Lars Aronsson <aronsson@lage.lysator.liu.se> (04/06/91)
This is a size 6/6 modular plug: | | || | || Cord | || | +---------------+ /| Strain relief | + | | | | P i n s | | | 6 5 4 3 2 1 | | +---------------+ |/ / +----/ /----+ +-----+ This is one wiring scheme for an extension cord: 1-1, 2-2, 3-3, 4-4, 5-5, 6-6. Let's call it Scheme A. This is another wiring scheme: 1-6, 2-5, 3-4, 4-3, 5-2, 6-1. Let's call that Scheme B. If you're using your cords for telephones, then Scheme A and Scheme B cords are interchangable. For some other purposes, that might not be the case. I would like to call Scheme A cords "straight", since every pin is connected to a pin with the same number. Scheme B cords I would like to call "cross-connected". The Swedish subsidary of Inmac agrees with me. However, a local vendor uses exactly the opposite terminology, calling Scheme B cords "straight". The explanation is that when you look at a jack-to-jack (female-to-female) joint, Scheme A makes the wires physically cross while Scheme B has physically parallel (straight) wires. Scheme A is like shaking hands (right hand to right hand) with a person. If you face the person, your arms physically cross your eye-to-eye line (unless one of you is standing on her head!). (Along the same lines, your right hand is the one where the thumb points to the left.) This all makes me so confused. Please tell me who is wrong and who is right (!). We Europeans are not that familiar yet with modular jacks and plugs. Is there any standard that defines "straight" and "cross-connected" in this context? Or do you have a de-facto standard? Or is there equal confusion on both sides of the Atlantic? Do you even use the words "straight" and "cross-connected"? Lars Aronsson, Lysator computer club, Linkoping University, Sweden Aronsson@Lysator.LiU.SE Voice phone at home +46-13-17 2143