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Tnflakbait · 20-01-2007, 16:07

I just got a Garmin map gps. The antanae has a bnc cable it seems. It is 20 feet long or so. Can I shorten it by cutting it and soildering? Weight is important for my catamaran. It only needs to run 4 feet or so. How can I shorten the cable? Thanks!

ssullivan · 20-01-2007, 16:18

I think unless you have some pretty extensive electronics stuff in your tool kit, you will have to buy a shorter shielded co-axial cable with BNC connectors on the end... or suck up the extra weight and coil it.

If you cut the shielded co-axial cable and try to connect the conductors together, you will end up causing signal loss in the cable. The outer conductor needs to be a perfect cylinder for the co-axial's lossless properties to work.

If you're in the USA, Radio Shack will probably have a shorter co-axial cable with BNCs.... although if I remember correclty, the cable on the Garmin is not serviceable at the antenna side?

**GordMay** · 21-01-2007, 02:11

It seems simple enough to me - am I missing something in the query?
Cut the cable to length, allowing a “little” extra for a drip loop and future repairs; fish it, then install a new BNC* connector.
http://www.extron.com/download/files...ermkit-man.pdf

* BTW - which is it?
Bayonet-Neill-Concelman, British Naval Connector, or Bayonet Nut Connector ?

**Alan Wheeler** · 21-01-2007, 10:33

Yes it is simple. But you need to use a New BNC connector. I imagine the old one was crimped. Do not try to reuse, it won't work. YHou can get three types of BNC connectors. Crimp type, but you need a special tool to crimp it with. Don't try any other tool than the proper one. The second is a screw on type. But it is specialised to the wire. It screws itself down into the coax but the centre conductor has to be just perfect or it will not work. The third is a solder type. This is going to be the best for your situation I would think. Just don';t allow the solder to get onto the outside of the centre pin and don't allow to much heat time on the connector. The trick is a very hot iron and a quick flash to make the joint.
Then add in Gords recomendations.