The topic of ELTs failing to activate is worthy of some discussion. A few years ago, the FAA put mechanics on notice of the (already existing) strict mounting criteria for ELTs. It turns out that quite a few airplanes were crashing, with no subsequent ELT activation.

In a number of those cases, the ELT mounting bracket failed, essentially preventing the ELT inertia switch from turning the unit on. These mounting installations obviously did not meet the very stringent ELT mounting criteria spelled out by the FAA.

So, an initiative was started in an effort to “remind” mechanics to verify the integrity of each installed ELT bracket.

At about this time, I opted to install a 406 ELT in place of the old 121.5 ELT in my plane. In discussing with my mechanic, he pointed out that the existing bracket flexed way too much. So, he fabricated a new, and very solid mounting bracket to mount the new beacon.

The takeaway here? Get a good grip on your ELT, and see if you can move it or it’s bracket. If you can move it, it probably doesn’t meet the proper installation guidelines.

Here is the latest guidance on installation and testing of ELTs: https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/med ... _CHG-1.pdf

Note that mounting of ELTs using Velcro straps as at least one manufacturer did in past is a no no, and ELTs should NOT be mounted in baggage compartments.

There’s no point in buying, installing and lugging around a relatively expensive potentially life saving device that’s not properly mounted, and thus set up to fail when you need it most.

MTV

Yes, a PLB is a stronger signal. From the rescue perspective, knowing the nature of the emergency is extremely helpful. Seems lots of these help calls come at the end of the day, at night with less than ideal weather. Knowing what is wrong helps considerably in the decision of when to launch.

Being prepared is essential. I think too many people think this preparation is their SOS button. Be ready to spend the night. Have water, know how to get water. Know some basic survival skills. Know some basic medical skills. Use sound judgment.

mtv wrote:...In a number of those cases, the ELT mounting bracket failed, essentially preventing the ELT inertia switch from turning the unit on. These mounting installations obviously did not meet the very stringent ELT mounting criteria spelled out by the FAA.

So, an initiative was started in an effort to “remind” mechanics to verify the integrity of each installed ELT bracket....

Here is the latest guidance on installation and testing of ELTs: https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/med ... _CHG-1.pdf ....

MTV

This is an excellent point. On my previous 185 both going from a 121.5 to a 406 like MTV, and moving it from inside the extended baggage compartment to under the floor of the extended baggage compartment, instead of just mounting it to the floor under the new mounting guidelines we had to fabric a brace that was 90 degrees to the floor and attached to another part of structure of the plane so an impact would just tear the ELT free. The same thing will be done when we move the ELT in my current 185. Worthwhile to do it right that's for sure.

StuBob wrote:The bigger inReach devices are reputed to have clunky user interface. It seems reasonable to assume your phone might get lost or broken in a crash, so you wouldn’t be able to use the app. How’s the UI on the Mini?

Speaking of clunky, the SPOT website is just terrible.

The bigger inReach does have a clunky interface, however you can use all the features without an additional device. The new mini requires an additional device to text, but I’m sure the basic tracking and emergency features are stand alone.

A1Skinner wrote:Really? When I looked into the inreach it was at least $30/ month. I pay $159/year fo my spot. Big difference in price. Theres a good chance I was missing something though.

I'm not going to try and reconstruct it right now, but from memory I think the deal was that the basic Spot plan was insufficient for my needs. When comparing the plans *I* needed the difference was very small because I had to get a more pricy plan from Spot, but was still in a modest price tier from InReach. I can say definitively that my InReach is $25 a month, so that's narrows the gap from what you saw right off the bat. Maybe I'm grandfathered though? I've had it a while.

Been carrying a small ACR 406 mhz PLB for years. I figured it's the same functionality as an ELT, monitored by NORAD or whatever that agency is, has built-in GPS, and doesn't rely on a subscription with a privately-owned business.

