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Applications For Military Cable And Why They Work

20 September 2018

Carrie Gomez

Military cabling, or "mil-spec cable,"  was designed to meet the high military demands for quality and efficacy. There are several types of military cable and multiple applications for each type. The following shows some of those applications and how civilians can use the cabling as well.

Ship to Shore Cables to Electrically Power Docked Boats Without Leaving the Engines On

Ship to shore cables provide power to massive naval vessels when those vessels are in port and cannot be running their engines constantly to keep power going. You can use this cabling in the same way for large boats and cruise liners, too. Special port connections installed on your boat make it possible to connect your boat to power sources when you dock.The cabling is installed inside your boat, along with special electrical boxes and a generator that will help keep lights and appliances on in your boat without having to run the engine and burn through gas.

Copper Cabling for Communications 

The military uses copper cabling for on-board communications. Copper has low conductivity so that you do not get electrocuted trying to send messages to land or to the Coast Guard while on the water. If the copper gets wet, it may corrode a bit, but it will never rust. Most military copper cabling is fully coated to prevent the copper from being exposed to seawater. You can use this cabling to upgrade your boat's communications systems as well as your radar and satellite systems, if applicable.

Fiber Optic Cables for Communications and Power Signals

Fiber optic cables are used for everything from communication systems to internet. With the proper installation, you can use mil-spec fiber optic cables to create a cell tower on your boat and/or boost cell phone signals and transmission. Fiber optic cables can send signals of almost any kind over and through their tiny fiber optic strands. When the strands are bundled, as they are in cabling, signals are even stronger. (There are other uses for fiber optics on land as well as at sea, and all are worthy of some research if you are interested in learning how to use this type of cabling.)

Why They Work

The military spares no expense to get nothing but the best of everything for all of their machines, vessels, crafts, transports, and weapons. When something is manufactured to military standards, it must also pass rigorous military tests and inspections. That means that if any of these cables fail, they are not mass-produced, and the manufacturer can lose its government contract. Manufacturers do everything possible to avoid that while producing a higher quality product because military contracts mean civilian jobs and guaranteed money.

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