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Lost transmitter Contact.
Posted: Tue 13 Nov 2012 12:46 pm
by calvert249
I have recently encountered a problem with my Maplins/Fine Offset(?) touch screen system. It had been working perfectly up until a few days ago when, suddenly, the base station beeped several times and contact was lost. I have tried replacing batteries to no avail. I have now gone to the expense of replacing BOTH the transmitter AND the base station but still no luck. I cannot for the life of me work out the problem. The transmitter appears to working properly, a non-USB station picked it up without any difficulty, but I can now receive no external readings. Can anybody help, please? I am using Vista Home Premium, for what it is worth, but I suspect that this is not a software problem.
Re: Lost transmitter Contact.
Posted: Tue 13 Nov 2012 1:08 pm
by water01
I think you will find this is a known problem with this unit and there are lots of Topics on it if you do a search on USB.
I believe the only way to fix it is to remove the batteries AND the USB connection (this powers it as well as the batteries), wait for a few minutes, put the batteries back in and wait for it to establish a connection to the external transmitter and then reconnect it to your PC.
Obviously Cumulus has to be closed while you do this as you may get funny reading if you do not.
Re: Lost transmitter Contact.
Posted: Tue 13 Nov 2012 3:01 pm
by calvert249
Many thanks for that, unfortunately I have already gone down that road. I have even taken both receivers outside to the transmitter but with no luck. This reminds me of Marvin (Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy) - "The first three million years are the worst"! I am ex-RAF VR and an instructor in radio and radar and I cannot see what is wrong. That is the real frustration. I will search elsewhere as you suggest.
Re: Lost transmitter Contact.
Posted: Wed 14 Nov 2012 12:34 pm
by Charlie
calvert249 wrote: I have even taken both receivers outside to the transmitter but with no luck. .
You are on the right path. Note the order of bringing things up is important. Put known good batteries in the outside unit first, then the inside unit. Having both units physically close together is good to get them to sync faster, and leave them alone without touching the screen for up to 15 minutes before declaring they won't sync.