I've been using the RadioPopper system for about a year and a half. I've got a PX transmitter on top of an St-E2 and have it sending out signals to three JrX triggers. Everything is fired in full manual mode for simplicity and to save on the flash life of my 580exIIs by using Lumopro 160s in their stead.
Recently I've started having issues with the system first doing a phantom triggering, where it will pop off the flash for no reason. That is usually followed by the entire system not syncing. The flash will fire, but no where near when the shutter release is fired. And I'm not talking about pushing sync speeds, I'm talking about 1/100th not catching the flash.
If I turn the entire system off and curse and swear for about five to ten minutes everything seems to come back around, but for the life of me I can't figure out what the cause is. I was hoping someone else has had similar problems and possibly has a solution. I'm considering picking up another PX transmitter, but I don't know that I want to keep investing in this system considering how chintzy the build quality is on all of their stuff.
You'd think, wouldn't you. But no. I can swap out all of the batteries in everything save for the camera. Things flash, they just don't sync. It's bizarre.
Do you have another camera? Wondering if the camera flaked out.
Also try the PC sync port on the body if you have one.
With other transmitters like the Cactus, when the batteries on the TX get low, you start losing sync speed. I haven't had that issue w/ my JrX yet...when it's out of batteries, it just doesn't trigger...
After another shoot today, I've narrowed it down to the JrX receivers. I had the St-E2 and the PX transmitter off, yet the flashes still popped. I know the next question is, "the Lumopros?" but they do the same thing in the studio firing our Einstein and ABs. When I'm in the studio and everything goes crazy I just switch over to the sync chord which works fine, so I don't think it's the camera.
My only other theory is that it might be the rechargeable batteries that I use in the JrX. But you'd think that if the output was too low they just wouldn't fire, rather than randomly popping. Oh, and it's not one bad trigger, I swapped out the one that was giving me issues with a fresh one and it did the same thing. Channels maybe? Is the RP frequency too close to some other band on certain channels?
Do Wizards just work? I'm thinking about switching over at this point.
I would call or email Radiopopper with your problem. I had a PX transmitter that stopped working and they had a new one to me in 3 days. I use both the PX and JrX with AB's, WL's and Nikon flash. I have not had any problem since then.
Not sure I'd say the PW has fewer problems than the JrX system from what I've read, but they have a bigger customer base so there are probably more people w/ problems. They also have their share of "this system is flaky and I'd never use it again" folks :P
Can you try regular batteries on the JrX and switch channels? Did you turn off error correction on the dip switches? That supposedly gives you a bit more sync speed, but it'll also be more subject to noise...
On today's shoot I'll figure out the ridiculous dip switch system and try out different channels. After that I'll move to alkaline batteries and see if they have any impact.
I did send RP a message over the weekend and they are usually pretty good about getting back to me. In fact, they are replacing the JrX transmitter for me because that was shipped pretty much worthless since it doesn't make proper contact with the hotshoe.
Between transmitters that don't sit right, battery doors that break, casings that pop open, and everything else, I'm wondering if maybe the issue is just poor build quality with their initial offering.
DNoceti wrote:
, I'm wondering if maybe the issue is just poor build quality with their initial offering.
I doubt it. There are a lot of happy photographers using their system. Sh!t happens.
I'm a PW ControlTL system user and I've had issues like others, but I've rolled with the punches and things are working out great....as I'm sure your current system will too once you get past these lil issues .
There are a lot of people complaining about the JrX system, I tried it, wouldn't even fire, they sent me another set and only half would work. Sent them back.
I don't know that I'd characterize the system shutting down for no known reason as a little issue. Over $500 in triggers not working is a pretty big issue in my book. I could have gone with a cactus setup for that kind of reliability.
As for the strobing part of the problem, I've checked over the dip switches and found that when my wife took them to school for her students to use, they changed the settings. Error checking was disabled and according to the manual that could allow for the rogue pops. I'll report back after tonight's shoot. If the error checking fixes the rogue pops then I'll just be left with the odd shut down issue to trouble shoot.
Do you have sync speeds back after turning on Error Correction?
I thought you had turned them off to get more sync speed, but someone else fiddling w/ it makes more sense
I'm actually more puzzled by the weird sync speeds than the random firing...definitely switch channels and batteries...before the next real shoot...
I was thinking that since the two issues appeared around the same time that they were related. I always start each shoot with a freshly charged set of batteries in everything. I might have to pick up a set of disposables to have on hand for the next occurrence just so that I can rule that out. I'm definitely more concerned about the syncing too.
DNoceti wrote:
I don't know that I'd characterize the system shutting down for no known reason as a little issue. Over $500 in triggers not working is a pretty big issue in my book. I could have gone with a cactus setup for that kind of reliability.
....
but you had great success before something happened...
DNoceti wrote:
I've been using the RadioPopper system for about a year and a half. I've got a PX transmitter on top of an St-E2 and have it sending out signals to three JrX triggers. Everything is fired in full manual mode for simplicity and to save on the flash life of my 580exIIs by using Lumopro 160s in their stead.
Recently I've started having issues....
So again, a lil issue that will be resolved I'm sure once RP gets in touch with you.
cordellwillis wrote:
but you had great success before something happened...
I wouldn't necessarily call the use of the RadioPopper system a great success. A great success would be being able to use my JrX transmitter when the PX transmitter goes goofy, alas, that never worked right from the beginning. A great success would also include the use of more of the extended features that the RP system has. Unfortunately, the ridiculous two button, 1980's digital clock readout, menu system has kept me far away from playing with anything.
On a happier note, I am happy to report that this evening's shoot experienced no stray pops. Now all I have to do is run all three triggers at the same time and see if the error correction solves the strange syncing problem. That was another thing that I think I forgot to mention. The odd syncing issue seems to occur when there are two or more receivers go at the same time.
I have had a similar problem, one time I just replaced the batteries and that fixed it. 2 other times they just would not work. Then it dawned on me that it kept happening at the same areas.
I places I was shooting at was near an air force reserve base that has a lot of commercial flights. One day a plane passed over head, I dunno a few thousand feet I would guess and the units were going beserk. There have been some areas were they always work without a hitch, very frustrating.
Thought I'd post an update. Phantom strobing seems to have been caused by the error correction toggles being switched off. Since switching them back on I've had no further issues with that. RP replaced the shoe on the JrX transmitter to the new shoe at no cost (save for shipping) and that now works.
While those are all good things, the PX system totally missing the sync has gotten worse. Its now shutting down part way into each shoot. It's as though the amount of time the PX transmitter is on has something to do with it being unable to sync and that time is growing shorter and shorter with each passing day. It's like something is heating up too much and needs to cool down before the system will work again. What used to be a random occurrence has now shortened to maybe a half an hour into the shoot. I'm sending it in to be tested and repaired (outside of warranty period).
I have a new PX transmitter set to arrive this week. I figured that RP has done a good job addressing the other problems that I'd give them the benefit of the doubt. Not only that, but a new transmitter not working will prove that it's some other part of my setup. If it works fine, then it will point the finger at my old transmitter as the culprit. I'll update as there are more developments.
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