Originally Posted by kiwi chick
I'm sure he's referring to the new 406.025 beacons
Getting off topic, but...
406 beacons can be of two types, the first basically just shouts "help". The second uses a GPS feed to say "help, here's where I am".
Without the GPS the position can not be determined as accurately, nor as fast, as it relies on triangulation of the beacon's signal using the doppler shift of the signal as the satellite(s) pass by it. More readings, better accuracy, smaller search area, but it takes valuable time.
The GPS equipped/capable versions are more expensive - but not by much in the scheme of things.