ACK or Artex ELT??

[Bartman]

Looking at ELT's tonight so I can get the hole in the panel cut for the remote.

The two affordable options are the Artex ELT GPS 345 and the ACK E-04

Anybody have anything to say up or down for either?

Thanks!

 

[Bob Turner]

Are ELTs still useful in the lower 48? They tell me the “Spot” is better at locating you. And surely ADS-B helps keep track of you?

 

[Bartman]

Not sure which would be best in any given situation but the ELT is still required for two or more seats I believe. I should look it up I suppose.

I ordered the ACK E-04 last night. Half the comments I found online prefer the ACK, half prefer the Artex and the ACK is less expensive. The trick is to wire the GPS feed from the transponder and then make sure you activate it before you land off airport so it does some blipping on the way down when its signal will reach farther.

The ACK specs a 1 amp fuse in the GPS signal circuit. Was thinking I'd put a fuse inline but if it's burned through I probably wouldn't know it so maybe a CB in the panel will be the better choice.

The Artex install instructions didn't say anything about a fuse.

 

[Tangogawd]

I have and installed both. I lean ACK because I can go to my local Spruce and buy it off the shelf right now.... The ACK requires little batteries for the control and buzzer. The Artex does not.

Inline fuse is fine. I've never seen one blow. RS-232 feed is a tiny fraction of a volt for signal.