[aprssig] APRS Standard Connectors?

[Scott Miller]

> I don't like the 2.5 and 3.5 mm plugs and jacks. The jacks loosen up far 
> too easily and thus cause the whole connection to become unreliable. It

I agree... they're no good for high reliability stuff.  Plus, they tend to 
short things while you're plugging and unplugging, so you have to be careful 
how you assign pins.

D sub connectors (like DB9s) have the advantage of being cheap, readily 
available, and reliable.  They're good enough for spacecraft wiring 
harnesses, and if properly made they'll take a lot of abuse.  The stuff I 
saw dredged up from the bottom of Kwajalein Lagoon (which would have been 
very briefly spacecraft parts) didn't look so hot, though.  =]

> I think I saw a recommendation somewhere for a specific powerpole color 
> for 5V use. I guess in practice that could be hazardous for equipment if

And they're available in several colors.  You could conceivable make a stack 
with all of the required signals using powerpoles, but it'd be a little 
bulky.

Scott, N1VG
http://n1vg.net/opentracker