Emergency Locator Transmitter

Cole5Oh5 · #1 06-22-10, 09:06 AM

What is involved in interfacing the ELT with existing GPS installations??
Is this a huge (expensive) job?

WebMaster · #2 06-23-10, 09:00 AM

I am surprised. This has been in every aviation online thing I see, and yet no one has any answers for Cole.

While I don't have an airplane, I can imagine a bunch of folks are trying to figure out what to do. If you figure it out, how about sharing with the rest of us?

jchronic · #3 06-23-10, 09:22 AM

I confess I haven't looked yet, having just heard about this, but I'd hope AOPA is jumping on it. A completely mindless bureaucratic decision by somebody; can't imagine what the point is. Are they trying to reclaim 121.5 for other uses in the spectrum? Not likely. It's just going to drive people to flying without them, or more simply, ignoring the law. My old pappy allus' said, "Don't make rules you know people are just gonna ignore."

Joe

hharney · #4 06-25-10, 12:42 AM

According to the report attached from Aviation Consumer, the big expense of the GPS coupled 406 ELT's is the labor to make the connection from the ELT to the GPS. Looking at Spruce on-line there are several units that claim GPS outputs and some list connection options. The ACK unit looks the price is right unit but apparently they are still waiting approval of some kind. Spruce has them listed but no inventory. It list a street price of $582.00 and has a direct replacement for the ACK 121.5 for $542.00. It also will connect to your GPS but this is where some labor comes into the picture.

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalo...ges/elt406.php

Craig at Griswold has already installed several of the Amrei-King 451 and has some very happy customers. If you already have the ACK 121.5 then by far this is the way to go with just the replacement unit. But if you are like me and still have the older 121.5 units without the remotes, this Ameri-King may be a good direction to go. The basic unit is $759.00 and they are approved and ready to ship. Like most of these new 406 units you buy a portable antenna so that you can take the unit with you away from the scene and still transmit the signal. This unit comes with a GPS interface for panel mount GPS.

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalo...ngpackages.php

All the new 406 units require a remote switch. Usually purchased as a separate kit.

WebMaster · #5 06-25-10, 08:52 AM

The 451 transmits on 121.5, as well as 243, and 406. The FCC NPRM says no transmitting on 121.5. That would seem putting in a unit that transmits on 121.5 a problem. When this gets ironed out, you may have to remove that unit that transmits on 121.5. It seems the FCC wants 406 only.

Ernie Martin · #6 06-25-10, 10:41 AM

The ACK unit also transmits on 121.5 to aid local search. It's a very low power signal (100 Mw vs. 5 watts at 406 Mhz) which may satisfy the FCC.

Ernie

jchronic · #7 06-25-10, 10:36 PM

None of which explains why the FCC all of a sudden got hot to ban 121.5 ELTs when it will still remain a 'guard' frequency, and the FAA's silence on the issue so far. The 121.5 homing feature in the new ELTs would appear to present a non sequiter to the proposed rule. AOPA is, in fact, getting on it.

Joe