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To 406 or not 406 that is the question.

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Gig Giacona

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1416
Location: El Dorado Arkansas USA

Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 2:33 pm Post subject: To 406 or not 406 that is the question.

As we know the 121MHz aren't going to be monitored by satellite any more. But the 406MHz aren't required by the FAA. There is a huge price difference between the two and I was wondering what the builders who are getting close to flying are planning to go with?



I'm leaning towards an 121MHZ Ack E-01 and some sort of 406MHz personal locater. Then in a few years hopefully the price will drop on the Ack 406 unit.

_________________
W.R. "Gig" Giacona
601XL Under Construction
See my progress at www.peoamerica.net/N601WR

psm(at)att.net
Guest

Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 3:05 pm Post subject: To 406 or not 406 that is the question.

I'm planning to put off the decision until I get near the end of 

phase I flight testing.  I don't think I need an ELT until that task 

is complete.



It seems silly to buy a 121 MHz device since nobody will hear it.  I 

will probably get the 406 one when the time comes.  Current pricing 

for these gizmos is around $1000, and it probably won't be much less 

when I need it - maybe this Summer.  That seems like a lot of money, 

but it is less than 10 percent of the electronics in my plane.



Paul

XL getting close

At 02:33 PM 2/24/2009, you wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		  As we know the 121MHz aren't going to be monitored by satellite any 

more. But the 406MHz aren't required by the FAA. There is a huge 

price difference between the two and I was wondering what the 

builders who are getting close to flying are planning to go with?



I'm leaning towards an 121MHZ Ack E-01 and some sort of 406MHz 

personal locater. Then in a few years hopefully the price will drop 

on the Ack 406 unit.

notsew_evets(at)frontiern
Guest

Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 3:06 pm Post subject: To 406 or not 406 that is the question.

Rules say:  Two seat airplanes must have an ELT.



Thats it....



I m staying with 121.5.   It does work.

FBO's and Unicom stations will be listening.

I guess if you fly across Keyna you might want 406....

---

notsew_evets(at)frontiern
Guest

Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 3:12 pm Post subject: To 406 or not 406 that is the question.

Thats KENYA.  Im lesdexic..  Duh!

---

craig(at)craigandjean.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 3:28 pm Post subject: To 406 or not 406 that is the question.

Wait as long as you can to buy - prices are dropping and new 406 MHz models

are coming out. The ACK 406 is close enough in price to their 121 ($586 vs.

$140 on Spruce). But I don't know if it is shipping yet. Spruce also shows

an Ameri-King 406 MHz unit for $836.



Too late for me, I bought the $1200 Artex (now under $1000) and it doesn't

even accept a GPS feed.



Also the Canadians are insisting that all their planes upgrade including

visiting ones. So if you plan to fly into Canada...



-- Craig



--

tigerrick(at)mindspring.c
Guest

Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 3:54 pm Post subject: To 406 or not 406 that is the question.

Hi, Gig!



That's exactly what I'm planning on doing, buying a lower cost personal 406 PLB until the average price of aircraft units comes down, which it eventually will.



Even though the satellites won't be looking for ELTs anymore, CAP and other aircraft WILL continue to monitor 121.5.



I like the idea of being able to activate a personal PLB before a force landing, and being able to instantly travel with it. I do believe that McMurdo is coming up with a smaller, lighter, and lower cost PLB that's in the final approval stages that will sell for less than half of a comparable aviation 406 unit.



Rick



do not archive



--

jmaynard

Joined: 27 Feb 2008
Posts: 394
Location: Fairmont, MN (FRM)

Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 4:40 pm Post subject: To 406 or not 406 that is the question.

On Tue, Feb 24, 2009 at 02:33:29PM -0800, Gig Giacona wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   I'm leaning towards an 121MHZ Ack E-01 and some sort of 406MHz personal

 locater. Then in a few years hopefully the price will drop on the Ack 406

 unit.


	


I'd recommend, if you go this route (and it's a reasonable one if you don't

want to spend the money for 406 righ away), to mount the ELT and antenna

where you can get to them easily. The 406 ELT will use a different antenna

from the 121.5 ELT, and you'll have to swap antennas when you do the

conversion. I'm not looking forward to the change in my Zodiac for that

reason (unless the ACK antenna can be changed without needing access to the

underside).

-- 

Jay Maynard, K5ZC, PP-ASEL, AGI      http://www.conmicro.com

http://jmaynard.livejournal.com       http://www.tronguy.net

Fairmont, MN (KFRM)                        (Yes, that's me!)

