| EPIRB's or Emergency Position Indicating Radio | | | | Arctic and Antarctica. |
| Beacons have been around for a number of | | | | The SPOT PLB is not designed to replace an |
| years. What they were initially designed to do is | | | | EPIRB on a boat or plane but can work just as |
| send a radio signal to a satellite overhead when | | | | well as a personal EPIRB for land based use. It |
| you need to be rescued from a sinking boat or | | | | can take up to 20 minutes for the SPOT unit to |
| downed airplane. | | | | connect to the satellite so keep that in mind. |
| Now with advances in technology these beacons | | | | Other factors such as overhanging cliffs, caves or |
| have been miniaturized to the point where they | | | | heavy tree cover can prevent a connection. |
| can weigh less than eight ounces and fit in the | | | | One feature that the SPOT Satellite Locator has |
| palm of your hand. The government has | | | | that a Personal EPIRB type PLB does not have is |
| approved their use for persons such as hikers and | | | | the ability to cancel a distress call. Once a regular |
| campers. | | | | personal EPIRB is activated there is nothing you |
| Until recently the choices were just between | | | | can do to stop a rescue mission from being |
| brands of PLB's that basically did the same thing, | | | | undertaken. The ability of the SPOT Locator |
| relay your position and unique code to an | | | | device to send a one way e-mail is also very |
| overhead satellite to alert authorities to start a | | | | helpful. |
| rescue attempt. | | | | Neither one is better than the other and you |
| Now a newcomer on the market offers a slightly | | | | should understand that alerts that are received |
| different system that is capable of not only | | | | from traditional PLB's (EPIRB's which are |
| sending a 911 message but also one way e-mail | | | | registered with the government) are handled by |
| messages to friends and family as well as allowing | | | | NOAA, a government agency. Alerts sent from |
| them to track your position on their home | | | | SPOT Locators are handled by a private, |
| computers with a login name and password you | | | | worldwide agency which passes the alert |
| provide them. | | | | information on to government authorities. While |
| The SPOT Satellite Messenger works off of a | | | | either one may summon help for you, one is |
| separate, non emergency satellite system. It's | | | | through a private agency, whether that is good or |
| coverage area is basically worldwide with some | | | | bad I cannot say. |
| dead spots over much of Africa and the high | | | | |