CCRANE FM2 Digital Full Spectrum FM Transmitter Instruction Manual

: June 5, 2024
: ccrane

Table of Contents

CCRANE FM2 Digital Full Spectrum FM Transmitter
Introduction
- AUDIO SOURCES
Safety Instructions / Unpacking
CONTROL IDENTIFICATION
BATTERY INSTALLATION
Troubleshooting Guide
Specifications
References
Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
Download This Manual (PDF format)

CCRANE FM2 Digital Full Spectrum FM Transmitter

Introduction

Thank you for purchasing the FM Transmitter 3. It transmits high-fidelity audio from any audio source such as a mobile phone, computer, television, or music player to any nearby FM radio. Superior engineering and construction techniques were used to bring you the highest quality FM transmitter possible. Digital tuning and Phase Locked Loop technology have been incorporated for FM band frequency coverage from 87.5 MHz to 108 MHz, with stability and superb audio quality.

AUDIO SOURCES

FROM A MUSIC PLAYER TO A RADIO:
Connect the plug that is attached to the FM Transmitter 3 to the Line Out or headphone jack of the MP3 player. Tune your radio or car stereo to the transmitting frequency.

FROM YOUR INTERNET RADIO OR COMPUTER TO YOUR HOME STEREO:
Connect the plug that is attached to the FM Transmitter 3 to the Line Out or headphone jack on your Internet Radio or to the audio output or headphone jack of the computer/speaker. Tune your receiver to the transmitting frequency.
FROM A MOBILE PHONE TO YOUR CAR STEREO:
Connect the plug that is attached to the FM Transmitter 3 to the Line Out or headphone jack of the phone. Tune your car stereo to the transmitting frequency. Some products may require a special adapter (known as a dongle) if it does not include a standard Line Out or headphone jack.

FROM A PORTABLE RADIO TO A POCKET RADIO :
Connect the plug that is attached to the FM Transmitter 3 to the Line Out or headphone jack of your radio. Tune your pocket radio to the transmitting frequency. This is sometimes good for office or warehouse environments where reception is only available in a window or other specific location.

READ BEFORE OPERATING EQUIPMENT. SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS

Read and understand all safety and operating instructions before the FM Transmitter 3 is operated.
Retain Instructions: The safety and operating instructions should be retained for future reference.
Heed Warnings: All warnings on this appliance and all operating instructions should be followed.
Water and Moisture: The FM Transmitter 3 should not be used near water. Do not use near a bathtub, washbowl, laundry tub, kitchen sink, wet basement, swimming pool, etc. Risk of electric shock may result.
Unplug the FM Transmitter 3 from the DC Power Adapter before cleaning. Only use a damp cloth for cleaning the exterior surfaces of the transmitter.
Heat: Never put the FM Transmitter 3 in direct sunlight or behind glass such as a car’s interior. The transmitter should be kept away from heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other appliances that produce heat.
DC Power Adapter: The DC Power Adapter should be positioned so it is not walked on, pinched, or items placed on top of it. All power and other cables should be routed away from walkways or areas of foot traffic to avoid being tripped on. Always unplug the DC Power Adapter by gripping the adapter unit and pulling it out of the wall socket. Never pull on the cord. Always operate the FM Transmitter 3 using the supplied DC Power Adapter. Adapters that are not correctly rated can damage the transmitter. If you are not sure of the correct DC Power Adapter, consult your dealer.
Never insert objects of any kind into the FM Transmitter 3 through openings. The objects may touch dangerous voltage points or short out parts, causing damage to the transmitter.
If the transmitter is stored for long periods of time, unplug it from the wall outlet and remove the batteries. This will prevent damage caused by lightning or power line surges and battery acid from old batteries leaking inside of the transmitter.
Never attempt to service the FM Transmitter 3 yourself. Removing the cover may expose you to dangerous voltage levels and will void the warranty. Refer all servicing to authorized service personnel.
The FM Transmitter 3 should be serviced by qualified service personnel when:
Objects have fallen or liquid has been spilled into the transmitter;
The transmitter has been exposed to rain;
The transmitter does not appear to operate normally or exhibits a marked change in performance; or
The transmitter has been dropped or the enclosure damaged.
If liquid leaks into the transmitter, do not turn it on. The interior of the transmitter must be fully dry or it will be damaged when power is applied.
The user should not attempt to service this transmitter beyond that described in the operating instructions. All other servicing should be referred to qualified service personnel.

