Personal Locator Beacon--FastFind PLB

For some time now there has been discussion about the merits between the Spot System with its relatively low entry cost but the monthly subscription service fee; and the Epirb with a relatively high initial cost but no monthly service fees.

In last months Sport Fishing magazine saw an article about the Fastfind PLB, a cell phone sized, self actuated, personal location beacon that is to date, the smallest and cheapest (and therefore most useful) unit on the market.  Cheapest--less than $300, though barely.  Battery life of 5 years, waterproof, and once activated transmits a distress signal for at least 24 hours at 5 watts.
This GPS enabled system can be used from anywhere in the world, operating on the 406MHz international Search and Rescue Satellite system and using a secondary transmission on 121.5 MHz to bring nearby search and rescue units quickly to your location.
That's the commercial, but it sounds pretty damn good to me especially if were going on  regular trips to Alaska or some other remote locations.
Most of my fishing is not nearly so exotic as to require this little unit but I know there are those of you out there that should consider this newest little toy as part of your safety arsenal.
And for the curious, here is a link to find out more about this unit or just how these types of units work (there were a few gaps in my grasp of these units) :ww.fastfindplb.com/

yes i saw this the other day...and am seriously considering it...2 years of spot plus the unit is more than this unit...and i have all the test equipment at work to do the battery replacement

How is it "self actuated"?  Can you turn it off easily if it goes off?  I'd hate to accidentally fall in, self rescue, and find the Coast Guard out looking for me because it's set to go off when it goes underwater.  I'll check the site out for answers.

I found my answer, sort of, it's a multistep activation and you have a 50 sec delay so you can turn it off.  I didn't see anything about "self actuated".

http://www.fastfindplb.com/en/what_is_fast_find/how_does_fast_find_work.php

BTW, if you need a bit more bling.. Breitling makes an EPRIB watch.
http://www.breitling.com/en/models/professional/emergency/

I agree i don't remember reading anything about self activating and i don't want it to...

BTW, if you need a bit more bling.. Breitling makes an EPRIB watch.
http://www.breitling.com/en/models/professional/emergency/

cospas no longer monitors 121.5 by satellite so you might not want that one...your relying on people just randomly listening to 121.5

cospas no longer monitors 121.5 by satellite so you might not want that one...your relying on people just randomly listening to 121.5

More likely, you're relying on your float plan at that point.. you don't check in and the Coast Guard is called in with the knowledge that you have a 121.5 beacon.  It would still be useful, but the delay wouldn't be fun.    Anyway, I doubt I'd ever get an expensive watch with such a gimmick.. oh wait.. my watch has a "helium escape valve".. I better stop talking.

Brian

For anyone interested, last week Joes still had some PLBs. I picked up an ACR plb for a great price.