From: sims@sauron.msfc.nasa.gov (Herb Sims)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Re: Aircraft Mike Plugs
Date: 31 Aug 92 12:07:58 GMT
Organization: NASA/MSFC

sas@opus.xyplex.COM (Scott Sminkey - Sustaining Eng Group) writes:

>Andy Jackson recently asked...

> >Does anyone know where I can find a supplier for jack plugs and
> >sockets for the microphone/push-to-talk of "standard" aircraft headsets?
> >(By "standard", this includes David Clark headsets, at least!)
> >As far as I can determine, the plug is 3/16" (about 4.8mm) diameter,
> >[and 28 or 29 mm long - sorry to mix units!]  - it is NOT 1/4" diameter as
> >is the headphone plug..

>A while back, I was looking for this type of jack so I could use my David
>Clark headset in my station. The local electronics supply shop could special
>order one - it was listed as a military-type jack in the component catalogs,
>but it cost something around $30 to $40 for just one!  While contemplating
>the cost/benefit of this (I guess hams are cheap), I noticed that the
>microphone jack on the back of a Drake T4X is exactly what I needed!  I
>proceeded to swap that microphone jack for a standard 1/4-inch jack so now
>the Drake could take standard microphones, and I could use the military
>jack for my D-C headset.

>Now to get back to a general source of these jacks/plugs, perhaps Drake would
>still stock them (I see from a recent posting that they still stock an old
>T/R relay), or perhaps another military radio builder like Collins or Gates
>might have them. Also, perhaps old "boat anchor" military radio sets seen at
>flea markets might have them. Andy, I realize this might not do you much good
>in the Netherlands, so send me email if you want me to start a search for you
>over here.
I found the connector that you are talking about from an aviation repair shop.
THe cost was only $2.65 and I am in the process of making it work on my TS-930
radio.  I think there is a slight problem though.  The aviation headsets
look like they need a bias voltage on the microphone cartridge in order
to work.  I haven't had the courage/time to see if this is really true.

Hope this helps.

Herb



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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
W. Herb Sims                                        sims@sauron.msfc.nasa.gov or
KU0C                                                sims@avdms8.msfc.nasa.gov
MSFC/NASA/EB33				
Huntsville, AL 35812             Only Amiga makes it possible!                  
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>73,
> - Scott
>-----
>Scott Sminkey  WO1G				sasminkey@eng.xyplex.com
>Software Sustaining Engineering 
>Xyplex, Inc.
>330 Codman Hill Road
>Boxborough, Massachusetts 01719  USA
>508 264-9901 ext 472
>-----