Safety Instructions / Unpacking

CAUTION

Before turning the unit on, set your volume control on your audio devices to a low setting.
Slowly increase the sound until you can hear it comfortably and clearly without distortion.
Long-term exposure to loud sounds may cause hearing damage. It is best to avoid high volume levels when using headphones/ earbuds, especially for extended periods.

UNPACKING
The box should contain the FM Transmitter, AC Adapter, patchcord for use with RCA line out, this manual and a warranty card. If anything is missing or damaged, please contact C. Crane immediately. We recommend that you keep the box in the unlikely event that your transmitter needs servicing.

CONTROL IDENTIFICATION

Power Button/Timer
Audio Input Indicator
Input Level Control
Battery Strength Meter
1/8″ (3.5mm) Audio Input Cable
Up/Down Tuning
Frequency Display
DC Input Jack (not shown)
Telescopic Antenna

Connection to Power
The FM Transmitter 3 will operate on the included AC Adapter. It will also operate on two “AA” size Alkaline or NIMH rechargeable batteries (optional). We do not recommend using lithium batteries due to the higher voltage they may produce. Using lithium batteries can cause damage to our products.

BATTERY INSTALLATION

Open the cover by pushing down on the textured tab firmly and pushing the cover off toward the side of the unit, the same direction the textured arrow is pointing.
Insert two “AA” batteries into the compartment as indicated in the drawing (at left). Be sure the negative(-) end is against the spring. Refer to the drawing to ensure correct battery installation. See page 8, #4 for location of Battery Strength Meter.

Tuning
To transmit audio from the FM Transmitter 3, it is best to find a clear FM frequency that is not being broadcast on and is free from interference on your radio receiver.

To find an unused frequency in your area, you can go to www.radio-locator.com, click on “vacant channels” and enter your zip code and state. It will list vacant frequencies as “best”, “next best”, “third best”. You can also use a radio and scan through the entire FM band (using a digital radio will be easiest). Look for the largest gap in between stations. Once you find a gap, select a frequency located somewhere in the middle. Example: If there are no stations broadcasting between 90.1 – 93.5, select 91.5. Preferably there won’t be a station broadcasting on either side of the frequency you have selected.
Now on your FM Transmitter 3, turn the power on. Use the Up or Down Tuning Arrows to select the same frequency as you have set on your radio. Hold the arrows down for faster tuning.
With the FM Transmitter 3 plugged into the source radio, or other audio source, make sure you have adequate volume. The Audio Input Indicator LED will flash green in normal use. If the LED light rapidly flashes red or glows steadily red, it is indicating there is too much volume, causing distortion. Adjust the Input Level Control on the side of the unit or adjust the volume of your audio source until the Audio Input Indicator LED light goes back to flashing green. (See page 8 for location of controls.)

ANTENNA ORIENTATION
Start with the antenna straight up and fully extended. You can then orientate the antenna to help transmit the signal a certain direction.

LOCATION
Optimum placement for the FM Transmitter 3 is usually away from other electronic devices and objects. The higher the transmitter is located the better. The transmitter can be helped by placing it on something that will act as a ground plane like a metal filing cabinet or a refrigerator. Try moving it around for best performance. Range is subject to many variables, including obstructions such as walls and FM signal overload in your area. The range of the FM Transmitter 3 is between 30 and 75 feet, line of sight with no obstructions. Vehicle FM radios may receive further distances than a portable FM radio.

AUTO SHUT-OFF TIMER
The “Auto Shut-Off’ will not work until you activate it. Press and hold the Power Button until the words Auto-OFF appear in the display and the transmitter begins to cycle through the available shut-off times. You can choose from 1, 2, 3, 4 or 8 hour shut-off times. If you miss the time you want, just keep holding the Power Button down and it will start over. To select your time, let go of the button. Turning the power off and back on clears the Auto Shut-Off.

