"Lost" hiker found after using PLB

http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200880709107

Not a lot of detail. The guy seems to have been walking out at his planned exit time. Model of PLB not mentioned, either.

Sounds like the Spot Messenger, not a PLB.

Personal opinion, a map and compass properly applied would have made this "rescue" unnecessary. But if you are going to go with satellite based systems, start with a good GPS so you can stay found on your own. Don't unnecessarily burden the system because you got turned around/lost but are otherwise in good shape.

"...Brechner had intended to camp overnight in the wilderness.

“He got out about the time he would have,”..."

So where was the emergency???

Based on the nonemergency transmissions sent throughout the day, my guess is that the "victim" of this "ordeal" knew it wasn't an emergency too. The only question I have is which button did he push that sent the 14 transmissions in the dawn hours.

The “single” being sent to a private company also makes it sound like it is a SPOT Satellite Messenger instead of a true PLB. It also appears proofreading is not a high priority of the news these days.

sounds like a classic "well, I paid for this thing, I'm damn well going to get my money out of it." thought pattern.