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ACK-04 ELT

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Strasnuts

Joined: 10 Feb 2009
Posts: 502
Location: Salt Lake City, UT

Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2011 7:27 pm Post subject: ACK-04 ELT

I have been waiting for the ACK-04 ELT to come out on the market so I can install before my plane is done.  I am giving up on it and will now reluctantly order a different 406 ELT (for more money).  Anyone out there have any input, recommendations or experience with the new 406 ELTs?

_________________
40936
RV-10 SB N801VR Flying
780 Hours
SuperSTOL 60 hours

dave.saylor.aircrafters(a
Guest

Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2011 8:38 pm Post subject: ACK-04 ELT

You would have swapped out the ACK at some point anyway.  Not a good

product, certainly not one I would trust to save me, if the old 121.5

unit was any indicator.  We've been installing Ameri-Kings and they

seem OK.  Kannad seems like better quality but more $$.



Dave Saylor

AirCrafters

140 Aviation Way

Watsonville, CA 95076

831-722-9141 Shop

831-750-0284 Cell



On Thu, Jan 13, 2011 at 7:27 PM, Strasnuts <sean(at)braunandco.com> wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   



 I have been waiting for the ACK-04 ELT to come out on the market so I can install before my plane is done. Â I am giving up on it and will now reluctantly order a different 406 ELT (for more money). Â Anyone out there have any input, recommendations or experience with the new 406 ELTs?



 --------

 Cust. #40936

 RV-10 SB Fuselage

 N801VR reserved





 Read this topic online here:



 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=326972#326972

glastar(at)gmx.net
Guest

Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2011 2:55 am Post subject: ACK-04 ELT

Dave,



could you be more specific, what was bad on that product please. The 

design of the 406 does look pretty well done from what I did see but if 

you have more details I would be more then glad to have them for a decision.



Many thanks



#41122 Empenage (HB-YPK reserved)

#5794 HB-YKP flying



On 14.01.2011 05:25, Dave Saylor wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   



 You would have swapped out the ACK at some point anyway.  Not a good

 product, certainly not one I would trust to save me, if the old 121.5

 unit was any indicator.  We've been installing Ameri-Kings and they

 seem OK.  Kannad seems like better quality but more $$.



 Dave Saylor

 AirCrafters

 140 Aviation Way

 Watsonville, CA 95076

 831-722-9141 Shop

 831-750-0284 Cell



 On Thu, Jan 13, 2011 at 7:27 PM, Strasnuts<sean(at)braunandco.com>  wrote:

> 

>

> I have been waiting for the ACK-04 ELT to come out on the market so I can install before my plane is done.  I am giving up on it and will now reluctantly order a different 406 ELT (for more money).  Anyone out there have any input, recommendations or experience with the new 406 ELTs?

>

> --------

> Cust. #40936

> RV-10 SB Fuselage

> N801VR reserved

>

>

> Read this topic online here:

>

> http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=326972#326972

>

>

jesse(at)saintaviation.co
Guest

Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2011 6:06 am Post subject: ACK-04 ELT

If you are waiting for a new unit to come on the market and it's a cost concern, can't you still just put in a 121.5 ELT and then swap it out with the new unit when it comes out?  I know some of the AmeriKing ELT's fit in the same mount as eachother, so the 121.5 mount will hold the 406 ELT.  The only difference in the one that I used was that the "phone" cord from the ELT to the control unit on the panel was 6 wires on the 406 and only 4 on the 121.5.



do not archive



Jesse Saint

Saint Aviation, Inc.

jesse(at)saintaviation.com

C: 352-427-0285

F: 815-377-3694



On Jan 13, 2011, at 10:27 PM, Strasnuts wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   

 

 I have been waiting for the ACK-04 ELT to come out on the market so I can install before my plane is done.  I am giving up on it and will now reluctantly order a different 406 ELT (for more money).  Anyone out there have any input, recommendations or experience with the new 406 ELTs?

 

 --------

 Cust. #40936

 RV-10 SB Fuselage

 N801VR reserved

 

 

 

 

 Read this topic online here:

 

 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=326972#326972

johngoodman

Joined: 18 Sep 2006
Posts: 530
Location: GA

Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2011 6:32 am Post subject: Re: ACK-04 ELT

I've been waiting for mine for a year - already paid for. I'm being told it should be out by March....

_________________
#40572 Phase One complete in 2011

Kelly McMullen

Joined: 16 Apr 2008
Posts: 1188
Location: Sun Lakes AZ

Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2011 6:41 am Post subject: ACK-04 ELT

Yes. The ACK E01 is no longer produced, however one might find some still in stock. The E04 unit awaiting approval supposedly will work with 2, 4 or 6 wire connections to the panel. I'm not convinced that any of the units on the market are much better than each other. They all have to meet the TSO, most have Canadian and European approvals, as well as passing COPAS/SARSATk testing. The G switch is likely the weak point in all of them.

