Sun Resistant Antenna Cables Attachments

[sailgait]

My GPS antenna sits atop a stainless pole about 7' high on the back of my sailboat. The cable runs up the side of the pole from the hull.

What's the seamanlike manner to attach the cable to the pole?

Electrical ties don't last. Electrical tape looks bad and doesn't last. There has to be either a beautiful classic way to do this, or some really great modern way to do it. Electrical ties and tape aren't either of those.

Thanks.

PS: As a n unrelated aside, this is a terrific video explaining how to do double braid splices:

‪splicing double braid‬‏ - YouTube

A few years ago I had miserable outcomes w/double braid splices and have since stayed away from them. I'm updating some running rigging and finally couldn't them. Great video. It identified my previous mistake.

[btrayfors]

Proper way to do it would be to run the GPS coax inside the pole.

By the way, why do you have the antenna atop a 7' pole? Usually, it's much better to mount a GPS antenna on the stern rail or other surface pretty low down....less movement there.

Bill

[sailgait]

I was trying make it simple for the description: I have mounting arrangement on the stern for the wind generator, that also accommodatesthe GPS antenna and the stern light. In a perfect world, it would run inside, but it's not a perfect world. I also am looking to usE the attachment method the HF radio antenna and wind generator cable. I saw an older boat the other day with some sort of arrangement -- maybe using cotton rope -- attaching the HF & radar antennas to a stay. It was a seamanlike arrangement. (So were the spliced loops on the stays.) I'm in Alexandria and sail out of Pt. Lookout Marina.

[mdbee]

Some white/clear cable ties have more UV protection than others. Black is also affected less than white.

[trantor12020]

What about using SS cable ties? Will it affect gps signal?

[sailgait]

I had no idea there was such a thing as SS cable ties. I wouldn't think it would interfere w/the GPS signal. Thanks for the suggestion.

[sailgait]

I'm learning a lot here: had no idea there are UV resistant nylon cable ties as well.

Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[hellosailor]

The black ties are more UV resistant. The stainless ones, UV immune. And they won't affect the signal in the cable. You could also use silicone tape, or even a good grade (3M's better grades) of vinyl electrical tape. The silicone tape, or butyl tape, will take a lot of UV and it won't pinch the cable the way a tie might.

If you put any tie on a coax cable and REALLY cinch it down tight, it can crush the insulation and degrade the signal, so no gorilla work.

[svHyLyte]

Bands of Black Rescue Tape. Two or three wraps each. No muss, fuss, sticky residue or UV deterioration. It might be wise to enclose the antenna cable in some split cable covering to protect it from the sun as well.

FWIW...

[SVAuspicious]

Originally Posted by sailgait

In a perfect world, it would run inside, but it's not a perfect world.

What degree of imperfection in the world makes it impractical to run the cable inside the pole? This is the best solution.