running GPS cable?

[rogerroger]

I installed my GPS last year in a bit of a hurry, so simply used cable ties to run the coax around the pushpit bars and into an existing hole in the deck, then through the lockers to the back of the chart table.

It's thoroughly unprofessional, looks a mess and I've already almost cut it by accident while waving a knife around on deck...

Can someone enlighten me on how it should be done? One thing puzzles me - the coax is hard wired to the antenna and so any holes I drill have to big enough to accommodate the plug that connects to the unit.

You can see how's it's installed on my web site if you go to "pics" and view the 2nd pic down (it's behind me and my woman).

thanks

Roger Holden
www.first-magnitude.co.uk

 

[Guest]

If its not possible to cut and refit a new connector ... then do what I did on my previous boat .... it was actually that I removed an old Mk 5 sounder from the cockpit where it had been mounted through the bulkhead .... the hole was huge ! So I passed the cable through and used 2 equal pieces of ply cut from the one fashioned piece AFTER cutting a hole central to fit the cable NOT the connector. So now I had two pieces of nice machined ply that matched where I had cut through including the cable hole. So cable through, ply piece either side of cable .... match ply together as one again trapping the cable. Glue / screw in place and plenty of nice varnish to fill / cover the join. AT the back you can run a line of epoxy etc. to strengthen.

OK so you don't have exactly the same problem, but an adaptation of it will be possible ???

 

[EdEssery]

I've just fitted a GPS. I managed to get a deck gland that was big enough to allow the aerial cable through with a split rubber seal for the cable that was the right size to form a tight seal on the cable.

Ed

 

[pvb]

Cool site!

Can't suggest anything else - I'd cut the plug off and run the wire through the SS tube. But I do like your website!

 

[ParaHandy]

Have got the same problem! No idea how a yard would do it but suppose you could get 1.5-2.0mm spring steel wire, feed it from the aerial end, round and down the taff rail and "fish" it out at an exit hole near the deck. If the wire had a small weight attached, it might get round the corners. Once the wire's thro', attach the co-ax and pull it thro'.

I'm going to try something like that, if I can find the wire. Any other ideas?

A bit off the wall, but if the taff rail is autensitic stainless, ie non magnetic, one might use a bluidy strong magnet to guide a piece of string with small bolt attached as the keeper and drag it thro'. Getting desparate.

 

[chrisc]

i have always just cut the cable and put a high quality Co-axial joint in
third one I have put in now and never had any problem with reception-
except once when we were moored up beside a 'fishery protection vessel'

 

[SimonD]

For what it's worth, the "spring steel wire" is called "wiremans tape" in the trade. Don't where your could get it from though apart from RS Components.

 

[Plum]

Regarding the hard wired arial plug: When I installed my Garmin I checked with them and they said as the cable is a simple co-ax you can cut it and either fit a new co-ax plug on the end, or, you can cut it anywhere in its length and simply join the respective central wire and screen bits together with a simple screw connector block. This is what I did and it works perfectly. Obviously the connector block needs to be in a dry position.

 

[rogerroger]

can an idiot like me though put the plug back on ? and do I need any special tools?

Roger Holden
www.first-magnitude.co.uk

 

[coliholic]

If its only a two wire coax cable, it'll be the same as you've got on your TV or car radio, so not exactly high tech. Can get a plug and socket form Currys or Dixons or any TV shop and they'll show you how to wire them up. If possible, solder the centre wire in for really best results though.

 

[Plum]

You can't put the same plug back on as it is crimped. You will need to buy a new co-ax plug of the same type from a Maplin or similar electronics shop. Some of these plugs are more complex to fit than others, but all the ones I have seen need the central wire to be soldered, so you will need a soldering iron. However, if you do as I did and just cut and rejoin the cable some way back from the plug you can join it with a simple block connector (the type you just stuff wires into a hole and tighted a screw to clamp it there). This method need no special tools. Does that help?

 

[rogerroger]

sounds good - there's massive excess of co-ax anyway so cutting it and rejoining sounds the best.

Thanks - I'll give it a bash.

Roger Holden
www.first-magnitude.co.uk

 

[Plum]

Shortening the cable will not affect the performance of the GPS.

 

[Trevor_swfyc]

CAUTION

Roger,

You did not quote your model of GPS. Can I bring to the attention of Furuno GP-30 owners the section in the manual 9.3 Installation of Antenna.

In particular :- * DON'T CUT THE ANTENNA CABLE.

It also explains how to remove the plug in order to pass the cable through a small hole.

Trevor

 

[chrisc]

Re: CAUTION

Actualy it says that on all the GPs makes.

 

[claymore]

If an idiot like you can design and publish such a good website - what on earth makes you think you are going to be beaten by a bit of cable and a plug?
I've done mine the way everyone else seems to have by digging a big enough hole to get the smallest of the connectors through and getting a deck gland big enough to cover the hole, a wodge of sikkaflex and some self - amalgamating tape for good measure. Works fine although in the perfect world, I'd have drilled the guardrail stanchion and fed it down there to a hole that lined up etc,etc. Someone once frightened the life out of me by telling me of all the evils of cutting GPS cable so I wouldn't attempt it.
Regards
JohnS.

 

[bedouin]

The problem with GPS cable is not cutting it - that bit is simple. The difficulty comes when you try to join it again

Rather like your VHF antenna, the wrong sort of join in a GPS cable can cause a dramatic loss in performance (all about characteristic impedance and standing waves). In practice I don't know how much of a problem this would be.

If you are worried about it you could always make the join with a proper coax connector; I'm not sure what the impedance should be but I would imagine either 50 or 75 ohms would work okay.

 

[tcm]

Re: model shop

does the "piano" wire just rightfor poking thru things

 

[Trevor_swfyc]

Re: Cool site!

Just made a visit to the site, great photo's excellent mooring area, nice boat.
Looks as though you are well set up. The guy in the boat rowing when the outboard packed up should perhaps visit the loo before he sets off, going by the look on his face.
Ps Is that a Furuno GPS Antenna I spotted looks very similar to mine !

Only a couple of more months and we will be back in the water your site has reminded me of why I have a yacht.

Well impressed.
Trevor

 

[ParaHandy]

Re: or piano or guitar...

Aaah...perfect & thanks. The upright might lose one of it's deeper keys tonight.