I have a MFR Auto-Spawner setup at my base (Infinity modpack) and it is within the 3x3 chunk area that is chunkloaded by a Chicken Chunks chunkloader.  I turned the lasers on to make absolutely certain, it is indeed entirely within the chunkloaded area, as is all of my power and item infrastructure.
When I log off the SMP server, the Auto-Spawner shuts down, and I know this because when I return, the item drops have not increased.  The amount is exactly the same as when I logged off.
Is this normal behavior, and why is it happening?  Does the MFR Auto-Spawner not work unless a real person is loading the chunks?  Is the Chicken Chunks chunkloader a problem?  It chunkloads my Cursed Earth mob spawner area just fine - I get huge amount of items out of that one, but zero items out of the Auto-Spawner setup.  I have to assume it is the MFR block that is at fault here.  Opinions anyone?  Thanks.