I'll say it again - if SPOT was a portable two-way messaging device (a satellite texter) I would buy one and pay the annual fee. Heck, I pay $120 a year for texting on my cellphone. I think a lot of us would buy it - those that have family that worry about us all-alone-out-there-might-get-eaten-by-a-bear-yadda-yadda. It wouldn't have to be 100% reliable, because we'd be able to tell if our messages were getting out or not. If we did need assistance, we could provide a description of the assistance needed, and maybe even contact the appropriate agency to provide it. I've said as much to the people behind SPOT. I don't know if they can deliver such a device, but that's what I'm waiting for. Until then, those ACR PLBs are getting reasonably light AND under $250...that's a SPOT with one year of service.

Yeah, that's an interesting notion. if it were light enough, and cheap enough, I would pay for something that could send and receive sms text messages on satellite. It's not what I use my plb for - but I'd probably take that some places.. that's the "keeping in touch with loved ones" function that's not really "PLB" function.

The insurance caveats sound just like the "pre-existing conditions" for health insurance!

OK - I'll say it again too. There is no other service like SPOT for the money. None.
I use it and love it. And I don't have text/sms service on my cell.

I sure wish that there were other reports on the SPOT. You are the only person I have heard of who thinks the SPOT is great. Most other reports say that it works sometimes and really needs more work before it goes main stream. The idea is great but if it only works sometimes it is not something I want to lug along. I went on a remote trip a few years ago and my wife insisted that I rent a satellite phone. It only worked about 10% of the time so my wife was more upset than if I could not make contact at all. She was home wondering why she had not heard from me for three days.

I was on a project on Santa Rosa Island last year. I took my cell along so I could contact DW. It turned out my cell, which I didn't even think would necessarily be in range of a tower, was more reliable than the sat phone we had, and it turned out to be our main means of communication.

I've been using my SPOT for two years. It's a little sketchy in narrow canyons and under tree cover. On extended trips I check in twice a day, morning and evening. Dayhiking I check in when I reach the trailhead, this lets my wife know where I'm parked and again at lunch.
It may not be perfect, but I like it and my wife appreciates having a little more info on my location.

Don

Yea, I'm sure I'm the only person who likes SPOT.