Here Is What They Say About It:

At 5.4 ounces and just 4 1/2" long, the ResQLink+™ is the smallest buoyant Personal Locator Beacon available today. It’s small enough to easily be carried in a pocket, clipped to a backpack or stored inside an inflatable life jacket. ResQLink+™ offers three levels of integrated signal technology—GPS positioning, a powerful 406 MHz signal and 121.5 MHz homing capability. In emergency situations, it relays your position quickly and accurately to a worldwide network of Search and Rescue satellites, while the built-in strobe light increases your visibility. Includes GPS and self-test features that can be combined with ACR’s optional 406Link.com site functions.

• Frequency: 406 MHz /121.5 MHz
• Performance: Over 24hr. @ -4°F (-20°C)
• Strobe: Automatic bright LED strobe light
• Battery Life: 5-yr. storage/24-hour operation
• Dimensions: 4 1/2"H x 1 7/8"W x 1 5/8"D
• Waterproof Rating: 16.40ft. @ 1hr.; 33ft. @ 10min.
• Weight: 5.4oz.
• Warranty: Five years

Here Is What WE Say About It:

One thing I have learned over my many years of Jeeping is that you can’t do enough to be prepared for anything. You’ve seen those things that have gone bad on the trail and if you haven’t, then you’ve heard or read about them. The same things that 5 years ago made my decision to buy my first satellite Personal Tracker, the SPOT 1, and carry it anytime I go off road.

The ACR Res-Q-Link+ is a true personal locator beacon. Unlike the SPOT, the ACR can ONLY be used in the case of a life threatening emergency. When you activate the ACR, the signal goes directly to satellites that are owned by the military and monitered by the USAF. It tells them where you are within a few meters and they dispatch Search & Rescue to where you are. When S&R gets close they pick up a second signal that will lead them to your exact location. If you are just about anywhere in the world, S&R in that country will be dispatched to your location.

Comparing the emergency feature of the ACR to that of the SPOT, the SPOT sends a signal to a privately owned satellite system and it gets beamed down to a privately owned emergency monitoring service. The monitoring service then calls the Search & Rescue service in your area. The system has good coverage in most areas but there are some parts of the world where service might be weak or non-existant, BUT, that's no big deal because 99.9% of the people reading this won't ever visit those areas so it's a not critical.

The big difference in emergency service between the two is Government owned satellites with Government dispatach of emergency services versus Civilian owned satellites with Civilian dispatch. The service coverage difference between the two won't affect the vast majority of us so I don't see any negative there.

The ACR can ONLY be used for emergency summoning of Search & Rescue, the SPOT can be used as a tracking device where friends and family can see your nearly real time position by looking it up on the internet and the SPOT can send pre-determined non-emergency messages. The ACR can do none of that.

There is a financial trade off between the two. The ACR retails for around $260. The SPOT retails for around $150. Once you buy the ACR there are no more costs to you for anything (S&R in some countries might involve a fee but not in the USA). The SPOT requires a yearly subscription with costs starting around $150 a year.

Over a period of 5 years the cost of the ACR will be the same as the initial purchase price of $260. The cost of the SPOT will be at least $900 including the original purchase price. It is up to you what features you need and extra features you are willing to pay for.

As for me, I have both units. I like the tracking features so my friends and I like the additional "layer" of security the ACR Res-Q-Link+ gives me. Besides if I ever have to use my Res-Q-Link+ for a bona fide emergency, they will give me a new one. Can't beat that!