ACR Electronics has built safety gear in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, since 1956. In 1970 the Apollo 13 crew relied on an ACR penlight. Today the group makes ResQLink personal locator beacons, GlobalFix EPIRBs for boats, ARTEX transmitters for aircraft, strobes and searchlights, and Ocean Signal is a sister brand. Its PLBs send on 406 MHz to the Cospas-Sarsat rescue system, add a 121.5 MHz homing signal and GPS plus Galileo positioning, and need no subscription.
That makes ACR a good fit for boaters, pilots and hikers who want a one-button rescue call with no monthly bill. Registration is free, and PLBs carry a five-year warranty. The catch is that a PLB only sends a distress signal: you can't text with family. A model like the ResQLink 400 lists around $410. After five years, or after any real activation, the battery has to be replaced. For off-grid texting ACR also sells the Bivy Stick messenger, which needs a plan.
No reviews yet — be the first!