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Archive 2010 · OA: JrX Cube and Cables

  
 
skwake
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p.1 #1OA: JrX Cube and Cables
THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR KEEPING THIS POST ACTIVE FOR SO LONG. I'VE DECIDED TO START SELLING THESE ON THE BIG AUCTION SITE. SO PLEASE BUY FROM THERE USING THESE LINKS.

CUBES

CABLES

If the links don't work just go to eBay and search for jrx cube.

These allow the Radiopopper JrX STUDIO receivers (not the basic receivers) to work with Nikon TTL compatible strobes. So now you can have radio remote control of strobe output. This is not CLS/i-TTL, but works great if you want to use up to three groups of strobes and experiment with different outputs while controlling them all from your camera-mounted RP JrX or PX transmitter.

The cube works with Nikon SB24, 26, 28, 28DX, 80DX, 600 and 800. Should work with other TTL strobes too, but these seem to be the most popular. Not the SB-900 because it does not have the old TTL quench circuit built-in.

The cable works with the same strobes, but not the SB-600 because it does not have a TTL plug (but TTL will work through the base, so the cube works).

AND THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THIS THREAD.

Edited on Mar 08, 2010 at 08:37 PM · View previous versions
Jan 09, 2010 at 08:42 PM
ishootsports3
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p.1 #2OA: JrX Cube and Cables
pm sent
Jan 09, 2010 at 09:44 PM
s14brent
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p.1 #3OA: JrX Cube and Cables
Vouch for the seller and cables! I picked some up from him in the original post and they work flawlessly.
Jan 09, 2010 at 11:39 PM
04749s
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p.1 #4OA: JrX Cube and Cables
Pm sent
Jan 11, 2010 at 11:10 PM
skwake
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p.1 #5OA: JrX Cube and Cables
04749s told me he had a few Nikon strobes and asked me what to get. So I wrote a long reply about what I think the strengths and weaknesses of the RP JrX system are. (I enjoy giving long, thorough answers - ask my kids or former high school science students). So here are the issues I see with the JrX:

First, I need to warn you that the JrX transmitter does not fit well on the D700 or any Nikon DSLR with a pop-up flash. (Picture here, and apparently doesn't fit too well on a D2H either. A D3 user told me he has no problem. https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/822094/0?keyword=jrx#7619166 ). There is a button antenna on the bottom that rubs against the popup. If it bothers you, you could probably raise the transmitter with this: http://www.mpex.com/browse.cfm/4,12111.html It's a simple pass-through without the additional TTL contacts, but that's all that's needed for the JrX transmitter.

Second, the JrX fits with a trial-and-error workflow where you have time to experiment with different outputs before you lock in the settings by disabling the knobs with the flip of a dip switch.
    Good for studio or maybe a series of similar group posed shots, but not good for situations where you have one chance, or at best one chance to shoot a bracketed set.

    If you like to work very precisely with a light meter, you can set up the transmitter to turn off each group at the lowest knob setting, then trigger one group at a time with the transmitter off camera (or mounted on a camera) to get a meter reading. Holding the transmitter and a meter in your subject's position you could literally dial in the output of each group without moving. Or if you are using a PX transmitter you could click in precise outputs.

    Great if you mix different brands of TTL speedlights, or mix with studio lights like AlienBees. But to use the remote adjustable output feature with Canon or other brands of speedlights you'll need to wait for the appropriate RPCube from RadioPopper or make your own from appropriate brand hotshoe accessories. The RP Studio receiver comes with a good assortment of cables and adapters for many studio lights (but no PC sync cable!!).

    I could also see the JrX coming in handy in a situation where your strobe is set up pretty far away, like some sports shooting or PJ situations. Then you could make small adjustments in output from a distance. Range and reliability were excellent with my set. If you are concerned about signal reception you could get a long cable and mount the receiver away from the strobe. You don't need line-of-sight, but what if your strobe had to be inside of a metal box?

Third, the knobs on the JrX do not have detents. So if you want repeatability you'll need to mark them to match the outputs on your strobes. The knobs are pretty tiny, so you may need to experiment to find a marking system that works for you. RadioPopper does not explicitly claim that fractional EV adjustments are possible with the dials. One person on another forum told me he has measured fractional changes with his light meter. I suppose that with enough practice and good markings, one could get comfortable with adjusting them in more hectic situations. If you have a PX transmitter, RadioPopper claims the JrX STUDIO receivers can be controlled to fire in 32 distinct EV increments (see the compatability guide now linked in the top post).

