[Drake] Drake microphone plug sizes, etc.

[D A Hawkins - W7DAH]

Dear Drake Listees,

Thanks to all who previously replied to my inquiry about who uses which
microphone with what Drake xmitter. I now have a very nice Shure 444D
(actually, a couple of 'em)!

Now though, I'm confused by Drake microphone plug requirements, and I'm
lookin' for a definitive clarification from wherever I can get it, please.

I have a Drake T-4XC and it's original manual says, on page 2-1, "a 0210.
inch diameter, 3 conductor microphone plug is required."

I have seen some auctions on ePay (see link below) which describe a ".205"
diameter plug, with reference to "Drake Transmitters".

http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1335756138

And, to add to my confusion, the original Switchcraft parts (see link below)
describes a ".0206" diameter plug.

http://www.switchcraft.com/products/jack-137.html

Throwing more mud into the mix, it appears that the T-4XC I have acquired,
MAY have been modified to accept a standard "0.250" (1/4) inch plug coz the
plug on my Sony MDR-7506 Cans (headphones) seem to fit perfectly well into
BOTH the existing Microphone AND Key sockets on the back of this particular
T-4XC. So perhaps the whole "which is the correct mic plug to terminate a
Shure 444D to a T-4XC maybe irrelevant in my situation, aye? I don't find a
reference, in the original manual to a specification for the Key's original
plug/socket size (for comparison sakes).

At this juncture, I am also assuming that different Drake transmitters used
different spec mic plugs? For instance, I gather that the B-line, and
perhaps others, required the right-angle plug which appears on the
Switchcraft site (link above) because the mic socket exited on the side of
it's chassis rather than on the rear, like the T-4XC. I guess that the
rear-exit socket on the T-4XC does NOT necessitate using the right angle
plug. However, I'm curious too if the Switchcraft right-angle part would fit
the socket of an original, unmodified T-4XC or not?

Lastly, it would APPEAR that these various plugs (and sockets) are still
readily available as NEW from a variety of sources, including Switchcraft
and their dealer/distributors, so what is all the ePay hype and hub-bub
about them being "no-longer made", "rare", etc? The Switchcraft site makes
reference to both Commercial and Military nomenclature that might work.

Any words of wisdom appreciated.

73 de Don
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