One thing caught my attention in the original posting - snowmobiling in the Mt. Baker Wilderness (??) Mechanical appliances are a no-no in designated wilderness areas.

Glad he was rescued, but he should also receive a citation, with an appreciable fine.

Selling a known defective unit on ebay?? Give me a break!!

What is really intriguing is that the plain old cell phone came through and summoned assistance, even in a presumably isolated area. it seems to me that, day in and day out, cell phones get word out in case of a problem, while PLB usage is still somewhat rare. Does anyone have dependable stats??