Troubleshooting Guide

AUDIO IS DISTORTED:
Try adjusting the Input Level Control on the side of the FM Transmitter 3 (see page 8, #3). If that doesn’t help, try adjusting the volume of your audio source.

NO AUDIO:

Verify that the power on the FM Transmitter 3, your audio source, and your receiver are turned on.
Try adjusting the Input Level Control on the side of the FM Transmitter 3. If that doesn’t help, try adjusting the volume of your audio source.
Check your cable and make sure it is connected to the right audio source (See page 3).
Check your frequency and make sure you are tuned to the correct frequency.

If none of the above options work, try the FM Transmitter 3 on another device.

CAN I USE THE FM TRANSMITTER 3 AS A REPEATER?
As a matter of fact, yes, you can broadcast from one radio to another radio and then rebroadcast from that radio to another radio. At some point, there is likely to be loss, but it does work. Again, keep in mind it is still line of site. Also, it will require multiple open frequencies, radios and transmitters for this to work.

CAN I USE IT WITH A 12V PLUG (CIGARETTE LIGHTER) IN MY CAR?
Yes, but you will need one that has the ability to stepdown to the correct voltage of 3 to 6 volts.

IS THERE ANY WAY TO IMPROVE THE RANGE?
Yes, here are some things that impact the range:

The number of FM stations in the area.
The quality of the FM receiver and the antenna – car radios actually work quite well as receivers.
The number of walls the signal needs to travel through, every wall presents a challenge to the line of site transmission so the more open the area with the fewer obstructions, the better.
The types of walls for example wood, metal, strucco, etc.

AS A HOBBYIST, YOU CAN ALSO SEARCH GOOGLE ON WAYS TO IMPROVE THE RANGE OF THE “FM TRANSMITTER 3” TO SEE WHAT OTHERS HAVE DONE.
The output power of the FM Transmitter 3 is set to the maximum limit specified by the FCC. Most of our customers achieve 40 – 60 feet depending on their situation. The signal will travel up to 70′ under good conditions. The FM Transmitter 3 will work better in a noise-free environment. In a noisy environment (such as one with lots of FM and computer noise) you can expect less range. We recommend placing the FM Transmitter 3 away from the computer (or any other RF noisy device) when connected. In open environments with minimal radio noise, the range of an FM transmitter can be easily increased by attaching a length of wire to the telescoping whip antenna of the FM transmitter. In our experiment, we attached a 31-inch length of wire to the whip antenna of an FM transmitter using an alligator clip (Any wire will work. Any clip that secures the wire to the transmitter’s antenna will work). We highly recommend our FM Reflect 2 Dipole Antenna.

Specifications

FREQUENCY COVERAGE:
87.5 MHz – 108 MHz. Frequency Response 30 Hz – 15,000 Hz.

AC ADAPTER:
5V 1 00mA; center tip negative; 5.5mm x 2.1 mm, female tip. DC Input Jack 3-6V; center tip negative.

AUDIO INPUT CORD:
1/8″ (315mm) stereo, 5 ft. (extension cords are not recommended).

PATCH CORD:
1/8″ (3.5mm) Female X 2 RCA Male adapter.

BATTERY LIFE:
A fresh set of 2 “AA” alkaline batteries last approx. 120+ hours.

DIMENSIONS:
3″ W x 3.5″ H x 1″ D.

WEIGHT:
5.8 oz. without batteries.

WARRANTY:
1 Year Limited Warranty

NOTE: Specifications are subject to change without notice.

THIS DEVICE COMPLIES WITH PART 15 OF THE FCC RULES. OPERATION IS SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING TWO CONDITIONS:

THIS DEVICE MAY NOT CAUSE HARMFUL INTERFERENCE, AND
THIS DEVICE MUST ACCEPT ANY INTERFERENCE RECEIVED, INCLUDING INTERFERENCE THAT MAY CAUSE UNDESIRED OPERATION.

NOTICE : Any changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment

172 Main Street C.CRFINE Fortuna, CA 95540-1816 Phone: 1-800-522-8863 I Web: ccrane.com