Collecting Components

(This is part two of the chronicle of my 2013 Retrochallenge Winter Warmup submission. The mediocrity starts here.)

Before I can assemble the cable for the Retrochallenge, I have to find the components. One end of the cable needs to plug into the iPhone and the other end needs to split into 2 mono plugs. The mono plugs are easily available at most electronics parts stores (Radio Shack, Fry’s, etc). However, the iPhone uses a 4-pole phone plug to handle the stereo earplugs, headset microphone, and remote switch.  Because the Internet is teeming with prattle about the iPhone, I found searching for this part quite difficult.

That was until I discovered the magic phrase “TRRS”. Then it became easy. I found on Ebay I could get a package of 5 shipped from China to my doorstep for $4US. And it must’ve taken the speed boat because it arrived in a little more than a week after ordering.

For wiring, I already had a spool of 26 gauge stranded wire – all black, so I’ll have to use the multimeter often to keep things straight. I thought about using, say, some CAT-5 cabling or getting some heat-shrink tubing to help bundle the wires. However I think it would have more panache if I weaved them together.

Tools

Nothing special regarding tools. It is nice to have wire strippers with the numbered grooves. So stripping the 26 Gauge wire will be quick and error-free. I think of the time lost to stripping wires using an X-acto knife or crappy strippers and I begin to weep. Also in a big step towards a crap-free existence, I received a much better soldering iron as a birthday gift from my wife. This will be my second opportunity to use it so I hope I don’t muck up the tip.

Not pictured but vital is a digital multimeter so I can test my solders and keep track of which wire is connected to which part of the TRRS plug.