Just prior to a river trip on the Selway this summer I purchased an ACR Microfix satellite-based personal locator beacon. I bought it for a few reasons:
1. The Selway is nowhere near a cellphone tower and we were worried about what we would do in the event of an accident
2. A few members of our group were over 65 years old and had prior medical conditions
3. I'm deep in areas where there is no cellphone coverage often enough to care
4. I've been watching "I Shouldn't Be Alive" on the Discovery Channel and thought that a PLB would have saved each of those people a lot of trouble.
When activated the beacon transmits your GPS location and personal information via satellite to NOAA who coordinates rescue efforts with the local search and rescue organization.
If I ever need to use it (and hopefully I won't), I'm sure it will be the best money I've ever spent.
