Shotening cable for GPS antenna

[Rob C.]

Have had some great information concerning shortening the antenna cable for VHF marine radios and was wondering if the same held true for GPS antenna cable. Can it be shotened and if not is it a problem leaving it coiled together or should you leave any extra cable uncoiled. Thanks

[Crossin Eyes]

I shortened my cable up quite a bit. I still left a little slack that I coiled up, just in case I needed more. As long as you get the right connector and put it on the cable correctly, you shouldn't have a problem. I soldered the connector on too, to make sure I wouldn't have any problem.

Good Luck.

[REW]

There is really no issue with making a gps antenna cord shorter.
All of the rf parts of the system are in the antenna. The only thing that is being coupled back to the gps is the screen information, ground and voltage.

Having said that - there is an issue with the plug. Typically, these antennas have molded plastic plugs which CANNOT be reworked in the field. The cable has to be manufactured in the factory.

So, if you want a clean "shortning" of the cable, you need to do it at the antenna end.

Now, the issue is - whether or not the antenna is sealed. If the cable is connected to the antenna, and then the entire assembly is "potted" or sealed in epoxy, it probably makes sense to leave well enough alone. However, if you can open the antenna, get to the wire connections, cut and resolder at will.

There is no RF reason why the cable cannot be shortned. The main reason why you might or might not want to shorten it depends on the physical connections to the gps unit, and to the antenna.

You could physically cut a section out of the cable and that would be fine also, as long as you did a neat job.

Take care
REW