I finally decided Nikon i-TTL/CLS was what I needed, so I returned my JrX's, traded my SB-26's for a SB-800, and bought a new SB-900. I'm sure there will be times I miss the range and flexibility of wireless radio triggers, and the straightforward set-up and operation of the JrX Studio system. But I don't shoot in a studio, and for at least 90% of the shooting situations where I need flash, CLS is better, and I can make do with CLS for the other 10%. And besides, I prefer natural light whenever possible. But that's just me.

So if the JrX fits your shooting style, or if radio triggers are essential for you, I think they are great (except the transmitter fit problem on some Nikons - which they really need to address in their next production run).

I may have made you more interested or less interested, but hopefully more informed. If you go ahead with the JrX Studio system, whether to get cables or cubes depends partly on whether you already have a means to attach your SB's to light stands (if not, you might as well get cubes), and whether you think you'll need to move the receiver away from the strobe for better reception (in which case a cable might be better, and you could contact me about longer cables). And remember the SB600 will only work with a cube since it has no plug for a TTL cable.


Edited on Feb 20, 2010 at 09:22 AM · View previous versions
Jan 12, 2010 at 01:11 AM
Troy Carter
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p.1 #6OA: JrX Cube and Cables
tag for feedback
Jan 25, 2010 at 08:29 PM
kingdesmond
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p.1 #7OA: JrX Cube and Cables
I was looking at your pictures, and your cables look very nicely made!
Feb 08, 2010 at 11:47 AM
3catsinky
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p.1 #8OA: JrX Cube and Cables
how many of those short right hand pc sync cables do you have? I need 2.
Feb 08, 2010 at 12:10 PM
skwake
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p.1 #9OA: JrX Cube and Cables
Replied to 3catsinky via PM.

kingdesmond: Yes, thank you. They are very well made. Also notice the Cube has the cable coming out of the left side, so it will plug neatly into a JrX Studio velcroed to the left side of the strobe.

Folks, please use PM to contact me as I check my email a lot more frequently than this thread. Thanks.
Feb 08, 2010 at 05:13 PM
Kevin Foley
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p.1 #10OA: JrX Cube and Cables
I can vouch for the quality of this product and seller. Steve quickly sent 2 cubes and a PC sync cable and they are all well built and work flawlessly to trigger and control my SB-28's.
Feb 17, 2010 at 11:12 AM
skwake
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p.1 #11OA: JrX Cube and Cables
Thanks, vtotter.

And for everyone's info, his setup is a Canon camera with hotshoe mounted 580ex. The PC sync cable goes from the 580ex to the Jrx transmitter. The transmitter triggers the JrX Studio receivers attached to his SB-28s via the Cubes. Which goes to show that anyone can use the JrX Studio system with Nikon strobes! You just need a PC sync trigger signal, which can come from the camera, a hotshoe adapter, or a strobe.
Feb 18, 2010 at 08:38 PM
teamtybo
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p.1 #12OA: JrX Cube and Cables
Just received my cubes last week and tested them yesterday. Works great! FYI, I have the Radiopopper JrX Transmitter with JrX Studio receivers. The cubes were attached to 2x Nikon SB-600's. The transmitter was mounted on my Nikon D700. It made off-camera flash a breeze!

Wanted to add that the seller responded really quickly and sent out the cubes the next day. I received them a couple days later.
Feb 21, 2010 at 03:26 PM
Bobby Yarner
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p.1 #13OA: JrX Cube and Cables
Tag; these cubes rock. Very well made and they work as advertised.
Mar 04, 2010 at 11:25 PM
04749s
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p.1 #14OA: JrX Cube and Cables
Bobby Yarner wrote:
Tag; these cubes rock. Very well made and they work as advertised.


What Bobby says !!

Thanks for a great product !
Apr 02, 2010 at 10:29 AM
Troy Carter
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p.1 #15OA: JrX Cube and Cables
OK, I bought a set of cables a long while back and just started using them last week for this season, hence the delay in posting.

These cable are very nice, well built and work as advertised.

Thanks,
Apr 05, 2010 at 02:34 PM
skwake
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p.1 #16OA: JrX Cube and Cables
Thanks for the feedback. And I'm still selling the cubes and cables on eBay. Just search for jrx cube
Apr 05, 2010 at 03:45 PM
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