The best thing to do is not get lost in the first place SPOT satellite messenger will not prevent you from getting lost but it will allow you to communicate your exact location lost or not. The device is sold for $150 service is by the year ~ $100 it is satellite you can go where there is no phone service and the thing will work you can be in the middle of the ocean it works. They are easy on batteries and just might be the perfect fit for those that rather not have a cell phone. There are some SPOT that allow sat comm via text messaging you can send receive these messages and these particular systems offer high quality mapping software so if money is not object you may want to go that way. I don't know what those big dog comm systems cost or the cost for service but for some it is worth the investment.
Shop around learn all you can you can get one device to do one thing mapping and another to sat comm if you do it that way you have more things to carry but more likely hood that one device will be there to serve you either way.
You can go to you tube to see the spot satellite messenger they are sold at cabellas and other places on line they have been around for a while and have produced a second generation SPOT that is not as outdoorsy. What do I mean well the new one is smaller and does not float but it functions the same you might be able to secure a first gen for less than the second be it is used but it is more hearty than the second gen. These devices use common batteries if you are one that stays in the woods for a while you can use rechargeable batteries and small solar panels to recharge your devices this way would insure you would always have power for your device.
All I can tell you is when I hear of people getting lost I cringe because I know it cost a fortune to find someone and this all is preventable with some minor preparation. I have even heard of places that rent the devices.
I think eventually the government will start to charge people for these cost when they could have used a little common sense to prevent this from occurring. I bought a small gps from a man at flea market it was $25 works great easy on batteries. I have taken it to various locations in the state and marked their location these gps dint have the snazzy software but if you look at your map you will see gps numbers on them you can take you gps numbers and locate your location on that map with your gps numbers.
If you memorize say you numbers to your house then you can look at a gps number and can estimate the location compared to your home.
Google earth can help in your education to use these devices there are tutorials that teach you to use your hand held gps many today have the car gps these can work in the woods too if you tinker with them a bit to give you your location re guardless how far you are off the main road. These are great too since they usually use USB plug that can be set to a solar charger you have to be careful you dint get them wet but that is easy with a couple of baggies.
