While sifting through boxes in the attic, I found this… thing. Two wires, connected at one end by an RCA jack. The other two ends of the wires end at small red rectangluar things-- they look like LED lights or something. Does anyone have any idea what this might be?
My explanation sucks, I know, so if you’d like a picture of the thing I’m describing, I can send you one upon request to help with identification. 
Thanks!
Your explanation isn’t bad, but a pic will help. Can you make a digital pic? There’s still several websites that will allow you to post pics for free, like www.webshots.com .
Also, you will get a better response if you put a short description in the thread title, like “What is this: RCA on one end, 2 wires with red rect. on other end”. You will have to ask a moderator to change the title, you can’t do it yourself.
Of course, the next post might have the answer, so you might only want to do that stuff if the thread falls of the 1st page of GQ. I have to admit I’m curious myself what that connector might be for. Good luck!
If you send me a pic, I’ll look at it. If you wish, I’ll post it with my web pics and put a link in this thread. However, I won’t guarantee to keep it on my site more than a week.
You can find my email address in my profile.
Sorry it took so long to get back to you, but here’s a picture of it…
http://www.people.virginia.edu/~dbh6j/thing.jpg
If you guys need a better picture, let me know…
Thanks!!
That’s not an RCA plug, it’s a mini (1/8") phone plug.
That being said, I have no idea what your thing is. The square part is out of focus, and it’s hard to see any detail.
Try plugging it in to a stereo and playing something. Perhaps it lights up?.
I’m fairly certain that the red rectangle things are Infrared remote sensors. They look similar to the ones I’ve seen that came with a unit that allowed you to send video through your house’s existing wiring. The sensors were to allow you to change channels remotely via remote control in the room where you’re receiving the signal. I can’t remember the same of the product, but they were these very large-sized, white, power adaptor looking thingies.
Hope this helps…
I’m wondering if they are IR emitters… perhaps something to do with a homemade attempt at wireless headphones?
Hard to tell from the picture, but if there’s two insulating bands on the prong, it’d be a mini stereo jack. If those are lights on the other end, you’d have a left/right channel output indicator.
That looks like a connector for an old VideoGuide unit. They went out of business several years ago and their technology was bought up and is being used by GemStar now (I think.) It’s a shame the original company went under: the product was one of the best I’ve ever seen.
The connector allowed the VideoGuide unit to control your television and vcr. The RCA end plugged into the VideoGuide and you stuck the IR emitters over the receiver windows on your television and vcr, so the videoguide unit could control them.
I think Joey P and Squink have it.
I don’t think it’s a left/right output indicator… plugging into my stereo out jack and playing music didn’t do anything to it.
Try the headphone jack instead. Stereo out may not be amplified enough.
No, you guys, you’re all wrong. It’s a secret alien probe complete with flashing electrodes. Duh!
Eyephones?
What would be its purpose, then, if it isn’t able to show me the output from my stereo jacks? Wouldn’t that be its primary use?
So you’re saying plug it into the mic jack and play music?
Omigod You mean the jack plugs in THERE?? :eek:
Not the mic jack, the headphone jack. Many stereos have a “line out” (or “stereo out”) jack that sends out a line-level (non-amplified) signal that you might use to connect a device to an external amplifier, a tape deck, an equalizer, whatever. The headphone jack, on the other hand, is (IIRC) amplified. I don’t know that it will make any difference, I’m just suggesting it as a possibility for trial-and-error.
Ah, I misread your post. Apologies.
Tried the headphone jack… no avail. 
I think NutWrench has it - it’s a set of IR transmitters to control audio/video components. Besides systems like VideoGuide that assist with timed taping, there are repeater systems that work this way to allow you to use your IR remotes with components that are in another room, in a closet, etc.
The wires alone aren’t going to do much good without the unit they plug in to, though.
