5-pin mike sockets are not all created equal.

[nomadradio]

For years I squinted at the 5-pin mike socket on RCI-built Cobra 148 radios. They just didn't look exactly right. Seemed like the pins were skinnier. Finally compared the original Uniden socket side-by-side. The one with the "PB" prefix is from a Uniden radio, the "EPT" is from a radio built by RCI. These came out of radios that were converted to a 4-pin socket.

Sure enough, not only are the pins skinnier, but they appear to be shorter, as well. Does serve to explain mikes that would cut out on the RCI-built radios with this mike socket.

Making the pins thinner and shorter must have saved RCI a whole two cents in the production cost.

73

 

[VMC]

Two cents saved on a socket is a $40,000 year end bonus for the bean counter who ordered the move.

 

[BC Coyote]

Making the pins thinner and shorter must have saved RCI a whole two cents in the production cost.

Classic move for RCI. Cut corners everywhere you can to save a penny or two. I notice they also skipped the choke on the RCI version of the little PCB board.........