Does anyone know what the size is for the Mini-Din Stereo Headphone jack on 757/767/777's in COs fleet? Is it a metric or imperial sized plug?

Reason that I ask is over the last few months I have had numerous problems getting a nice tight fit into the jacks on multiple CO aircraft. At first I thought it was my plug but more recently I have been able to rule that out.

Also I wonder is CO replacing the current headphone jacks as they upgrade the 757s to AVOD, last night flying TATL on a 752 the one inside of my armrest was broken from its mounts and falling around inside the armrest. The seat next to it was better but still loose in its mount. I have also noticed this one more than one TATL flight as a minor problem.

I believe they are the dual-3.5mm pin jacks. I'm disappointed that CO has chosen to stick with the split pins rather than using a standard, single pin model in the retrofit. That's just one more thing I have to schlep around in my bag.

CO's own headphones don't fit well either. You'd think that the jacks in BF on the 777s would at least provide "no fiddle connections" to their own headsets, but no, that's too much to ask (BTW, my own headphones had the same problem in the jack).

As far as the choice of dual prong jacks goes, I imagine that it's because they are more physically robust (resistant to being yanked out sideways) than a single prong design. They may also be preferable electrically, as they won't create transient shorts between channels during insertion/removal. However I'm just talking out of my @ss, albiet an @ss that is educated in related matters.

Speaking of the jacks, I was using my own headphones, and whenever the pilot made an announcement I thought I was going to go deaf; the volume controls don't work on the announcements.

And a final, related complaint: can't the video on the aircraft at least be free of static? Can't the tracking be good enough that the sound doesn't cut out every 15 seconds or so?

Which equipment? With the exception of the 752 (and the one new 777), everything on those planes is old analog equipment, which leads to a "no" response to your question.

777. The video looked like it was coming from a VCR with tracking way out of adjustment. Is the programming being played on VCRs so old they lack an "Auto Tracking" button? It was so bad that the sound frequently cut out, making some of the programs almost unwatchable (putting aside the content of the programming).

BTW: By static I meant the lines of garbage on the top/bottom of the screen, so I think the answer to the question I was trying to ask should be "yes".

Yes -- it was being played back on ancient VCR. CO is about to begin replacing them.

What is the format of the newest video players? I know some still use what appear to be a standard vhs tape but most of the newer video players i see are of the small variety, almost looks like a hi8 tape but the picture certainly isnt hi8.

This is a very good thing to carry in your briefcase. I carry this along with a decent set of ear buds in a snack sized zip lock bag. Small, weighs nothing and has sound quality far superior to the airline headsets.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...tId=2404396&cp

I've always assumed the reason they still use the dual prong jack is so they can force people to buy a headset.

They sell them for $6 at the DVD rental store in C1 @ EWR as well, if you don't feel like finding a Radio Shack (or you leave yours plugged in to the seat when you deplane, like I did).

S.

A Mini-DIN headphone jack? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mini-DIN_connector

Never unplug the ear buds or headphone from the adapter and this problem can be avoided. I almost lost mine a couple of times before I started using this procedure. I now unplug the adaptor with the headphone plug still connected to it and drop it in my shirt pocket until I return to my seat.

I actually discovered this with my iPod headphones, that if you put them just halfway into one of the plugs, you get sound in both ears (and a surprising strong fit in the plug, didn't move a ton). Of course it needs to stay in that one spot, but you won't be moving much in the seat anyhow.

Discovered this wanting to watch Casino Royale but my fiancee left her "state of the art" headphones at home.

Yes, but you're getting a mono-signal. Both your headphones will be getting either the left or right signal. No stereo.

Just be careful if you use noise isolating headphones with low input impedance (most); when the pilot comes on you risk damage to your ears. I'm not kidding. It's that loud.

I use the Etymotic ER6i (highly recommended, forget the bulky Bose junk: http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/er6i.aspx ) and set the volume level near absolute min (only one green block on the volume level thingy) when using the AV system; they block out external sounds that well.