Recommendations for ELT?

[AndreiC]

One of the few weak spots of my 1970 M20E is the ELT. It still has the original, yellow, portable ELT that was meant to be attached on the side wall behind the pilot seat. When I refurbished the interior I removed it from there, and it has been waiting to get reinstalled. 
 

I doubt that this ELT, even if it works perfectly, will allow anyone to find me in case of an accident. On the other hand, I’ve heard people say that *anyway* ELT’s don’t help much, even the newer 406 MHz ones, and upgrading the old ones is just throwing more money out the window. (I can stay legal with the existing one by spending about $40 for a new battery every 2 years; a new 406 MHz one will likely cost 2-3 AMU to install, and require an expensive battery replacement every 5 years).

I should mention that I do have a portable non-aviation ELT finder (406 MHz) that is in the pocket by my feet; but that will require manual activation in case something goes wrong.

What do you guys recommend to do?

[N204TA]

As of July 2019, it became illegal to manufacture, import, or sell ELTs that only operate on 121.5 MHz in the USA so, if you are looking to replace your old one, you’ll need a 406 one.  You can, however, still keep your certified 121.5 ELT (as long as it works) but the frequency is no longer monitored by satellite.

So, I guess it all depends on if you just want to be legal or want the best SAR response.  

[Ragsf15e]

3 hours ago, AndreiC said:

One of the few weak spots of my 1970 M20E is the ELT. It still has the original, yellow, portable ELT that was meant to be attached on the side wall behind the pilot seat. When I refurbished the interior I removed it from there, and it has been waiting to get reinstalled. 
 

I doubt that this ELT, even if it works perfectly, will allow anyone to find me in case of an accident. On the other hand, I’ve heard people say that *anyway* ELT’s don’t help much, even the newer 406 MHz ones, and upgrading the old ones is just throwing more money out the window. (I can stay legal with the existing one by spending about $40 for a new battery every 2 years; a new 406 MHz one will likely cost 2-3 AMU to install, and require an expensive battery replacement every 5 years).

I should mention that I do have a portable non-aviation ELT finder (406 MHz) that is in the pocket by my feet; but that will require manual activation in case something goes wrong.

What do you guys recommend to do?

I don’t know why people would say a 406 elt won’t help/work?  Even the non gps versions have pretty tight location ellipses from the satellites.  Yes it will cost something to install, however you can probably do much of it under supervision.  It also gives you the little red button on the panel that you can push (time allowing of course) to activate it prior to landing out somewhere.  I think it’s a worthwhile investment that I hope I never need, however I do fly over a lot of very remote terrain.

[PT20J]

I accidentally activated my ACK E-04 406 ELT in my metal hangar a while back. I shut it off when I discovered the error so it was on less than a minute. Within 10 minutes my mobile phone rang asking if I needed assistance. I asked them to confirm my location and they had my exact lat-long. They work pretty well.

[EricJ]

10 minutes ago, PT20J said:

I accidentally activated my ACK E-04 406 ELT in my metal hangar a while back. I shut it off when I discovered the error so it was on less than a minute. Within 10 minutes my mobile phone rang asking if I needed assistance. I asked them to confirm my location and they had my exact lat-long. They work pretty well.

I've had similar experiences since mine has been accidentally set off a couple times.   The first time the avionics shop set it off in their hangar and I got a call from a nice lady Sergeant at the AFRCC.    The second time I was poking around under the panel during an annual and must have bumped something, and one of the airport staff guys came around in a truck just cruising through the hangars trying to find the ELT that was going off.   

The 406MHz ELTs are essentially the same technology that is used by PLBs (used by hikers or anybody in remote areas) and EPIRBs for marine applications.   Many, but not all, have either self-contained GPS receivers or can be connected to GPS data like connecting an ELT to a GPS navigator.   The GPS connection is not required for an ELT, so not all airplanes equipped with ELTs will have the benefit of transmitting GPS coordinates.

The general expectations are that the 406MHz will provide initial alert and coarse location, since it is monitored, and the 121.5MHz may be needed for the final phase of the search to get exact location.   In other words, the 406 alerts the good guys and provides a good idea of where to look, and if needed the 121.5 can provide the searchers the final location.    Even with the 406MHz transmitting last known GPS coordinates, they may not wind up indicating where the final crash site is, but the 121.5 can be located if the searchers get close enough.    Ideally the GPS coordinates transmitted by the 406 MHz signal will be accurate, but it isn't certain, if they're even transmitted at all.

If you only have the 121.5 MHz ELT, you have to hope that somebody starts looking and gets close enough before the battery gets weak to find you.    It's legal, but not the best strategy for maximizing the likelihood of a successful outcome. 

[Ryan ORL]

I would go for the 406 ELT.  I just had one installed before my recent trip to/from Alaska.  Especially if you ever plan to fly anywhere remote, it's a great idea.

[Pinecone]

The 121.5 part is needed as the search teams only have direction finding capability on 121.5.

These days, most finds are via cell phone triangulation.  But you can't rely on that in remote or mountainous areas.

406 came out in boating many years before aviation.  A friend has one of the new 406 EPRIBS on his sailboat.  This was before GPS.  

They were moving his boat to the Caribbean hit a bad storm. It broke their mast.  They activated the EPIRB and waiting.  About an hour later, a USCG C-130 drops out of the low clouds and flies directly over the boat.  

They dropped a swimmer and a med kit, and fixed up the injuries and waited for a cutter to pick them up.

[hubcap]

During Myrtle’s panel upgrade I upgraded the ELT to the 406. Had to add an external antenna but no complaints, and the battery life is significantly increased over the older ELT.

[AndreiC]

OK, I'm convinced. Now the second question -- what product do you guys have that works well?

[Pinecone]

Airtex 345 from ACR

According to my avionics shop, the ACK is prone to accidental activations.  Enough so they gave me a deal on switching to the Airtex.

[philiplane]

At $821, the Artex 345 is the best value. The battery is less expensive and has a longer service life than others. As long as eight years.

Don't buy an ACK ELT-04. Too many false activations. I'm sending yet another ELT-04 back to them this week for repair. They used to be cheap, but now they're $800. Even the retrofit kit that re-uses an existing ELT-01 installation parts only saves you $27. Which you'll need to send the new ELT back for repair at some point when it false alarms in flight.

Google "ACK ELT-04 false alarms" or "-problems" to get a sense of how many people in all different types of planes are having problems with the ELT-04. Which is a continuation of the ELT-01, which was also famous for false activations.

[BlueSky247]

Good timing on this thread. I may be in the market myself.

[EricJ]

If you have an ACK-01, upgrading to the ACK-04 reuses a lot of existing stuff in the installation.    I have an ACK-04 and like it a lot.   

 

[kortopates]

The 406 isn't just for remote traveling over the US. My Mooney likes to travel and if you want to leave either of our borders you have to have one for Canada, Bahamas and Mexico for over a decade now.

But since they're not 100% reliable I also fly with a Garmin InReach. Before that I had a ACR 406 PELB that I still carry as well. But I don't intend to camp out long if we go down in the middle of no where plus first responders will know what we need medical wise thanks to the InReach.

As an early adopter I got the ACK-04, with never any problems with it. ACR is great company for this technology and if I was doing it over again I would likely go with their unit.

Edited July 30 by kortopates

[PT20J]

I've got a 406 ELT connected to the GPS for position, a PLB, an inReach, a cell phone, and a VHF handheld. If I get stuck in the bush, I really want to be able to call someone to come get me.