The Somewear Global Hotspot is a satellite messenger, tracker and SOS device giving you guaranteed message signal no matter where in the world you are. This small 4oz device connects to your smartphone via bluetooth giving you and anyone else the ability to offer tracking of your location, weather reports, messaging, your current location on a map and most importantly an SOS alert if you get into trouble. With 10 days battery life and a subscription starting at $8 per month this unit represents the most features and performance I’ve seen for a price lower than established competitors.

In this review the item was free and I get a commission for sales from the link in the blog but you will pay the same price as you would otherwise.  Thankyou for helping to support the site.

Full Review

There are times when even in upstate New York or Connecticut I find myself on trails with no mobile phone signal at all. This means in an emergency I have no way of getting help. I’ve been looking for an affordable solution to my needs for a while, and earlier this year tested the SPOT tracker and found it was next to useless on trail for signal and reliability.

What is the Iridium Network? Aren’t All GPS/Satellite Units the Same?

Somewear uses the Iridium® network which has 66 satellites round the world in a relatively low orbit. This means they are much closer to you than the ones used for GPS or on the Globalstar network making Iridium much more reliable with a much stronger signal even in dense forest or inside some buildings. I found the Iridium signal was superb (its the same one Garmin use for their trackers) and gave me reliable signal when I delierately went to trail in CT that notoriously has no cell signal.

More importantly in an emergency I constantly had signal for an SOS signal. By comparison earlier in the year I tested the SPOT Gen3 in less remote areas and found it was next to useless for signal even in relatively built up areas and worse still often loses signal in dense woodland as well.

Hooks up to Your Phone via Bluetooth

You need to think of the Somewear as an extension of your smartphone. It pairs easily via bluetooth and a well made app thats compatible for android and apple and then once you have downloaded the Somewear app you are ready to use it. The advantages of having your smartphone as the interface are obvious.

Firstly you get to use your large color screen from your phone rather than a small screen on the unit like the Garmin and secondly you can use the easy keyboard on the phone to send messages rather than the clumsy keyboard systems you find on the integrated units. The only disadvantage here is that if you have an issue with your smartphone breaking or running out of power you will lose some of the features, but I was pleased to see that tracking continues and the SOS still works even if your phone is off.

Yes Mom…..I’m Fine.

The Somewear allows you to send and receive text messages even when you don’t have a cell phone signal. This is very useful when you are out of touch for a longer period of time and allows you to co ordinate with others if you are meeting people for support on trail or being picked up from a location at the end of your adventure. As well as live tracking people that are around you can get a message from you about your plans and when you expect to arrive in areas.

Where’s Wally ?

I use tracking and location sharing when I’m out on trails setting Fastest Known Time records. So of the most exciting records I’ve set have been multi day and left me out in the wilderness with very little contact or phone signal. The live tracking feature allows others to have a link that means they can check your exactly location from the Somewhere. The unit updates every 10 minutes too. Friends tracking you will need to create an account with Somewhere to see your location though. id like to see an update soon allowing me to post a link to the public or embed an HTML link on my site, but for most people this isn’t a feature they need.

Do I need Suncream or Shelter ?

The Somewear also allows you to get a detailed 3 or 7 day weather report for your location which is very useful when you are in remote locations like mountain tops with no signal and very changeable weather.

SOS Emergency

Like all good GPS units it comes with an SOS emergency button. What many people don’t realize is that your SOS emergency button is only as good as the GPS network your unit uses. The SOS facility is easy to activate ( but not so easy you would do it by accident) and because the unit uses the Iridium network you can be confident your call for help will be heard.

Access to downloadable offline maps

The unit also allows you to have access to offline maps via the app. Where possible and when you do have mobile phone signal you can also grab data for mapping, but where possible I suggest using the app to download a digital map for the area you know you are going to in advance just in case.

Low Monthly Subscription

The monthly subscription can be started and stopped at any time. Better still if you dont need to send too many messages on trail the cost starts at around $8 per month which is considerably less than competitors.

Waterproof and it Even Floats

You cant use this unit as a safety raft if lost at sea but it is not only waterproof to 1m immersion but it also floats. It also meets a military standard for ruggedness and shock resistance. The unit weighs about 4oz ans fits in the palm of your hand.

Battery

The website says the battery should last up to 10 days. Be aware that the more messages you send the more power it will use as it packages and makes powerful bursts to the satellite. I would say that 5 to 7 days is a more reasonable. The unit comes with its own USB charger cable too and I estimate it took about an hour to fully charge it from nearly empty.

