 countries on land and at sea " .

in early 2013 , a variation of the spot satellite gps messenger called spot connect was released .

it allows the user to compose a custom message in real time using a smartphone .

spot satellite messenger

the best satellite messenger inreach vs spot ? – what’s the best satellite messenger . and how to best use both the inreach and spot
best satellite messenger inreach vs spot – a comparison of the pros and cons of the garmin inreach and the spot satellite messenger . and yes , i have a strong favorite
2 . 3 out of 5 stars with 49 reviews for spot gen3 satellite gps messenger beacon .
finally , a satellite messenger should never be considered a license to do silly things or take unnecessary risks .
the spot satellite gps messenger provides a vital line of communication with friends and family when you want it , and emergency assistance when you need it . using 100 % satellite technology , spot works virtually anywhere in the world , even where cell phones don’t – all with the push of a button .
powered by 100 % satellite technology , the spot global phone allows you to make a call wherever your adventures take you . the spot global phone allows you to communicate with family , friends , work and emergency services from virtually anywhere in the world . spot global phone is the ultimate easy to use , lightweight handheld satellite phone , boasting superior voice quality and the fastest data speeds in mobile satellite industry today .
all spot products described on this website are the products of spot llc , which is not affiliated in any manner with spot image of toulouse , france or spot image corporation of chantilly , virginia .
sometimes a timely rescue is not possible . a trip plan and / or a satellite messenger like the garmin inreach and the spot satellite messenger is not the solution to everything . i have been in some extremely bad situations where rescue was not feasible even if i had sent out an sos . as they say , the best rescue is self - rescue . and to state the obvious , goal one is not needing rescue in the first place . so be sensible and safe out there .
in summary : you might pay a slightly higher annual price ( unit and service plan ) for the inreach vs . spot , but you get far more functionality , safety , and peace of mind from the inreach . that being said , the spot is still a valid satellite messenger and is way , way better than not carrying anything at all .
last year we had a local backpacker freeze to death . they’d likely be alive today if they had brought a satellite messenger & activated its emergency signal ( by the time they were reported missing and the search crews went out , they had frozen to death overnight ) . of course , there are many other good reasons to carry a satellite messenger . with newer , 2 - way satellite messengers you can get interactive help like medical advice ( assessment & treatment ) , other information like helicopter landing sites , best evacuation routes , etc . in fact , you may get enough information to help yourself and not even need a rescue—the best possible outcome .
copyright © 2018 globalstar . all rights reserved . privacy policy cpni policy all spot products described on this website are the products of spot llc , which is not affiliated in any manner with spot image of toulouse , france or spot image corporation of chantilly , virginia .
last updated 2018 - 05 - 04 . estimated coverage area . actual coverage may vary . success rates are forecasts for a spot messenger to successfully deliver a single message during a 20 - minute period , based on network availability . additionally , in everyday conditions it is normal for some messages to be blocked by your environment , such as hills or buildings . that’s why the spot messenger is scheduled to automatically send multiple messages in every mode – giving you excellent overall reliability .
self test : spot performs a self - test when you initially turn on your spot . if all visible lights flash red , the spot self - test has found a failure , and spot will not send a message . if the on / off light , gps light and message sending light all blink red , spot has a gps failure , but spot may still be able to transmit an sos or help message without your gps location . visit urltoken .
spot message schedule : spot is designed to provide outstanding quality and reliability . with a perfect view of the entire sky , the spot messenger is designed to transmit virtually every message . in everyday conditions , the view of the sky is often blocked due to hills , buildings , or other obstructions so it is normal for some messages to be blocked . that is why the spot messenger 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 . placement of your spot unit can make a difference . experiment with placement until you are familiar with the reliability of your operating environment .
spot gen3 ' s customized tracking features take your spot experience to the next level . only with spot gen3 is tracking motion - activated regardless of the level of tracking you choose ( basic or extreme ) . a vibration sensor tells your spot to send track updates when you are moving and to stop when you do .
* this product is no longer manufactured , but is still supported by spot .
see lead picture of spot and inreach for a visual on these battery options .
