Are you using a 406Mhz ELT

[Steve65E-NC]

Dan, You say it is all specified.  Then please explain why a reputable company, its financiers, its marketing managers, its legal staff, and its engineers decided, in the last eighteen months, to introduce a new 406 ELT without a 121.5 homing signal.  I think the 406 specification is a lot like ADS-B, it is just hanging out there without sufficient government thought to allow the market to develop. There may be other examples where insufficient governmental planning has degraded or threatened flight safety.  

[danb35]

If you want an explanation of that company's actions, it would be better to ask that company--I can't understand why they would do that, and take the additional step of advertising their unit's lack of functionality.  The only explanation I can come up with is that they overreacted to the FCC's notice from much earlier this year.

The 406 MHz units conform to an established TSO, which is (or corresponding specifications are) effective worldwide.  I have no insight into sales figures, but there are a lot of manufacturers making them, and (with the sole, and baffling, exception of ELT) they all include a 121.5 MHz homing signal.  There are differences in features, most notably the ability to broadcast GPS data, but I've not seen anything to indicate that there's any uncertainty in the technical requirements for the devices.

[Jerry 5TJ]

I installed an Emerging Lifesaving Technologies 406 MHz ELT this spring when my antique 121.5 MHz ELT failed to emit any signal at all during the annual test.   This new design only operates on 406 and does not transmit any signal on 121.5.   It has its own internal GPS and a curious blade style antenna with both 406 and GPS antennas inside.  

One item of note -- although the battery lasts 5 years one must re-register the ELT information every two years.   Costs nothing and takes a few minutes on-line. 

Still trying to decide what sort of decal would look best on the blade.

 

[Immelman]

I fly with a 406 PLB w/ built in GPS in my pocket. I am in and out of a lot of airplanes in addition to my own (instructing) and I feel that was the best option for me.

[Bennett]

Like Jerry, I ended up installing a Emerging Lifesaving Technology 406 Mhz with built in GPS and blade antenna. (Also a remote switch in the panel). Being a great believer in the belt and suspenders school of risk management, I also have a portable 406 Mhz unit with built in GPS in my ditch/survival bag that I carry in my baggage compartment - helps with moving the CG aft. 

I keep trying to take antennas off, but as you can see there are two GPS flat antennas,(GTN 750 and 430w), the ELT blade, and two comm antennas, plus the VOR antennas (towel rack style) on the vertical stabilizer, a marker beacon antenna, and a transponder antenna on the exterior of the airplane, plus a GPS antenna, and a WX antenna on the glareshield for the Garmin 796, and another Bluetooth GPS antenna for the iPad3 (which really doesn't need the Bluetooth antenna).  With the new panel I did get rid of ADF and DME antennas, but I think I am losing this fight. On my last Mooney I moved the VOR antennas into the wingtips, and put a couple of other into the glass one piece belly pan.  It just seems too expensive to again move VOR antennas into the wingtips, when I still have all the others to drag about.

I've flown into some pretty remote areas in Canada, Alaska, Mexico, and the Caribbean. I certainly don't plan on crashing, but who does, and if it happens I want the best chance of survival. There is a new Delorme Iridium satellite unit (InReach) that seems worthwhile, and I will check it out at Oshkosh. It is reasonable (anout $250 for the iPhone version), an it allows two way text messaging, a SOS function, mapping, and tracking.  I have the original SPOT, but I really don't want to use it for flight tracking, and I think by specifications and the fact that Iridium covers most of the world, the new Delorme InReach unit will soon be in my flight bag replacing the SPOT.

[danb35]

Quote: jerry-N5911Q

I installed an Emerging Lifesaving Technologies 406 MHz ELT this spring when my antique 121.5 MHz ELT failed to emit any signal at all during the annual test.   This new design only operates on 406 and does not transmit any signal on 121.5.

[Oscar Avalle]

When I flew to guatemala I had to install a 406

Oscar

[jetdriven]

that's a sweet 406 blade antenna.  I would be asking "how much" but that's not the question to ask when you just paid 89$ for a new 121.5 ELT antenna and your airplane is in the shop with other major repair bills.

[N601RX]

I put the ACK E-04 in a couple of months ago.  I went ahead and hooked it to the gps since the side panels were already out.

[Mooney_Allegro]

I replaced my old 121.5 ELT w/the ME406 ELT using a new external rod antenna back in 2008.  I wanted to hide the antenna under the dorsal fin like the old one, but it would have been too much trouble & additional expense.  The new antenna doesn't look bad. I think it's a 5-year battery, but there may be a longer life battery available now, but not sure.

[co2bruce]

I have a portable waterproof Fast Finder with GPS that floats in the water. No sense on having it attached to a sinking or burning plane. I fly over the Bahamas and needed something waterproof that I can carry on the raft. Mine is Velcro attached to the right side of the console for easy access. I also carry a portable waterproof marine VHF radio. 99% of the boats do not monitor 406 MHz but VHF Ch 16.

José    

[Jerry 5TJ]

Quote: danb35

Have you figured out why they proudly advertise that their unit does less than any other 406 ELT on the market?  It's a mystery to me.

[danb35]

Quote: jerry-N5911Q

Have you figured out why they proudly advertise that their unit does less than any other 406 ELT on the market?  It's a mystery to me.

