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Warning - guy ranting / bellyaching about small connectors in here


Tom Visser

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AUDIO (not including lav / body pack connectors)

F TA3, F TA5, F Lemo, and just to be complete, F Fischer (not the Larry type).  Why can't we just commit to having full size XLR connectors for I/O?  Nearly unbreakable, quick and easy field repairs, and highly reliable.  Machine to machine mass connection moving towards AVB/Dante, I'm ok with that, but isn't my biggest priority.  I consider it a step up from DB shells.

 

POWER

Am I the only one that absolutely hates the 761K connector?  Connector density with a screw on fitting makes it a bitch to patch cables in a tight bag.  (Zaxcom Micplexer designer - your killing me with the 761/SMA/Zaxpaq standoff positioning)  I find it has been the most delicate connector of any that I have to work with and have had too many failures.  The Lecto LZR connector is a bit better given it is shorter (also only sold molded), but I'd rather just have two types of power connectors... XLR4 for component input and Anton Bauer P-Tap for distribution.  I love the AB connecter.  It is super rugged, very simple to terminate, allows for high density fit, due to the non-screw design.  I'd give honorable mention to the 4-pin Hirose, it seems small and fidgety, but in practice has always worked and taken a beating, but not as easy to terminate and expensive, just would rather not deal with it.  WTF with the Zaxcom IFB connector - I understand wanting to maintain some sort of backwards compatibility with older products, but really, F those guys who own IFB100 / IFB200 (like me), make them buy a new cable.

 

My next power distro...

Media_547_0_F.png

 

I like the wireless becoming more integrated, a la Rado's "one" concept, Lectro/Zaxcom Venue/RX12 with modular receivers, 688 with SL-6, will help alleviate some of this power / interconnect jumble.

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AUDIO (not including lav / body pack connectors)

F TA3, F TA5, F Lemo, and just to be complete, F Fischer (not the Larry type).  Why can't we just commit to having full size XLR connectors for I/O?  Nearly unbreakable, quick and easy field repairs, and highly reliable.  Machine to machine mass connection moving towards AVB/Dante, I'm ok with that, but isn't my biggest priority.  I consider it a step up from DB shells.

 

POWER

Am I the only one that absolutely hates the 761K connector?  Connector density with a screw on fitting makes it a bitch to patch cables in a tight bag.  (Zaxcom Micplexer designer - your killing me with the 761/SMA/Zaxpaq standoff positioning)  I find it has been the most delicate connector of any that I have to work with and have had too many failures.  The Lecto LZR connector is a bit better given it is shorter (also only sold molded), but I'd rather just have two types of power connectors... XLR4 for component input and Anton Bauer P-Tap for distribution.  I love the AB connecter.  It is super rugged, very simple to terminate, allows for high density fit, due to the non-screw design.  I'd give honorable mention to the 4-pin Hirose, it seems small and fidgety, but in practice has always worked and taken a beating, but not as easy to terminate and expensive, just would rather not deal with it.  WTF with the Zaxcom IFB connector - I understand wanting to maintain some sort of backwards compatibility with older products, but really, F those guys who own IFB100 / IFB200 (like me), make them buy a new cable.

 

My next power distro...

Media_547_0_F.png

 

I like the wireless becoming more integrated, a la Rado's "one" concept, Lectro/Zaxcom Venue/RX12 with modular receivers, 688 with SL-6, will help alleviate some of this power / interconnect jumble.

I been using these (the piggy back versions) for a couple of years:

http://www.hawkwoods.com/Prods/Product/PCX-3

They stack, keep a very low profile along my np1 and it's easy to have 2 independent source of current (batteries) for redundancy or swapping out.

When i have the inclination i'd like to configure 1 with a remote switch - to on/off everything down stream.

 

dan.

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I do get the sense behind TA3.

Actually I think they are easier to solder than XLRs.

Locking might be improved.

 

Every brand of wireless has another kind of connector. Heck, the EN2 series has different connectors on the standard TX, TX Pro, and Mini TX.

I don't understand this. All brands of mixers, recorders, or rack gear have XLR. So why not use one type of connector on all wireless. TA-5 would give a lot of wiring options and is cheap and rugged.

 

I also get the sense behind the locking principle in power connections. That's the one disadvantage of the D-tap.

But why the heck do we need so many. It gets even worse with all that coax power stuff.

With XLR it's 4 pin, so why not agree on TA-4 as the small size standard.

 

Even with mobile phones manufacturers seem to have agreed to a standard connector (a USB variety).

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For really small connectors like the 3 pin or 4 pin Lemo what i do is to use a piece of teflon tube around the pin i am not working with. using a larger diameter tube works well. teflon can take the peripheral heat and also a few touches with the iron tip but will not melt or burn. 

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