© 2018 spot llc . all rights reserved . privacy policy | terms + conditions | careers | site map | contact us all spot products described on this website are the products of spot llc , which is not affiliated in any manner with spot image of toulouse , france or spot image corporation of chantilly , virginia . * the spot rescue count does not include false alarms , duplicate alarms , test alarms , alarms that result in fatalities , or alarms received from lost or stolen units .
satellite messengers have heaps of advantages and useful functions for people who want to track their journey and communicate with the outside world whilst doing it . they’re a great compromise , and one that should seriously be considered , but i guess a potential weakness is that the emergency function is generally stapled onto the side of a device that’s primarily intended for non - emergency functions . some people i know carry a satellite messenger and a plb , although clearly that wouldn’t appeal to light - weighters .
spot gen3 ' s customized tracking features takes your spot experience to the next level . only with spot gen3 , is tracking motion - activated regardless of the level of tracking you choose ( basic , unlimited or extreme ) . a vibration sensor tells your spot to send track updates when you are moving and to stop when you do .
motion activated tracking : an internal motion sensor gives spot gen3 a theft alerting capability .
feature’s that in - reach has that spot does not and would be worth it .
we look forward to working with symmetry and its customers to provide our voice , data and location services and technology using globalstar ' s satellite technology .
for the spot carry a spare set ( 4 ) four aaa lithium batteries . note : once the spot starts to blink red you don’t have a lot of operational time left .
alan , thanks for such a detailed post ! a question . i don’t have a smartphone because i don’t need one ( i know i’m in the minority ) . if i want a satellite messenger and a gps , am i better off with the explorer ? or an se plus a separate gps unit ? or just get that iphone ? thanks much in advance !
how it works : once activated , spot acquires and sends your gps coordinates to your spot account and , if you choose , shared pages and spot adventures live maps , automatically every 10 minutes for 24 hours or until canceled . track progress must be reengaged to continue beyond a 24 hour tracking session . creating a spot shared page allows you to share your gps route with your friends and family easily in near real time on the web through a personal link . you can make your shared page private or public . your choice ! just share that url with your friends and family and they can easily track your adventures . you can also link your spot messenger to spot adventures , a social portal , where you can set up a profile and blog with others sharing their spot adventures . on spot adventures , your shared pages can stream in a live map widget that you can use on your own personal or event sites .
reduced size : easier to carry and travel with , the spot gen3 is compact and light .
power : to turn spot on simply press and hold the on / off button until the button blinks green . spot performs a self - diagnostic test . when power is on , the button will blink green every 3 seconds . this is helpful for making spot more visible in the dark . to turn spot off , press and hold the on / off button until the light stops blinking .
yeah , tm the 2 - way messaging is huge . and sorry about your experience with spot customer support . i have a a few similar sounding stories about spot billing . warmest , - alan
the most complicated is if you want gps and a sos / satellite messenger . first if you actually want to send 2 - way text messages in any reasonable way then you want an inreach . the spot is fine as a tracker and sos device but it sucks as a text messaging device ( it really isn’t one ) . in contrast , an inreach either with or without an smartphone is quite good at 2 - way texting via satellite . if you want a gps ( and think you really will get use of it as a gps ) then the cheapest option would be to get the inreach explorer + . and at $ 50 more it may be a better choice than the inreach se + .
sat - fi2 gives you the power of the globalstar network through satellite wi - fi allowing you to access your emails , make phone calls and send text messages with your current smart device .
how it works : once activated , spot acquires your location from the gps network and routes it along with the help message through the spot satellite network every five minutes for one hour or until cancelled . your contacts will receive an sms text message including coordinates , or an email with a link to google maps™ showing your location . important note : even if spot cannot acquire its location from the gps network it will still attempt to send a help message – without exact location – to your personal contacts .
the custom message functions exactly like your check - in / ok message you can also have access to your waypoints in your spot account so you can review your route at a later date . or link your spot account to spot adventures and save a map of your adventures using your spot waypoints , and enhance the story with photos and a blog . how it works : once you have activated your spot messenger and set up your account , you can change your contacts and customize your message at any time . when you push the check - in / ok button , you send one pre - programmed message to your contacts . your contacts will receive an sms text message including coordinates , or an email with a link to google maps™ showing your location .
longer battery life : more than 2 x the battery life of spot 2 when using internal lithium batteries .
i bought this new spot for my husband who takes part in long distance motorcycle touring . the spot gen3 i would say is better than previous models . having the ok button is a great feature for peace of mind .