 Whether the ACK is any good or not, it should put significant price pressure on the other companies to come down close to its $600 price threshold. It would be nice if selection could be made more on quality and features and less on huge price differences. Seems like it would be rather simple to put together a $700 unit with built in GPS, since most of the PLB units have that feature.  I don't like the idea of needing external connections and relying on separate GPS to be turned on, etc.

On Fri, Jan 14, 2011 at 6:47 AM, Jesse Saint <jesse(at)saintaviation.com (jesse(at)saintaviation.com)> wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   --> RV10-List message posted by: Jesse Saint <jesse(at)saintaviation.com (jesse(at)saintaviation.com)>

 If you are waiting for a new unit to come on the market and it's a cost concern, can't you still just put in a 121.5 ELT and then swap it out with the new unit when it comes out?  I know some of the AmeriKing ELT's fit in the same mount as eachother, so the 121.5 mount will hold the 406 ELT.  The only difference in the one that I used was that the "phone" cord from the ELT to the control unit on the panel was 6 wires on the 406 and only 4 on the 121.5.

 do not archive

 Jesse Saint

 Saint Aviation, Inc.

 jesse(at)saintaviation.com (jesse(at)saintaviation.com)

 C: 352-427-0285

 F: 815-377-3694

 On Jan 13, 2011, at 10:27 PM, Strasnuts wrote:

 > --> RV10-List message posted by: "Strasnuts" <sean(at)braunandco.com (sean(at)braunandco.com)>

 >

 > I have been waiting for the ACK-04 ELT to come out on the market so I can install before my plane is done.  I am giving up on it and will now reluctantly order a different 406 ELT (for more money).  Anyone out there have any input, recommendations or experience with the new 406 ELTs?

  >

 > --------

 > Cust. #40936

 > RV-10 SB Fuselage

 > N801VR reserved

 >

 >

 >

 >

 > Read this topic online here:

 >

 > http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=326972#326972

 >

 >

 >

 >

 >

 >

 >

 >

 >

 >

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_________________
Kelly McMullen
A&P/IA, EAA Tech Counselor
KCHD

Strasnuts

Joined: 10 Feb 2009
Posts: 502
Location: Salt Lake City, UT

Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2011 6:41 am Post subject: Re: ACK-04 ELT

I have been watching this for a year too.  I finally canceled my order with AS.



http://www.ackavionics.com/406%20Page.html

_________________
40936
RV-10 SB N801VR Flying
780 Hours
SuperSTOL 60 hours

dave.saylor.aircrafters(a
Guest

Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2011 7:02 am Post subject: ACK-04 ELT

I've seen a lot of problems with the ACKs that don't show up in other

brands nearly as often.  Failed G switch and false tripping due to RF

are the common failures.  They replace it no questions asked but it

got to the point where it seemed that every one I inspected was

broken.



Dave Saylor

AirCrafters

140 Aviation Way

Watsonville, CA 95076

831-722-9141 Shop

831-750-0284 Cell



On Fri, Jan 14, 2011 at 2:49 AM, Werner Schneider <glastar(at)gmx.net> wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   



 Dave,



 could you be more specific, what was bad on that product please. The design

 of the 406 does look pretty well done from what I did see but if you have

 more details I would be more then glad to have them for a decision.



 Many thanks



 #41122 Empenage (HB-YPK reserved)

 #5794 HB-YKP flying



 On 14.01.2011 05:25, Dave Saylor wrote:

>

> 

> Saylor<dave.saylor.aircrafters(at)gmail.com>

>

> You would have swapped out the ACK at some point anyway. Â Not a good

> product, certainly not one I would trust to save me, if the old 121.5

> unit was any indicator. Â We've been installing Ameri-Kings and they

> seem OK. Â Kannad seems like better quality but more $$.

>

> Dave Saylor

> AirCrafters

> 140 Aviation Way

> Watsonville, CA 95076

> 831-722-9141 Shop

> 831-750-0284 Cell

>

> On Thu, Jan 13, 2011 at 7:27 PM, Strasnuts<sean(at)braunandco.com> Â wrote:

>>

>> 

>>

>> I have been waiting for the ACK-04 ELT to come out on the market so I can

>> install before my plane is done. Â I am giving up on it and will now

>> reluctantly order a different 406 ELT (for more money). Â Anyone out there

>> have any input, recommendations or experience with the new 406 ELTs?

>>

>> --------

>> Cust. #40936

>> RV-10 SB Fuselage

>> N801VR reserved

>>

>>

>>

>>

>> Read this topic online here:

>>

>> http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=326972#326972

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

Strasnuts

Joined: 10 Feb 2009
Posts: 502
Location: Salt Lake City, UT

Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2011 7:07 am Post subject: Re: ACK-04 ELT

I noticed the ACK's  are a little heavier too.  I guess one more pound isn't too bad but if I mount it out on the tail it is.

_________________
40936
RV-10 SB N801VR Flying
780 Hours
SuperSTOL 60 hours

Tim Olson

Joined: 25 Jan 2007
Posts: 2879

Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2011 7:35 am Post subject: ACK-04 ELT

The latest update on their website was Jan. 6th, and it indicated that

this week they may know if it's going to get submitted for approval.