What is the policy with InReach and SPOT on non-payment, anyway? Not saying I want to stiff anyone, but say you crashed, your 406 ELT and PLB devices were damaged or not working, but deep in some recess of your airplane or bags was a SPOT you forgot you had since you stopped using it years ago. The battery is magically still charged. Will they honor your emergency call?

Zzz wrote: Will they honor your emergency call?

In reach and spot won't work without an active subscription. One of the many reasons I carry both an in reach and a PLB.

Zane, Zane, Zane.......always looking for the angle, eh?

MTV

mtv wrote:Zane, Zane, Zane.......always looking for the angle, eh?

MTV

Maybe I can figure out how to use them as a free wifi hotspot.

StuBob wrote:
Speaking of clunky, the SPOT website is just terrible.

That is the truth! What a crappy website! No one in my family can even begin to navigate it to figure out how to share the tracking link. I've poked around it for about nine years so I have the basic functions figured out but there is nothing intuitive about the SPOT website. Nothing.

If I send an "I'm OK" message, it just confuses my friends and family as it's a different link than the tracking link. I have to personally show each person how to navigate the map to see if my last "ping" is on an airport or in the bushes. I've pretty much quit sending it to anyone new because they can't figure it out. These clowns need to do some testing on the public to see how dysfunctional their website design is.

Last week the geeks at SPOT sent me an email telling me that to maintain their great service, they will now whack me with a $25 a year "maintenance fee" to keep their equipment repaired. The price has gone up a lot since I first started using it. My idea was that it would quit working one day and I would replace it with an inReach. But the darn thing just keeps on ticking. So there is that......

I also remember a report that someone canceled their service and later reinstated it and SPOT charged them for the intervening time period. All hearsay but there have been other reports of difficulty getting SPOT to stop billing. Mine is due to renew in June and I'm considering cancelling and getting an inReach.

For those of you using the inReach, is the website user friendly? Is setting up the tracking function user friendly? Does the link that you give to friends and family to track you make sense to them or do you have to show them how to use it?

I also carry an ACR ResQlink PLB. The instructions, all in pictographs, show a guy pushing the button and then the helicopter landing next to him. I like that.

kg wrote:

I also remember a report that someone canceled their service and later reinstated it and SPOT charged them for the intervening time period. All hearsay but there have been other reports of difficulty getting SPOT to stop billing. Mine is due to renew in June and I'm considering cancelling and getting an inReach.

Make sure you cancel BEFORE the renewal date, and I would notify your credit card company that you canceled BEFORE renewal date, or cancel that credit card. They renewed me without my permission, and basically said tough luck, so I’m paying for a years subscription I’m not using and didn’t want.

To make sure that didn’t happen again I canceled that credit card.

These guys are NOT customer oriented.

MTV

kg wrote:For those of you using the inReach, is the website user friendly? Is setting up the tracking function user friendly? Does the link that you give to friends and family to track you make sense to them or do you have to show them how to use it?

It's *far* from perfect. I'm not a spot user, so I can't tell you if it's better, but based on what you wrote it's a definite "maybe". lol!

But look for yourself.

Here's my public page: https://share.delorme.com/LaNaranjaDanzante

Here's the link that gets sent when I send a message from the device: https://inreach.garmin.com/textmessage/ ... objenv.com

To me, it's not at all intuitive that the user needs to click the + sign on the first link to see the tracks. And the "filters" option is, IMO, kind of hidden at the top left. Otherwise, it's a solid "ok, but not great".

Get your HAM license. APRS works well for me I use it both flying and in my vehicles. Super easy for family to track you. Its just a link you email or text with the website and your call sign and it pops right up. Can be done either over the 2m radio waves, or by cell coverage. It would not work when you cant get either of these though.

rw2 wrote:
Here's my public page: https://share.delorme.com/LaNaranjaDanzante

To me, it's not at all intuitive that the user needs to click the + sign on the first link to see the tracks. And the "filters" option is, IMO, kind of hidden at the top left. Otherwise, it's a solid "ok, but not great".

