[sdiy] question about cables

[cheater cheater]

OK, solid core cable works well if you install it and forget it, but
it's not really ever this way with modular synths in my experience.

1) a lot of people like to adjust their modules every now and then.
That might need you to move the pcb around and in the course of that
you could manipulate the wire

2) the mechanical surroundings of a UTP wire are completely different
to what's going on in a module. In a loom you have pegs or ducts that
will hold an extended lenght of the cable in place, and it won't move
around at the point of termination. That telephone wire can't break
anything off because of its rigidity. Both the wraparound terminal and
the frame that holds the wire is from hard metal.

A PCB and a neutrik connector are not this sturdy. You shouldn't be
using cables that are so sturdy they could damage more important bits,
while not giving you any benefit. Every time you disconnect the PCB
for troubleshooting you will risk breaking the pcb at the solder
point. If you use connectors, you risk that the cable's rigidity will
work against that connector and might slip it off or cause the small
connectors inside to have less-than-ideal connection - if lateral
pressure is applied, the terminals will not couple on all sides
equally. This can be alleviated by using good plugs.

3) you're using soft cable outside. why would you use rigid cable
inside? Even if there were any sort of improvement in sound - it's not
going to matter - the sound will be degraded to the level provided by
your patch cords. Another run of the same wire will not degrade it any
further, the cable in question has already degraded it already.

4) there is the question of how often you'll have to replace a
stranded (soft) cable vs a rigid (single-core) cable. I am not sure!
Any thoughts? Which one will oxidize faster? Which will crumble
faster?

D.

On Mon, Aug 24, 2009 at 7:13 PM, Graham Atkins<gatkins at blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:
> Cary,
>
> In the mid 90's the broadcast company I worked for built a new "state of
> the art" studio / production centre. In the central apparatus room, the
> audio
> circuits from and to equipment and patchbays all went through Krone
> termination frames and used solid core 10-multipair cables and IDC blocks
> such as these :-
>
> http://www.canford.co.uk/Products/20518/31-210-CANFORD-KHJ-CABLE-10-pair-BBC-PIN203
> http://www.canford.co.uk/Products/40133/46-101-KRONE-ABS-Module
>
> Graham
>
> On 24 Aug 2009, at 17:47, Cary Roberts wrote:
>
>>> The telephone systems are designed and built using matched solid
>>> wire twisted pairs throughout the system.
>>
>> I've never heard the term "matched" or "twisted pair" when referring to
>> copper in a physical plant, inside or out.  POTS and T1 circuits are at
>> best
>> on CAT3 which has three twists per foot.  There is a mix of 22, 24, and
>> 26AWG in every CO I've been in.  For voice, DSL, and T1 I've seen no
>> regard
>> for matching length of tip and ring.
>>
>>> They do make extensive use of insulation displacement connections
>>> in punch down blocks and other connector types.
>>
>> Very few offices use punchdown.  Most everything is wirewrap including
>> voice
>> circuits.  Outside plant typically uses IDC for splicing and
>> cross-connects.
>>
>>> The entire system is designed for reliability and ease of rerouting
>>> hardwiring, notably a lot of the IDC is reused when wiring changes
>>> are made without a loss of reliability.
>>
>> Again, I've seen very little IDC in the central office.  Many CLECs used
>> IDC
>> but wirewrap and soldered tree terminals still reign in most US incumbent
>> LEC offices for anything that is frequently moved, added, or changed.
>>
>> -Cary
>> (who spent 4+ years running test and install crews for what is now the
>> largest US telco provider)
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Synth-diy mailing list
>> Synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
>> http://dropmix.xs4all.nl/mailman/listinfo/synth-diy
>>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Synth-diy mailing list
> Synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
> http://dropmix.xs4all.nl/mailman/listinfo/synth-diy
>