Care And Support; Battery Life And Usage - SPOT GEN3 User Manual

SECTION 5: CARE AND SUPPORT

BATTERY LIFE AND USAGE

For reliable performance, use AAA Energizer
rechargeable batteries, or line power. Using USB line power will NOT charge rechargeable batter-
ies. The power light 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 but are not recommended for optimal performance. Test your SPOT device before each
trip by sending a Check In message to yourself.
SPOT 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 with the logo side up in clear
view of the sky. Using non-recommended battery types may degrade the performance of your
SPOTs message transmission.
SPOT Gen3 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, stopping any current mode of operation. If dropped,
SPOT recommends replacing the batteries for optimal performance.
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.
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®
Ultimate Lithium 8x batteries (L92), NiMH
OPERATING CONDITIONS AND CLIMATE
Your SPOT is designed for adventure. However, like all electronic devices, it has its limits. SPOT
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:
• IPX7 waterproof: Up to a depth of 1 m for up to 30 minutes
(SPOT is not waterproof when being line powered)
• 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:
• 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 case
TROUBLESHOOTING
SPOT 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 to the readiness of those on your contact list.
For more information, visit the FAQ section on FindMeSPOT.com
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