I need some cables to connect my PWs to my flashes. Does RS sell this kind of cable?

If you need mini-to-mini or to 1/4" phono, then yes. If you need mini-to-PC sync, then no.

I need the former. Thanks Simon

My understanding is that you are supposed to buy "mono" cables, not "stereo"?

Not sure about that, it is what I heard once upon a time. Can anyone confirm or refute?

Thanks!

Michael

You'll be all set, then. Just make sure you get mono cables - stereo cables often leave the conductive rings mis-aligned, so the cables either won't fire reliably or won't fire at all. The stereo cables are more common, but Radio Shack definitely carries the mono ones.

EDIT: Mike beat me to it! Yup, you always want mono for sync cables, regardless of the termination type.

RatShack has them but not all stores carry them. They also may only come in 6' lengths:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2102950

FWIW - I just bought the PW mini-mini cable when purchasing the PW. It was more expensive but more convenient to have it in same package that go hunting for one. It is a foot long, the perfect length, with high quality phone plugs.

Chuck

I have a couple of the PW ones. But if there is one piece of equipment that will fail on you, odds are it is that cable. Buy 5, and shove them in your bag to have and to hold ...

Thanks Simon on the mono!

M.

The best, most reliable source for sync cords I've found is www.flashzebra.com

mmurph wrote:
I have a couple of the PW ones. But if there is one piece of equipment that will fail on you, odds are it is that cable. Buy 5, and shove them in your bag to have and to hold ...

Thanks Simon on the mono!

M.

i have a few Paramount hotshoe to mini cables. sometimes they dont work all the time and i just go in my bag and switch to my backup cable and all is fine.

www.monoprice.com for mono or stereo cables....you could get several for the price of one at RS

dkollander wrote:
www.monoprice.com for mono or stereo cables....you could get several for the price of one at RS

WOW they have killer deals on cables...I was looking for some long stereo cables to sync up some old WL's together. RS has a 6' shielded cable for $12, that site has a 35' gold plated cable for $14.

They do not carry mono cables with mini and submini connectors

I was unaware of the need for Mono Cables, this explains some of my latest technical problems with me recent cable purchase form radioshack.

Damn thing would fire for every other shot consistently and I couldn't figure out why.

Well Brent, I am glad I started this thread. RS has them cheap, (less than 4 bucks) but they are several feet long. You probably already know this.

I buy RS mono to mono cord and cut it to the length I want and solder a mono pug to the cut end ... two cords for the price of one ... almost but the plugs are inexpensive too.

Do you buy the plugs there also?

Stereo cables work fine for me, I made all the cables with 3.5mm plug myself.

I just buy the 6ft mono to mono 1/8th inch cable that radio shack sells, along with a couple packs of 1/8th inch ends, cut the six footer into six 1 footers, and solder on my own 1/8th inch connectors to make 6 cables out of one. Cheap, easy, and I can make a crap load of backups.

I love the six footers that RS sells. Buy a splitter and you can fire two strobes with one PW and still get the lights plenty far apart. I do it all the time on outdoor shoots where I use 4-6 lights and only half as many PWs.

John Power wrote:
Do you buy the plugs there also?


yep ... not all the stores keep the mono plugs in stock, but they can get them for you pretty quickly.