Just one more thought that occurred in the "ohnosecond" before I hit send. I can't really fault Gerrald and Co. for choosing the 1/8" mini as the audio connector in the SDR. That's what the associated sound cards used, and cost is always a factor when you're marketing some device.
But, now that we've grown use to a slightly more sophisticated sound card it might be time to look at for example a "D" connector that mimics the connector on the D-44 card so a straight thru or perhaps a custom D to D cable (that takes grounding issues into consideration) might be used thus replacing the 1/8" to 1/4" cables, the breakout box, and the breakout box to sound card cables in one fell swoop. The only issue I see here is that this would lock us to the D-44 if something better came along or the Delta 44 people folded. 73's de Bill AD5OL >>> Jim Lux <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 08/21/05 01:29PM >>> At 10:19 AM 8/21/2005, Brian wrote: >It sounds like there are some hardware mods coming through. >May I make a suggestion? >That weird mic plug. Last rig I had that had that 4 pin plug was >my TS-700G, 25 years ago. Seems like the Heil mics are the >preferred object of affection. Wouldn't it make sense to put >a mini stereo jack on the "front panel" Ick! Horrors! I hope someone does away with mini phone plugs. I've had so many troubles with them over the years, they're almost as bad as those coaxial power connectors. It's impossible to get a good quality jack for these things: the springs are just too small, and there's no commercial incentive to make various quality grades, even if you were willing to pay for it. Sure, the Heil uses them, but that's because they're trying to be compatible and cheap. Better suggestions: Modular style phone jack (the jack is rugged.. the plugs not so much, because the tabs break off, and they're really not designed for multiple mate/demate). XLR style (Rugged, latching, available in myriad places, with myriad numbers of pins, although certainly, the 3 pin version is cheapest) Lemo latching (pricey, but real nice, and rugged, even in small sizes) 1/4" phone plugs (There's a world of difference between 1/8" and 1/4", because the springs are bigger in the jack). There's also a slightly different size used for the mic jack in airplanes (so they can't be inadvertently interchanged) Circular MS type (aka Bendix, MIL C-something, AMP Circular Plastic, etc) Rugged, not too expensive in the plastic form, securely mating. D-sub, even (although they're awfully easy to damage if you step on it laying on the floor). Overall, I prefer connectors where the "hold the connector to the jack" is something other than the "spring to make electrical connection", which is the real failing of the mini phone plug. > that would accecpt the >standard Heil plug? Hopefully, VOX is not far from reality, so >I guess another jack for PTT would be added too. > >73 >Brian >N5BA James Lux, P.E. Spacecraft Radio Frequency Subsystems Group Flight Communications Systems Section Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Mail Stop 161-213 4800 Oak Grove Drive Pasadena CA 91109 tel: (818)354-2075 fax: (818)393-6875 _______________________________________________ FlexRadio mailing list FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz
