Abstract: A personal locator beacon (PLB) that is used to transmit a radio frequency emergency distress signal. The PLB contains a GPS receiver to determine the exact global positioning coordinates of the beacon. The transmitted distress signal contains a security message that is represented through at least one bit. This bit is embedded into the standard bit string that is transmitted and can warn of impending danger at the beacon location, such as a hostage situation. The beacon is triggered through different varieties of user interfaces that utilize assorted combinations of actuators and numeric keypads. Another bit can also be embedded into the standard bit stream to represent whether or not the beacon is used by the military.