It’s leapfrog time in the PLB business and McMurdo revealed today at Miami International Boat Show their big leap forward, a new FAST FIND range of Personal Locator Beacons. These new PLBs are significantly smaller, lighter and less expensive then the competition with all the bells and whistles we've come to expect. Check out the new FAST FIND PLBs and find out why they may be a game changer:

www.equipped.org/blog/?p=105

Doug I know you've had issues with McMurdo in the past with reliability, what is your opinion of the stuff they are doing now, do you think the quality of there equipment matches ACR or is it still not as reliable in difficult terrain? The ACR equipment is pretty good and reliable stuff, I'm just wondering if McMurdo ever got their act together?

if you are talking their existing Fastfind Max PLB, it's probably fine, but lacks some of the features I prefer that the ACR has. I currently carry an ACR MincrOFix.

As for the new FAST FINDs, we'll have to see.

Ok thanks Doug, I think sometimes it's worth paying a little more like ACR to get a solid performing device, I know company's work hard to get bugs worked out of earlier failures and sometimes end up with products more superior than others, but I don't think this will be the case with this manufacture, I think Spot has the best chance of getting into this market with a new model that has a user replaceable over the shelf battery, works dual mode with the COSPAS-SARSAT satellite system and 121.5 MHz frequency for free and then have the option to pay if you want for the other services. Plus it would be nice if they incorporate a external power plug in to use solar cells or a vehicle battery if a battery failure or a long rescue attempt is needed due to weather restraints or what have you. I know most of the gear I carry can run 100% off of a 40 watt foldable solar cell with no batteries needed and it's a nice feeling for a back up with solar cells when traveling.

I wouldn't hold my breath for a 406 MHz COSPAS-SARSAT compatible SPOT.

I know it will never happen, just some wishful thinking

The price of PLB's always made me shy away, this may make it possible for more people to equip with less impact on their wallets. I anxiously await this next generation device.

I agree with Doug. That does not appear to be SPOT's direction. I had a long conversation with them at the 2009 SHOT Show and it does not seem that they are even moving in the direction of configurable text messages anytime quickly.

I'm sticking with the ACR MicroFix as well.

Craig.

Perhaps the competition will move ACR Microfix prices lower. Then it's a matter of performance. SPOT would not work for me.

Game changer is right. I never have carried one when solo backpacking but 5.5 ounces might be light enough for me to make room for one!

Thank you for the information! I haven't been watching PLBs and who knows when I would have seen it elsewhere.