Replacement antenna cable for Garmin GPS 152?

[Gerry]

My GPS no longer finds satellites and I see the cable between the display and the external antenna is damaged.

What grade of co-axial (?) cable should I buy to replace it (the run is quite long, over 20 feet)?

 

[Stork_III]

From memory, the cable spec is written along the cable at frquent intervals. I could be wrong.

 

[rontaylor]

You need a low loss 50 Ohm Coax with enough conductor area to carry the DC feed to your Garmin antenna. The antena is active and houses an amplifer that will draw around 20 to 50mA. You will probably find that for the relatively short length involved regular RG58U will do the job. The gain of the antenna amplifier will more than make up for the small loss over the 20' of RG58U cable.

Be sure that the connectors are correctly made off at each end - no shorts and soldered if necessary.

Do no subject the co-ax to any distortions such as tight bends, tight cable ties or anything else that will crush or bend the cable beyond a gentle radius.

Use self amalgamating tape with a PVC boot or some other UV cover to seal the antenna end.

Ron Taylor

 

[Gerry]

Brilliant Ron

Just the info I needed.

Many thanks

Gerry

 

[awol]

If cutting and shutting the original cable offends your sensibilities you will have the opportunity of dismantling the (presumably) mushroom aerial to attach your new coax. On the round mushroom type the dome unscrews from the base but is well sealed with silicon rubbery stuff. Try to keep the coax tails as short as possible when you solder them on. I have not had the pleasure of the squarish mushroom type.

 

[rontaylor]

Be careful if using silicon sealant to waterproof an electrical joint or entry into a connection box. Some sealants use an acetic acid based solvent to keep the sealant fluid. As the solvent evaporates you will smell a strong sour "vinegary" odour. If there are any copper or solder joints exposed to this solvent they will corrode at a frightening rate.

This is only a problem with certain sealants - not sure how you determine which ones. Be sure always to test beforehand!

Rgds Ron Taylor

 

[earlybird]

[quote
This is only a problem with certain sealants - not sure how you determine which ones. Be sure always to test beforehand!


[/ QUOTE ]
Loctite 5145 is a suitable, neutral cure, silicone sealant for electronics etc.

 

[whipper_snapper]

Or squirt in some sikaflex ? That fixes most things - the nautical equivalent of gaffer tape.