Published on:2026-05-24 Click:26
Yellow 4x2x26AWG Cat5 neutrally buoyant ROV tether cable. High-visibility yellow foamed PUR, 4 twisted pairs for ROV Ethernet and control in a buoyant tether.
The yellow 4x2x26AWG Cat5 ROV tether is the standard yellow foamed ROV tether cable for observation-class ROVs using Ethernet-based control systems. The high-visibility yellow foamed PUR jacket provides both buoyancy and easy visual tracking at the surface. Four Cat5 twisted pairs of 26AWG carry 100BASE-TX Ethernet (IP cameras, IP control) and RS-485 or analog signals simultaneously in the remaining pairs. This is the same configuration as the Fathom ROV tether but in a yellow jacket. The foamed polyurethane (PUR) jacket uses a micro-cellular expanded jacket compound with a bulk density lower than seawater (~1.025 g/cm³), giving the cable near-zero or positive net buoyancy. This eliminates tether sag and reduces drag force on the ROV, improving vehicle manoeuvrability and reducing tether management workload during subsea operations.
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Pairs | 4 x 2 x 26AWG (Cat5 equivalent) |
| Conductor Material | Stranded tinned copper |
| Jacket | Foamed micro-cellular PUR |
| Jacket Colour | Yellow (high visibility) |
| Buoyancy | Neutrally buoyant |
| Bandwidth | 100 MHz (Cat5 / 100BASE-TX) |
| Custom | Shielding, buoyancy, length, connector |
Request datasheet, custom length, or OEM pricing: sales@rovcable.com -- Shanghai Kabel Intelligence Technology Co., Ltd.
The jacket is manufactured from a micro-cellular expanded (foamed) polyurethane compound. During extrusion, a controlled foaming agent creates millions of tiny closed-cell air pockets within the jacket wall. These air cells reduce the bulk density of the jacket below that of seawater (~1.025 g/cm³), producing positive or neutral net buoyancy. The jacket retains all the abrasion resistance, oil resistance, and flexibility of standard PUR while achieving the buoyancy needed for ROV tether applications.
Yes. Buoyancy (positive, neutral, or slightly negative) is tuned by adjusting the foam cell density in the jacket compound and the jacket wall thickness. Specify the required net buoyancy per metre (in g/m) and the water salinity (fresh / brackish / seawater) when ordering. We can also add a Kevlar or Dyneema strength member to increase tensile strength without significantly changing buoyancy.