originally bought the spot device , but promptly returned it when i realized the transmission success rate was basically unacceptable .
help function for non - life - threatening emergencies , such as notifying your personal contacts that you need assistance . additional spot assist services can be purchased and programmed to the help button . when activated with spot assist , the help button will notify professional services either on land or water . spot has partnered with national service providers to offer assistance .
check - in feature allows you to let your friends and family know all is well . send a pre - programmed message and your gps location via email or sms to up to 10 pre - determined contacts . your waypoint is stored in your spot account for later reference . stored waypoints can be easily integrated into a spot shared page or spot adventure account .
spot gen3 ' s customized tracking features takes your spot experience to the next level . only with spot gen3 , is tracking motion - activated regardless of the level of tracking you choose ( basic or extreme ) . a vibration sensor tells your spot to send track updates when you are moving and to stop when you do . ( this is a great new battery - saving feature ! and , you don ' t have to remember to re - set your tracking after 24 hours . )
when in tracking mode , carry your inreach or spot in the correct position for best transmission ( see owner’s manual ) .
the garmin inreach se + is by a large margin the better device . the spot satellite gps messenger’s lack of 2 - way messaging , lower transmission power , difficulty to carry in the optimal antenna orientation , and no confirmation that messages or waypoints have been successfully sent are problematic . especially since there is an alternative unit with similar cost that outperforms it ( the inreach ) . and there just are times when you need to send out a message but are in a crappy reception location ( like a deep forested canyon ) . it’s good ( possibly critical ) to have higher transmission power and know that your message actually went out !
not necessarily so steven . i find the inreach more pack compatible than the spot . 1 ) it is easier to hold in its optimal upright on a shoulder strap pocket ( see pic in article ) or side pocket of your pack . in contrast the spot tends to hang vertically almost everywhere which is exactly the wrong orientation for it . 2 ) making things worse is that the spot’s transmission power is less than the inreach’s . in summary , the combo of poorer orientation and lower power makes for less reliable operation for the spot . note : that some have success orienting the spot flat on the top of their pack , but you need to be creative to get this to work , and you don’t have access to the spot while you hike .
how it works : once you have activated your spot messenger and set up your account , you can change your contacts and customize your message at any time . when you push the check - in / ok button , you send one pre - programmed message to your contacts . your contacts will receive an sms text message including coordinates , or an email with a link to google maps™ showing your location .
much smaller that the original spot tracker with more features . it ' s quite expensive to own and run but a lifesaver if you have an accident . good for lone workers , mountain climbers , hill walkers , stalkers , and others that are away from phone or radio signals . not so good if you have tree cover or operate outside the satellite coverage areas .
hi alan . i don’t wish to criticise your excellent article about satellite messengers . on plbs , though , i’d add ( for readers ) that they’re genuinely dedicated emergency devices , albeit only intended to be activate in genuine emergency situations which require urgent attention .
4x higher transmission power , 1 . 6 watts vs 0 . 4 watts for the spot . in my experience this gives you a higher percentage of successfully sent messages vs . spot . this is especially true in difficult transmission areas like dense tree cover and / or tight canyons
this is especially important for spot use because in bad reception areas , you will get no indication of whether you have successfully transmitted messages .
as to the yb3 tracker . it has similar 2 - way satellite messenger functionality like the inreach . its downsides are 1 ) it is 2x to 4x more costly . its $ 600 ( for bluetooth “standard version” comparable to inreach ) vs . $ 270 for the inreach and $ 150 for the spot . 2 ) at 10 . 75 oz , it is over double the weight of the spot and 50 % heavier than the inreach . 3 ) finally , this is mostly a us based site . the yb3 is a uk device and as such it appears to not be available for purchase in the us from stockists like rei and amazon . i take you at your word that it performs well in the field . and i am assuming that based in finland that a yb3 may be easier to procure for you than us in the us . thanks again for you thoughtful comments . all the best , - alan
spot gen3 gives you a critical , life - saving line of communication when you travel beyond the boundaries of mobile service . the latest generation of award - winning spot devices , spot gen3 lets family and friends know you ' re okay , or if the worst should happen , sends emergency responders your gps location - all with the push of a button . add this rugged , pocket - sized device to your essential gear and stay connected whenever you roam .
