One of the news stories I read said a mobile cell tower was brought in. Those are a little more complicated than a repeater, I don't think the required equipment could by carried on a small airplane or helicopter.
As far as a scanner, you only get a very short burst of data from the cell phone, the ping at regular intervals so the scanner has to hit the right frequency at the right time to catch one. Then you would need multiple to triangulate a position. So while its technically possible, its not easy to coordinate.
Then you would have to hope they haven't ran the cell phone dead trying to make a call. Something I added to out vehicles is an 12v socket connected to clips which can clip on the vehicle battery should the rest of the electrical system die, that way I could still charge a cell phone if needed. This was after buying a new vehicle and finding out the quality of Japanese electrical systems when the whole thing burned up driving on a trip so we couldn't even power up the old car phone (back when they were installed in a vehicle and didn't have their own power source).

You are correct. For urban use, the tow strap is all I need.

For more remote use, a quality US-made 2-ton come-along can be invaluable.

You might take a look at the griphoist I linked to (or others like it). It allows safe reversal of direction.

-john

A good quality hi-lift jack doubles as a winch as well, with a tow strap. It takes a bit, but, if you have an anchor in the right place, it will get you unstuck.

Agreed, but it's a bit tricky considering you have to anchor the vehicle in order to reposition the jack. And you need something to anchor it.

-john

The real problem with a PLB is that the average person knows nothing of their existance, let alone when they should own/use one.
I cannot justify the cost unless I plan a really remote trip without communications available. When you consider that the PLB is basically a simple single frequency transmitter that can hit a satellite, it seems very overpriced. There are a few other negative aspects, they are not very waterproof considering their intended use, they are heavy of you plan to backpack it, in realtive terms and they use proprietary batteries that must be factory serviced every 5 years.
Yes, they could save your life if ever used in an emergency but how many of us have $700 to invest in one? I honestly doubt I will buy one in their current design. It would have to half in price, come with better weather resistance and have self service batteries, like CR123s. The concept is excellent, just not very affordable for the masses.
Compared to a GPS map unit, or a HAM radio, a PLB is like a tricycle compared to the space shuttle, yet the PLB is much more expensive. I do not understand that aspect of the PLB.

Any new technology is the same way. DVD recorders were $500+++ when they came out. As demand for them increased the price dropped.

"...As demand for them increased the price dropped..."

If only that worked for fuel prices...

Its the supply that increased causeing the drop in price, when they first came out there were relatively few so the price was high to keep the demand below or even to the supply.. as the supply increased, the price was lowered, people could better afford to buy them... etc, until the supply and demand balanced out to a saturated market, then the tech got better further reduceing the price... etc ad infinitum..

Interestingly, 2 days after all the tires on the car are burned and one day after Kim left the car, nighttime lows go above freezing.