JONATHAN LESLIE wrote in a message to BRUCE LEGRANDE:
BL> but I intend to install a couple spring-steel wipers on the
BL> card-frame a BL>
 JL> each side of the RJ-45 jack hoping that will reduce what little
 JL> noise th BL> is. 
 JL> Bruce, what are these wipers, how do you build them, and how do you
 JL> install them on the NIC?  Never heard of anything like that but it
 JL> sounds like a good idea! 
Well, Jonathan...  I don't know exactly how to describe them (as I haven't 
made them - yet :), but I figure I need to find some sort of springy type 
metal like perhaps a piece of watch spring, or maybe some of those spring 
metal strips used in SOME older computers (like Packard Bells and AT&T) to 
make connection from the bottom of the case to the top and sides as they 
slide into place.  After finding something like this, I'll need to cut it to 
the right size and shape them to allow for a means of attaching them to the 
mounting plate in the card (probably with small threaded hardware), which 
will mean that I'll need to (CAREFULLY) drill some very small holes in this 
mounting plate to each side of the RJ-45 jack for the screws to hold the 
spring contacts.  The shape will also need to be curved so as to allow the 
RJ-45 plugs to slide in/out easily without damage, while still having enough 
pressure on the plug to make a good connection.  And of course I'll HAVE to 
use the plugs that have the metal shell that encloses it, so the wiper(s) 
will have something to make contact with.
perhaps if I find a strip of contact just the right width, I could bend it 
-IN- to the jack (on the sides, so it doesn't interfere with the pins) and 
bend it slightlyat the 'inside end' so that it doesn't 'catch' on the plug 
when it's pulled out.   But I'd STILL have to either solder the spring 
contact strips TO the back of card or drill the holes and use small screws 
and nuts to attach them.
I suppose it would be easier to just replace the jacks (if I could find ones 
with the same contact format, and connection to the PCB in EXACTLY the same 
way) on the card with a shielded component, but I'm not sure if I want to 
start un/soldering on the card itself.  :-/
If I were making my own cables I would probably just bring the 'drain' wire 
or the shield out with a braided pigtail a couple inches long with a 'lug' 
terminal on the end and screw that directly to the computer case/card, but 
that wouldn't be as easy to connect and disconnect - as the spring 
steel/copper wiper contacts.
When/If I find the RIGHT materials for this and get them built, I'll let you 
know how they work, or if someone comes up with a better way - I'll be glad 
to hear about it.
Forgive me, I tried to make a drawing of what I have in mind with ASCII, but 
it just didn't look right.  The following MIME file is a PCX graphic just 
over 3k (80 lines) in size - and I hope it doesn't put me in TOO hot a water 
with y'all.  Any comments on my design/idea is welcome.  And my apologies in 
advance if this messes with anyones reader. :(  The file SHOULD be able to be 
saved as a text file (* with no word wrap) and then decoded with a Base64 
(MIME) utility.
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--3092_boundary_fffff3ed--
 > * Each line should be 59 characters long, except last = 43.
Sincerely,
           Bruce - kb6lwn@juno.com - http://www.qsl.net/kb6lwn
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