check - in / ok : this feature allows you to let your friends and family know that all is ok with a pre - programmed message along with your gps location . with a push of a button a message is sent via email or sms to up to 10 pre - determined contacts and your waypoint is stored in your spot account for later reference . your stored waypoints can be easily integrated into a spot shared page or spot adventure account . read more
motion - activated tracking - a vibration sensor tells spot to send your gps location when you are moving , conserving battery power and avoids sending duplicate tracks .
great write up ! so from what i understand how devices need to be placed , i can put that for cycling the spot is a better solution as the spot is more easily placed on a backpack . rather then an inreach where the antenne has to be upright , which is more difficult on a bike .
has 2 - way communication similar to a sat . phone , but the device and service plan cost a lot less than a sat phone . garmin calls it “the satellite communicator that allows you to type , send and receive , track and sos all from the palm of your hand . ”
spot s . o . v . ( save our vehicle ) : our 24 / 7 roadside vehicle assistance program will get help for you and your car , suv , atv , rv , trailer or motorcycle with the simple push of a button . it doesn ' t matter how far off the grid you go , you can always count on spot s . o . v . to get you out of a jam . ( additional service required ) . spot s . o . v .
help : in the event of a non - life threatening emergency , you can use this function to notify your personal contacts that you need assistance . additional spot s . o . v . ( save our vehicle ) can be purchased and programmed to your help button as well . when activating spot s . o . v . , the help button will notify professional roadside services . spot has partnered with nation safe drivers ( nsd ) to provide a vehicle assistance program like no other . read more
* the spot rescue count does not include false alarms , duplicate alarms , test alarms , alarms that result in fatalities , or alarms received from lost or stolen units .
affordable and easy - to - use , spot trace is a no - brainer . protect your cars , boats , motorcycles , toys and other valuables . no worries .
depending on how much you use your unit , the annual service plan for the spot may or may not be less expensive than the as - needed freedom plan for the inreach .
continuous tracking - when you upgrade to unlimited or extreme tracking , spot gen3 will send track messages until you turn off your spot . no need to reset after 24 hours . dock mode for watercraft monitoring : < br > a new feature is dock mode which is designed for asset monitoring of a vessel that is primarily stored on the water . dock mode changes the way the spot determines new movement from a vibration sensor , embedded within the unit , to accommodate constant movement of a vessel on the water when moored or at anchor . when multiple track points with similar gps coordinates are detected , tracking will go into standby mode . while in standby mode spot will not send track messages , but it will continue to attain your gps coordinates at the same rate as your track mode . once spot has determined movement over a 200m distance , tracking will resume normally . note : requires additional purchase of annual subscription .
the spot device should be oriented so the face is pointing to the sky ( unit horizontal ) . this is difficult to do while hiking . if you use the clip provided with the spot , it usually ends up hanging vertically ( face of the unit pointing away from your pack / body ) . while not optimal , it seems to work for many people .
spot gen3 lets family and friends know you ' re ok or sends emergency responders your gps location when you are off - the - grid , all at the push of a button .
but this battery efficiency comes at a price . the spot’s low 0 . 4 watt transmission power , based on my field experience means fewer successful waypoints / messages sent in difficult receptions areas .
will . good buy on the spot for $ 75 as it is not longer on sale anywhere at that price ! as of now the small difference in price between the older $ 250 delorme inreach se vs the $ 150 spot makes the se as a better deal . that is you get significantly more fictionality and safety for only a $ 100 more in purchase price . and you have to spread that $ 100 over the number of year of servicealble life which makes the price difference even smaller on a per / year basis . but enjoy your spot . warmest , - alan
hi nick . hopefully the following will help you make a decision . yes , the plb is simpler and less expensive ( no plan needed ) . and for simply transmitting a sos signal , plbs with a full 5 watts of power are arguably more effective than the satellite messengers at 1 . 6 to 0 . 4 watts . it is a valid choice .
