# What Tether To Use?

**URL:** <https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/t/what-tether-to-use/604>\
**Category:** Build/Make\
**Created:** [January 3, 2017, 6:07pm UTC](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/t/what-tether-to-use/604 "2017-01-03T18:07:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![bassic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a4c791/32.png) [@bassic](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/u/bassic)\
**Post date:** [January 3, 2017, 6:07pm UTC](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/t/what-tether-to-use/604/1 "2017-01-03T18:07:27Z")

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I plan to get my boat on the water and to build a drop cam this summer. I see that Bluerobotics offers a nice tether but some of you guys have used something different, like an alternative CAT 5 cable. Since I am in prototype stage I would like to save a few bucks so maybe someone can recommend an inexpensive cable for experimentation. The Bluerobotics tether has a Kevlar core and is neutral buoyant. Something like that is perfect. It should have a reinforcing fiber for strength and be waterproof of course. Probably good down to 200’ for now. Thanks!

BTY, Bluerobotics is a great company to work with. I am just on the cheap for now.

Randy

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**Author:** ![paul-unterweiser](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discuss.bluerobotics.com/paul-unterweiser/32/697_2.png) [@paul-unterweiser](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/u/paul-unterweiser)\
**Post date:** [January 3, 2017, 10:44pm UTC](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/t/what-tether-to-use/604/2 "2017-01-03T22:44:14Z")

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DJ’s and musicians use “armored” Cat5e cable which has additional shielding, a heavy cover and stranded wires. In a pinch, it might work for your needs.

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**Author:** ![rjehangir](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discuss.bluerobotics.com/rjehangir/32/671_2.png) [@rjehangir](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/u/rjehangir)\
**Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 4:03am UTC](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/t/what-tether-to-use/604/3 "2017-01-04T04:03:15Z")

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Hi Randy,

Outdoor Cat5e cable can work but it’s usually still relatively expensive. If you want the reinforcing fiber and/or neutral buoyancy, then there aren’t any options that I know of besides ROV tethers!

-Rusty

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**Author:** ![bassic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a4c791/32.png) [@bassic](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/u/bassic)\
**Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 5:23pm UTC](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/t/what-tether-to-use/604/4 "2017-01-05T17:23:45Z")

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As long as I am talking tethers, I would like to talk about tether winches too. I see that Nathan Perry built a davit and a purpose-built winch but don’t know how to PM him. It looks like he is interested in going really deep so his winch and drum are much larger than I plan on. Right now I am working on a winch/drum design based on a cheap Harbor Freight automotive winch. Will need to fabricate a larger drum with at least 8" drum spool diameter to avoid stressing the tether. A large diameter deploy sheave seems like a good idea too. Davit could be either stainless or aluminum since line pull will be modest. If any of you have gone through this process I would like to hear from you!

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Randy