C. Crane FM xmitter 2 range?

[W. eWatson]

I bought a C. Crane xmitter 2 and found that it's signal range was short
distance wise of the xmitter 2 in my den to the radio in my bedroom. C.
Crane suggested as a hobbyist that I could find help on the web that
could help increase the range.

I found this Youtube video for one.
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KchVzmT4r9Q> Basically, it's real
simple. Open up the case from three screws. One turns a knob inside the
device to the left. Apparently, I inadvertently twisted too far. The
little white knob broke off. Left behind on the circuit card is blue
cube that held the knob. Looking at the top shows a circular shinny part
about 4 mm in diameter. A picture of the area can be seen in the video
about 10 seconds from the end.

The red on the front no longer lights up, and there's no indication that
a signal reaches the radio in the den.

Any way to correct my problem?

 

[Tom Biasi]

On 8/18/2014 7:59 PM, W. eWatson wrote:

I bought a C. Crane xmitter 2 and found that it's signal range was short
distance wise of the xmitter 2 in my den to the radio in my bedroom. C.
Crane suggested as a hobbyist that I could find help on the web that
could help increase the range.

I found this Youtube video for one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KchVzmT4r9Q> Basically, it's real
simple. Open up the case from three screws. One turns a knob inside the
device to the left. Apparently, I inadvertently twisted too far. The
little white knob broke off. Left behind on the circuit card is blue
cube that held the knob. Looking at the top shows a circular shinny part
about 4 mm in diameter. A picture of the area can be seen in the video
about 10 seconds from the end.

The red on the front no longer lights up, and there's no indication that
a signal reaches the radio in the den.

Any way to correct my problem?

You broke it. Sounds like you broke a variable capacitor. That wouldn't
increase your range unless it was a matching cap for the antenna and
then not by much. You need to replace that part.

 

W. eWatson <wolftracks@invalid.com> wrote:

I found this Youtube video for one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KchVzmT4r9Q

That video does not show the interior of that transmitter, but this one
does:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n71jvpeAhSs

One turns a knob inside the device to the left.
Apparently, I inadvertently twisted too far. The little white knob
broke off.

That looks like a variable resistor to me, but it might also be a
variable capacitor. What is written on the circuit board next to it?
If it involves the letter 'R' - for example, R2, VR3, RV1 - it's
probably a variable resistor. If it involves the letter 'C' - for
example, C3, VC1, CV2 - it's probably a variable capacitor.

There may also be a partial part number on the body of the device, that
will help you find a replacement.

If the "local electronics store" is Radio Shack, it is probably futile
to try to buy a replacement part there. If you have a better store,
you may get lucky. You may have better luck looking online at a place
like Mouser or Digi-Key (if you are in the US.)

Typically, these devices only have roughly 3/4 of a turn of rotation on
the knob. A few may only have 1/4 turn.

The reason why its range wasn't much in the first place was to avoid
violating FCC regulations on the maximum power output of this kind of
transmitter.

Matt Roberds

 

[W. eWatson]

On 8/18/2014 6:00 PM, Tom Biasi wrote:

On 8/18/2014 7:59 PM, W. eWatson wrote:
I bought a C. Crane xmitter 2 and found that it's signal range was short
distance wise of the xmitter 2 in my den to the radio in my bedroom. C.
Crane suggested as a hobbyist that I could find help on the web that
could help increase the range.

I found this Youtube video for one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KchVzmT4r9Q> Basically, it's real
simple. Open up the case from three screws. One turns a knob inside the
device to the left. Apparently, I inadvertently twisted too far. The
little white knob broke off. Left behind on the circuit card is blue
cube that held the knob. Looking at the top shows a circular shinny part
about 4 mm in diameter. A picture of the area can be seen in the video
about 10 seconds from the end.

The red on the front no longer lights up, and there's no indication that
a signal reaches the radio in the den.

Any way to correct my problem?
You broke it. Sounds like you broke a variable capacitor. That wouldn't
increase your range unless it was a matching cap for the antenna and
then not by much. You need to replace that part.

I'll check at our local electronics store tomorrow for the part. The
antennas are for FM and about one foot long. One on the xmitter and the
other for the AM/FM radio.

 

[W. eWatson]

On 8/18/2014 10:22 PM, mroberds@att.net wrote:

W. eWatson <wolftracks@invalid.com> wrote:
I found this Youtube video for one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KchVzmT4r9Q

That video does not show the interior of that transmitter, but this one
does:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n71jvpeAhSs

One turns a knob inside the device to the left.
Apparently, I inadvertently twisted too far. The little white knob
broke off.

That looks like a variable resistor to me, but it might also be a
variable capacitor. What is written on the circuit board next to it?
If it involves the letter 'R' - for example, R2, VR3, RV1 - it's
probably a variable resistor. If it involves the letter 'C' - for
example, C3, VC1, CV2 - it's probably a variable capacitor.

There may also be a partial part number on the body of the device, that
will help you find a replacement.

