I have just read in one on-line outdoor magazine a mention about this new emergency device which seems to be quite interesting. I don´t know how reliable, useful or rugged it is. Hopefully someday we will see a review of it here from Doug.

Apart from other useful features like navigation, the two way communication via satellite modem caught my eye. I wonder how useful and/or reliable is the PIEPS/OrbComm network.

Seems like these emergency devices are starting to appear more and more which is a good thing. More competition and more innovation is always welcomed in this field (of course as long as the quality of the device is worth betting your life on).

Here is more info:

http://www.pieps.com/en/news-mainmenu-60/119.html

http://www.pieps.com/images/stories/news/2009_globalfinder/Info_Global-Finder.pdf

Typical disclamer: I work for this company and want you all to run and buy at least two of them. Just kidding .

Well this looks interesting!

Time to read up on it..

THANKS

They are well known (at least in europe) for avalanche transceivers.
Not sure how well the 800Mhz signal will go if you don't have line of sight, 3km sounds optimistic (perhaps between two mountain tops).
The satelite link is fairly easy technically, you can buy modems off the shelf from orbcomm - it's used by a lot of fleet and cargo truck tracking systems.

There are no prices for the satellite data subscription or any guarantees of who is running it or their links to various national agencies.

The ability to locate other people in your party if you are separated is useful - this is a direct handset-handset link and doesn't need the satelite - assuming the pricing means you can afford to have multiple units.