Does anyone know if twisted pair and coaxial conductor types are likely to be interchangeable in this application?
I’m shopping for a new tow cable for our side scan tow fish. The tow fish was supplied with a Kevlar-reinforced “soft” coaxial tow cable, and i’d like to replace it with stainless steel. But most of the new cables I’ve found use twisted pair conductors rather than coaxial.
On this sonar, the coax cable caries the data signal as well as the 150v@1a power supply from the topside unit to the towfish. The manual says the data signal is FSK format and is transmitted at 9600 baud on the high voltage power line.
I suspect there is a problem with twisted pair, because every towed sonar system I’ve ever used has been supplied with coaxial cable. But twisted pair would be quite a bit more economical if it would work. I’m at the edge of my knowledge on this one…