FastFind PLB

Am considering one of these but have heard that due to a number of false alarms, the rescue agencies (whoever they may be) have been known to ignore the signal.  I've tried to contact the manufacturers but no answers to my questions yet.  Does anyone have any experince of them?  In my case, its first trip is to northern Norway and Sweden.

Also, once the distress signal has been pinged off, is there any way of knowing it's been received?  How long does one wait before deciding help is not on its way and one has to crawl off, Simpson-style, for a few days to get help?

Is there any reasonable alternative?  Spot doesn't seem to be without problems.

Thanks.

A newly published report compiled by Scottish Mountain Rescue ( part of which was published in a local paper ) said 4 incidents were initiated by P.L.B's in Scotland,

In Scotland 19% of accidents were caused by people slipping and 14% by navigational errors, 157 casualties were evacuated by helicopter with 71 being walked off the hill by teams and 65 being stretchered off the hill.

I'd be interested if anyone's had practical experience of using Spot in Norway/Sweden: the maps tend to give the idea of limited satellite coverage in the Northern areas, but practical experience counts for more than maps! PLBs would seem more reliable (in terms of emergency use) but don't give the ability to send "I'm OK and at location X" signals, which seem very handy for a lone walker.

Chris, OutdoorsGrub.co.uk wrote (see)

but don't give the ability to send "I'm OK and at location X" signals

Not sure about the coverage of spot in the the far north but I have a spot 2 and it has never let me down (only used it for OK messages so far mind) 

Like any communications syatem it has to be used sensibly.  it only tries to get a GPS lock once the button has been pressed so try to do that when you stop for a break as moving slows things down.

I use it as I mainly walk solo and my missus was starting to get a bit nervous when I am out of contact for too long.  I also take it out on the boat (a RIB) as I only have a handheld VHF radio with limited range.

I had a mark 1 prior and that one was fine too, maybe a little slower getting a lock and a signal out.

Steve D