ELT antenna location

[RVNewsletter]

Just got my Artex 406 ELT from Aircraft Spruce ($992. Ouch). Reading the manual, I'll be darned if I can figure out a good spot for the antenna OTHER than on the top of the skin way back near the VS. I've seen people install the antenna around the rollbar, but in a serious crash, what are the odds that's not going to be a place of separation? And besides, it's not within 15 degrees of vertical as required.

I've also seen pictures on VAF of people who mounted the antenna horizontally by laying it across the HS and that doesn't even come close to the manufacturer's recommendations and while it might be well hidden, what on earth would be the point of spending almost $1,000 and then installating it in a half a$$ method that might result in the thing not doing the job?

What are you all doing for this?

[weezbad]

another touchy subject. i dont see the need to labor over this too much as there is no way to know what posistion you'll be in when you fianlly come to a stop. if the coax isnt ripped out then what posistion will you be in? mine is behind the roll bar. if i survive i'll get the spare antenna and my head set and get help....if my cell phone doesnt work. ive been to some crashes and i just dont see any rationale to any mount. the spine really seems like the worst place for it. you'll end up tail high or flipped. A model or taildragger.. my votes are under the emp cone or behind the roll bar..

[jim_geo]

I just spent a good portion of time noodling this question also. I've read lots of posts about the subject of ELT placement. This subject is long and probably has a wider scope of opinion than than the “To prime or not to prime subjectâ€￾. Surprisingly it's a real can of worms. In the end I decided to mount the antenna in the reinforcing doubler behind the rear canopy window, mines a tip up, just left of center. Pretty much I went with the manual that came with the ELT for installation. One of the more interesting parameters laid out in the manual was not to cross any seams, I took that to mean vertical seams, between the transmitter and the antenna. Mounting the antenna outside flippen around in the wind was about the last thing I wanted to do but in the end it became the most convenient location and possibly least least objectionable (to a DAR) location and once you get used to it, it doesn't look half bad.

[dynamicjohn]

do you have a pic, Jim?