Puzzler d'jour...

[N4KYW]

When you plug a mono phone plug into a stereo phone jack which of the following, if any, is correct?

a. The tip of the stereo phone jack is shorted to the ring.

b. The ring of the stereo phone jack is shorted to the sleeve.

c. The tip of the stereo phone jack is shorted to the sleeve.

d. None of the above

[AC5UP]

I'll take 'B' for $200.......

BTW:   Is this a 1/4" or 1/8" phone jack?

[N4KYW]

I'll take 'B' for $200.......

BTW: Is this a 1/4" or 1/8" phone jack?

In this example use 1/4 inch. Hopefully the same answer will apply to the 3.5mm (1/8") jack as well
Alex Quebec

[KB3HG]

B. sounds good to me. The right channel is shorted out, the left should work.

[N4KYW]

B. sounds good to me. The right channel is shorted out, the left should work.

This is exactly the condition I need in order for my new Ten-Tec R4030 to recognize the connected key a 'straight,' as opposed to a paddle.

[N6GND]

I always wire my straight keys and bugs to a stereo plug; I ignore the ring connection.

[WB6BYU]

You can't always count on the sleeve of a mono plug shorting the ring of a stereo
jack:  it depends on the plug (and the jack).  Some do, some don't.

[G8JNJ]

I agree with the last posting.

Sometimes the sleeve connection of a mono socket, is a spring finger that makes contact with the ring of a stereo jack.

If you only have a stereo jack and want to use it as a mono. Wire the sleeve and ring together to be on the safe side.

For stereo jacks, convention is that the tip is Left.

3.5mm and 2.5mm Jacks with four connections are now becoming more common on A/V equipment, laptops and some amateur radio gear. Be careful with these.  As the position of the ground connection varies considerably, and it's never where you think it should be.

Regards,

Martin - G8JNJ

www.g8jnj.webs.com

[KB3HG]

OK, I answered the Puzzler d'jour. As I saw it, the question was about the plug.  Now as has been mentioned all sockets are not created equally. Stereo, mono, switched what have you. One would have to research the physical socket for the plug to get the desired application. The old military keys had mono plugs at least the ones I have do. Glad you found something interesting about it.

Tom Kb3hg