I see what you mean. I agree, there is nothing that leads one to click on the + sign to see the tracks. Why can't these web developers make that button say "Click Here to See Track". ??? It seems so obvious.

My SPOT plan is due to renew in June. I think I'm going to cancel and go with the inReach. With the new "maintenance fee" from SPOT the cost won't be much different.

I also carry a PLB in my float vest, and the InReach on my dash. The problem with SPOT is their satellite network doesn't really come up to AK that well, with both the Spot and the Spot Phone I had gaps in coverage so I changed to Irridium network (InReach).

As to the 406 not activating that happened twice fairly in quick succession, a NPS charter beaver and Sen. Steven's plane. Stevens' plane was CFIT and the Beaver was suspected CFIT (we don't know cause the plane was never found). That is when the mount issue came up.

My 406 ELT is an ACR ME406, and it was one of those originally with a Velcro mount. I changed that out when ACR released the new SS strap mount, which is much sturdier. The mounting place was the same, and in my airplane it's the sturdy tray that was designed to hold empennage-mounted remote avionics, although there're no avionics mounted there now. So it's pretty unlikely to be torn loose, unless the whole thing is cruncheled up like an aluminum ball. Hopefully I'll have remembered to turn it on with the panel switch before heading down, anyway.

I also carry 2 PLBs, an ACR ResQLink and a ResQLink+ (the floating version). One is in a pocket in the airplane, the other in a pocket of my survival vest. I also have a 121.5/243.0 ELT in my big survival kit, which although it is no longer approved, still works. Of course, I also have flares and other signaling devices in both the vest and big survival kit, along with all the typical survival items.

Although modern technology is wonderful, and should materially shorten rescue times, I still think that if I'm alive after a forced landing, I want to be prepared to spend awhile before rescue comes. All that wonderful technology won't make the weather get better for the rescuers to find me.

Cary

Headoutdaplane wrote:The problem with SPOT is their satellite network doesn't really come up to AK that well, with both the Spot and the Spot Phone I had gaps in coverage so I changed to Irridium network (InReach).

FWIW, my anecdote is that SPOT works just fine as far north as Tok.

StuBob wrote:

Headoutdaplane wrote:The problem with SPOT is their satellite network doesn't really come up to AK that well, with both the Spot and the Spot Phone I had gaps in coverage so I changed to Irridium network (InReach).

FWIW, my anecdote is that SPOT works just fine as far north as Tok.

The problem is, it’s not consistent That far north.. I’ve had similar experience that far north, and also had a whole bunch of track points dropped in northern Minnesota. On more than one occasion. In other words, yes, you may get it to work that far north, but tomorrow, it may not.

The further north you are, the less coverage the Globalstar system has. I’ve had it work north of Fairbanks.....once.

If that’s your idea of a safety device, go for it. On the other hand, the Iridium satellite system, which InReach uses, has true and reliable worldwide coverage.

MTV

FWIW Spot appears to have gone and made themselves an orange Blackberry. The device runs about $250 but has a built-in Barbie keyboard so it's probably a little easier to type on than an InReach (though with phone pairing it's a non-issue). The service plans look like they cost more, especially for the lower volume ones. You're basically paying more money for a little better keyboard but same less-extensive network... But, throwing it out here just for the fair comparison.
https://www.findmespot.com/en/index.php?cid=131

On the question about the InReach website usability, I find it pretty easy. I send the tracking link to whoever I want to have it, and they have no issues finding me or even sending me messages on a whim. I seem to recall configuring a couple of the settings took a little time just to find where they put it, but nothing terrible or something I needed to access frequently.

If there's one usability annoyance on the older InReach it's updating your contacts and quick messages. They may have simplified this since I last tried to do it (perhaps app sync?) but it at least used to require setting that up on their website, and then syncing the device with a cable to the computer. Since very few of my messages were of the "quick reply" variety and contact setup is a one time thing, this was only slightly annoying.