Whether to get one or not, no matter what the price, is really going to come down to personal Risk Assesment, and some folks think they can dodge bullets if it comes down to it instead of spend a lot of money. Kidding <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I'd pay $200-250 to get one. It seems very similar to other early-adopter technology. CD Burners were over a grand and the blanks were $20 back around 1995/96. Now you can get a DVD-RW/CD-RW combo drive for $30-50 and the blanks run in the pennies per disc range. So, once the companies go through the process, work out the bugs, and get a functional, spec-complete item, it's a matter of volume to get the costs down.

From what Doug said, it sounds very much as if the costs are not in the actual physical production, but rather in R&D, QA, Lawyers, Regulation certification, and the like. But once they work through that, the more people that buy them the cheaper they get.

Just like Blu-Ray/HD-DVD, the early adopters are the ones who pay the price to get the item to market. As the item goes mass-market, those initial costs really don't change, and the physical production costs are likely to drop. I mean, in principle, there's not a lot going on with these devices. Once they get past the sunk costs, I'm sure costs will go down.

And as for everyone worrying about abuse ala 911 system, $250,000 is a pretty steep fine. Plus, nobody pays $500 all at once just to have access to 911. They pay a tiny fraction of that cost on a monthly bill, and it's available on every phone, including anonymous payphones. And the fee/crime is much less for 911 pranking or inappropriate use. 911 is MUCH more likely to be abused because of those differences. Plus, personal responsibility means that I only care about the price dropping because I know that *I* will be responsible. I hope that the survivorman type shows and recent hicking/driving deaths in the news get more folks preparing themselves, and buying more of this type of gear. It only serves to move the production from niche to mass markets, lowering prices and presumably improving product design.

I just purchased an ACR AeroFix PLB, with GPS along with Doug's RSK MK3 knife (from AeroMedix). It seemed like a great offer and I figured if I was going to go "all out" and order a PLB, why not sweeten the deal with a knife?

I ordered it back on December 29th and recently found out that I ordered the AERO fix and not the TERRA Fix, like I had originally wanted. Some searching on the forum revealed that its really the same thing. I plan on carrying the PLB on my backpacking trips and I think its a good investment, since almost all of my hikes are solo. Still will be working on survival skills though. Anyone know when the second season of Survivorman comes out?

Congratulations on your new purchases. They are both wonderful tools. Isn't the handle of the Mk3 really cool looking? The knife is much heftier than some might expect.

As with all of Doug's knives, make sure you sharpen them at 15 degrees to keep the original angle. I highly recommend the Spyderco Shaprmaker, if you don't already have one.

Though you may not need it, you may have already noted that the GPS connector that comes with the AeroFix has bare wire ends. If you want to purchase the one with the serial connector, contact Sandy at ACR Electronics, (954)981-3333 EXT 2110, [email]sgopie@acrelectronics.com.[/email] The serial connector is part #9391 and costs $37.00 plus shipping. I e-mailed the details of the order to her and the ncalled her with my VISA card number (I didn't want to e-mail a credit card number).

At some point I might find a local store with Otterboxes and find one that fits well.

Ken K.

Well, I haven't recieved either one from Aeromedix yet (I ordered on the 29th and New Year's delayed it). I still can't get over how I ordered the AeroFix instead of the Terra Fix---I just thought I would have noticed that. I guess in the long run it really won't make a difference. The label on the PLB, color of the holster, and wires seem to be the only difference.

As far as the connectors go, I don't think I'll be using them. I always have a small Garmin ForeTrex 101 in my backpack, but its reception can't be any greater than the onboard one on the ACR unit.

I also ordered a padded, waterproof pouch for the AeroFix from Pacific Outdoor Equipment (the G-Pouch). Earlier, I had considered an Otter or Pelican box, but those weigh as much as the actual unit. They would protect it from anything, though. Almost indestructible.

The package should be here by the 4th, according to UPS.

MicrOfix - ResQfix - Would anyone even pay wholesale?!?!

We are coming up on a year since ACR distributed the Microfix PLB.

On 02/28/07 I asked if anyone would pay wholesale. There was no takers.

How many now have an ACR Microfix?