Chris McNamara
SuperTopo staff member
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We just posted a review at OutdoorGearLab.com on Personal Locator Beacons and Satellite Messengers. More important to this discussion is our article that explains how the different satellite networks work and how the devices communicate with them that you can see here https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/topics/camping-and-hiking/best-personal-locator-beacon/buying-advice
A big issue we found in the review is that many devices because they work inconsistently, can actually raise the stress level of family members, friends who are tracking them.
From the review:
A popular anecdote illustrating a drawback of any satellite messenger device which performs with less than 100 percent consistency is that if your contacts are expecting to receive “okay” messages from you, then not receiving them is almost a guaranteed source of stress. If your family or significant other is expecting to receive “okay” messages at a certain frequency, and then they do not, it could cause them to raise the alarm unnecessarily. Indeed, there are many reported cases of this documented by rescue services, and many stories of a messaging device causing, instead of alleviating, stress for people who are tracking the progress of the user.
There are pros and cons to the SEND devices vs. PLB's. And of course there is always the argument (stated earlier) that these devices encourage taking unnecessary risks.... but that argument, while maybe true in a minority of cases, doesn't seem to hold up for the majority. Would you tell someone to not take an avalanche beacon when skiing in the backcountry because it is going to increase their risk-taking? Or tell someone to not wear a seat belt when driving?
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Let us know!