Sometimes common sense is everything but common.\u00c2\u00a0 Just never can find the right adapters when hooking everything back together.<\/p>\n
Case in point:<\/strong> It is a lot easier to use 1\/8th(3.5mm) stereo plugs, and use an adapter to go up in size to 1\/4 inch. \u00c2\u00a0 Going from large to small just adds stress to the connections.\u00c2\u00a0 The smaller size is also becoming the more commonly used jack on gear as the gear itself becomes smaller.\u00c2\u00a0 Soldering the teensy connectors is more of a PITA, but such is life.<\/p>\n Just as soon chop all of the paddle and keyer plugs now – almost all of the shack radio gear has 1\/8th jacks now.\u00c2\u00a0 But the peripherals seem to all still have 1\/4 plugs.<\/p>\n Another fun fact:<\/strong> It’s easier to use all stereo connectors than a mix of stereo and mono.\u00c2\u00a0 A stereo plug can be wired tip and shell for mono usage, but a mono plug is worthless when you need stereo. \u00c2\u00a0 So to hell with mono 1\/8th and 1\/4 audio connectors.\u00c2\u00a0 They are banished forevermore from the KazShack.<\/p>\n Soldering Tip:<\/strong> When soldering RCA, 1\/8th or 1\/4 plugs, it is worthwhile heat sinking the connector, especially with low-quality connectors.\u00c2\u00a0 The easiest way is to just plug them into a jack.\u00c2\u00a0 That seems to provide enough sinking, unless you really try to cook them.\u00c2\u00a0 This seems to really be helpful with RCA connections, where the center pin will sometimes drift if the connector is overheated.\u00c2\u00a0 Using an RCA barrel as heat sink allows a melted connection to re-solidify correctly aligned.\u00c2\u00a0 Good to go, unless it shorted when overcooked. Sometimes common sense is everything but common.\u00c2 Just never can find the right adapters when hooking everything back together.<\/p>\n Case in point: It is a lot easier to use 1\/8th(3.5mm) stereo plugs, and use an adapter to go up in size to 1\/4 inch. \u00c2 Going from large to small just adds stress to the connections.\u00c2 The smaller size is also becoming the more commonly used jack on gear as the gear itself becomes smaller.\u00c2 Soldering the teensy connectors is more of a PITA, but such is life.<\/p>\n Just as soon chop all of the paddle and keyer plugs now – almost all of the shack radio gear has 1\/8th jacks now.\u00c2 But the peripherals seem to all still have 1\/4 plugs.<\/p>\n Another fun fact: It’s easier to use all stereo connectors than a mix of stereo and mono.\u00c2 A stereo plug can be wired tip and shell for mono usage, but a mono plug is worthless when you need stereo. \u00c2 So to hell with mono 1\/8th and 1\/4 audio connectors.\u00c2 They are banished forevermore from the KazShack.<\/p>\n Soldering Tip: When soldering RCA, 1\/8th or 1\/4 plugs, it is worthwhile heat sinking the connector, especially with low-quality connectors.\u00c2 The easiest way is to just plug them into a jack.\u00c2 That seems to provide enough sinking, unless you really try to cook them.\u00c2 This seems to really be helpful with RCA connections, where the center pin will sometimes drift if the connector is overheated.\u00c2 Using an RCA barrel as heat […]<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"