Gadget Shop iHandset

nathanbrazil · 30-12-2012, 09:21

Over Crimble, I acquired a retro style telephone handset, with a jack to plug in to my girlfriend's Sony Xperia X8 Android phone.

http://www.whsmith.co.uk/CatalogAndS...1923#ancsubmit

According to the packaging and website, this device 'Works with any device that connects to headphones via an 3.5mm Jack' Except, it doesn't work with her phone, or mine which i the same model.No worries, I thought, I'll just get an adapter. Only problem is, according to Carphone Warehouse and Maplins, it can't be done. The issue is that the gadget jack has three connections, and our phones apparently accept just two.

So, either I have a good idea of a product that cannot work with my girlfriend's phone, or I'll need to get her another phone. Not happy that W. H. Smith can advertise a product as they do, when it clearly has not been tested with two connection 3.5mm jack phones.

Step666 · 30-12-2012, 14:15

Normal 3.5mm headphone jacks have three contacts (if you look at the jack the metal is split into 3 sections) - left channel, right channel and ground.
Headphones that also have a mic have 4 contacts - the 3 normal ones and one for the mic as well.

Now I'm certain that in the box with your X8s, you will both have received a cheap pair of headphones, complete with a mic, that have the 4 contacts and will work absolutely fine with your handset, meaning that this:

Quote:

Originally Posted by nathanbrazil

The issue is that the gadget jack has three connections, and our phones apparently accept just two.

Is a load of crap.

The problem is that different handset manufacturers order the connectors on the jacks differently.
Going by this diagram for reference, most manufacturers have it set up as:[list=1][*]Left-channel[*]Right-channel[*]Ground[*]Mic[/list]Sony Ericsson on the other hand used:[list=1][*]Left-channel[*]Right-channel[*]Mic[*]Ground[/list]
(NB there's a chance I have the orders backwards but the point basically is that SE don't use the same layout as everyone else)

Apparently there are adapters out there that effectively switch the two problem contacts over, thus fixing the problem, but I don't know where you would get them from - eBay at a guess.

nathanbrazil · 31-12-2012, 11:16

Okay, many thanks for that info. I'll scout around e-bay and see if I can find something to do the job.

30-12-2012, 09:21	#1
nathanbrazil Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: AccountKiller Posts: 8,749	Gadget Shop iHandset Over Crimble, I acquired a retro style telephone handset, with a jack to plug in to my girlfriend's Sony Xperia X8 Android phone. http://www.whsmith.co.uk/CatalogAndS...1923#ancsubmit According to the packaging and website, this device 'Works with any device that connects to headphones via an 3.5mm Jack' Except, it doesn't work with her phone, or mine which i the same model.No worries, I thought, I'll just get an adapter. Only problem is, according to Carphone Warehouse and Maplins, it can't be done. The issue is that the gadget jack has three connections, and our phones apparently accept just two. So, either I have a good idea of a product that cannot work with my girlfriend's phone, or I'll need to get her another phone. Not happy that W. H. Smith can advertise a product as they do, when it clearly has not been tested with two connection 3.5mm jack phones.

30-12-2012, 14:15	#2
Step666 Forum Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Scotland Posts: 1,274	Normal 3.5mm headphone jacks have three contacts (if you look at the jack the metal is split into 3 sections) - left channel, right channel and ground. Headphones that also have a mic have 4 contacts - the 3 normal ones and one for the mic as well. Now I'm certain that in the box with your X8s, you will both have received a cheap pair of headphones, complete with a mic, that have the 4 contacts and will work absolutely fine with your handset, meaning that this: Quote: Originally Posted by nathanbrazil The issue is that the gadget jack has three connections, and our phones apparently accept just two. Is a load of crap. The problem is that different handset manufacturers order the connectors on the jacks differently. Going by this diagram for reference, most manufacturers have it set up as:[list=1][]Left-channel[]Right-channel[]Ground[]Mic[/list]Sony Ericsson on the other hand used:[list=1][]Left-channel[]Right-channel[]Mic[]Ground[/list] (NB there's a chance I have the orders backwards but the point basically is that SE don't use the same layout as everyone else) Apparently there are adapters out there that effectively switch the two problem contacts over, thus fixing the problem, but I don't know where you would get them from - eBay at a guess.

31-12-2012, 11:16	#3
nathanbrazil Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: AccountKiller Posts: 8,749	Okay, many thanks for that info. I'll scout around e-bay and see if I can find something to do the job.

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