note s . o . s . coverage for sat - fi2 only applies to the areas shown above . sat - fi2 antenna must be fully extended in order to enable the s . o . s . feature . coverage may vary . map denotes coverage for satellite two - way voice and duplex data only . actual coverage may vary because of gateway deployment , local licensing and other factors . globalstar service is a satellite radio technology subject to transmission limitations caused by type of terrain , service area limits , customer equipment use and other variable conditions including the functionality and orbital locations of the satellites themselves . contact customer relations to obtain details on roaming and service availability prior to travelling . home zone only available on orbit and galaxy plans
tracking : start / stop tracking at any time using your spot device . you can also mark a reference point or send check - in / ok messages from specific locations while in track progress mode . read more
i would greatly appreciate your advice . i own a horseback riding business in southwest montana , we take guests for day trips into the lee metcalfe wilderness . the trail we use primarily is a creek drainage so it is a deep canyon with steep terrain and lots of timber . we do have visibility of the sky the entire time but not a lot . i’m looking for a device that is simple that we can use in an emergency situation only . i have had spot recommended to me as well as inreach , also have looked into satellite phones . unfortunately this all seems a little above my head .
this is a very good write up , i found you page mostly because of your wind river write up , but saw yet another “spot vs satellite vs inreach” document ( and i’ve seen you call those items out on trip reports ) . personally i have found that ham radio is far more reliable , a lot cheaper ( 15 . 00 test fee for basic tech license , you can get a sturdy but cheap radio for as little as 50 . 00 or go up to 600 . 00 if you want lots of battery draining features . ) , and if you couple in aprs on your radio you get spot like behavior as well . . anyway love your trip report on the wind river , i”m considering planning a trip in the area for later this year and your page popped pretty high on the google results !
one lame feature on the spot is the support : a year after activating the spot , we noticed a renewal charge on our credit card statement . call spot the next day and they said they could not reverse the charges as it was over 7 days since it was charged . the support gal offered to escalate the request to her mgr who would tell me the same thing , a very ‘value - free’ phone conversation . the only recourse is to dispute the charge with the credit card company . my wife had requested a deactivation by email months ago , and we never received a bill ( only the only account receives the bill , not email , not home address )
make sure that you and your emergency contacts know / agree on the meaning of the basic message types , like ok , custom and help ( spot and inreach ) . and that they know what to do for custom and help messages . see
the spot trace offers advanced theft - alert tracking for anything . instantly receive a text or email when your most valuable assets move , or follow them on google maps anytime on your phone or computer . custom tracking options allow you to select the rate at which updates are sent – every 2½ , 5 , 10 , 30 or 60 minutes . affordable and easy to use , spot trace is a no - brainer for your cars , boats , motorcycles , toys and other valuables . no worries !
spot works around the world , including virtually all of the continental united states , canada , mexico , europe , australia , portions of south america , portions of north and south africa , north - east asia and hundreds of miles offshore of these areas .
custom message feature sends friends and family a custom message along with your gps location . use this feature as a secondary ok message or transfer your personal help alert to this message function if you ' re using a spot assist service on your help button .
if you do need a rescue , the authorities will know what the problem is and therefore show up with the right personnel and equipment . [ vs . a “blind” sos message from a spot where they have no idea what the emergency / problem is . ]
custom tracking rate - spot gen3 ' s customized tracking allows you to change the rate that tracks are sent from 2 1 / 2 , 5 , 10 , 30 or 60 minutes when you upgrade to one of the new tracking services : unlimited or extreme tracking .
for both spot and inreach , delete all pre - trip / at - home messages and tracking points . this will make tracking the trip a lot easier than having a thousand ( s ) mile long track line from your home to the start of your trip .
korpijaakko , good points and thanks for commenting . first , i limited my article to “satellite messengers” and did not include plbs like the acr resqlink 406 mhz gps personal locator beacon because for me and i am guessing most of my readers , the messaging functionality is a huge benefit . i point out many of these benefits in this article and in my previous piece “why you should make a trip plan . ” but you are correct that for simply transmitting a sos signal , plbs with a full 5 watts of power are arguably more effective than the satellite messengers at 1 . 6 to 0 . 4 watts . but that is a “blind” sos signal . there is no way to communicate “this is non - life threatening problem but we need rescue in 48 hours . ” no way to let sar personnel know the nature of the problem so they come fully prepared do deal with it . and there is no way to get interactive medical advice and other help that might avoid the need for a rescue . and the list goes on…
if you actually want a gps it gets more complicated . the iphone with gaia is hands down the best gps out there . so if you want gps only and no sos or satellite messaging it would be the clear choice . and you would have the advantage of owning a smartphone . i love my iphone 6 + and use it for a million non - frivolous , non - social media stuff every day . i’ve written 75 % of some of my trip reports on planes / trains using it an a bluetooth keyboard .
