This professional-grade neutrally buoyant tether combines exceptional strength and durability with high-performance electrical characteristics, making it suitable for a wide range of ROV and subsea applications. Each tether comes pre-fitted with a Binder 770 connector and WetLink Penetrator for seamless integration.
Purpose-built for ROVs and underwater systems, the Fathom Tether achieves neutral buoyancy, offers 155 kg breaking strength, and incorporates water-blocking fibres to prevent leaks from propagating. At just 7.6mm diameter, it's considerably slimmer than most comparable ROV tethers on the market.
The tether contains four unshielded twisted pairs (UTP) of 26AWG conductors, colour-coded and arranged identically to Cat5 networking cable with built-in cross-talk resistance. The pre-installed Binder 770 plug enables quick connection to interface boards and tether management systems, while the cable penetrator at the opposite end provides a watertight seal with enclosures.
Inside the cable, Kevlar strands deliver tensile strength while Dacron fibres fill the remaining space. Both materials are saturated with waterblocking compound to seal any damage from cuts or abrasion. The high-visibility yellow polyurethane foam outer jacket provides excellent abrasion resistance whilst maintaining neutral buoyancy.
Cable stiffness has been carefully balanced — flexible enough to allow unrestricted ROV movement, yet rigid enough to resist tangling during operation.
The four twisted pairs provide design flexibility for various applications. In addition to primary communications, spare pairs can accommodate additional sensors, accessories, or auxiliary data links.
Note: Communications testing has established 300m as the maximum reliable length for the Standard (4-pair) Fathom Tether.