Practice ELT

[SDF_Specialist]

I've heard so many different things about getting a pointer cadet practice ELT. I've heard that they can be issued by the Wing DC, I've heard that they can be issued by the Wing ESO. I've also heard that they can be purchased. Is there anywhere to get these? I've checked out the Pointer site, and they are out of stock. I've googled "practice ELT", but came up with nothing. Does anyone have any suggestions?

[SarDragon]

Try practice beacon, its correct name.

[IceNine]

Give pointer a call,  They are about the only place I know of that carries them.  And they are REALLY new to this crazy idea of web stores.  I have one of their products that is over 15 years old, its been abused and its still a ticking.


When you call them make sure to tell the you are using this with CAP.  They have several different versions but there is one that will even have Civil Air Patrol stamped on the model sticker.

[JC004]

http://www.skygeek.com/trainer-6000.html

You will need it to be on 121.775

[SDF_Specialist]

Now as CAP, are we still gonna train using the training frequency, or will the FAA/FCC issue us a new one since 121.5 is being phased out? I don't want to get something, and have it be useless to my unit.

[sardak]

121.5 MHz is NOT being phased out.  406 MHz beacons in the US, whether ELT, EPIRB or PLB are required by law to transmit a homing signal on 121.5 MHz.  And there are still several hundred thousand legal and illegal 121.5 MHz beacons out there.

So yes, you need a practice beacon that transmits on 121.775 MHz.  The old training frequency was 121.6 and there are still practice beacons on that frequency.  Check the freq if you find a "good deal."

Mike

[_]

Seimac produces a practice beacon. 

http://www.seimac.com/
Go to the site.
Click on "Search & Rescue" along the top.
Click on "Training Beacons" on the left.

[Eclipse]

And you should also check with your Group or Wing ESO / DC, both may have a spare.

If you have an L-Per, there should have been a practice beacon to go with it - in most cases they were issued as a set, and over the years they got separated.

You may find that there is one sitting in someone's basement they should have returned.

[SDF_Specialist]

And you should also check with your Group or Wing ESO / DC, both may have a spare.

If you have an L-Per, there should have been a practice beacon to go with it - in most cases they were issued as a set, and over the years they got separated.

You may find that there is one sitting in someone's basement they should have returned.

There are three ELTs within my Wing. They've all been issued out. I went to the link above, and found what I was looking for. It's all a matter of if my unit will purchase it.

[Eclipse]

And you should also check with your Group or Wing ESO / DC, both may have a spare.

If you have an L-Per, there should have been a practice beacon to go with it - in most cases they were issued as a set, and over the years they got separated.

You may find that there is one sitting in someone's basement they should have returned.

There are three ELTs within my Wing. They've all been issued out. I went to the link above, and found what I was looking for. It's all a matter of if my unit will purchase it.

I find that difficult to believe unless you're from Rhode Island or something.  There are 4-5 in my group alone.  To have three in the entire state does not sound right.

[RiverAux]

I'm not sure what the standard is, but my wing has very few practice beacons. 

[SDF_Specialist]

And you should also check with your Group or Wing ESO / DC, both may have a spare.

If you have an L-Per, there should have been a practice beacon to go with it - in most cases they were issued as a set, and over the years they got separated.

You may find that there is one sitting in someone's basement they should have returned.

There are three ELTs within my Wing. They've all been issued out. I went to the link above, and found what I was looking for. It's all a matter of if my unit will purchase it.

I find that difficult to believe unless you're from Rhode Island or something.  There are 4-5 in my group alone.  To have three in the entire state does not sound right.

It may not sound right, but it is, and it's ashame. From what I understand though, there is an effort being made to obtain more to distribute throughout the state rather than just one location. There are other practice beacons in the Wing, but those are member owned. It's hard to convince a member to let a unit use it.

[Eclipse]

If its legal, I believe it has to be licensed, and if its licensed, part of those terms are that they can be used by anyone by request of the corporation, just like personally owned radios.

[SDF_Specialist]

If its legal, I believe it has to be licensed, and if its licensed, part of those terms are that they can be used by anyone by request of the corporation, just like personally owned radios.

I'm not sure how that works. Licensed by CAP? I've never issued a license for one personally, but that's just me. I'm thinking I'm gonna contact the Wing DC again. Who knows what may happen?

[SJFedor]

I'd recommend it. Wings should have far more then 3. My group alone has 4-6 that I can think of off the top of my head, plus about another 4-5 member owned ones that are around.

And please, engrain the phrase practice beacon into yours, and everyone that you encounter's, vocabulary. You call it an ELT, or even a practice ELT, and people get very excitable, very quick. Practice beacon is the proper term.

It's like people that abbreviate Second Lieutenant as 2LT or variations thereof in their signature line. It's like nails on a chalkboard to many.

[SDF_Specialist]

Understood. I think the main reason for having so few is an under-funded Communications department within the Wing. This is something that the newest DC has been trying to handle, and it's not been an easy ride for him, or the rest of the Comm Staff.

BEACON BEACON BEACON. If I say it three times, it'll be easier to remember. But thanks for the suggestion.

[SJFedor]

Have him look in CEMS to see how many you're actually supposed to have. I believe our practice beacons are tracked in there.

[SDF_Specialist]

Have him look in CEMS to see how many you're actually supposed to have. I believe our practice beacons are tracked in there.

Oh, he did. Once he got into the spot of Wing DC, that's the first thing he did was do a CEMS inventory of what assets were assigned to the Wing. Needless to say, he wasn't happy with the numbers, nor should he have been.

[RiverAux]

Practice beacons fall into the category of equipment that in some Wings it seems they leave it up to the squadrons to buy them if they want them and in others the Wing buys them and distributes them where needed. 

[SDF_Specialist]

Practice beacons fall into the category of equipment that in some Wings it seems they leave it up to the squadrons to buy them if they want them and in others the Wing buys them and distributes them where needed. 

It's kind of a split policy here. The DC does want to purchase them. I think he said something like 50, which is a good number for my state. The primary problem comes back down to lack of funding for the Communications department. CEMS only lists three CAP owned beacons in the Wing. I'm not sure of how many member owned there are, but I would hope that the number would be decent. Again, I've never seen licensing records for any beacons, nor have I received any applications.