[Paddlewise] When smaller is better (new ACR PLB)

From: alex <al.m_at_3web.net>
Date: Fri, 14 Nov 2008 21:45:06 -0800
Somebody on this list (Doug, I think) said once that 406 Mhz ACR PLB
Aqua/Terra/Aero Fix) would've been great if it were TAD smaller.  Good news
here - ACR now have MicroFix PLB
http://www.acrelectronics.com/microfix/microfix.htm, and it is roughly 1.5
times smaller.  Width has come down from 3.1" to 2.2". Other dimensions are
about the same.  It's also lighter now - 10 oz VS previous 12 oz, and battery
life is 4 hours longer (40 hrs VS 36 hrs).  Bad news is that street price is
about $600 (VS $400 for previous "Fix").

I hate tiny buttons of cell phones, but in this case I don't mind this thing
being small. Buttons are probably same size as before, heh, heh...

One thing I don't understand - why they rate its accuracy with internal GPS at
100 meters (same as in previous model). My Garmin usually shows less than 15
meters acccuracy in open areas. Must be a different GPS circuit and/or
different satellites (this would've been not too savvy - why not sharing same
satellite network)?
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Received on Fri Nov 14 2008 - 21:46:13 PST

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