How to splice coax cable for fishfinder?

[KarstRanger]

In order to remove it from an old boat I am stripping, I had to cut the coax cable for the fishfinder. Now I would like to give it to a buddy (who I fish with) to install in his boat, but he is scared of trying to splice this cable. I was in the Army (many yrs. ago) and in electronics repair, so I should be able to figure this out, but I have never tried to splice coax.

It is like cable tv cable with a wire mesh around the outside, but instead of the typical solid copper core, it is multistrand. The only way I can think to do it is strip enough of both the mesh and core back where I can solder them together, then dip and insulate them best I can. Any other, especially better, idea(s) would be very welcome as I don't know what messing with the ground shield in this way will do to the fishfinder signal.

[Reel Cowboy]

Let him buy a new cable. That's cheaper than buying the a whole new unit.

[KarstRanger]

You would have to buy the transponder too, as this one is a sealed unit with a cable. It just isn't worth spending any money on, as this old Eagle unit is so old that we will just toss it if this splice doesn't work.

[groupertherapy]

Get two connectors just like your VHF antenna has. Get one male, one female. Just make sure when you pull the ground braid back that none of the strands touch the center wires.

[jsuber]

You can cut both cables back. You will need two connectors and a coupling.

You cleanly cut the wire on both pieces. You put the end of the wire in a Coax cable splice like this.



Twirl it around about 3 times. You have a nice clean cut. Put a connector on it



and run the middle wire up into the spot for the Center just like splicing TV Coax. Crimp the connector on.


Cut the end off even with the end of wire even with the outside of the connector

Do the other wire.

Use a coupling (or adaptor) between the two connectors.

[lizbeth]

flag down one of those Dish or Direct TV guys , they can put end on it for you.

[jsuber]

I have all that stuff tow but Inoticed he lives a long ways from here.

[Chalk]

Unless it's an ancient one - its multistrand and you can fix it using butt splices. On purpose I cut mine on my last boat and then splice it with butt splices and it worked fine. I did add electrical grease to the butt splices and then added heat shrink. You can butt splice the ground shielding as well.

[Reel Cowboy]

I have all that stuff tow but Inoticed he lives a long ways from here.

In the grand scheme of things, Mayo ain't that far.

[BullHound]

It's not a bad idea to splice if the splice is in a location that can be secured to the boat. Coax cable that has been spliced is bad about losing signal if it moves/bounces around too much.

Probably be easier in the long run to buy new transducer.

[Afterburner]

Unless it's an ancient one - its multistrand and you can fix it using butt splices.

Chalk is correct.... I've had success for both radar and transducer cable using the little pink butt connectors. Make certain they are crimp on and not heat shrink. The wires inside the insulation probably look like little telephone wire..... the pink butts will work.

[KarstRanger]

Thanks for the nice write-up, Jsuber, but its not RG-59 or RG-6, it is coax "like" that but about 1/2 the diameter. Anyway if Chalk has tried it leaving a little part of the core wire unshielded, and his fishfinder didn't go haywire, I'll just connect it that way.

BTW, I wish I was closer to you Jsuber, not so's I could borrow your tools, but so I could fish around Dog Island -- that looks like some sweet fishin' around there with the deep water and reefs close by - compared to 15 - 20 miles out of Steinhatchee...

[Flint River Pirate]

Unless it's an ancient one - its multistrand and you can fix it using butt splices.

Chalk is correct.... quote]

What's new?

[jsuber]

I used those for demonstration purposes. You can got to four akers or order online the tools and materials you need to fix. The best thing is to buy a new transducer with a new cable. Your gonna get signal loss with any and every splice.

[KarstRanger]

It's an old unit, so I ain't buying a new cable. I'll let you know if the repair works or not. So some of the bits leak out of the splice... I'll just have to adjust. If it says 10 feet, maybe it is really 12 feet (or -- I'll use a long stick to figure it out the old way -- we'll see. Thanks to all for all the helpful advice.