MARZ Posted January 17, 2011 Report Posted January 17, 2011 Wondering how many have made the switch - and looking for feedback on brand and what you paid if you've done so. Quote
danb35 Posted January 17, 2011 Report Posted January 17, 2011 I've already got an order in for ACK's unit--once they ship it, it's going in '48Q. It goes for $600, and I plan on doing the installation myself and having my A&P sign off on it. Quote
drapo Posted January 17, 2011 Report Posted January 17, 2011 When I imported N5779Q, the ELT that was included couldn't go through Canadian certification and since the 406 was is about to become mandatory (Not done yet, but they've been trying to pass the new Law for the last 2 years!) I bit the bullet and bought a 406 ELT and had my avionic tech install it. Since everything had to be done from scratch to comply with Canadian regulations (including, new antenna, new cable and remote switch) and had to be relocated in the tail, the price tag was a bit more than the usual modification. I ended up paying $1,700(taxes incl.) of wich $1100 was for the Kannad 406mhz ELT. So the difference with the cost to install a 121.5/243 ELTwas only about $500. Still a lot of dough for an unproven technology... Can't wait to see what ADS-B is going to cost US... Quote
scottfromiowa Posted January 17, 2011 Report Posted January 17, 2011 NOT ME! Not until prices come down to reality. I don't fly in mountains or out of CONUS. I still have my old ELT for search and rescue...as well as cell phone. FAA just rescinded elimination of 121.5 acknowledging that they don't have enought 406 units to equip the fleet...and also realizing that 121.5 does still serve a purpose since the 406 antenna's are getting compromised in crashes and NOT sending any signal. I'm waiting and NOT worrying. 1 Quote
scottfromiowa Posted January 17, 2011 Report Posted January 17, 2011 $1700...Holy $#@! Just shoot me...That is CRAZY! Quote
Vref Posted January 17, 2011 Report Posted January 17, 2011 Quote: maropers Wondering how many have made the switch - and looking for feedback on brand and what you paid if you've done so. Quote
sleepingsquirrel Posted January 17, 2011 Report Posted January 17, 2011 Hi, I used something called Spot tracker during a 64 hour crossing of the Gulf of Mexico. I would watch that product to become FAA certified. It is a subscription service for $99 a year. I was so impressed with it that I bought one for my boat instead of a 406 ELT. The device only cost me $55 after rebate at West Marine. The Spot tracker google mapped our progress and it also had a 911 feature. West Marine also sells the 406 Elt, Iwas so interested in it I don't remember the price. Sailing like Aviation has a price tag which is incredibly inflated. It only takes someone to say "there ought to be a law" . link to SPOT messenger http://www.amazon.com/SPOT-Inc-SPOT-1-Personal-Tracker/dp/B000YTZV74 Quote
Magnum Posted January 17, 2011 Report Posted January 17, 2011 Quote: Vref In Europe most owners made the switch already. Prices vary from 800 euro's to more then 1500 depending on the installation difficulties. Look at your current installation if its three or two wire remote switch.. Depending on the existing wiring some ELT models are no go unless the wiring has to be modified.....extra costs.... If you fancy a more aerodynamic antenna, they come at extra cost also... I went for a Kannad solution as they claim 6 years battery life and have a solution for two and three wiring remote switches......The antenna was installed under the tail root fairing... hope this helps PS I don't think the prices will become any lower as there is already some stiff competition.... Luc Quote
Gilt Posted January 17, 2011 Report Posted January 17, 2011 NOPE...You don't need one. The Airline guys are monitoring 121.5 on #2. And if they have a hard time finding you, just turn on your freaking smart phone with the GPS... Quote
OR75 Posted January 17, 2011 Report Posted January 17, 2011 I installed the Artex ME406 as a replacement of an Artex 200. It needed an extra wire pulled from front to back. Also, footprint was not the same. (contrary to what some OEM claim) Unclear whether a 337 is needed (it depends who you ask) but my IA completed one. About 1amu total. Quote
Immelman Posted January 17, 2011 Report Posted January 17, 2011 I bought a FastFind 210 406MHz PLB (with built in GPS) for $300 -- the price has dropped and you can get them for less. So no, I am not upgrading what is in the airplane. Quote
danb35 Posted January 17, 2011 Report Posted January 17, 2011 Quote: sleepingsquirrel Hi, I used something called Spot tracker during a 64 hour crossing of the Gulf of Mexico. I would watch that product to become FAA certified. Quote
Vref Posted January 18, 2011 Report Posted January 18, 2011 Quote: danb35 Can't happen without major changes to the regulations and certification requirements, and I don't think it should happen either. The ELT is intended to activate automatically in the event of a crash. Admittedly that doesn't always work, but sometimes is better than never. Quote
