how about this?..saved up a few bucks over the winter in a PLB fund with the idea of running over to my local camping gear store and bringing one home.no one in Minneapolis seems to have any in stock.i called a couple of the main gear shops and got more confused mumbling than answers.i'll end up with a mail order from REI so i can get a pay back but what a hassle.
i did a post at my canoe tripping site and was told,one-check the store at a sea plane airport and two--and here it is--in the Midwest there does not seem to be any demand for PLB's.
out West more, but in the safe,nothing happens fly-over land not enough people feel they can get lost or in danger outdoors to need to carry a PLB's.
at 68 and with a brand need knee i want some back up on my solo canoe trips up north.

PLBs are specialist outdoor survival kit. I even have trouble even getting descent outdoor gear where a live. Even the local Gun/fishing tackle shop closed down recently. It opened up in the city before the American Civil war in 1860.

Even getting Optics such as binoculars is a problem in a brick and mortar shop. The National chain store called Jessops went Bankrupt so even the local Jessops in the town centre was closed a few years ago. They were a specialized Camera equipment chain store.

I am still searching for a Nikon 16-48x / 20-60x Zoom SS RA III WP Eyepiece (BDB90173) for my field scope after many months.

Getting specialist gear and kit locally from a local brick and mortar store is getting more a more difficult. I could list a whole set of camping/trekking gear virtually impossible to get locally unless you happen to live near a good outdoor retailer that has a major Internet presence. Mention titanium or high speed knife steels or even goose down and you will be disappointed by the response of the store owner.

acrartex.com/where-to-buy/ I bought my ACR ResQLink™ PLB online, but there may be a brick & mortar retailer nearby.

Note that there two different kinds - one can send "I'm ok" updates< the other does not...there are other not so subtle differences ( subscription cost )

PLBs can't send any information other than SOS. Some SENDs can, and come with subscription costs.