I've had good success with this device so far, especially for the price. One of the complaints I've read is that if a recipient wants to respond to your text, they need to install the app. This isn't unique to Defy and is actually a good thing. If anyone with your number could text you via satellite then you'd get spam and other messages you don't need to get while in the wilderness. (Work, marketing, etc). With this system, only those who need to communicate with you will install the app and send you messages. But you can still send anyone a message from the Defy. It uses the Geosynchronous satellites so you do need to have visibility towards the direction of one of these satellites. I've found this actually works better than the iPhone low-earth-orbit satellites. As long as the defy has visibility to a satellite, it stays connected, you can throw it in your pack and send and receive from your phone as needed throughout your activity. With the iPhone, you literally have to be pointed directly at the satellite which is moving quickly across the sky. So you line it up, connect, and send a message but then have to keep the phone pointed towards a satellite, which is rapidly moving, in order to receive a reply. I tried this camping recently and had to keep moving my chair to point towards the satellite while waiting for my wife to reply. I moved over 90 degrees to maintain connection. In my experience, this device works better for outdoor adventures if you want to remain connected while moving around.

After some fiddling, I got this device to work initially. I tested it from the lower slopes of Mt Jefferson where I had no cell service, and I was able to exchange messages with a single contact. Even at this point, however, I'd say that finding people to connect with you on this device is time consuming for the invited users. Felt like I was inviting folks to Amway, but not even offering a free self-sealing whatchamacallit. The real problems started, though, when I had to change my cell number. Try as I might, I no longer could get the device to work. It would indicate messages were sent, but in reality nothing was transmitted. Of course, this could lead to a very undesirable outcome in a real emergency. When changing the profile information did not do the trick (among other things), I tried following the App link to the company's help page. It doesn't exactly defy the imagination to learn that Defy's Help Page is no longer on the internet: bad link. Well, just like its associated link, this is one bad product. I'd avoid it altogether, but remember to read reviews on company billing practices and not just the devices themselves.

The device is acceptable. Not as good as the leading competitor (rhymes with "farmin") but it does acquire a signal in a reasonable amount of time IF there are no obstructions, such as trees. (It would probably be awesome if you only needed it in the desert.) Given the signal quality in wooded areas, I am hesitant to rely on this device unless traveling with a group who could send a member to high ground, clear of trees in an emergency.

There is limited functionality on the device; absent a mobile phone, all you can do is send a preset check-in or initiate an SOS. The lack of display is a little annoying (no GPS details, for instance) but it is what it is.

Subscription pricing is the biggest danger point. The service provider just doubled prices on the basic package (and introduced an SOS-only option at the original price.) A large value to me was being able to check-in with loved ones if I was going to be out more days than planned. Given this pricing change, I'm not certain I'll continue my subscription when it expires.

I recently got the chance to try out the Motoral Defy Satellite Link on a 30 mile two day/one night backpacking trip in a location with no cellphone service. Before departure I made sure to set up and test the device and to help my contacts downloading the app to their phones so they can respond to my messages. The entire process was easy and intuitive. On the actual hike I made several observations: 1. It works, most importantly. It works best if there are no obstructions and clear sky in the direction of the satellite. The app gives you a compass bearing (‘look south east’) and if the sky is clear in that direction, a connection can be established and sending/receiving messages is fast (seconds). Advantage: once the connection stands, it is stable, the satellite is not moving. Disadvantage: if a mountain blocks the line of sight, getting a connection is hard. I found though that even though my hike went through quite hilly terrain I could get connection often enough to ping my location to my contacts. 2. Design: the device is light and compact and fits in the narrow front pouch of my fanny pack where it still has connection but is protected from dirt, the elements and accidental button touches. Because the big SOS button can be pressed accidentally in my opinion, even if you have to hold it down for a few seconds. It sits too exposed and you have to be careful, but it’s manageable. I found the provided strap and D ring to be a bit useless, I might replace it with something more practical. 3. Battery life: I kept the device switched on as soon as I started my hike and switched it off after I had set up camp. It saw 6 hours of use on the first day which cost 25% on charge and 11 hours of use the next day which cost another 25%. I am not sure why the first day the battery drained more per hour, maybe the terrain was difficult or the battery is more stable when it’s not completely full… in any case the battery life is okay and you could get through the 4 advertised days of use, although I would bring a portable battery for anything that takes longer than 3 days. 4. The app had a major hiccup: it suddenly logged me out (no idea why) and required an internet connection to log me back in to use the device! That defeats the purpose if I am in the middle of nowhere and the app does not verify my password or something and I cannot use the device. Luckily I happened to be on a tall hilltop with cell service so I could log back in. All my saved messages and settings were gone though, which was disappointing. I think it’s a software issue, and I hope this will be fixed. It only happened once and there is still a chance I did something wrong maybe so my verdict here is not final.
Overall it’s a great device and it fills an important gap in my equipment list. I will not go on any backcountry trips without it. For the price, the device and the data plan are really good. The app locking me out was the only serious concern, I assume this was a one-time glitch. Can’t wait for the tracking feature which will hopefully come soon!