I guess having read of actual incidents and discussed it with my wife and sons and outfitter, not that they all agree, I'll stick with the Spot 2 three messages, summarized:  I'm OK; Pick me/us up at nearest EP or access point; and I'm/we're not able to get back on my own but I'm/we're OK for now.  I was struck by reports of actual usage and the desire for something less drastic than SOS.

Since I've never even considered one of these other than I'm OK, who knows if they are good.  The not able to get back message needs some preplanning, including looking at time, area, weather, and maybe deciding to call for a rescue.  On a motor route - like Basswood - maybe call outfitter and see if they can send a boat.  Or do nothing and see if it changes before I hit the SOS.

Not perfect, but seems better than just I'm OK and SOS, or, with a PLB, nothing and the nuclear option.

BillConner wrote on May 8^th, 2013 at 12:07pm:

With a little imagination and some preplanning, you could send a nearly infinite number of different preprogrammed messages using the two non-SOS Spot-2 buttons. For example:
   "I'm OK" = I'm OK
   "Custom" = I decided to delay my schedule
   Two consecutive "I'm OK"s = I'm really ok, even though I haven't moved in 5 days
   Two consecutive "Custom"s = I'm OK for now, but please keep checking email regularly in case things change
   Three consecutive "Custom"s = Not urgent, but please send outfitter to get me
   etc

You could even send morse code messages using the two buttons, but at about an hour per letter (a dot or a dash every 20 minutes), this is unlikely to be practical for most people.

For either of these approaches, you would also need some confidence in Spot's message sending reliability. My unit has been 100% reliable (so far), but I know others have had issues, and things like geography (eg high latitudes) and topography (eg Utah slot canyons) can interfere with the signal of even a perfectly functioning unit.

Thanks Joe...... up

Options and competition are good things. I like quality and had looked at the irridium phones but I didn't like the service plans. I dunno, maybe they are all this way but it seemed (and I only looked briefly so I could be mistaken) that after you bought the phone you could only sign up for designated time blocks (as in the month of july) as opposed to "buying minutes" and using them whenever you felt like. Plus there was an activation fee to initiate service  . I thought I could just buy the phone and when I used minutes I would be billed.

The charter boat captain I fish with has Globalstar.......the phone was not expensive and he says his monthly charge was less than many cell phone plans  (I could of swore he said $50 a month),

Of course now that I feel like I am "new and improved" it is easy to look askance for the need of a SAT phone. But I will definitely be looking into the SPOT phone and doing some comparisons. Besides since I have lightened my kit I have room for some more gear