Cut GPS Antenna Wire??
 

Greetings from the PacNorWest!

My question is: what problem(s) would I have if I cut the antenna wire to my
GPS/chart plotter (Standard Horizon CP-170) and splice with a BNC connector or
equivalent? Not sure what the impact would be (loss issues) at the freq used
by GPS.

I want to relocate the antenna and don't want to pull the antenna wire. If I
could cut, relocate and splice the wire the job is soooooo much easier.

Any ideas/suggestions?

Thanks for your time//

Charlie KB7PYF

Cut GPS Antenna Wire??
 

Hi Charlie,

there will be a signal reduction, using a BNC connector, but I think, it
will work fine. Maybe you should use an outdoor connector from a boat shop.
I would try that, before I mount a new wire......

regards

Juergen

Cut GPS Antenna Wire??
 

On 05 Aug 2004 05:12:59 GMT, (KB7PYF) wrote:

Greetings from the PacNorWest!

My question is: what problem(s) would I have if I cut the antenna wire to my
GPS/chart plotter (Standard Horizon CP-170) and splice with a BNC connector or
equivalent? Not sure what the impact would be (loss issues) at the freq used
by GPS.

I want to relocate the antenna and don't want to pull the antenna wire. If I
could cut, relocate and splice the wire the job is soooooo much easier.

Any ideas/suggestions?

Interesting question.

I'd check with the manufacturer actually. I can't think of a reason
right off hand as to why you couldn't do it, but there may be a reason
why you shouldn't.




Later,

Tom

Cut GPS Antenna Wire??
 

"KB7PYF" wrote in message
...
Greetings from the PacNorWest!

My question is: what problem(s) would I have if I cut the antenna wire to
my
GPS/chart plotter (Standard Horizon CP-170) and splice with a BNC
connector or
equivalent? Not sure what the impact would be (loss issues) at the freq
used
by GPS.

Not a very experienced boater, but been a ham radio operator for years.

If you mean to cut the coaxial cable and then attach a BNC connector to
the cut
end from the antenna, no problem. In fact, at the 1.2 ghz to 1.5ghz
frequencies
GPS/NAV uses, the longer the cable the more loss you'll encounter. So if
you
can shorten the run you'll have less loss.

However, if you intend to cut the cable into two pieces and then splice
these
two pieces together, you'll have big problems. At these frequencies losses
will
be huge and the impedance change large enough to (possibly) damage your
unit.
Never cut, twist, and tape as a splicing method. Use only BNC male to
female
connectors. Still not good communications practice, but much better than
cutting/
twisting/splicing. Also, always use marine grade connectors and seal well.

Best advice: contact the manufacturer.

Jay



I want to relocate the antenna and don't want to pull the antenna wire. If
I
could cut, relocate and splice the wire the job is soooooo much easier.

Any ideas/suggestions?

Thanks for your time//

Charlie KB7PYF

Cut GPS Antenna Wire??
 

"Jay" jgibson1 AT COM CAST . NOT wrote in message
...

[snip]

However, if you intend to cut the cable into two pieces and then splice
these
two pieces together, you'll have big problems. At these frequencies
losses
will
be huge and the impedance change large enough to (possibly) damage your
unit.

[snip]

I too, am a long time amateur radio operator, and know quite a bit about
electronics/radio.

What I don't see, is how signal loss, and/or impedance changes, will
"damage" the unit.

GPSRs are receivers, and receivers only (outside the non-incidental spurious
emissions from normal operation), the worst that could happen, would be a
loss in RX signal strength. I cant see causing any damage to a GPSR by
changing the antennas impendence, other that poor(er) performance.


--
-Netsock

"It's just about going fast...that's all..."
http://home.insight.rr.com/cgreen/

Cut GPS Antenna Wire??
 

Sorry, i was stuck in TX mode lol. You are right. For a receive only
unit a paper clip stuck in the back won't hurt it. Heck, a paperclip would
just about be a 1/4 wave dipole at those frequencies!

Jay (Standing corrected)


"Netsock" wrote in message
...
"Jay" jgibson1 AT COM CAST . NOT wrote in message
...

[snip]

However, if you intend to cut the cable into two pieces and then
splice
these
two pieces together, you'll have big problems. At these frequencies
losses
will
be huge and the impedance change large enough to (possibly) damage your
unit.

[snip]

I too, am a long time amateur radio operator, and know quite a bit about
electronics/radio.

What I don't see, is how signal loss, and/or impedance changes, will
"damage" the unit.

GPSRs are receivers, and receivers only (outside the non-incidental
spurious
emissions from normal operation), the worst that could happen, would be a
loss in RX signal strength. I cant see causing any damage to a GPSR by
changing the antennas impendence, other that poor(er) performance.


--
-Netsock

"It's just about going fast...that's all..."
http://home.insight.rr.com/cgreen/