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Which ELT to Buy
ACK E-01 ELT or AK450 ELT
Anyone have the pros and cons on these two units? |
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I bought the AK450 but hindsight has me wishing I had purchased the ACK instead. Look at some of the builder web sites for methods of attaching the unit. Check Dan's and see how easy his mount for the ACK is. The AK450 is much wider and therefore can't be mounted using Dan's very clean approach. You'll see that many AK450 users need to build a suspended structure spanning half way across the fuselage if they chose to install aft of the baggage bay. The issue is that the ELT can't be attached to skin - it MUST be attached to primary structure. The added structure adds weight, complexity and construction time. Many builders use the same span of structure to mount their strobe power supply beside the ELT. There may be other methods (I once thought of putting it on the baggage floor but nixed that idea) but it whatever location you choose needs to be on primary structure, in the rear and accessable for battery changes or...chirp, chirp, chirp. I think the ACK may be an easier install due to its shape. Jekyll |
If you think you might want to xmit voice using either ELT, I think only one of your two choices has that capability.
On a related line: With my incomplete understanding of the situation, I doubt if you could use any brand of headset mike to do it on the AK 450 which does have voice capability, because to activate it I presume one needs a PPT, still mounted in the plane and not part of the "system" when the headset mic is plugged directly into the ELT. Right? The way I visualize the use of voice on the ELT is to carry another mic with its built-in PTT, like we used to use (in the "old" days ;) ). Please correct me if I am wrong and tell me if I am right. I just haven't gotten that far with the reserach for my AK 450. But, on the other hand, if the wreck (OUCH!) is severe enough to set off the ELT, will I feel like getting it from its mount, find the spare mike, put up the removable antenna, and seek help with it? :eek: It could be pretty far fetched, huh. Thanks for your help, insight, and expertise in advance. Don Gray Cortland, OH N17QB 7A in progress |
Voice
Don,
I read that feature and it does seem a little far fetched that someone is going to find their way into the tail of the aircraft to dig out the ELT after a crash. That's the last place I would want to be. I think you're dead on with the PTT, one of the PTT cords with the velco mount we used to strap on the control would probably work. But after a crash, who's going to go digging around to find the PTT, head set, antenna, ELT etc... I don't know, maybe after things have settled a little. I think you're right that is might not be the feature to make a decision upon. Darrell |
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That's where I went yesterday... to Dan's site. Great install on the ACK for sure. Of course price is very close on both units. What do you think about the voice feature? BS or what? Darrell |
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An arguement might be made that you would have the capability to talk if you made a controlled, forced landing but, then again, you would have your ship radios. I guess the capability allows you to take the radio with you as you try to walk out of the wilderness. Many folks are already flying with portable coms now, so they have that covered. I have the capability if I desire to achieve it by configuring a headset or mike or whatever is needed but, I likely won't. This brings me to something that has been percolating recently. A number of thread talk about tools needed for flight, parts to take in your aircraft, flight bag goodies and the like. We can add so much redundency, breakdown preparedness and just-in-case stuff to our panels, baggage compartments and flight bags that our wings start to sag. I saw a line where someone was adding a used, but serviceable set of plugs to his flight kit. You can carry stuff like that and never need it, but you'll pay the gas and performance price on every flight. It's surprising how so many approach weight reduction like a science, shaving .1 ounce here and there and everywhere (50 extra hours of build time that yields 1 pound of result) and then cram 100 pounds of "just-in-case stuff into the baggage compartment. Off the soap box now. Jekyll |
I have the AK installed in my plane right behind the pax seat between the seat back and flap torque tube. Fits snugly but just right..plus that's normally kind of wasted space anyway. Eithe ELT will be just fine in functionaility, but for my install I liked the flatter package of the AK. Another spot that used to be popular was up between the rudder pedals. An advantage to having it in the cockpit is ease of reach.
That being said, the "voice" feature on these things really doesn't enter into the equation to me either. From a historical stanpoind and crashes, you'll notice there are likely 2 outcomes in 99% of accidents. 1...you live through the crash and are able to move, walk, run, crawl, etc... - or 2 - you don't, in which case the voice txmt is worthless. I'm sure it's a good thing to have, but the blunt reality is that it's unlikely to save your life. Just my 2 cents as usual! Cheers, Stein. |
I also put a AK450 behind the pass. seat.
I want to keep things somewhat forward because of W&B issues, (RV-7A with fixed prop). In my mind, the two ELTs are the same with the exception of their form factor. Tom |
This may be a stupid question, but I've often wondered what I would say when transmitting through my ELT. I mean, in order for somebody to hear me wouldn't they need to be pretty close by and on freq. That being the case, wouldn't they already be hearing the ELT doing it's thing? I suppose I could say something like "I'm over here, by all the airplane parts and smashed trees."
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The voice transmit is primarily so you can help the rescuers. Let them know how many people are there, how badly they are injured, etc.
Mel...DAR |
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