Communications plugs and patch cords with mode conversion control circuitry

Patch cords include a communications cable that has first through eighth conductors that are arranged as four twisted pairs. A TIA 568B type plug may be attached to the cable. This plug includes a housing that receives the cable and first through eighth plug contacts that include plug contact regions that are substantially aligned in a row in numerical order. The plug further includes a printed circuit board that has first through eighth conductive paths that connect the first through eighth conductors to the respective first through eighth plug contacts. A first portion of the first conductive path and a first portion of the second conductive path are routed as a transmission line, and a first portion of the sixth conductive path is routed therebetween.