[2]FW- FCC modular jack con 1/20/99 Please note my new e-mail address [email protected]
-------------------------------------- List-Post: [email protected] Date: 1/20/99 12:24 PM To: Cortland Richmond From: [email protected] [1]FW: FCC modular jack contact* 1/20/99 Please note my new e-mail address [email protected] -------------------------------------- List-Post: [email protected] Date: 1/20/99 11:43 AM To: Cortland Richmond From: [email protected] Message text written by INTERNET:[email protected] >I am looking for a short form summary of the reasons for the FCC specification for using 50 millionths gold contacts on modular jacks and connectors. This is something quite old and most manufacturers now make standard parts with something like selective plating to .000015 probably because it works just fine. Old habits seem to never die so I would like to know if this has real practical technical advantages and if it is really an important requirement other that it may be a absolute regulatory requirement. In fact, someone might wish to comment on whether it really is a current requirement.< There is no short answer to your question. Inasmuch as I can make it short, (1) The US does not have a "jack" program, no matter what the FCC calls it. It has a "plug" program. That is, one does not need to install FCC registered jacks. However, one must equip terminal equipment with a plug that meets the registration requirements. (2) That having been said, there are all manner of ways to deposit gold on contacts and one can deposit the gold in many thicknesses. As everything else, the requirements are a compromise. The formulators of the current requirements were much aware that there are many different ways in which you can deposit gold on contacts, and that you can do it in many thicknesses. Plausible arguments were made that gold contacts were not necessarily the optimum way to provide the service. There are newer and better alloys available today. What it boils down to is that the zillions of jacks in the country were made under a Western Electric patent, and that in order to avoid that "new" plugs either scratch the gold deposits off the jack contacts, or that new alloys interact in an undesirable chemical way with the existing gold contacts, the current requirements give the best long term assurance of noise-free connections. Ciao, Vic
