I have a tail beacon and a Narco 150. The transponder works, so why replace it? There are bunch out there that people have taken out, I'll buy another one and slide it in the rack when this one dies. I don't need, or want a $5000 transponder.
My own post from quite a while back. While, I still believe the theory behind my statement, reality is another issue.
I spent 6 months this last year dealing with repeated certified letters and emails from the FAA. In the end I had to buy a new transponder, AND a new tail beacon (warranty). With the knowledge and experience I had with the tail beacon, I would most likely NOT go that route again.
My transponder crapped out somewhere around March of 2021, my first hint was that ATC told me I was squawking 2700, but the unit was on 1200. I found out later that the transponder wasn't even powered up, so the beacon was picking up something else in the electrical system and was emitting 2700. I bought a used transponder from a guy that said it was working when removed, first flight with that one and I had magic smoke in the cockpit, when I pulled it out of the tray a resistor fell out. I put the old one back in and got more FAA emails. I would fly near towered airports after every change and ask if ADSB was working, sometimes yes, sometimes no.
I spent many hours on the phone with Uavionix trying to trouble shoot the unit. Turns out the tail beacon was bad, but once I found that out it still took several weeks to get Uavionix to send me a new one, and they would only send me one AFTER I proved that the old was had already been sent. I got the new beacon and installed it, all good right? Nope, go to get a pitot static check done and the transponder won't pass an IFR cert. Another 45 minute flight home from the shop, order a new transponder and install it, then back to the pitot static check.
I have (had) two Narco 150's neither working, buy another one? or move on and stop all the wasted time and hassle and unhappy emails with deadlines from the FAA. Sure, I could buy another Narco 150 off eBay for a couple hundred bucks. But, the encoder is also about 40 years old, if you need a new one of those there is another couple hundred $. Everytime you switch out a transponder, your pitot static check is no longer valid, so back to the shop for another couple hundred $, while hoping that this used one is still good.
I know of at least 3 others who have had problems with their tail beacon. One commonality I have heard of is the the old vacuum tube transponders can't handle the constant querying by the beacon and they die. True or not, I don't know, but anectdotally it seems to be true.
I would put in an adsb transponder if I had to do it again. I have as much money in the tail beacon and the new transponder NOT including installation costs to have just put in an ADSB transponder to begin with.
Anyone want a couple of non-working Narco 150's? and an encoder?
