Recommendations for Personal Locator Beacon vs. Satellite Messenger System?

tkdguy · Apr 28, 2020

I have a near 10 year old FAST Find Personal Locator Beacon with GPS needing its' battery to be replaced for about $170.00 while a new FAST Find is about $225. This one only provides a beacon and gps coordinates. It may be 10 or more years old in design. Any recommendations for a better beacon signal unit or Satellite messenger system? Garmin has a Satellite messenger but reports are conflicted on the unit. Monthly or annual fees can be an issue if the unit lays to rest most of the year. Any ideas?

BigGame · May 2, 2020

It really depends on the features that are important to you. I carried a SPOT for many years, but the subscription was expensive and it was really only there for emergencies. I didn't use any convenience features like tracking or posting tracks.

A year ago I switched to the Garmin Inreach Mini. The device is expensive, but the subscription options and features are better. Feature-wise, the best is that you can send and receive text messages. I use the plan that allows me to suspend it during months when I don't need it. It's worth a look.

tkdguy · May 2, 2020

BigGame said:
It really depends on the features that are important to you. I carried a SPOT for many years, but the subscription was expensive and it was really only there for emergencies. I didn't use any convenience features like tracking or posting tracks.

A year ago I switched to the Garmin Inreach Mini. The device is expensive, but the subscription options and features are better. Feature-wise, the best is that you can send and receive text messages. I use the plan that allows me to suspend it during months when I don't need it. It's worth a look.

Thanks, when you activate it, what are the monthly or seasonal charges?

XoXSciFiGuy · May 2, 2020

I am NOT an expert in these matters, but unless you risk being buried in an avalanche or something, you can always rent a satellite phone. All you need is a good view of 16 degrees of sky to use them I have heard. Another option might be to search out what people use when they take those sponsored treks to Mount Everest and the like.

On a side note, for general camping where a smartphone won't 'do it' for you as far as getting on the internet...if you have cell signal and a good data plan, you can 'tether' (Google it for details) your smartphone to a laptop and get on the internet that way. I think you have to have Android. Speed is pretty slow, and you better have unlimited or a lot of data for this. Online gaming is generally out, but you can do almost anything else.

AshWilliams · May 2, 2020

There's always a ham radio Handheld Tranciever as well.

E4mafia · May 2, 2020

Can't go wrong with one of these

MS2000 Strobe Light | Military Search and Rescue Light | Aviation Survival

www.aviationsurvival.com

We used in the MIL. AC-130's from way up can see you clear as day.

Just don't look directly at light without lens cover on unless you really want to blind yourself.

XoXSciFiGuy · May 2, 2020

There's always a ham radio Handheld Tranciever as well.

Yeah. Those will work as long as you are within range of those relays or whatever they call them. Setup for everything on those usually a hundred bucks or so. Get the longer antenna if you go that route, not the stock antenna. Better than a CB or a walkie talkie anyway.

E4mafia · May 2, 2020

Going with the above MS2000, there is also this guy:

Amazon.com : Military GI US Army VS17/GVX Signal Panel Marker 8345-00-174-6865 : Sports & Outdoors

www.amazon.com

I get these aren't digital but they certainly would help narrow down a SAR team finding you with methods of marking.

BigGame · May 2, 2020

tkdguy said:
Thanks, when you activate it, what are the monthly or seasonal charges?

Here's a link to the Garmin InReach subscriptions. There are three and each can be purchased for an annual fee or on a month-to-month basis (called the "Freedom" option). The Freedom plans also have a $25 annual flat fee. When on a Freedom plan, it charges you each month unless you turn it off (suspend it). Once suspended, it stays suspended until you turn it back on. Again, you'd have to decide based on your own usage and features of interest how much the whole package would cost.

inReach® Satellite Communicators | Messengers | Garmin

Stay safe off-the-grid with inReach® satellite communicators. Features include two-way text messaging (satellite subscription required), SOS trigger, and GPS.

explore.garmin.com

One additional benefit I see from being able to use satellite texting is that I now use the device for more than simply back-country trips. If I'm driving in remote places without cell signal and have car trouble, I can always get a message out with one of these, which I like.