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Mobile Black box quit


MikeA

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I am starting to think I am FM transmitter jinxed.
2 days old and it quit transmitting. I tried all the trouble shooting and nothing.
Has anyone else had a problem? It is the Eclipse 4000.
I am waiting on their support to get back with me.

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Not sure your history with transmitters or the exact symptons here, but I take it this is not your first failure?

If not, and similar failure issues ("just stopped transmitting..") other times, would be taking a good close look at your antenna system...

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I am trying to figure out the purpose of the OPs post. All I got from it is that maybe the OP is jinxed or does not know what they are doing and manage to some how toast a couple or more FM transmitters.

So, what is the purpose of this thread?

IF you really want some help understanding what is going wrong. It really helps if you supply more info. Did the R.F. section stop working or the audio section? Is there any indication that maybe there is R.F. by finding a dead spot (no static) on the receiver? What are you using for an antenna? Are there any lights on the transmitter? You do know that here is a switch on the side of the 4000 that puts the unit in a standby mode (red) and operation (green). So do you have either, red or green?

Or is this just a whaa post and not really wanting any help?

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Max-Paul wrote:

I am trying to figure out the purpose of the OPs post. All I got from it is that maybe the OP is jinxed or does not know what they are doing and manage to some how toast a couple or more FM transmitters.

So, what is the purpose of this thread?

IF you really want some help understanding what is going wrong. It really helps if you supply more info. Did the R.F. section stop working or the audio section? Is there any indication that maybe there is R.F. by finding a dead spot (no static) on the receiver? What are you using for an antenna? Are there any lights on the transmitter? You do know that here is a switch on the side of the 4000 that puts the unit in a standby mode (red) and operation (green). So do you have either, red or green?

Or is this just a whaa post and not really wanting any help?
Has anyone else had a problem? It is the Eclipse 4000.

I read this to say, he's wanting assistance, and waiting for their tech support to respond, and, any helpful hints are likely appreciated.

I also get the sense he may not be able to tell you what has gone wrong, i.e., not tech savvy.

Of course, that is just the way I read it, I don't own an Eclipse 4000, and I've never met Mike personally.

My sense is, he could use some guidance from those familiar with the unit. Your questions are likely a good start as long as he knows it won't be a smack down..
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Mike Arnott wrote:

I am starting to think I am FM transmitter jinxed.
2 days old and it quit transmitting. I tried all the trouble shooting and nothing.
Has anyone else had a problem? It is the Eclipse 4000.
I am waiting on their support to get back with me.


If this is not your 1st failure, then I fully suspect either an antenna mis-match or bad coaxial cable if you are using any. Even a 1/2 watt transmitter will fry it's own final if too much power is reflected back to the unit.

Good luck with tech support.

--Mike
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I am using a Mobile black box with the antenna that came with it. All lights are on and just static coming out.
The question asked was "Has anyone else had a problem?"
With Mobile black box should be implied.
More of a , if you have had a problem, how did you resolve and how did you find their customer service. It is getting close to crunch time.

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I have been fortunate so far and have not had to use their service dept. so do not know how good that is. Ok, I suspose that this means you are either using a rubber ducky or the telescoping antenna. Personally I have the telescoping antenna. As long as you do not use any kind of wire to hold the antenna up, there will be no detuneing of the antenna.

You mention that you receive static only. Does the stereo indicator come on when the receiver is at the same frequency as the one displayed on the transmitter? If so, then I would have to wonder about the audio signal that you are feeding the transmitter.

Sorry that you are having so much trouble with this box. Like I said I also own one of the 4000 and had a great year last year. I suppose I should do a test run so that it is not a last minute discovery that mine has gone belly up.

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Mike Arnott wrote:

I am using a Mobile black box with the antenna that came with it. All lights are on and just static coming out.
The question asked was "Has anyone else had a problem?"
With Mobile black box should be implied.
More of a , if you have had a problem, how did you resolve and how did you find their customer service. It is getting close to crunch time.


I have the MBB 4000 also and was keeping my fingers crossed when I powered it up this year. It is working fine. I remember reading that you can cause a problem with the unit if you fire it up without the antenna being properly connected. Any chance that the switch was on when you plugged it in before the antenna was connected. Also are you using the stock antenna that came with it?

Just an aside, but I called MBB tech support a couple of times with piddling little questions and they were very good about responding back to me. Hope they can fix it for you at this late date. or get you a quick replacement.
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I have a MBB 4000 - no problems. What I can tell you and so will MBB support;

1 - never power up without the antenna connected - it will damage the unit.

2 - there is a built in compressor that stabilizes the volume. If you power on and off you have to wait 10 minutes for the compressor to discharge

I use their 1/4 wave antenna and broadcast obout .4 of a mile.

My guess is you have antenna problems. Let us know what MBB support tells you.

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OK, just found out that Mobile Black Box has excellent customer support. Now I rely on the USPS to get it to me.....gawd help me, huh???

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DonFL wrote:

Do you have a better idea of, or did they give you some insight to, what your problem likely was?

Or did they just offer to swap the unit and not worry about any troubleshooting?


Ditto here. I would like to know what they thought happened. Internal glitch? Or, operat0r error?

Glad to hear you are going to be back in operation soon. Are you lighting up on Thanksgiving night?
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I have the MBB 6000 with a 50 foot extension for the external magnetic base antenna. It is performing very well this year primarily due to the fact it is indoors. Last year the unit quit because it was located outside in an insulated box. After Christmas I brought the unit into the house and used a hair dryer to remove some of the moisture that had accumulated in the case and it then worked as required. These units are sensitive to moisture and Canadian winters can be brutal.

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jim6918 wrote:

DonFL wrote:
Do you have a better idea of, or did they give you some insight to, what your problem likely was?

Or did they just offer to swap the unit and not worry about any troubleshooting?


Ditto here.  I would like to know what they thought happened.  Internal glitch? Or, operat0r error?

Glad to hear you are going to be back in operation soon.  Are you lighting up on Thanksgiving night?

Don't know yet. All I wanted was a replacement shipped so I can run next week. I am using their antenna, nothing aftermarket. I hope it was just a glitch.
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Guest Don Gillespie

Mike Arnott wrote:

jim6918 wrote:
DonFL wrote:
Do you have a better idea of, or did they give you some insight to, what your problem likely was?

Or did they just offer to swap the unit and not worry about any troubleshooting?


Ditto here. I would like to know what they thought happened. Internal glitch? Or, operat0r error?

Glad to hear you are going to be back in operation soon. Are you lighting up on Thanksgiving night?

Don't know yet. All I wanted was a replacement shipped so I can run next week. I am using their antenna, nothing aftermarket. I hope it was just a glitch.

Just hooked up my transmitter for the test run did not work finally figured out what was wrong firstly did not have it plugged in all the way secondly brought power in from another source was using a power bar that controlled my computer, my fax machine, my stereo, and my telephone might have been overlaoded anyways seems to work well now granted I do not have the fancy FM transmitters with antenas but the little works really for me it is a centrios fm transmitter
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