jlunseth Posted January 18, 2011 Report Posted January 18, 2011 Old one was toast at annual, so we are installing the 406. We fly Internationally a little, so probably need it anyway. Quote
John Pleisse Posted January 18, 2011 Report Posted January 18, 2011 I am 121.5 and a Spot GPS in the survival bag. I'll bet 406 resolution will happen with competing products and next gen implimentation. Unless you are flyin over or landing in a foreign country or over vastly sparse terrain, it's a non issue. Quote
Lionudakis Posted February 6, 2011 Report Posted February 6, 2011 I'm not sure about the reliability of the 406 vs 21.5, a good friend stall/spun his cessna and we searched for some time (hour at least by air) with an intermittent elt signal, I installed a 406 in a bird recently and it was activated upon plugging in (manufacturer wired something backwards), within minutes whatever agency monitors it called, and had our location on the field, and said they could have gotten closer but i turned it off. To me thats the difference in life or death, ACK's are down around 600 Quote
Frosty Posted February 6, 2011 Report Posted February 6, 2011 I can't say much for ELT reliability. When I pancaked my M20A on a road in the dark it broke the wing but didn't trigger the ELT. I was using flight following and they had the Highway patrol there before I finished walking around the plane. I fly over some pretty remote country between California and Kansas. I like the 406 satellite coverage. Quote
skyking Posted February 6, 2011 Report Posted February 6, 2011 Here in Canada if you fly above the 60th parralel you must have one. I am planning on getting one this year as i go to the far North quite a bit. Quote
Lionudakis Posted February 6, 2011 Report Posted February 6, 2011 Quote: Frosty I can't say much for ELT reliability. When I pancaked my M20A on a road in the dark it broke the wing but didn't trigger the ELT. I was using flight following and they had the Highway patrol there before I finished walking around the plane. I fly over some pretty remote country between California and Kansas. I like the 406 satellite coverage. Quote
Jerry 5TJ Posted January 25, 2013 Report Posted January 25, 2013 Just read this http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/ntsb_student_pilot_drunk_crash_soldotna_airport_faa_208065-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS and the last few sentences were an interesting footnote....they read "The missing aircraft was not equipped with or required to have a digital 406 MHz ELT. Emergency services have ceased to monitor analog 121.5 MHz signals from ELTs like the one onboard the accident aircraft." Quote
1964-M20E Posted January 25, 2013 Report Posted January 25, 2013 "Can't happen without major changes to the regulations and certification requirements, and I don't think it should happen either. The ELT is intended to activate automatically in the event of a crash. Admittedly that doesn't always work, but sometimes is better than never." In the past I belive most ELTs were not able to be remotly activated and needed the G forces to operate it. The 121.5 meets the current reqirements in the US. Except for loss of control or CFIT I think the pilot knows he is going down and can activate the ELT or personal locator far in advance of the "landing" In the case of loss control or CFIT it may not mater how soon the rescuers find you. I currenly have 121.5 with a remote switch if needed it would be activated well before "landing". I am considering upgrading though just looking at my wish list of upgrades and trying to decide which comes first. Quote
Scott Aviation Posted January 26, 2013 Report Posted January 26, 2013 When I restored my 201 and imported it into Canada, I installed an ACK E-04 406ELT this summer and registered it with the beacon service (a must do). Remote switch in the dash, as well as a remote siren on the cable to let you know audibly if its going off. So far, so good. I also have a Spot Messenger on my dash as a back up. We fly on the west coast and over the rockies...This fall I was flying back west over the rockies and could here the SAR helicopters/buffalo planes over the radio looking for a 121.5 signal going off somewhere, it was faint and intermittent. I helped for some time as It was stronger where I was. Turns out they were 80 miles too far west looking for the signal and the 172 driver perished, but may have lived if help had been there sooner (took 6 hours to track down). Don't underestimate the power of your airplane jacked into satellite positioning... $600 is a small insurance policy for my comfort knowing that I've got a way better chance of being picked up and found within an hour of that signal going off. (the spot helps to) Just something to think about.. cell phone coverage may work up high but get in a remote mountain pass and its "no signal" Quote
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