Ok so today my C Crane transmitter came in and I am a bit confused. The transmitter ofcorse had troubles without the mod and I did the mod and it worked great :D. However if I power off the unit and power it back on it is as if its not transmitting because all I get is static. Ive moved it around and still static. Then if I power it off again and power it back it may start working again. It happens at random intervolves. Can someone explain why it does this behavor?
Thanks 🙂
Ok so I fired up my RTL SDR to see what is going on. When I turned it on I can see it was broadcasting. I pluged in my phone and I can hear the music. Once I change the frequency BAM it is as if it just stopped transmitting. Is this normal for this unit and if so how can I fix it??
Thanks 🙂
Call Ccrane and ask about this....you should get another.
When you did the "mod" you have to be careful not to break the volume control on the side and the pot you turn can break if you aren't careful.
But it should go on and off with no problem.
Oh yes..you can check for a bad solder joint at the antenna connection....but if that's not it, call Ccrane.
Mark
Since you have an SDR, when tuned to your FM the display should show your carrier.
When you loose your signal does the carrier disappear from the SDR display? Or, do you just loose the audio whiile the carrier still shows on the SDR display?
This will tell you if you have an audio problem or an RF problem. If the display continues to show the carrier with no audio, look for an audio problem. If the carrier disappears from the SDR display then it sounds like the oscillator may be stopping or a problem somewhere else in the RF section.
I was just in the neighborhood so I'll stop long enough to add some thoughts.
I don't think it was mentioned whether the C.Crane FM transmitter is new or used, Version 1 or Version 2, but anyway...
My FM1 had that intermittent output problem and I traced it to the spot where the telescopic antenna connects to the circuit board. To the best of my observation it was not a solder connection, but was a "pressure contact" in which small "teeth" on the metal at the bottom of the antenna assembly "pressed" against a solder spot on the board. My guess is that twisting and adjusting the antenna made this contact point become intermittent.
I got a short length of braided copper (the kind used to remove solder)... soldered it to the antenna spot on the circuit board, made a loop and tightened it underneath the screw that attaches the metal peice to the antenna and now it's stable.
Make sure nothing gets shorted by the added copper wire.
@Mark
I was carefule when I did do the mod. I have repaied laptops and built my own PC so I am pritty carefule with electronics. When it does work the volume thing still works so I know thats not broken. I wont think it will be a sodering issue because every now and then it works I just need to turn it off and on mutiple times until I get a signial.
The carrier goes away. If you want I can make a short 5 min youtube video of what happens. It will be working fine but once I turn it off or change the frequency it just goes away as if its not transmitting.
Sorry for not adding that info. I got it new on amazon with 1 day shipping. Is is the FM 2 model.
Ok, the RF stops. Even if the antenna connection were loose, with the transmitter right next to the radio you'd probably still hear it.
Next problem is to figure out where the RF is being stopped. I'm assuming the power light stays on so its not a power issue.
You'd probably need a schematic and a 'scope to trace the trouble. Most of the PLL circuits have a master crystal oscillator operating far from the actual output frequency. With a scope you could check to see if that oscillator is running. It could be a weak crystal or bad connection causing it to stop oscillating.
If you know the oscillator frequency you might be able to pick it up on a radio tuned to the oscillator frequency if close enough to the radio. Perhaps use the radio's external antenna connection as a probe. You'd want to put a very small value capacitor (a few pico farads) in series with the probe so as not to load down the circuit.
If the carrier is gone and the oscillator is running then you start looking at stages leading to the antenna connection.
Ok well I guess I will just leave it how it is. It's a 50/50 if it works or not. Since I found a good frequency to use (104.1) I will just leave it on there.
I do have a bit more questions tho. Will the C. Crane be good on not to interfere with other stations? I am not sure what frequency 104.1 bleeds into but I would just like to make sure so I am not messing up with some other station.
Thanks 🙂
Why not just return the unit for a new one? You don't have to just 'settle' for the one you got. CC Crane is a good company and will take good care of you.
Agreed, send it back and get another one, asap.
Yes, if you bought it new I would send it back for replacement.
As long as you were slick and didn't tear off the sticker when you made the mode you should get another one. But I've heard of issues with this transmitter. Its why I got a used Whole House FM Transmitter 3.0. I have a website that already has the mod for the C.Crane which is:
http://store.xmfanstore.com/ccrane-wireless-fm-transmitter.html
Note: This may violate FCC Rules. If you do this I'd not do it in a Metro Area. If you keep the signal inside your neighborhood and keep one FREE channel above and below your transmit frequency it is less chance of unwanted attention. Still if your gonna mod the C. Crane the Whole House 3 does better out of box and its High Power mode is more than C. Crane's. But if you have to go for the built in processor you cn try this.
Like I said and the other posts have said.....Ccrane is a good company and they will send you another. I know it's inconvenient but thats why there's an exchange if not happy and a warranty.
Most of the main circuits on this are micro surface mounts and the main transmitter IC chip.....may be very hard to diagnose this and why do you have to.
Mark
Ok well I sent them a message off of amazon and will wait for a reply. For those of you who do have the C. Crane transmitter how far did it go with the mod? Mine went about 50 meters. I know im not going to get allot of range from this but I am just cerious to see if I am getting shorter range than others then I would assume I got a lemon 😛
Thanks 🙂
Yea I will see how this whole thing turns out. The reason I picked the C. Crane was because of the sound quality. When mine works it sounds like a real FM station. From reading reviews the Whole House FM doesn’t have the best quality sound wise. You would need to lower the volume a bit to get it to work. I also have read about some of the fishy stuff that goes on in the company and the C. Crane seemed to be more reliable. But if people say as long as I keep it in the neighborhood I should be ok then I guess trying it out won’t do no harm :P. Depending on how this whole situation I got going goes, I might get the Whole House FM to broadcast my station and I will use the C. Crane as a speaker system for my PC I built since I did not get speakers for it.