I've ordered mine long ago too, because it's got the most features

for the dollar, and it is compatible for swap with what I have.

I don't know about past quality issues, but considering the pretty

extensive testing and retesting that I've watched this thing go

through, I'd have confidence in it.  You can tell that they don't

just let anyone build these things and slap a sticker on it and

sell it.  Seeing the process go on and on really shows what hoops

it takes to bring a certified product to market....makes us appreciate

what we can do with our RV-10's.

Anyway, it sounds like if the result is good, it's still just

around the corner that the E-04 will come out.  Yeah, it's

been that way for a while, but at least they're going about it

the right way.  Personally, I think the benefits of integrated

GPS (this one accepts many GPS's via serial), are big enough

that I'm waiting as long as it takes.  I'm not spending $1000

for an ELT when this one will be under $600.  The only way

that prices come down is by these market forces of people who

will wait, and not pay the high prices.  There are probably

plenty of 121.5 ELT's that could be borrowed and installed

for the short term.  The ELT is probably one of the easiest

things to retrofit later...in my case, I just yank the VS

fairing and do a tiny bit of work.  My existing panel stuff

and wiring should work fine.  I already have GPS data on

a serial line that is easy to route back there too.

Tim Olson - RV-10 N104CD

On 1/14/2011 8:35 AM, Kelly McMullen wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   Yes. The ACK E01 is no longer produced, however one might find some

 still in stock. The E04 unit awaiting approval supposedly will work with

 2, 4 or 6 wire connections to the panel. I'm not convinced that any of

 the units on the market are much better than each other. They all have

 to meet the TSO, most have Canadian and European approvals, as well as

 passing COPAS/SARSATk testing. The G switch is likely the weak point in

 all of them.

 Whether the ACK is any good or not, it should put significant price

 pressure on the other companies to come down close to its $600 price

 threshold. It would be nice if selection could be made more on quality

 and features and less on huge price differences. Seems like it would be

 rather simple to put together a $700 unit with built in GPS, since most

 of the PLB units have that feature.  I don't like the idea of needing

 external connections and relying on separate GPS to be turned on, etc.

 On Fri, Jan 14, 2011 at 6:47 AM, Jesse Saint <jesse(at)saintaviation.com

 <mailto:jesse(at)saintaviation.com>> wrote:

     <jesse(at)saintaviation.com <mailto:jesse(at)saintaviation.com>>

     If you are waiting for a new unit to come on the market and it's a

     cost concern, can't you still just put in a 121.5 ELT and then swap

     it out with the new unit when it comes out?  I know some of the

     AmeriKing ELT's fit in the same mount as eachother, so the 121.5

     mount will hold the 406 ELT.  The only difference in the one that I

     used was that the "phone" cord from the ELT to the control unit on

     the panel was 6 wires on the 406 and only 4 on the 121.5.

     do not archive

     Jesse Saint

     Saint Aviation, Inc.

     jesse(at)saintaviation.com <mailto:jesse(at)saintaviation.com>

     C: 352-427-0285

     F: 815-377-3694

     On Jan 13, 2011, at 10:27 PM, Strasnuts wrote:

      > 

     <mailto:sean(at)braunandco.com>>

      >

      > I have been waiting for the ACK-04 ELT to come out on the market

     so I can install before my plane is done.  I am giving up on it and

     will now reluctantly order a different 406 ELT (for more money).

       Anyone out there have any input, recommendations or experience

     with the new 406 ELTs?

      >

      > --------

      > Cust. #40936

      > RV-10 SB Fuselage

      > N801VR reserved

      >

      >

      >

      >

      > Read this topic online here:

      >

      > http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=326972#326972

      >

      >

      >

      >

      >

      >

      >

      >

      >

      >

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 *

 *

Jim Berry

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 237
Location: Denver

Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2011 10:48 am Post subject: Re: ACK-04 ELT

I have the Artex 406. The SAR guys can pick up its signal ground to ground from more than 10 miles away. Ask me how I know.



Jim Berry

N15JB

Phase I

AirMike

Joined: 27 Feb 2007
Posts: 514
Location: Nevada

Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2011 5:42 pm Post subject: ACK-04 ELT

If you want to wait and are not super concerned, it is my understanding that you do not need ANY ELT during Phase 1 flight testing due to the confined flight area. Buy a SPOT Messenger and wait it out.

_________________
See you OSH '18
Q/B - sold.

tsts4

Joined: 06 Aug 2007
Posts: 167
Location: Tampa, FL

Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2011 2:16 pm Post subject: Re: ACK-04 ELT

True, 91.207 states it's not required during flight testing but I'm not sure phase 1 ops really falls under this sub-paragraph, at best it's a gray area. The confined area rule applies to flight training, not testing.  More to the point, I'd bet you'd have a hard time getting an air worthiness cert without one installed, but I could be wrong.

_________________
Todd Stovall
aka "Auburntsts" on EAA and VAF
RV-10 N728TT -- Flying

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