How to choose a right plug type

Choosing the correct type of connector is not always a simple task. Unfortunately, the radios manufacturers, often trying to impede a customers to make a right choice. Sometimes, it happens that the socket used in transceiver is so unique that connect accessories other than offered by that manufacture is impossible. Therefore, it is important to be aware what kind of connection standard is offered by manufacturer of our communication device before we'll buy it.

Offered by us connector types in the first place should be divided into two groups:

1. Connectors for General Aviation communication with the use of aviation radios and/or intercoms operating in the 118-136MHz band (AM modulation)
2. Connectors for radio communication using handheld FM radio on the VHF (136-174MHz) or UHF band (400-480MHz)

The General Aviation connectors

In the first group the most common standard is a pair phone jacks PJ (PJ052 and PJ068). Most civil certified aircraft of Western production uses this standard and if you are looking for aviation headphones which will be using on plane board the choice of this connector type seems to be the most obvious.

The second popular standard for aviation on-board radios is U174/U plug with the difference that almost exclusively limited to the systems installed in helicopters.

If you are looking for headphones to work with the handheld aviation radio and its socket has two holes spaced at approx. 10 mm with a high degree of probability we can assume that it is a Icom standard in our offer marked as S1. The S1 plug is olso the standard for NAVCOMM aviation handheld radios.

If the socket of our handheld aviation radio has only one hole, probably we have to deal with the Yaesu / Vertex standard and depending on whether the socket has an inlet threaded or not we should use the connector with the symbol Y4 or Y2 .

In the case of airband radio most manufacturers offer as standard or as an optional feature the adapter allowing to connect a standard aviation headsets with a PJ plugs. Such adapters are also available in our offer.

The least frequent in the group of aviation connectors we can meet ZS type. It is a remnant of the Warsaw Pact and is limited almost exclusively to several aircraft models manufactured in the so-called. Eastern bloc (Zlin, Wilga). Also in this case we can use adapters to a PJ standard .

When choosing connectors for General Aviation headset you should be aware that in 99% of cases it involves the necessity of the use of so-called. aviation preamp - a special system ensuring the compatibility of the microphone with the plane installation. In the case of aviation headphones from our offer the preamp is offered as standard. In the case of handsets for other applications (eg. the helmet) is an option.

The FM radios connectors

Unfortunately, there is amore diversity in this group. In the past few large manufacturers of equipment for radio communications has launched its own solution, which over time has been adopted as a generally applicable standard, successfully used in products for other brands. And so the most popular currently used also by NAVCOMM is a K type connector launched by Kenwood. It is a composite connector, having two jack plugs with a diameter of 2.5mm (headphone) and 3.5mm (microphone) apart a distance of 12mm.

In the group of composite connectors we can meet also the Icom standard S2 and S3 as well as Motorola ? M, where the jacks are aside respectively 10 and 9mm.

In addition to the above-mentioned, often in commercially available equipment we can meet the single hole socket having a diameter of 3.5 mm for a one, four-field jack plug. In the case of Yaesu brand radios the plug has a symbol Y1 (straight) or Y1L (angley).

Connectors for mobile devices (telephone, smartphone, tablet)

The same single-hole socket for the jack diameter of 3.5 mm has now become the standard for many mobile phone manufacturers, a and plugs fit into a this slot, depending on the configuration of contacts can be found in our offer under the symbols AHJ (for most new models), or OMTP (for some earlier Samsung, Nokia, Motorola, or Sony Ericsson models).

At the end of an important note. When selecting the proper type of connector should not be guided by "eye". If a plug visually appears to match the outlet of our equipment does not mean that they actually provide proper cooperation with it. In addition to complying external dimensions it is also essential compatibility of connections of the various contacts, as well as the adjustment of electrical parameters (impedance, polarity, voltage). A perfect example of this can be plug type Y1 , which externally fits into the socket mobile phone type AHJ . However, electrically these standards are completely incompatible which in extreme cases can cause permanent damage to the equipment.

Therefore, whenever there is any doubt, we recommend before purchasing decision, consult with our service.