[Elecraft] Re: What's wrong with Serial

[Jack Brindle]

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: aa4lr at arrl.net
> Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!"
>             -- Wilbur Wright, 1901

- Jack Brindle, W6FB
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