[19th LA Inf]

about 200,000 devices will be handed out when the project is launched formally in the coming year.

I have no idea what they plan to issue, but I paid about $120 for my Garmin GPS. Wonder who is funding this program? Wouldn't it be cheaper to teach them "Follow the Drinkin' Gourd"? (In Spanish, of course).

[Felis_irritable]

"...I paid about $120 for my Garmin GPS..."

My Magellan ExPlorist 200 was $118 on sale at REI. Wonderful little device, I carry it everywhere. Not a lot of bells & whistles, but plenty good enough.

And re: others ' comments re: tracking, I think the basic ones are receive only, not sure they can be tracked.

[USNBandit]

From the vague description it sounds like they are going to distribute personal locator beacons that broadcast on 406 Mhz. It isn't really a GPS nav system, but units are GPS equipped. If GPS equipped the units will transmit the exact location of the person in distress. The units go for around $800.

What the U.S. should do is bill the Mexican government for every rescue initiated with these PLBs.

The good news for outdoors enthusiasts is that lots of these units should be available very soon in pawn shops across the Southwest for a reasonable price.

[Amerigomag]

I have no idea what they plan to issue

An EPRIB

The ARC Terrafix (406 Mhz beacon) retails for about $600.

Evan at $300 for bulk dicount that's still about $60M for the intiial 200k units.

What's wrong with this picture. Never mind the price for the units. What about the subscrption and registration and who will monitor 200k third worlders with this toy in their possession.

[FreedomCalls]

I have no idea what they plan to issue, but I paid about $120 for my Garmin GPS.

These aren't just GPS receivers, but are GPS-enabled PLBs.

http://www.rei.com/category/40002203.htm

http://www.equipped.com/faq_plb/default.asp

http://www.equipped.com/plb_legal.htm