This is the original SwitchBox operating on the 2G cellular network - which is being discontinued in my area. I've used it for years to control the engine heater through my cell phone. T-Mobile supposedly still supports 2G through 2020.

If anyone has use for it, it's yours - for the cost of shipping, or come pick it up from me. You'll need your own SIM card and cellular account, of course.

- Martin

I’ll take it. Let me know what you need for shopping

Yeah. I have two of those. Never used them. Just couldn’t understand the instructions for setup. Still in the boxes.

Martin, what is the small power adapter for? Mine does not have that.

Martin, what is the small power adapter for? Mine does not have that.

Bummer, I have had mine heating 2 planes for the past few winters and never had a problem, the only thing I had to do was run an external antenna outside of the hangar to get a reliable signal.

There's an app for that, Tom - from somebody you know

https://apps.apple.com/app/id568720032

- Martin

Fred,

My understanding is the early models (like mine) had an external power supply; later models had the power supply integrated in the housing.

- Martin

There's an app for that, Tom - from somebody you know

https://apps.apple.com/app/id568720032

- Martin

Thanks for the post Martin, just curious did you replace it with the new model or go a different direction? I need to pull the trigger on something it's already snowing in OMA!

Tom, most of us who own switchboxes have had SOME difficulty with them.

The problem is, some of the difficulties are related to the Switchbox apps, which are notoriously unreliable (at least for Android phones and iPads).

Some of the difficulties can be related to cell coverage and lack of signal strength.

Other difficulties arise from user error. I once plugged my engine preheater into outlet #2, and texted outlet #1 to preheat my plane. Surprise!! Didn’t work. I now have fluorescent surveyors tape wrapped around the outlet #1 cord,

And yet other difficulties arise if the SIM card is allowed to go to a $0 balance (this one apparently requires physically unplugging the switchbox to reset it after money is added to the card).

I’ve suffered through all of the above difficulties. I finally reached the point where I realized that:

1. The absolute MOST RELIABLE way to communicate with the switchbox is via raw text. Hands down.

2. Reception in a hangar is critical. In my hangar, it’s especially critical. So I tend to test my switchbox by texting it while at the airport to ensure that the antenna location allows it to receive a signal. I locate my antenna either on top of my cowl, or on top of the fuselage.

3. Keeping the SIM card charged at least for the preheating season is a “must”

4. A 2G box must be upgraded to 3G.

I’ve reached the point where I don’t waste a lot of time trying to troubleshoot my switchbox. I just email Switchbox, or email or text Phillip.

Phillip usually responds pretty promptly, and gets me sorted. I have to hand it to him for that.

jh

John, thats interesting about having to reset the switch when the account reaches zero. I wonder if that is an older app issue?

When I dont get a confirmation back when turning it on or off, I log into my t-mobile account and re-charge my account, then it starts working again as soon as I get a purchase confirmation.

I did have issues about two years ago of it losing connection and having to reboot, but then something happened and its been smooth sailing ever since. I attributed it to getting a new i-phone and having to re install the app.

Fred:

I had the experience of the switchbox caging after my sim account ran dry, and I later refilled it.

I wasn’t using the app. I gave up on that a long time ago. I was directly texting the switchbox.

I conveyed the issue to Phillip, and he advised that I needed to unplug and re-plug the switchbox.

It worked. It cost me an hour of driving round-trip, which is the biggest aggravation to me about switchbox difficulties. Those drives defeat the purpose of the switchbox.

In the end, even 80% (or whatever) reliability I enjoy from the switchbox has been worth the downsides. And the more I’ve learned about what causes those difficulties and how to prevent them, I’m hopeful that my reliability will tick upward.

jh

Mine never seems to have reception. Its an early one with led plugs

I did this for the coming winter:

viewtopic.php?p=2508999#p2508999

With the SwitchBox, I estimate I had about an 80%-90% success ratio of turning on the heater AND keeping it on until it was time to fly. Occasionally the box hanging and needed to be reset by pulling the power plug. I only ever tried the texting method to turn it on and off; the app I wrote (which is still in the App Store) merely generates those text messages so I don't have to remember the cryptic format.

- Martin