PLB's

[Ghost Hunter]

Who's carrying a PLB and what type?  Been looking at them for a couple of seasons.  Decided to go with an ACR.  Cost a little more than the SPOT but no fees.  Hope I never have the need but think it will give me the reassurance to hunt alone in more remote areas.

[KFhunter]

I think you made a good choice, unless SPOT has improved a bunch over the 1st ones. 

I rushed to the store and bought one of the first SPOT's to hit the market, it was spotty and you never really got a confirmation that your message went through.  I really wanted it to work so went out of my way to make sure I got the most from it.  I even had troubles standing at the peak of a 7000' mountain on a blue bird day at zero degrees, lot's of mountain peaks actually.  I let the subscription expire and the SPOT unit is floating around in a bin full of other electronic gizmo's that have likewise outlived their usefulness.

[CAMPMEAT]

I have the ACR as well. For your reasons too, no subscriptions and it's registered to you only.

[ghosthunter]

I think you made a good choice, unless SPOT has improved a bunch over the 1st ones. 

I rushed to the store and bought one of the first SPOT's to hit the market, it was spotty and you never really got a confirmation that your message went through.  I really wanted it to work so went out of my way to make sure I got the most from it.  I even had troubles standing at the peak of a 7000' mountain on a blue bird day at zero degrees, lot's of mountain peaks actually.  I let the subscription expire and the SPOT unit is floating around in a bin full of other electronic gizmo's that have likewise outlived their usefulness.

I have a newer spot ,three years old maybe. The reason is I hunt alone a lot. My wife wants to know I am ok. So I have the spot set up to send a "I am hunting here today Message" and when I get back to camp for the night I send the custom message which says"I am ok and in camp for the night. I dont use the tracking. Mine works good I think, Because where there is cell service I receive the message on my phone.
I also have it go to my email both work and home. I have compared the send times and receive times when I got back and they run any where from 5-10 minutes most the time.

So I guess it depends on your goal. To get help when you need it? Or reassure the family? Or both?
If I were going out of country I might consider the PLB's though.

[Ghost Hunter]

I figure if the wife isn't getting a call from SAR she can assume I'm ok.   I check in when I can by cell.  Generally it's me finding out something wrong at home  

[ghosthunter]

I figure if the wife isn't getting a call from SAR she can assume I'm ok.   I check in when I can by cell.  Generally it's me finding out something wrong at home  

I don't check in for that reason. I tell them all I have no cell service.

[Stein]

I carry an ACR, just a few ounces and direct to the cavalry.  I use it for hunting and on the boat.

[sneakyjake]

Ditto

[Bob33]

When it's a matter of life or death, a PLB is the way to go.