when your adventures take you beyond cell service , spot gen3 lets family and friends know you ' re ok or sends emergency responders your gps location , all at the push of a button . add this rugged , pocket - sized device to your essential gear and stay connected wherever you roam . long live adventure !
when your adventures take you beyond cell service , spot gen3 lets family and friends know you ' re ok or sends emergency responders your gps location , all at the push of a button . add this rugged , pocket - sized device to your essential gear and stay connected wherever you roam . long live adventure .
i think it is important to note the price gap between these two units has widened significantly . the se + now retails for $ 400 , yet the spot still goes for around $ 150 ( i actually purchase it at rei on sale recently for $ 75 ) . that is a rather large price difference .
temporarily out of service customers who have purchased their spot global phone / globalstar phone outside of this area : roaming is not currently available when traveling to the following countries and surrounding ocean areas : argentina , chile , uruguay , paraguay and antarctica . your phone will not work in these areas , however we are working toward resolving this .
this is a complex decision that is mostly based on what you want out of the device and how much you want to pay . for the very cheapest , “help me be safe” option the spot would fit the bill . and if you are only hiking on popular trails and / or ok with maps , it would do you fine .
custom message : this feature allows you to let your friends and family now receive a custom message along with your gps location with a push of a button . use this feature as a secondary ok message or transfer your personal help alert to this message function if you are using spot s . o . v . on your help button . read more
unit worked well for the most part , the latency for the “i’m ok” messages varied wildly , my usual routine was to turn the unit on in the morning and send the ‘i’m ok’ messages and leave the spot on for at least an hour . most days , my wife got the email and location coordinated . about every 5 days , no email .
everything through design , construction , and the satellite network with which they communicate , is made to make them as reliable as possible . ( eg . where i am , in new zealand , some of the satphone networks have inconsistent reception if you cannot clearly see a northern horizon . ) with some irony , the plb design of being a useless brick is really a feature , because it means the owner can’t run down the battery , prior to an emergency having happened , on non - emergency functions . as long as you’re not beyond the stated expiry date ( and haven’t already used it ) you can virtually guarantee that pressing the activation button will get a signal out to the full ability of official plb specifications .
hi kate , good question . i would say the inreach because of it’s significantly higher transmission power ( more chance of reaching a satellite ) and that you get confirmation that a message has actually been sent . when using the device in a deep canyon , if you can , try to get into the widest part of the canyon and avoid tree cover . satellites are on n - s orbits , so the more your section of canyon is oriented n - s the better . if not , at least try and find the widest width in a n - s orientation . with a bit of persistence i have been able to get messages out of some very deep canyons in utah . hope this helps . warmest , - alan
thanks jamie . actually alison and i both have a license and we own a couple of handheld yaesus . compared to the spot they do have advantages assuming that you can hit a repeater . and in certain parts of the world it’s still the major mode of communications for remote areas . but without a repeater nearby with somebody monitoring it , i think the inreach has significant advantages . best , - alan
thanks for writing this article . good comparison and important topic… but if looking for “best” shouldn’t it include more than two options out of many ? for example i have great experiences from ybtracking yellowbrick ( no affiliation , just a happy customer ) which beats at least the spot about 6 - 0 , especially in demanding use . also for strictly for rescue - use a proper plb would be a great option as well .
as of now the small difference in price between the older $ 250 delorme inreach se vs the $ 150 spot makes the inreach se as a better deal for price to performance . that is , you get significantly more fictionality and safety for only a $ 100 more in purchase price . and you have to spread that $ 100 over the number of year of serviceable life which makes the price difference even smaller on a per / year basis .
