Slighty OT.... where to find straight phone cable?

[Howard_Casto]

Ok the end connector on this wheel finally broke off, so it's time to replace it.  Seeing as how I'll never need to crimp a connector on a phone cable again, where can I find a STRAIGHT phone cord to hack?  By this I mean the cord that goes between the handset and the receiver... you know, in olden times when dinosaurs roamed the earth. 

Before someone chimes in, the cables that go between your phone and the wall are not the same size, they are slightly larger. 

I would appreciate it guys... been to busy/ill lately to research some of these odds-n-ends. 

[Generic Eric]

4p4c

[Howard_Casto]

Man... online at least those are surprisingly expensive considering what they are.  I think I want to check my junk drawer before I order one.  Thanks man. 

Just for the record what is the spec size on that... RJ10?  (I'm trained in networking, but phones were on the way out when I went to college.)

[SegaOutrun]

i see them at the 99 cent store all the time.

[Howard_Casto]

I see regular phone lines, but not the line that goes between the base and the receiver. 

[Le Chuck]

Have you tried a flea market or goodwill, seems you should be able to pick up an old phone np and goink the cable.  Hell, I've got one on my desk - but I'm using that one, if I cruise around this building I work in I can probably fine a busted handset in a drawer some where that could donate a cord. 

[BadMouth]

I'll check my parts bin tonight.  I have the pcb and cables from an old PS2 wheel, but I don't recall whether I'd need to keep that connector for the pedals.
If that connection is just to pass through the shell of the wheel and there is a different connector to the PCB, then I don't need it.

[JDFan]

I see regular phone lines, but not the line that goes between the base and the receiver.

Same here --- I think most of the lines between base and receiver are coiled so you get a longer distance when stretched without hanging on the floor when not in use ! -- maybe cut the ends off a coiled wire and rewire your old one that failed using the new connector.

Here's one that has a 4" leader on one end that is straight you could use to splice onto the old one for example -- ( http://www.showmecables.com/product/Black-Gloss-Coiled-Handset-Cord-Extended-Lead-6-FT.aspx )

[twistedsymphony]

Radioshack might still carry them... I'm pretty sure I have some in a box somewhere... I might even have a crimper too 

[Howard_Casto]

Eh it's not a huge deal... I was just asking because it's something I need to get around to fixing.  Somewhere in my buildings are literally crates of useless wire that came packaged with devices.  Hopefully I'll find one in there.  If not I'll probably just do like JD said and cut up a coily one. 

[BadMouth]

The one in my parts bin uses a DB9 connector.
I thought it was an older model than it is.

Edit:  If you tear the wheel down, there is probably a pigtail between the jack and the pcb.  (all my wheels have been that way)
You could just bypass the connector or replace it with something else.

[Howard_Casto]

Yeah the jack is soldered directly onto the pcb.  They are huge solder points, so it'd be easy enough to swap out, but what if I want to use different pedals later on?

Aren't these jacks still the standard connector or am I out of date on that?

If not then a rj45 or something more common would probably be better.  I've actually got crimping tools for those. 

[BadMouth]

Aren't these jacks still the standard connector or am I out of date on that?

Logitech wheels newer than the model you have use DB9 connectors.

Fanatec uses RJ11 (6P6C).

I'm unsure of other brands.

[Howard_Casto]

Hmm.... so it's a crap shot then.  I might switch to s standard phone connector then.  RJ45 would be preferred, but thinking on it that might be a bit large to snake through holes and such. 

[Howard_Casto]

So it looks like my plans have changed but I still wanted to repair this little guy.  I had a 20 pack of these 5 pin header cables... the kind you would use on an arduino.  I cut it in half, soldered the female connector end on the jack pins of the wheel, soldered the male end to the broken cord, made a slit in the plastic with the old soldering iron boom!  Done!

Sometimes the simplest solutions are the best.  The connection seems much more stable now then even when the jack connector wasn't iffy and I don't have to worry about keys breaking off.