If the "local electronics store" is Radio Shack, it is probably futile
to try to buy a replacement part there. If you have a better store,
you may get lucky. You may have better luck looking online at a place
like Mouser or Digi-Key (if you are in the US.)

Typically, these devices only have roughly 3/4 of a turn of rotation on
the knob. A few may only have 1/4 turn.

The reason why its range wasn't much in the first place was to avoid
violating FCC regulations on the maximum power output of this kind of
transmitter.

Matt Roberds

There's not much marked in the area around the cube. I see:

UR2

LF
Sn-Ag-Cu
That doesn't look useful.

Off to the left an inch or two is:
FSJU02
KB T=1.2MM

We only have a RS store here in our small town in No. CA. Yes, likely
futile there.

The little red LED on the front no longer works. It usually indicates
how much the volume is when turning the volume control wheel. That
indicates to me the unit is likely to be useless now. Goodbye $60!

Maybe someone else sells such xmitters? Perhaps Digi-Key?

 

[Jasen Betts]

On 2014-08-19, W. eWatson <wolftracks@invalid.com> wrote:

The reason why its range wasn't much in the first place was to avoid
violating FCC regulations on the maximum power output of this kind of
transmitter.

Matt Roberds


There's not much marked in the area around the cube. I see:

UR2

LF
Sn-Ag-Cu
That doesn't look useful.

VR2 suggests a variable resistor

--
umop apisdn


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[W. eWatson]

On 8/19/2014 12:44 PM, Jasen Betts wrote:

On 2014-08-19, W. eWatson <wolftracks@invalid.com> wrote:

The reason why its range wasn't much in the first place was to avoid
violating FCC regulations on the maximum power output of this kind of
transmitter.
That's true.

Matt Roberds


There's not much marked in the area around the cube. I see:

UR2

LF
Sn-Ag-Cu
That doesn't look useful.

VR2 suggests a variable resistor

UR or VR?

 

[amdx]

On 8/18/2014 6:59 PM, W. eWatson wrote:

I bought a C. Crane xmitter 2 and found that it's signal range was short
distance wise of the xmitter 2 in my den to the radio in my bedroom. C.
Crane suggested as a hobbyist that I could find help on the web that
could help increase the range.

I found this Youtube video for one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KchVzmT4r9Q> Basically, it's real
simple. Open up the case from three screws. One turns a knob inside the
device to the left. Apparently, I inadvertently twisted too far. The
little white knob broke off. Left behind on the circuit card is blue
cube that held the knob. Looking at the top shows a circular shinny part
about 4 mm in diameter. A picture of the area can be seen in the video
about 10 seconds from the end.

The red on the front no longer lights up, and there's no indication that
a signal reaches the radio in the den.

Any way to correct my problem?

I have one very similar to this,

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003FO4UHW/ref=pe_226320_27148740_pe_vfe_dt1

I have had it 2-1/2 years, I run it on low power with 6db of
attenuation. You can raise the power from low 0.1 watt to high 0.5
watt. The price has dropped a lot since I bought it.
I recommend it.
Mikek


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[Michael A. Terrell]

"W. eWatson" wrote:

On 8/18/2014 10:22 PM, mroberds@att.net wrote:
W. eWatson <wolftracks@invalid.com> wrote:
I found this Youtube video for one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KchVzmT4r9Q

That video does not show the interior of that transmitter, but this one
does:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n71jvpeAhSs

One turns a knob inside the device to the left.
Apparently, I inadvertently twisted too far. The little white knob
broke off.

That looks like a variable resistor to me, but it might also be a
variable capacitor. What is written on the circuit board next to it?
If it involves the letter 'R' - for example, R2, VR3, RV1 - it's
probably a variable resistor. If it involves the letter 'C' - for
example, C3, VC1, CV2 - it's probably a variable capacitor.

There may also be a partial part number on the body of the device, that
will help you find a replacement.

If the "local electronics store" is Radio Shack, it is probably futile
to try to buy a replacement part there. If you have a better store,
you may get lucky. You may have better luck looking online at a place
like Mouser or Digi-Key (if you are in the US.)

Typically, these devices only have roughly 3/4 of a turn of rotation on
the knob. A few may only have 1/4 turn.

The reason why its range wasn't much in the first place was to avoid
violating FCC regulations on the maximum power output of this kind of
transmitter.

Matt Roberds

There's not much marked in the area around the cube. I see:

UR2

LF
Sn-Ag-Cu
That doesn't look useful.

Off to the left an inch or two is:
FSJU02
KB T=1.2MM

We only have a RS store here in our small town in No. CA. Yes, likely
futile there.

The little red LED on the front no longer works. It usually indicates
how much the volume is when turning the volume control wheel. That
indicates to me the unit is likely to be useless now. Goodbye $60!

Maybe someone else sells such xmitters? Perhaps Digi-Key?

Were there markings on the part that broke off?


--
Anyone wanting to run for any political office in the US should have to
have a DD214, and a honorable discharge.