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Another ELT Question

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darinh

Joined: 20 Apr 2006
Posts: 327
Location: Utah

Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 11:39 am Post subject: Another ELT Question

I went ahead and got an ME-406 for my Series 7 with the whip antenna and was wondering if the antenna can be mounted in the fuse (see other ELT post for details if interested).  It is a pretty ugly wire looking thing and would prefer to have it enclosed but don't know if that will affect its transmission capabilities.  I know other antennas can be mounted inside.  Does anyone know that answer to this question?



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Darin Hawkes
Series 7
914 Turbo
Kaysville, Utah

dcsfoto

Joined: 24 Aug 2006
Posts: 120

Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 1:00 pm Post subject: Re: Another ELT Question

I mounted mine at an angle behind the baggage

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michaega(at)verizon.net
Guest

Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 1:07 pm Post subject: Another ELT Question

According to manufacturer it must be mounted on top of fuselage away from vertical surfaces. That means use the front antenna mount away from vertical tail. Also the manufacturer stated that you can mount the unit in any position as long as the face of the unit faces forward in level flight. I mounted the 406 ELT upside down under and attached it to the the front antenna mount  That way I could access it easily through baggage area in an emergency or to replace batteries. If you want to spend a lot of extra money they do sell a modern sweptback fiberglass antenna.

  

 George

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lcfitt(at)sbcglobal.net
Guest

Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 1:25 pm Post subject: Another ELT Question

Darin,



Of course I can't respond directly to your unit, but after our hard landing, 

one of the first questions I heard was "Where is your ELT?"  It had 

triggered and they wanted it off.  My antenna was mounted up-side-down 

inside the fuselage behind the baggage sack.  Of course the CHP plane that 

was monitoring was directly above at about 1000 ft AGL so can't speak for 

long distance propagation, but for exactly the reasons you mentioned, It was 

inside.



Another consideration.  If we were in fact inverted as some news reports 

suggested, I wonder how a top mounted antenna would function and with the 

sheared landing gear, a bottom mounted one would be suspect as well.  I had 

a freind once mention that in  his opinion, the best place would be 

extending directly aft of the rudder.  That part of an airplane always seems 

to survive a crash.  I think his comment was a bit tongue in cheek, but it 

does raise the idea that optimal location should take a bit of thought.



Lowell

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clint_bazzill(at)hotmail.
Guest

Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 1:45 pm Post subject: Another ELT Question

I haveurn my ELT antenna located inside the fuselage behind the bagage sack and in the clear.  I didn't want the antenna sticking in the ground if I went upside down.  Last year in a big storm, I got a call from Half Moon Bay Police wanting me to meet them at the airport to shut off my ELT.  The winds along the coast were so strong that the shaking of the aircraft turned on the ELT.  So it does work located there.  

  

  

 Clint

  

 

[quote] From: lcfitt(at)sbcglobal.net

 To: kitfox-list(at)matronics.com

 Subject: Re: Another ELT Question

 Date: Thu, 20 Dec 2007 13:23:36 -0800

 

 --> Kitfox-List message posted by: "Lowell Fitt" <lcfitt(at)sbcglobal.net>

 

 Darin,

 

 Of course I can't respond directly to your unit, but after our hard landing, 

 one of the first questions I heard was "Where is your ELT?" It had 

 triggered and they wanted it off. My antenna was mounted up-side-down 

 inside the fuselage behind the baggage sack. Of course the CHP plane that 

 was monitoring was directly above at about 1000 ft AGL so can't speak for 

 long distance propagation, but for exactly the reasons you mentioned, It was 

 inside.

 

 Another consideration. If we were in fact inverted as some news reports 

 suggested, I wonder how a top mounted antenna would function and with the 

 sheared landing gear, a bottom mounted one would be suspect as well. I had 

 a freind once mention that in his opinion, the best place would be 

 extending directly aft of the rudder. That part of an airplane always seems 

 to survive a crash. I think his comment was a bit tongue in cheek, but it 

 does raise the idea that optimal location should take a bit of thought.

 

 Lowell

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kitfoxmike

Joined: 05 Dec 2006
Posts: 373

Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 2:51 pm Post subject: Re: Another ELT Question

I had my elt go off with the antenna off, it sent everybody to me, so that works also.

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Float Flyr

Joined: 19 Jul 2006
Posts: 2704
Location: Campbellton, Newfoundland

Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 11:06 am Post subject: Another ELT Question

Really, you can mount the antenna any where but don't expect to get any

efficiency out of it.  A lot of the segments of the fuselage are around 22"

and can resonate with the 406 mhz.  and rob power from your transponder.

Composite aircraft being basically plastic can have these antennae moulded

into the different surfaces.  You might want to consider mounting the

antenna along the leading edge of the vertical stab but it should be mounted

on standoffs that keep the antenna a few inches form the stab.



Noel



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Noel Loveys
Kitfox III-A
Aerocet 1100 Floats

darinh

Joined: 20 Apr 2006
Posts: 327
Location: Utah

Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 11:41 am Post subject: Re: Another ELT Question

From the replies is sounds like nobody really knows if it can be mounted in the fuse or not...I guess until it has to be used and you can test your chosen location, we will not not.  I actually prefer to never know if my ELT antenna really works, at least from an experience stand point.  I am going to mount it to the top of the fuse at the aft antenna ground plane.  The manufacturer says it needs to be on top outside the fuse.  If I end up upside down in an accident, well my PLB should take over from there.  Thanks for the replies.

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Darin Hawkes
Series 7
914 Turbo
Kaysville, Utah

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