[Elecraft] [K3] Why do they still use 1/4 inch phone jacks?

[Steve Wedge]

One might just as well ask why we use 4'8" as our railroad gauge, or 120V as 
our AC mains power.  Olde standards persist and should be celebrated for the 
historical artifacts that they are - provided it's not holding up or harming 
anything in so doing.

It's amusing to contemplate, at the least.

/philosophy

Steve Wedge, W1ES/4

To be is to do - Socrates
To do is to be - Plato
Do be do be do. - Sinatra

All my computers have my signature with various pearls of wisdom appended 
thereto.


--------------------------------------------------
From: "Barry" <w2up at comcast.net>
Sent: Friday, September 17, 2010 2:49 PM
To: <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: [Elecraft] [K3] Why do they still use 1/4 inch phone jacks?

>  I presume, historically, it was so there would be enough spacing to
> prevent arcing for the 300VDC on the keying line, etc.  Nowadays, most
> headphones come with 1/8 inch plus, paddles/keyers are low voltage, etc.
>
> -- 
>
> Barry Kutner, W2UP             Lakewood, CO
>
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