It’s more like $200-300 for the device and $5-8 per month for service these days.
Given the value in an emergency, I’d consider that fair!
And if you really only care about calling emergency services in the backcountry or at sea, you can always get a PLB (which have no recurring fees at all).
> And if you really only care about calling emergency services in the backcountry or at sea, you can always get a PLB (which have no recurring fees at all).
In the wilderness of Yukon and Alaksa we found we didn't need to call emergency services, but it was very handy to contact friends.
"I'm very stuck, but fine, come get me".
"I shot a moose, it would be great if you'd come and help me quarter it."
"We're perfectly fine, but delayed a couple of days."
Things like that are what we used our gen 1 spot for, and it was great.
Even in a serious situation, there's value in being able to coordinate with would-be rescuers. I'm in a bit of a pickle with a twisted ankle and I'm really going to have trouble walking all the way out by myself but I have food and water is a different situation from I've fallen 40 feet and conscious but have a broken leg and am getting really cold.
Importantly, with most current PLBs you don't actually see if your emergency call has been received at all, which can make an important difference for survival (i.e. it informs the decision whether it's best to stay put and try to hold out, or whether getting to higher ground with clearer sky is essential).
Fortunately, at least that part is changing: Cospas-Sarsat (the service listening for PLB emergency calls) can now use Galileo satellites as a return channel to send an acknowledgement to the newest PLBs in some regions [1].
It doesn't address the "type of emergency" concern, though – not everything requires a helicopter.
I haven't bought either a PLB or an InReach Mini, but seriously considered them while more actively adventuring all over the U.S. earlier. Here's what I think:
I really don't want to press the PLB emergency button unless my life is in danger and I need to be rescued by helicopter. PLBs are not good at all for "my car has failed and I'm 15 miles down a forest road".
An InReach Mini 2 will cost you $130/year more than a PLB over 10 years of ownership.
* Even he flubbed a parachuting emergency and nearly bought the farm. In fairness, so did my paratrooper grandfather as he busted 2 knees and his neck... he had to wear a neck support most of his life.
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It's vital that PLBs be correctly registered and continually updated (2 years AND at every details change) with reliable emergency contacts who are always responsive. For multiple reasons, I would always call the one or more of PLB emergency contacts to let them know you're heading beyond cell service. US EPIRB operators register them here: https://beaconregistration.noaa.gov/RGDB/index
Terrestrial cell coverage is a function of population density much more than anything. In fact, I'd expect rural areas in the US and Candada to benefit from this just as much, if not more.
Given the value in an emergency, I’d consider that fair!
And if you really only care about calling emergency services in the backcountry or at sea, you can always get a PLB (which have no recurring fees at all).