I'm planning to purchase a McMurdo FastFind 210- should I hold off? Will that satellite network be offline/obsolete should I need to use the beacon in, say, three years?
The COSPAS-SARSAT system isn't going anywhere (I guess that is something of a double entendre <g>). In fact they are spending millions renewing it and advancing it with the new MEOSAR constellation as next gen GPS satellites are launched. Your new PLB will work for just fine for as long as you are likely to be carrying it.