Personal Locator Beacons

Old telegraph equipment over a table - Photo: Still Gravity.
Old telegraph (no, you don't need to carry this in the backcountry) - License our images here.        

Phones are not a reliable mean of communication when hiking or camping in remote places - exception: satellite phones. 

A PLB - Personal Locator Beacon - is a good option. Just push a button and a distress message with our coordinates is sent. The transmission should reach government centers that can coordinate a rescue. Check the illustration in this article to get an idea on how the system works. 

ACR is a well-known brand of PLB. We must register the device, but there is no subscription fee. The limit is the battery that only last 5 years. After that, we need to buy a new unit. 

This video review covers the ACR PLB and also the Garmin InReach - both product links are affiliate.

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