Something I was impressed by was that the unit is the first I’ve seen that will use your normal cell phone signal when it is available. This reduces battery use and speeds up messaging in places.

App

The app is on the apple and google play store. Once downloaded you can set up an account with somewhere with just an email and password.

Synching the Somewear is easy, you simply turn it on and follow the instructions. Once set up everything else is incredibly intuitive with tabs for weather, settings, tracking and messaging.

The tracking option is set to a default of creating a ping every 30 mins and you can adjust this to as often as every 10 mins. I also noticed that it added a ‘snoozing’ icon when I stopped for more than a few minutes. The app also lets you know the how much power the unit has left and you can also use it to end messages, share your progress with people and check weather even if you don’t have a cellphone signal. Just e aware that the app cannot download maps for areas when you don’t have cell signal so I advise downloading the area you need before you travel.

Bungee Mount

The unit should be mounted on the outside of your backpack although I found keeping it at the top of my pack inside it still worked. It has a bungee clip mount to easily attach it to a loop on the outside of your pack.

Gripes

I dont have any major criticisms but think a few minor tweaks int he future could improve this product further. I would suggest making the SOS cover and button bright red,yellow or glow in the dark, Id like to see a more sturdy Carabiner mount instead of the bungee loop and the small white flashing light when it is on is hard to see in bright direct sunlight

Closest Contender

The closest contender here are the Garmin In reach which is more expensive as a unit and subscription and less easy to use, or the Bivystick which matches the Somewear in most features but is much heavier and bulkier due to its larger battery and also more expensive.

Verdict

The Somewear Global Hotspot is a satellite messenger, tracker and SOS device giving you guaranteed message signal no matter where in the world you are. This small 4oz device connects to your smartphone via bluetooth giving you and anyone else the ability to offer tracking of your location, weather reports, messaging, your current location on a map and most importantly an SOS alert if you get into trouble. With 10 days battery life and a subscription starting at $8 per month this unit represents the most features and performance I’ve seen for a price lower than established competitors.

PURCHASE $299.99

Features

The Somewear Global Hotspot gives any smartphone the ability to keep working when cellular service fails. With 100% global satellite data coverage, the Global Hotspot is an asset for every mission from a weekend adventure to a remote work site.

MESSAGING
With Smart Routing, Somewear’s messaging feature works seamlessly across WiFi, Cellular and Satellite connectivity. Near or far, you can be confident that whatever you have to say will be seen.

TRACKING
Heading off grid, someone is going to worry about you. Whether it’s your spouse or your supervisor, Somewear’s onboard GPS and interval tracking will make it simple for people to follow your path in real time.

WEATHER REPORTING
No one likes getting caught off guard. Somewear’s weather reporting gets you the latest information on demand to help you plan accordingly.

No matter where you are in the world, satellite works. Leveraging the Iridium satellite network, Somewear offers 100% global coverage in a beautiful, ultralight form factor. No matter where your trip takes you, Somewear’s got you covered.

Exploration comes with risk, and Somewear was founded to ensure people have a line to safety when it matters most. In partnership with GEOS Worldwide, Somewear offers 24/7 SOS monitoring and an interactive SOS experience with every satellite data subscription.

Specs

Battery

1000+ messages sent/received per charge. Hotspot will last for over 10 days with 10 min interval tracking.

Shock and Vibration

MIL-STD-810
We made sure the hotspot could stand up to the roughest conditions.

Size & Weight

The compact form factor is
3.0” x 3.6” x 0.8” and only
weighs 4 oz.

Operating Temperature

-4°F to 140°F
Built for all seasons, Somewear will be there in the snow and the sun.

Wireless

With integrated Bluetooth Low Energy, latch the hotspot to your backpack and forget it’s even there.

Location

GPS – CEP 50<2.5m
Precision tracking for whoever needs to follow your path.

Environmental

 IPX7
Water-resistant at 1m for 30 mins.
It even floats!

Connector

Micro USB
(charging cord included)

About Somewear

Somewear is a satellite communications solution designed for our increasingly digital world. With a lightweight satellite hotspot and beautifully designed software, Somewear gives people access to digital tools anywhere in the world. We work to keep people safe and effective even in the most remote corners of the world. Whether you’re heading out on a trek or deploying overseas, we’re here to support you anywhere on earth.