AMD Zodiac CH601XLi N55ZC http://www.tronguy.net/N55ZC.shtml

_________________
Jay Maynard, K5ZC
AMD Zodiac XLi N55ZC

craig(at)craigandjean.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 5:06 pm Post subject: To 406 or not 406 that is the question.

 	  Quote: 	
		   Im lesdexic..  Duh!


	


Have you heard about DAM? Mothers Against Dyslexia.



-- Craig



Do not archive

chris Sinfield

Joined: 28 Nov 2006
Posts: 270
Location: Sydney Australia

Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 5:07 pm Post subject: Re: To 406 or not 406 that is the question.

My C130 will still monitor 121.5 and 406. also the civil airliners may still be monitoring 121.5 anyone know?. if they know you have a 121.5 they will find you but not as fast.. get  a portable 406 and turn it on after the crash for extra protection.

Chris

psm(at)att.net
Guest

Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 5:24 pm Post subject: To 406 or not 406 that is the question.

According to some FAA folks I spoke to at a trade show last weekend, 

all aircraft are supposed to monitor 121.5 at all times if they are 

able to do so.  Unfortunately, I was unable to find any reference to 

this in the FARs.



Paul

do not archive



At 05:07 PM 2/24/2009, you wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		  My C130 will still monitor 121.5 and 406. also the civil airliners 

may still be monitoring 121.5 anyone know?. if they know you have a 

121.5 they will find you but not as fast.. get  a portable 406 and 

turn it on after the crash for extra protection.

Chris

craig(at)craigandjean.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 5:40 pm Post subject: To 406 or not 406 that is the question.

The disadvantage of course to the 406 MHz PLB is that you have to be

conscious to activate it. I suppose if you are dead there isn't much rush to

find you. An alternative would be SPOT or the Ham radio based APRS tracker

devices is Byonics. Both will allow a third-party to track you and report

your last known position if you are overdue. The downside to SPOT is that

the cost of the unit ($100 or more) and the annual fee ($100 basic plus $50

for tracking). So in a few years the cost approaches that of a 406 MHz ELT.

But you (or your friends and family) get real-time tracking. The question on

APRS is coverage.



http://www.findmespot.com/en/index.php?cid=1113



http://home.hiwaay.net/~sbuc/journal/tracker.htm



http://www.byonics.com/



-- Craig

jmaynard

Joined: 27 Feb 2008
Posts: 394
Location: Fairmont, MN (FRM)

Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 8:08 pm Post subject: To 406 or not 406 that is the question.

On Tue, Feb 24, 2009 at 05:23:27PM -0800, Paul Mulwitz wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   According to some FAA folks I spoke to at a trade show last weekend, all 

 aircraft are supposed to monitor 121.5 at all times if they are able to do 

 so.  Unfortunately, I was unable to find any reference to this in the FARs.


	


I don't believe there is one in the FARs. However, I'd refer you to AIM

5-6-2(a)(2): "All aircraft operating in the US national airspace, if

capable, will maintain a listening watch on VHF guard 121.5[...]" That

paragraph has to do with intercept procedures, and it's a REALLY good idea

to comply.

-- 

Jay Maynard, K5ZC, PP-ASEL, AGI      http://www.conmicro.com

http://jmaynard.livejournal.com       http://www.tronguy.net

Fairmont, MN (KFRM)                        (Yes, that's me!)

AMD Zodiac CH601XLi N55ZC http://www.tronguy.net/N55ZC.shtml

_________________
Jay Maynard, K5ZC
AMD Zodiac XLi N55ZC

Martin Pohl

Joined: 30 Jan 2006
Posts: 118
Location: CH-8645 Jona SG, Switzerland

Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 10:56 am Post subject: Re: To 406 or not 406 that is the question.

 	  Quote: 	
		  civil airliners may still be monitoring 121.5 anyone know 	




Yes, most of the civil airlines are monitoring 121.5 on the second set at all times (unless we have to contact a preceding sector for entry clearance on COM2).



It happens from time to time that we hear an ELT-signal on 121.5. We then relay this to ATC, including our position (if not under radar contact). What ATC does with this information is unknown to me (however I doubt that they start a search and rescue immediately...). Is anybody working at an ATC and knows their procedure?



Cheers, Martin

_________________
Martin Pohl
Zodiac XL QBK
8645 Jona, Switzerland
http://www.pohltec.ch/ZodiacXL/Main.html

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