Unless they significantly improve the SPOT's performance and reliability--enough to justify the rather stiff annual fee--I'll set my sights on the next generation of PLBs that are sure to come out.

While they don't allow for checking in "okay" (the SPOT's genius feature, IMHO) they're absolutely reliable in most parts of the globe in the critical feature: getting help.

That poor fellow who died after falling last fall in Emigrant Wilderness may have been rescued had he had a PLB instead of a SPOT.

Cheers,
_________________________
--Rick