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Personal locater beacons that track your whereabouts with satellite signals are not new. Hard-core hikers and back-country skiers and snowshoers have relied on these gadgets for years to alert emergency rescue crews when things get hairy. Milpitas, Calif-based Spot Inc. recently introduced the Spot satellite messenger, a locater device with a twist.

First, it costs less than a third of the price of most GPS-guided beacons. Second, it allows you to send not only an emergency alert to authorities but also an "I'm OK" e-mail message to friends. The message includes a link to an electronic map that shows your location. We tested the Spot in the Donner Pass back country. We didn't try the emergency alert signal, but the "I'm OK" message worked fine as long as we were in an outdoor location with a clear view of the sky. It took up to 20 minutes for the gadget to get a lock on a satellite signal, which may be too long if you are in serious danger. Cost: $170 for the device, plus a $99 annual service fee. Available at REI stores and www.findmespot.com.

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