Reliable vertical stacking connectors for Arduino shields with 0.5 MHz signal integrity

The discussion addresses the degradation of vertical stacking connectors used in Arduino shields, particularly when transmitting 0.5 MHz signals. The original connectors, typically tin-plated and sourced cheaply from eBay, lose contact reliability after multiple insertions and removals, causing intermittent signal issues. Gold-plated connectors with multiple contact points are recommended to improve signal integrity and durability. Alternative solutions include using IDC connectors with ribbon cables to avoid frequent disconnections and reduce mechanical wear, despite sacrificing the compact elegance of stacking connectors. Another approach is to use stacked 40-pin IC sockets as buffer layers to protect main boards and simplify repairs. Cost considerations led to choosing IDC connectors and ribbon cables over expensive turned pin sockets, balancing performance and budget constraints.
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