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Technical Support Page
Below are a few options for you to select but before you do, please give us a call at (888) 674-6226 (we are open M-F 8-5pm EST) and we can walk you through a few steps to pinpoint the problem. Most problems can be resolved in about 5 minutes. Why spend time trying to solve a problem when we probably already know the answer and can save you time and effort.
If you are more of the hands on type, here are some options for you. Read the "Basic Step-By-Step Guide To Solving Technical Problems."
This is the best way to try and solve a problem you may be facing. First you eliminate as many potential issues as possible and then add each piece one at a time to determine where the issue lies.
Step-By-Step Technical Help Walk Through Guide
For Frequently Asked Questions, Go Here
For Warranty Information, Go Here
For 100% Satisfaction Guarantee Information, Go Here
To Achieve The Best Performance From Your FM Transmitter, Go Here
Some Tips Organized By Your Audio Source
Some Tips Organized By The Type Of Problem You're Running Into
Basic Step-By-Step Guide To Solving Technical Problems
This is the best way to try and solve a problem. First you eliminate as many potential issues as possible and then add each piece one at a time to determine where the issue lies.
Please follow each step carefully and if at anytime you have a question or something isn't clear please give us a call at (888) 674-6226 (we are open M-F 8-5pm EST).
- Step 1: Unplug your audio source from the FM Transmitter
- Step 2: Power the FM Transmitter via NEW Batteries
- Step 3: Make sure the FM Transmitter and FM Radio are BOTH on the same frequency
- Step 4: Have the FM Transmitter and FM Radio close to each other with nothing in the way (within 5 feet is best)
- Step 5: Turn on the FM Transmitter (the little button on top of the unit)
- Step 6: Once the FM Transmitter is on your FM radio should go silent. (i.e. it will go from static to dead, with maybe some small natural background noise)
After following these steps:
FM Radio DOES Go Silent
If the FM radio DOES go silent then we know the FM Transmitter is working correctly and the FM radio is picking up the signal so all you need to do is start adding the other pieces one-by-one to figure out what the problem is:
- First, plug in your audio source (while still being powered by batteries) and start playing.
- If you DO NOT HEAR you audio source at all (i.e. the FM Radio is still silent) it could be:
- Is the audio cable firmly attached to the Whole House FM Transmitter and your audio source?
- Is the volume turned up on your audio source? We suggest you start with a medium level of volume
- Is the volume turned up on your FM Radio?
- If you are using the RCA jack adapter make sure the volume is not all the way down on the RCA adapter itself
- If you are using it for a TV, DVD or VCR make sure you are using the audio OUT not the audio IN ports
- Make sure you are using the analog audio out ports not the digital audio out ports
- Make sure your audio device is working properly
- Make sure your audio device isn't paused or stopped
- If you DO HEAR your audio source but it still has some noise then it could be:
- If you hear the noise ONLY when the audio is playing (i.e. if you pause the audio device the static goes away). Then you probably have a case of over modulation and all you need to do is turn down the audio source until the noise goes away or you can adjust the volume on the fm transmitter itself.
- The audio source isn't loud enough. If you have to turn the FM Radio too high to hear the audio you will start to get natural background noise. Just turn up the volume to be loud enough but not over modulate the audio.
- Try another audio source to make sure that is not the problem for some reason. We suggest you use an audio device with a strong volume source, like your computer, is the best way to test it.
- For Satellite Radio users, you need to make sure the internal FM Transmitter is off
- It could be too close to another device that produces electrical noise or its own radio frequencies (RF signal), like if it's too close to your computer for example.
Please don't hesitate to give us a call at (888) 674-6226 (we are open M-F 8-5pm EST) and we will be happy to assist you. Why spend time trying to solve a problem when we probably already know the answer and can save you time and effort.
FM Radio DOES NOT Go Silent
If the FM Radio DOES NOT go silent for you even after following steps 1 through 6 and double checking each step. Just give us a call at (888) 674-6226 (we are open M-F 8-5pm EST) and let us help you.
If you still want to try and solve it yourself, here are some
of the more frequent issues that are the cause:
- Double check steps 1 through 6.
Especially making sure the FM Radio and FM Transmitter are on the same frequency.
- Try another FM radio to make sure that is not the problem. Some FM Radios don't pick the signal up very well. For example a Bose radio, they have great speakers but horrible FM Radios (i.e. FM tuners).
- Your environment, for example, you may have too much electrical interference going on. Usually only an issue for heavy industrial type settings.
- Make sure the antenna is fully extended. If you don't fully extend the antenna then don't expect good reception, sorry but is a basic requirement for any good FM Transmission.
- This includes removing the antenna out of its plastic wrap, completely unwinding it and then elevating it to as high as possible.
- A bad FM Transmitter, it's rare but does happen. Just give us a call to replace it for you
Again, please don't hesitate to give us a call at (888) 674-6226 (we are open M-F 8-5pm EST) and we will be happy to assist you. Why spend time trying to solve a problem when we probably already know the answer and can save you time and effort.
Some Tips Organized By Your Audio Source
- Computers
- Don't have the FM Transmitter sitting directly on the computer. Computers produce their own radio frequencies (RF signals) that will interfere with the FM Transmitter
- Make sure you don't over modulate the audio. Since computers have a strong audio power source you can easily over modulate it by turning the volume too loud and make it sound distorted or like static
- Remember the USB Power Adapter is for power only. You will need to feed the audio to the FM Transmitter via the computer's sound card.
