IMHO the D connector is the best choice for reliability, short of the
Bendix circular type used on aircraft equipment, etc. (much too large
and expensive). The worst connector I have seen on ham gear was the
one used for the microphone on the Yaesu FT-730. I tried to repair a
mike cable with a broken wire but applying a (small) soldering iron
to one of the pins caused the insulator to soften and the pins
moved. The radio has been in my junk box ever since.
Bob, N7XY
On Jun 21, 2006, at 9:49 AM, Jack Brindle wrote:
Mini-Dins are simply not reliable. The connectors break all-too
easily, mostly due to the pins bending if the connectors are not
aligned just right. We intentionally moved away from them at Apple
because of this problem.
There really isn't a good connector solution at present. If you
look at what is available in a semi-rugged form factor, we are
limited to D-shells, DINs (not mini-Dins), RJs, and not much else.
The RJs are not shielded, so we end up duplicating connectors out
of necessity. I think Wayne made a good choice with the connector,
and it is up to us to realize that it is not standard RS-232 and
just deal with it. Of course, few, if any, other ham rigs have
"standard" RS-232 connectors on their rear apron...
On Jun 20, 2006, at 8:32 PM, Bill Coleman wrote:
On Jun 20, 2006, at 1:03 AM, wayne burdick wrote:
Correct. Then the principle designer, N6KR, wrote:
We didn't have room for two connectors.
Surely two Mini-DIN 6s or 8s would have fit. Of course, few people
would have cables to fit a Mini-DIN 8 unless they had some unused
Mac serial cables, or they might try to plug a mouse into a Mini-
DIN 6....
Pre-fab cables work well with Mini-DINs. Trying to make cables for
these connectors is a nightmare. Worse than the 8-pin mic
connectors transceivers use these days....
Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!"
-- Wilbur Wright, 1901
- Jack Brindle, W6FB
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