John,

The ELT installation manual contains all of the specific requirements
that must be met to comply with the TSO. In other words, the TSO covers
not only the unit, but also the installation. For example, the
Ameriking ELT has a remote unit that appears to be optional because
there exist the same control switches on the unit. In fact, the remote
unit is not optional and must be installed in order to comply with the
TSO. Not installing the remote does not make your glider unairworthy,
it simply means the installation does not meet the TSO requirements.

If the ELT was installed in an airplane that requires a TSO'd ELT by
Part 91, then the installation must be exactly in accordance with the
manual, thereby exactly in accordance with the TSO. The Ameriking unit
must have the Ameriking antenna installed (in accordance with the
instructions in the manual) to meet the TSO.Everything is specified in
the manual, from the mounting position and alignment right down to the
D cell part number.

I decided that I wanted to do a "legal" installation - per the manual,
after all, I do need to set a good example ;-). But other folks may
decide they just want to meet the minimum requirement - the SSA rule. I
really don't care and certainly no offense taken on my part, I'm my own
worst enemy with the keyboard.

I don't disagree that the coax is a weak link, as is the antenna
location, but they sure seem to work even when damaged. I suspect the
transmitted range of an antenna wrapped in aluminum or broken is much
lower than one sticking straight up out of the trees. I can imagine
some of the airplanes crash with the ELT antenna on the bottom with the
remains of a twin Beech on top, not sure how well they work like that
-, but it would be difficult to engineer a simple installation that
would provide maximum transmitting power even when rolled into a ball
or subjected to the typical post crash fire. ELT's were certainly not
designed with gliders in mind and vice versa.

Jim