I think spot has one very useful feature.
From what I understand it can be set to automatically send your position at set intervals. This could be useful if you are overdue and it shows you as not having moved in a while.
If you were unconscious, this would allow someone to determine that you were in trouble and where you were. A normal PLB will not activate when you are unconscious.

Yeah but it only does it for 24hrs and than you have to prompt it to do it again. Still useful.

I don't know man. Every now and than I'm still looking at that Spot. People at Backpackers forum think that this is the best thing since sliced bread and many supporters are actual users and some are retired or still active SAR workers.

I'm all about supporting local moms and pops stores. In todays day and age internet became so convinient that we forget to help out little guys. My local shop has all the gear I need with prices lower than major chains but conversation like the one I had about ACR just proves my old point and that is to know my stuff when I go in there. I've been buying equipment there since 1998 and will for as long as they are open but I just need to be an educated customer.

Bro Aeromedix and Matt don't mix. I stick to Rei and local shops.

Matt -

Our review with extensive field testing is up at backpackinglight.com, in case you want to check it out (subscription required, though).

Doug - feel free to remove this if it's not appropriate to post here.

Bottom line: we didn't feel comfortable recommending the Spot, and none of the four testers were interested in keeping one after the review (even for free).

I paid a visit to my local outfitter and was provided a comparison table (assumed to have been prepared by ACR) that was very helpful. Apparently some ACR rep left it there so take it with a grain of salt:

cost of ownership over 5 yrs
ACR: $499-699
Spot: $644-1517

purchase price
ACR: $499-699
Spot: $149-169

Base fee per year/5years
ACR: na/na
Spot: $99/$495

Fee for realtime tracking
ACR: n/a
Spot: $49

Fee for $100k coverage/yr
ACR: n/a
Spot: $8
note: in the US, a fee is not normally charged to be rescued. 406 PLB owners may purchase it on open market.

Fee for policy for 5 years
ACR: n/a
spot: $608

Satellite system
ACR: COSPAS-SARSAT
Spot: Globalstar

Satellite type
ACR: GEOSAR, LEOSAR
spot: globalstar low orbiting

Antenna
ACR: 1 for GPS, 1 for distress message transm.
spot: 1 for gps reception and distress

Transmission Power
ACR: 5W
spot: 400mW
Note: ACR PLB has a 12.5X more powerful transmitter

Transmission type
ACR: GPS (lat/lon), 406MHz (Doppler), 121.5MHz (homing)
spot: GPS, 911 Alert

Battery Chemistry/life/warranty
ACR: Li+/5 yr off/5 yr
spot: AA 1.5 Li+, or Alkaline/1yr 0n/1 yr

GPS Failur backup
ACR: Doppler
spot: none

Homing freq
ACR: 121.5
spot: none

Emergency routing
ACR: Air Force Rescue Coord Ctr to local SAR
spot: SPOT GEOS call center, then local SAR.if no gps, only emergency contacts will be notified.

Sources: SPOT Website, SPOT data sheet, ACR website, ACR data sheet.

FAILURE RATE?

One interesting issue that is not discussed is the failure rate of each. How often do each fail to provide the communication they promise?

BACKGROUND: I bought the ACR PLB and carry it where ever I go. When the SPOT was released, I studied the data sheets with the intent to resell them in your store. I wasn't sold on what I read.

Then came the real test. We were promised a real live test from SPOT. I posted the results under "SPOT FAILS UNDER PRESSURE on 07/06/08" John Dark from SPOT said "What Problem".

Last weekend was the clincher. A kayaker dripped into our store for a beer. Wet from just running the Payette River from Smiths Ferry to Ponderosa Sports. I was surprised he was still alive. It is one bad stretch of river.

He was playing with my demo ACR PLB and had some questions. He seemed quite involved in the technology. Then he pops up with the fact he has a SPOT. He was quite impressed with it. I thought, with this data, that my interest in the SPOT would be refueled. He had used it quite a bit.

I asked him how it worked. He said it worked quite well if he got a connection! I said what? He stated that on the Payette River that flows straight North to South with NO CANYON WALLS, there was often 20 minutes that he could not get connection! We went out to the parking lot and sure enough it was still on and still searching. Lucky he was drinking a beer instead of requesting a RESCUE OR DEATH call.

Please post your FAILURE EXPERIENCES. Has anyone ever had an ACR PLB fail to request a rescue?

Relative to price, I chose the least expensive route with the most reliable service. I was surprised that the cheapest one also provided the highest potential of rescue.

I chose the ACR PLB. The SPOT was much more expensive and far less reliable.