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Troubleshooting
Guide

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Recorders

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Recorders

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Help & How-to's

Identifying Unknown Connectors

In order to identify an unknown connector type, click on the connector gender (plug or jack) below and click on the answer that best matches your connector:

Is the unknown connector:

a plug (having a prong that extends from the body)

or
a jack (having a socket)?

Identifying Plugs

Answer

Connector
or Next

1. Does the plug have a bare prong or is the prong (or prongs) surrounded by an outer metal ring?

2. Is the metal ring round or oblong?

Round

Go to #3

Oblong

Firewire

3. How many prongs are inside the metal ring?

DIN

4. Is the single recessed prong thin (the size of a small wire) or thick?

Thin	"F" type

Thick

RCA type

5. Are the three recessed prongs thin (the size of a small wire) or thick?

Thin	DIN type

Thick

XLR type

6. Is there a flat metal prong in the recessed area with the four prongs?

Yes	SVHS type

No	DIN type

7. Is the bare prong straight, forked or a ring?

Spade

Ring

8. Are there bands on the end of the bare prong?

Yes, 1

Mono Phone

Yes, 2

Stereo Phone

Go to #9

9. Is the prong smooth or does it bulge in the middle?

Smooth

Pin type

Bulges

Banana type

Identifying Jacks

1. Does the jack have a round or oblong socket?

Round

Go to 2

Oblong

Firewire

2. Does the jack have a single socket or multiple sockets?

3. How many sockets does the jack have?

DIN type

4. Is the single socket thin (the size of a small wire) or thick?

Thin	"F" type

Thick

Go to #5

5. Is the thick socket flush with the body of the connector or raised?

Flush

Go to #6

Raised

RCA type

6. What device is the socket found on?

7. Are the three sockets thin (the size of a small wire) or thick?

Thin	DIN type

Thick

XLR type

8. Is there a rectangular socket in the area with the four sockets?

Yes	SVHS type

No	DIN type

If you still are not able to identify the connector, we suggest that you try the visual guide or take the connector to your local RadioShack store for assistance.