how it works : once activated , spot will acquire its exact coordinates from the gps network , and send that location along with a distress message to the geos international emergency response center every five minutes until cancelled or until the batteries are depleted . the emergency response center notifies the appropriate emergency responders based on your gps location and personal information – which may include local police , highway patrol , the coast guard , our country’s embassy or consulate , or other emergency search and rescue teams – as well as notifying your emergency contacts about the receipt of a distress signal . important note : even if spot cannot acquire its location from the gps network it will still attempt to send a distress signal – without exact location – to geos , which will still notify your contacts of the signal and continue to monitor the network for further messages . 9 - 1 - 1 emergency services powered by geos search and rescue
for a bike , it’s all going to depend on what type of mount you can get ( or devise ) . in this case i would say it should be equally easy to get either of these in the proper orientation given a decent mount . then the downside for the spot will be lower power and no 2 - way messaging . but at least it would be held flat in the optimal orientation . hope this helps . warmest , - alan
as the title alludes to , this device is not tracking me correctly , and that on open ground on dartmoor , with device strapped to back of rucksac . i am currently emailing spot for a refund on whats left of my subscription . even when it does work , it takes an age to track / send message . update : spots customer service is almost non existent , they often do not respond to emails , and the phone number they tell you to use to cancel a subscription does not work , its always engaged , i ' ve tried for 2 days straight at every hour of the day ( even though its meant to be a 24hr line ) . . . utterly useless , im now in contact with my credit card provider to recover the subscription and i will avoid this company , gone back to garmin whilst more in cost , is a whole lot better to deal with ! even 1star for the service ive been provided with is too much !
globalstar connects you to the people and information that matter most from over 120 countries around the world .
globalstar offers a suite of solutions tailored to meet the needs of all of our customers . whether you are running a small fishing charter business or a fleet of trucks moving cross country , globalstar has a solution for you .
besides my automatic life raft , my gsp - 1700 is probably the most important piece of safety equipment i carry on my charter boat .
- capt barry gibson
globalstar service works well beyond terrestrial networks to provide peace of mind to the multitude of companies , workers and outdoor enthusiasts who work and play beyond the limits of intermittent or unavailable cellular coverage .
the caller i . d . and sms text messaging for sat - fi are not available outside the home zone . voice calls and data transmissions for sat - fi will work the same as regular voice / duplex outside the home zone according to the following service areas :
within the home zone , globalstar north american customers can freely roam without incurring additional airtime costs . this map is intended to highlight home zone coverage for orbit and galaxy customers in north america . coverage is subject to change without notice .
note s . o . s . coverage only applies to the areas shown above .
you are leaving urltoken and entering a website that globalstar does not control . globalstar has provided this link for your convenience , but does not endorse and is not responsible for the content , links , privacy , policy or security policy of this website .
extreme tracking get all of the great features of basic tracking , but with the added ability to vary your track rate down to every 2½ minutes . don ' t miss a step with increased track rates !
extreme tracking upgrade enjoy even greater assurance with extreme tracking . get all the features of basic service , with the added benefit of being able to track your asset ' s gps coordinates down to every 2½ minutes .
html public
- / / w3c / / dtd xhtml 1 . 0 transitional / / en
urltoken
mil - std - 810f , method 507 . 3 , 95 % to 100 % cond .
sos : use this function in the event of a life threatening or other critical emergency to notify emergency services of your gps location and that you need assistance . the geos international emergency response center alerts the appropriate agencies worldwide – for example contacting 9 - 1 - 1 responders in north america and 1 - 1 - 2 responders in europe . read more
to send tracks at the speed of your adventures . change your tracks to send every 5 , 10 , 30 , or 60 minutes .
will send tracks at your chosen rate for as long as your device is turned on and moving ( no need to re - set after 24 hours ) . tracking doesn ' t stop until you do .
extreme tracking get all of the great features of basic tracking , but with the added ability to vary your track rate down to every 2 ½ minutes . don ' t miss a step with increased track rates !
offers advanced theft - alert tracking for anything . instantly receive a text or email when your most valuable assets move , or follow them on google maps anytime on your phone or computer . custom tracking options allow you to select the rate at which updates are sent – every 2½ , 5 , 10 , 30 or 60 minutes . affordable and easy to use ,
is a no - brainer for your cars , boats , motorcycles , toys and other valuables . no worries .
extreme tracking get all of the great features of unlimited tracking , but with the added ability to vary your track rate down to every 2 ½ minutes . don ' t miss a step with increased track rates !
sorry , we just need to make sure you ' re not a robot . for best results , please make sure your browser is accepting cookies .
by signing into your account , you agree to rei ' s terms of use and consent to its privacy policy .
