Sarlink

The thought of being injured and stranded in the wilderness, or simply being irretrievably lost out there, is enough to scare many people away from the woods. For the rest of us it's a risk we're accepting, but given another option most of us will gratefully grab the rescue line no matter how it's presented. Several companies now offer rescue services and personal location devices -- some are barely legitimate, with fine print user agreements that absolve the provider of any real responsibility, and hidden costs that punish users who actually ask for help. Even the electronics involved is marginal and doesn't work reliably. Makes you wonder how yachtsmen get ahold of that neat emergency transponder that saves so many sailor's lives.

Well, there's now a practical emergency device which does offer a similar level of security to hikers and other wilderness travelers. The ACR SARlink PLB or Personal Locator Beacon gives users that essential weatherproof reliability without promising a ton of extras that probably don't work. The basic notification service is free, but rescue itself may be costly -- many modern Search & Rescue agencies will send you a bill later, especially if you've fallen into desperate circumstances through some foolishness of your own. But, staying alive is always good, and some extra years might be a welcome tradeoff for those S&R payments.

The ACR SARlink does need some setup, in an area where there's a clear view of the sky. That consists of properly deploying the antenna and turning the unit on -- a simple procedure that doesn't require an expert in electronics. Optional services are available which for a very reasonable annual subscription fee allow an owner to actually test the service by sending an email message through the satellite system. The first question any buyer should have is "Does this thing work?" and SARlink allows you to find out. The subscription service includes an option for a preset "I'm OK!" email message destined for up to five friends or family members. With advanced units capable of GPS location, that OK signal can include map coordinates. That's especially handy if your battery died at the trailhead and you need a ride home. Uncle Fred probably won't charge as much as the local Mountain Rescue Team, and with some strategic pre-set emails you can save that OK message to family and friends for something really important.
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