Well i have a GME EPIRB (PLB) and had reason to turn it on just before Christmas in the US as well as manually turning on the built in US registered beacon.
Both were on for less than 1 minute before a successful landing where they were turned straight back off again.
I had Peter from CNB Search and Rescue calling me within 5 minutes to find out what was going on and who had deployed the beacon etc, they work in well under 1 minute anywhere in the world.
Don't ever go flying without one !