ELT remote and antenna location

[bpattonsoa]

I have been doing electrical schematics for my RV-10 for the last four days so I may be going blind, but ...

I was looking at ELTs and their requirements. One vendor states that the remote must be on the panel and others are vague about its location. For example:

IMPORTANT: The RCPI must be mounted so that it can be seen, and operated by the pilot
of the aircraft from a normal operating position. We strongly recommend that the RCPI be
located within an area that is part of the pilots regular instrument scan.

I mounted the remote on my -6A on the back of the baggage compartment where it can be easily seen and used for testing. The same location calls to me in the -10.

I have read 91.207 several times and cannot find any requirement about the remote. Are the requirements in TSO-C01 that is referenced? In that case it would only be in the installation requirements which you are required to meet, per fed reg.

Also I note several RV's where the antenna is mounted horizontally in the tail fairing, which is not in compliance with most recommendations that it be within 30 degrees of vertical in normal flight. My -6 has a rubber ducky mounted horizontally on the top of the baggage wall. I did (do) not have much respect for the old 121.5 ELTs, but apparently the new 406 may actually provide a useful service.

I hate to add to the antenna farm on the ship, 2 coms, 2 blade types for the transponder and ADSB receiver and now a ELT.

So what is the requirements for the ELT remote and antenna?

[az_gila]

Bruce, the real requirements are in this document that costs $$$$ -

New models of emergency locator transmitter equipment that are to be so identified and that are manufactured on or after the date of this TSO must meet the standards set forth in Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics (RTCA) Document No. DO-183, ?Minimum Operational Performance Standards for Emergency Locator Transmitters; Automatic Fixed - ELT (AF), Automatic Portable - ELT (AP), Automatic Deployable - ELT (AD), Survival - ELT (S); Operating on 121.5 and 243.0 Megahertz,? Section 2.0, dated May 13, 1983.

[BobTurner]

Bruce,

Strictly speaking the installation instructions are part of the TSO and are suppose to be followed.
Now, some have argued that a weak signal is better than no signal, and an internal antenna is more likely to survive than an external one. Also, the standard antenna is likely useless if you roll upside down. So you need to decide between following the letter of the law, or maybe a better solution?

However, the intent of the remote panel is clear, you need to be able to see and reach it from the pilot seat. If you have a hard landing and it activates, you may be able to turn it off before the search and rescue people are notified. Also if you know you are going down you can manually activate it to insure it is on.