Re: 4-Pin RJ11 Modular Plugs for Valentine Detector

["Barry P. Blank, Ph.D." <psychb@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I had written
> Prezzes & Prezzettes,
> 
> The 4-Pin RJ11 modular plug for my Valentine Radar Detector has snapped 
> off the little 'thingee-lever' that holds it in.  Duct tape holds it in 
> now, but not exactly a clean install.  Replacement modular plugs from 
> Radio Shack are just too large - they can be force fit in but do not 
> come out. Since I swap the Valentine out between my bike and car I need 
> the right size.
> 
> Valentine has none available (just extension cords with pre-existing 
> crimped plugs - no help) and Verizon hardly knows what I'm talking 
> about!  A google search turns up several sources and I would gladly 
> order, but I still do not know if they would fit properly.
> 
> Does anyone have any thoughts about a local-type store where I can get 
> these plugs (Home Depot and Sears have not worked) or access to one or 
> more?  TIA

First, many thanks to all those who responded (both on and off the list) 
with advice, ideas, humor.  You are all, as always, a remarkable group.

For those of you who suggested specific Radio Shack parts which had been 
useful to you - the Radio Shack modular plugs which I had were 4-pin 
RJ11 plugs (RS # 279-384).  I went to another Radio Shack and bought 
another package of the same plugs - and ran into the same difficulty. 
The Radio Shack crimping tool which I have is RS # 279-388.

This is the right modular plug - 4-pin RJ11 and is in fact very easy to 
use with the crimping tool.  However, they do not work for my Valentine. 
  They look identical - but very careful inspection shows them to not be 
identical. The height of the 'front' of the modular plug is 1/32" higher 
than that of the RJ11 plug which is OEM Valentine.  This is just enough 
of a difference so that the modular plug does go into the Valentine 
(with effort) but can only be removed with the help of a screwdriver. 
The only conclusion that I can arrive at is that manufacturing 
tolerances depending on the vendor/manufacturer are different!

What I will temporarily end up doing is either a) carrying a small 
screwdriver for when I wish to remove the RS plug from the Valentine or 
more likely b) buying a small female-female modular plug-to-plug 
connector and using the tight fitting RS plug on one end and a small 
(4") male-male extension cord on the other end.

I will also be ordering a few 4-Pin RJ11 modular plugs from a few 
manufacturers and seeing what fits best.

As always, this seems like an awful lot of effort for what should be a 
simple task - but, then again, BMW owners grow used to that ;)

=================================================================

A few asides to answer questions raised by the responses to my post -

There is no crud on the female side that's causing binding.
It is an RJ11 phone jack.
My local telephone company was useless to help - they asked what an RJ11 
plug is!
I can <not> adapt my "riding style to a MaxV of 1 Eilenvector". :)

- -- 
Regards,

Barry ('04 R1150RT)
Roslyn Heights, N.Y.

Ride hard and ride well.

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