- We did it this way so you wouldn't need to install any software or have compatibility issues regardless of PC or Mac
- If you want to have the audio go to the FM Transmitter and the computer's speakers you will need to use a "Y" cable. They can be purchased at any many stores like Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Circuit City, CompUSA, etc.
- Remember ANY audio you send through the computer while the FM Transmitter is on will be broadcasted. For example if you use a VoIP service like Skype your conversation will be broadcasted.
- Satellite Radios
- Make sure the internal FM Transmitter is turned off. Otherwise it will conflict with our FM Transmitter
- Remember our FM Transmitter doesn't pick up the satellite signal directly it pulls it from your Satellite Radio and then broadcasts it.
- In other words you still need a satellite radio receiver and it must still be getting a signal
- The exception to that rule is if you get your satellite radio off XM or Sirius's website. Then it would be just like any other audio source via your computer and you wouldn't need a receiver.
- TV, DVD & VCR Players
- 99.9% of the time you will need to us the RCA Jack Adapter with Volume Control so be sure the volume control is not turned all the way down
- Make sure you are pulling the audio from the audio "OUT" not the audio "IN" RCA jacks on the TV, DVD or VCR Player.
- For HD TV's and other digital audio devices, make sure you use the analog audio out not the digital audio out ports
- iPod & MP3 Players
- Make sure to have your audio source turned up high enough so you don't need to turn the FM Radio up too loud and start to pickup natural background noise.
Some Tips Organized By The Type Of Problem You're Running Into
- I Only Hear Silence On My FM Radio And No Noise Or My Audio Source
- If you hear silence that means we know the FM Transmitter is working correctly and the FM radio is picking up the signal so it is usually the audio source that's the problem, for example:
- The audio cable is not connected properly to the audio source or FM Transmitter
- You don't have any sound going through it (i.e. its stopped or paused)
- You have the volume turn all the way down on the audio source so no sound is going into the FM Transmitter
- You are using the USB power adapter and thinking it will also pull the audio. This is not the case, you will need to pull the audio from the computer's sound card
- We did it this way so you wouldn't need to install any software or have compatibility issues regardless of PC or Mac
- I Hear Noise WITH My Audio Source
- If you ONLY hear the noise when the audio is playing (i.e. if you pause the audio the static goes away). Then you probably have a case of over modulation and all you need to do is turn down the audio source until the noise goes away.
- For those using the RCA Jack Audio Adapter just use the volume control on the adapter to regulate the audio level
- The audio source isn't loud enough. If you have to turn the FM Radio too high to hear the audio you will start to get natural background noise. Just turn up the volume to be loud enough but not over modulate the audio.
- Try another audio source to make sure that is not the problem for some reason. Using audio device with a strong volume source, like your computer, is the best way to test it.
- I Hear ONLY Noise On My FM Radio And Nothing From My Audio Source
- Try another FM radio to make sure that is not the problem. Some FM radio doesn't pick the signal up very well. For example a Bose radio, they have great speakers but horrible FM radios (i.e. FM tuners).
- Your environment, you may have too much electrical interference going on. Usually only an issue for heavy industrial type settings.
- Make sure the antenna is fully extended. If you don't fully extend the antenna then don't expect good reception, sorry but is a basic requirement for any good FM Transmission.
- A bad FM Transmitter, it's rare but does happen. Just give us a call to replace it for you
- Double check steps 1 through 6 (especially making sure the FM Radio and FM Transmitter are on the same frequency) or just give us a call at (888) 674-6226 (we are open M-F 8-5pm EST) and let us help you.
- I Hear Noise ONLY WHILE The Audio Source Is Playing
- If you ONLY hear the noise when the audio is playing (i.e. if you pause the audio the static goes away). Then you probably have a case of over modulation and all you need to do is turn down the audio source until the noise goes away.
- For those using the RCA Jack Audio Adapter just use the volume control on the adapter to regulate the audio level
- I'm Not Getting Enough Distance That I Wanted/ How Do I Achieve The Best Performance From My FM Transmitter?
- Make sure the antenna is fully extended. If you don't fully extend the antenna you won't get the full range
- Make sure the antenna is as high up as possible to achieve maximize transmission. We suggest you place the FM Transmitter in a top floor center room.
- Don't place the FM Transmitter in the basement. The ground will absorb most of the FM signal and reduce your distance.
- Sometimes low quality FM Radios or analog receivers are mistaken for poor transmission distance
- Test the transmission by listening from a car radio with a digital tuner
- Some owners extend the antenna to a total of 110 inches by soldering or twisting extra wire (around 24 gauge) to the end of the current antenna. Doing so will make it an approximate full wave antenna which will give you more distance.
- Make sure the audio device is playing into the FM Transmitter as loud as possible without over modulating it.
- Try another FM Frequency to make sure its not being caused by another radio station or some other FM Transmitter broadcasting on the same or too close of a signal
- Building materials, terrain. environment and other electrical devices have an affect the FM Transmitter's distance. We suggest you move the FM Transmitter to another room or location and try it there.
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