If you frequently set off into the backcountry alone or travel in remote areas, the thought has undoubtedly crossed your mind. In a worst-case scenario, how would I get out? It’s also pretty tough to ignore all of the ads for satelite locators, messengers, and beacons that claim to protect against your becoming the next Aron Wall (at right). As you may have guessed, these devices aren’t all equal – and we’ve done some digging to give you a rundown on which one might be right for your situation.

What These Aren’t
First of all, let’s get one thing out of the way. Neither of the devices here are avalanche transceivers. I can’t tell you how many times I hear people confuse this point, and it’s an important point to make - neither of the products you see here are intended for finding a buried avalanche victim. We’ll cover that in another post down the road.

SPOT Messenger

Device $199.99; $99/year service fee
The SPOT Messenger arrived on the market in 2007. There was a tremendous advertising effort behind the launch of this device, so if you’ve seen one in a store or a magazine recently, this is probably the one. The second generation model, pictured at right, is due on store shelves this fall – it features improved satellite acquisition in canopied / poor coverage areas, illuminated buttons, and covered emergency buttons.

SPOT Messenger Capabilities
The big selling point of a SPOT Messenger device is its versatility – unlike most PLBs and satelite beacons, SPOT is a so-called “satelite messenger”. It isn’t just for emergencies.

• The “OK” button allows you to to check in with contacts you set up before your trip via e-mail and SMS (a message you write and save at SPOT’s website, along with your location on a Google map is sent.)
• The “HELP” button sends your location along with a help message you set up ahead of time to your contacts for situations where you need to get someones’ attention, but don’t want to trigger an all-out search and rescue operation. This button can be re-programmed to summon roadside assistance (replaces the normal functionality of the help button.)
• The “911″ button continually sends your location to a private rescue coordinator, the GEOS alliance, who is contracted by SPOT to initiate and convey information about your location to search & rescue authorities.

SPOT Messenger Rescue Readiness – The Technology
In the event of the 911 button being pushed, the SPOT messenger sends its coordinates via the Globalstar low-orbiting satelite network to the privately run GEOS call center, who then contacts local search & rescue authorities. Since its release, SPOT has already begun gathering a list of stories where the SPOT was activated and led to a successful rescue.

The Globalstar low-orbiting satellite network, however, has its limitations. There are large swaths of land that the device doesn’t cover (see map at right) and there have been quite a few reports that the first generation device has trouble connecting without a completely clear view of the sky. This seems to be dependent on where you are (a rural area in the continental United States seems fine, but there have been scattered reports of the device not working or taking painfully long to connect in parts of Canada, Alaska, China and Japan.) As we mentioned above, SPOT has said that the second generation model will have a revamped antenna and improved satellite acquisition – we’ll let you know once we get some feedback from people who have actually used it.

SPOT Messenger Rescue Readiness – Battery Life & Service

A couple of other sticking points with the SPOT: it reliance on lithium batteries, and the relatively steep monthly service charge. While SPOT isn’t much of a battery hog (it lasts for 14 days sending continuous check-in signals, or 7 consecutive days in 911 mode sending a signal every 5 minutes), the additional functionality of SPOT means you need to make sure you have plenty of batteries with you.

The issue with the monthly service fee is pretty self explanatory – make sure you are paid up before heading out into the woods, otherwise pressing that button may not be all that helpful.

ACR MicroFix

Device $600; No service fee thereafter
The ACR MicroFix is the latest PLB from ACR Electronics – a trusted, longtime manufacturer of personal locator beacons for the outdoor, marine & aviation industries. ACR has long been considered the leader in PLBs, and the technology that it uses really is the benchmark – it’s credited with 250+ rescues annually in the United States alone.

ACR MicroFix Capabilities
The ACR MicroFix and all of the other ACR PLBs differ in one key way – their only capability is to send out a distress signal. No “check-ins”, no summoning help from friends & family, and no Google Maps. The ACR MicroFix is intended only to stand by, and be used only in the event of a serious emergency.

ACR MicroFix Rescue Readiness: The Technology
Pushing the HELP button on an ACR PLB causes the unit to start broadcasting a distress signal with your coordinates (obtained by the unit’s GPS chip) via the COSPAS-SARSAT satellite system to one of four worldwide mission control centers. The system is administered by governments (the NOAA and the US Air Force in the United States) as opposed to the private firm that coordinates SPOT rescues.

The COPAS-SARSAT satellite system is, by most accounts, superior to the Globalstar network used by SPOT. COPAS-SARSAT consists of two separate networks of satellites – a near-earth network and a geostationary network. The two different satellite networks provide unmatched coverage across the globe (no blackout regions here), and much improved reception & speed in areas that don’t necessarily have a clear view of the sky (heavily canopied forests, canyons, and the like.)

Another selling point of the ACR MicroFix is that it uses three means of communication, providing redundancy when one fails. This unit has the capability to send out your GPS location, a 406MHz doppler signal, and a 125MHz homing signal. We won’t go into the details – but more methods of broadcasting a signal mean a better chance for rescuers to find you, it’s as simple as that. On top of this, the ACR PLB has 12x more broadcasting power – 5W – compared to SPOT’s 400mW (but as a result, it won’t broadcast as long.)

ACR MicroFix Rescue Readiness – Battery Life & Service
Unlike the SPOT Messenger, the ACR MicroFix has an internal lithium battery which lasts up to five years on standby. Because the ACR doesn’t have any extra features you’d be using in a non-emergency situation, it’s less likely to suffer from battery failure – but you will need to remember to replace the battery every five years.

Another major difference – the ACR unit needs to be registered with the NOAA (to associate your information with the signal the device transmits), but after your initial purchase, there’s no service contract. If you push the button, it just works – your tax dollars fund the system.

The Bottom Line

So, which device is superior? Well, that depends on what you intend to use it for, and where you think you’ll be using it…

• If you are a casual hiker who is stuck on having the convenience of the non-emergency messaging features of the SPOT and spend most of your time in the continental United States, the SPOT is probably fine for you.
• If you are buying a unit primarily for the beacon functionality, on the other hand -we strongly recommend the ACR. While the newer incarnation of the SPOT Messenger claims it will have improved reception due to its improved antenna, the technology behind the SPOT Messenger simply isn’t as robust as the ACR. On top of this, the network of search & rescue assets the ACR broadcasts to has been around much longer and is said to be more robust than the privately funded coordinating service used by SPOT.