[danb35]

To the purpose of the thread, I just got an ACK E-04 yesterday, and the shop will be installing it next week. I had the plane wired for it at annual a few years ago (expecting the ACK unit to be released quite a bit before it actually was), so my shop is estimating not more than 3-4 hours for the work. My ELT battery expires this month, so it seemed an opportune time to replace the ELT instead.

Yes, I carry a PLB, but any number of conditions could result in my being unable to activate it. The installed ELT isn't guaranteed to work every time either, but it's another independent way of signaling that I'm in trouble, and where I am.

[wrench]

Quote

: jerry-N5911Q

Quote

: danb35

Quote

: jerry-N5911Q

I installed an Emerging Lifesaving Technologies 406 MHz ELT this spring when my antique 121.5 MHz ELT failed to emit any signal at all during the annual test. This new design only operates on 406 and does not transmit any signal on 121.5.

Have you figured out why they proudly advertise that their unit does less than any other 406 ELT on the market? It's a mystery to me.

No satellites geo-locate 121.5 MHz ELT signals any more so transmitting on that frequency is just a waste of battery power.

...except that all aircraft are required to keep a listening watch on 121.5 "when able", and could pick up a signal that way. Or ATC could hear the signal. ELTs weren't monitored by satellite when they first appeared, either. Certainly satellite monitoring is a help, but it's not the only way that a signal can be received.

Ground search and rescue teams still use 121.5 locators. Civil Air Patrol aircraft use 121.5 and in more and more cases are equipped to pickup both 406 and 121.5 transmissions. Transmitting on both currently is the way to go for the most possibilities being found.

[THOMPSON]

Oops, sorry I hit a wrong key and, apparently out my unfinished reply went -- (I am a first time user of this useful forum.)

 

Trying again --- I bought Emerging Lifesaving Technologies combined 406 mhz/ GPS on sale from Aircraft Spruce and am have BRS avionics of Northampton, MA install it next week.

 

I have (and have had for about 38 years now) a beautiful low time, always hangared (away from the oceans) 1966 M20E with the "Greek God hat" com antenna about half way between the baggage area and the rudder's dorsal fin.  Mooney and others suggest putting that blade antenna to one side of the dorsal -- I would rather put it somewhere else.  

 

In this forum, I see pictures of this blade antenna in a couple more favorable (looking) spots on newer Mooneys.  One installed in front of the a "newer" blade com antenna (with doubler support) and the other just in front of the dorsal fin.  (I can't whether this one used doubler support or not.

 

Actually, one forum response indicated that he had installed this Emerging Lifesaving Technologies combined 406 mhz/ GPS blade on a M20C. But didn't any show any picture of his installation.  (I have to go back to the forum to get his sign-on name.)

 

Where has anyone with the older Mooneys and older com antenna installed these blade antennas?

 

Tha

 

 

Thompson 

 

Oops again, looking back, I see that jerry-N5911Q did post pictures of his Emerging Lifesaving Technologies 406 mhz blade installation.  But either he now has a newer Mooney or somewhere along the line the "Greek God hat" com antenna was replace with a newer rod com antenna.

 

So, I am still interested if anyone with an older Mooney and the "Greek God hat bent over com antenna" has installed the combined 406 mhz/GPS blade

antenna back there somewhere.

 

Appreciate any experience and advice.

 

Thompson, N2595W

 

jerry-N5911Q

[carusoam]

Welcome aboard Thomson,

If you would like to contact Jerry directly... The process is called a PM, or private message.

To do that...

Click on the person's avatar (the funny little picture that people use for identification) and find the button to send a private message.

It is similar to sending an email.

Hope that helps,

-a-

[Mooneymite]

Has anyone noticed that the cost of replacement batteries for 406 ELT's is rather pricey?

I don't think anyone is offering a 406 ELT that takes D cells like the Ameriking 121.5 ELT.

Speaking of which, I just noticed that the replacement battery for my old Narco ELT-10 has jumped from $24 to $32 this year!

I guess it's like the inkjet printer scam: give you the printer, then rip you for the consummables.

[chrisk]

I installed a Emerging Lifesaving Technologies combined 406 mhz/ GPS.  I think the product is a great concept.  I've had no issues with it, but of course, I have not put it to the test.  There were two things about the product.  1) The install took my mechanic a little longer than estimated, but this could be particular to my mechanic.  And 2)  the battery didn't have full life, due to an older manufacturing date.  A coupon was included for a discount when a new battery is purchased.  I purchased it from Chief

[DrBill]

My 406 locator went off when in the avionics shop last year.  I got a call from the air force (some guy in Texas) asking me to check it and shut it off.  It was 6pm local.  I called the shop and the owner was still there.. He checked it and sure enough it was on !.  I called the Texan back and told him all was now well. He was satisfied. I was curious that he could not tell me where the plane was but he knew the beacon was on. (perhaps because the 430 was off).

At least I know the system works !

BILL

[N601RX]

My 406 had a 5 year battery's life instead of the normal 2 year so it really isn't that much more expensive.

[Mooney_Allegro]

I had the new Artex ME406 installed 5 years ago with the rod antenna. This year at Oshkosh I purchased an Artex 1000 to get the GPS interface, for more accurate search & rescue. I'll be selling my ME406 sometime in the next few months with a whip antenna.