earn an annual dividend , plus get access to exclusive products , events and offers .
rei employees are not permitted to submit reviews or q & a ; at this time .
check your inbox for your first email ( and a little surprise ) from rei . we & apos ; ll send you a few emails every week . you can easily unsubscribe at any time .
at rei , we believe that a life outdoors is a life well lived . we ' ve been sharing our passion for the outdoors since 1938 . read our story
join the rei co - op community to get an annual dividend , access exclusives and give back . lifetime membership is just $ 20 . learn more and join us
free , community - built maps and resources connect you and your outdoor passion to trails and routes . get the guides then go !
earn a $ 100 rei gift card when you apply , get approved and make any purchase within 60 days of card approval . details
© 2018 recreational equipment , inc . all rights reserved . rei and the rei co - op logo are trademarks of recreational equipment , inc .
from the coolest new gear to awesome offers and events , you’ll always know what’s happening at the co - op .
check your inbox for your first email ( and a little surprise ) from rei .
we’ll send you a few emails every week . you can easily unsubscribe at any time .
amazon ' s choice recommends highly rated , well - priced products available to dispatch immediately .
fulfilment by amazon ( fba ) is a service amazon offers sellers that lets them store their products in amazon ' s warehouses , and amazon directly does the picking , packing , shipping and customer service on these items . something amazon hopes you ' ll especially enjoy : fba items are eligible for and for amazon prime just as if they were amazon items .
if you ' re a seller , you can increase your sales significantly by using fulfilment by amazon . we invite you to learn more about this programme .
custom tracking rate : tracking positions can now be sent every 2 . 5 , 5 , 10 , 30 or 60 minutes .
includes discount code of €31 . 70 on the basic service code required to activate this device .
place it on any asset and when it detects movement it will begin transmitting its gps coordinates .
this shopping feature will continue to load items . in order to navigate out of this carousel please use your heading shortcut key to navigate to the next or previous heading .
brand new . energizer ultimate battery lithium lr03 1 . 5v aaa ref 634353 [ pack 10 ]
instantly receive a £10 urltoken gift card if you’re approved for the amazon platinum mastercard with instant spend . representative 21 . 9 % apr ( variable ) .
credit offered by newday ltd , over 18s only , subject to status . terms apply .
please make sure that you ' ve entered a valid question . you can edit your question or post anyway .
there was a problem completing your request . please try your search again later .
delivery destinations : visit the delivery destinations help page to see where this item can be delivered . find out more about our delivery rates and returns policy
powercore 20100 - ultra high capacity power bank with one of the most powerful 4 . 8a output , poweriq technology for iphone 7 / 6s / se , ipad and samsung galaxy s8 / s7 and more ( black )
this is a bit of kit you will not know you really needed until you have one . it is customisable via a web app and allows you to set messages to send to pre - configured email or mobile numbers ( sms ) . one of the challenges when out on the bike is letting loved ones know you are ok often enough and this has a button specifically for that . i added my own email address to the list of recipients along with my wife ' s email and phone number . now when i press the
ok
button a message that says
i ' m ok , still moving and i will call when i stop
is sent along with a map and my position at time of sending . there are other services you can subscribe to , like more frequent tracking and insurance for true sos calls so this is an all encompassing product in that sense though can look a little pricey when you take everything into consideration . however , what price safety and peace of mind ? like motorcycle gear , buying the best you can afford gives you the best protection and the best confidence , allowing you to crack on and enjoy the ride with no little niggles in the back of your mind . i highly recommend fitting one of these to your handlebars or keeping it in your chest pocket depending on the type of riding you do ( heavy offroad / enduro stuff might mean you are separated from your bike and injured for example ) but knowing you can get a message to whomever you need to whenever you need to is great peace of mind indeed . and the wife loves that too .
absolutely the best thing i have bought for hiking . for remote observation , post hike route checking or just for peace of mind - i have not seem anything that could beat it . high price - especially when you factor in the gps subscription fees , but honestly , what price do you put on the kind of backup this give you ! the mapping tools are a bit random ( there are three of them ) but they all kinda work . i use the phone app mostly and that works really well in a remote observation context . i can ' t recommend this highly enough - if you run scouts , explorers or dofe groups then this is going to change the way you run hikes and expeditions .