I know this topic had a good run previously, but now it looks like prices are closer and new versions have been released. I checked recently on Equipped to Survive, but at the time the reviews appeared to be several month old. Anyone have reason to choose one over another, based on today's technology and prices?

Thanks,

DP

Before, the Fast Find (IMO) had three advantages over the best ACR PLB unit: Size, price and a 50 channel GPS (compared to the 16 channel in the ACR, resulting in a quicker average aquisition time of a reasonably accurate location fix.)

The top ACR model now has a 66 channel GPS and I presume the units are pretty much equal on accurate signal aquisition time. Now, the Fast Find only has two competitive advantages: Size, and price That's still enough for me. I have a ACR PLB now (the 16 channel one) but I'm going to buy a McMurdo to fill my need for a second one.

Interesting. Appears as though ACR is feeling the heat from SPOT. Anyone familiar with this service?

NEW FEATURES: Send I'm OK Messages and GPS Location Maps. Increase the functionality of your PLB with optional 406Link.com non-emergency messaging service.

http://www.acrelectronics.com/product2.aspx?sku=2885

Edit: Apparently http://www.406link.com is marketing a service similar to Spot where you can use a backdoor test functionality of the typical 406mhz GPS-enabled PLB to send I'm OK messages and web-mapping. I see an issue with battery life...probably. Wouldn't work with the Fast Find because an antenna deployment is a one-shot deal.

once&futr_alaskaflyer wrote:Before, the Fast Find (IMO) had three advantages over the best ACR PLB unit: Size, price and a 50 channel GPS (compared to the 16 channel in the ACR, resulting in a quicker average aquisition time of a reasonably accurate location fix.)

The top ACR model now has a 66 channel GPS and I presume the units are pretty much equal on accurate signal aquisition time. Now, the Fast Find only has two competitive advantages: Size, and price That's still enough for me. I have a ACR PLB now (the 16 channel one) but I'm going to buy a McMurdo to fill my need for a second one.

That doesn't even make sense as a selling point. There's what, 24 sats in the sky, 3 of which are spares. At any one time simple math tells you only about 9-12 can be seen. The GPS receiver in my phone gets a fix in about 5 seconds when started cold. Just how fast do you need a fix?

Bonanza Man wrote:

That doesn't even make sense as a selling point. There's what, 24 sats in the sky, 3 of which are spares. At any one time simple math tells you only about 9-12 can be seen. The GPS receiver in my phone gets a fix in about 5 seconds when started cold. Just how fast do you need a fix?

Well the one in my phone seems to take significantly longer.

But you are right the number of channels above that number required to capture available satellites, WAAS transmitters (I don't think these have WAAS capability) and be dedicated to search for additional satellites coming over the horizon are wasted. But chipsets with more channels are newer technology, supposedly more sensitve and efficient resulting in faster TTFF. On the rollout of their GPS model McMurdo appeared to be using newer chipsets than ACR. I believe that initial comparisons between the Fast Find and the Microfix showed faster aquisition on the Fast Find. I'll bet another comparison with the new ACR models show no real difference.

I like that it is smaller for my vest pocket and cheaper. :shrug: