shatterkiss wrote:
Wireless control with limited physical controls at the pack? No thanks. Color me in the minority, but I don't want strobe control at the camera location in many situations. It puts potential complexity of ergonomics on a really small device, which is awkward. .

Interesting point.

However, your objection is not to a centralized controller, but to the potential difficulties with such a SMALL controller (such as the vaporware AB Cyber Controller) yes? I definitely agree, and is in fact why I DON'T want studio lights that are like bigger Speedlights. I want more external switches & visual cues. So yes, you make a good point here, though it doesn't change my basic design paradigm.

Maybe the controller could be larger, and on a belt-clip / tripod clip or something. Similar to the Elinchrom wired remote, but perhaps with a few extra buttons (and wireless, of course) :
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/283876-REG/Elinchrom_EL_19340_Remote_Control_for_RX.html

-Or you do as Elinchrom has done with the Skyport: Put limited, essential controls on the transmitter, and the more advanced, less critical ones on the monolights or packs.

J Rabin wrote:
You're going to make yourself crazy with gear specs.

Already there, mate!

Such a system *does* exist.

Bowens explorer 1500 with up to 2 quadx heads per pack...

full wireless control of the pack... not sure about that... but you're going in to the *luxery* realm with that... not having to lower your lights to adjust a setting covers the *want*

Hey, Joe.

That Bowens system is impressive (150 full bursts) and not horribly expensive.

However, it is basically the same as the Elinchrom Ranger series. Really close, but failing in one major concept: The pack is designed for two heads, not dedicated to one. That kinda' blows the whole idea. It makes the price of a 2 or 3-pack system too high, and limits the potential for a good master controller.

As Shatterkiss points out, I'm basically looking for a deluxe version of a Qflash, but what's wrong with that? I think a LOT of event photographers would be very interested in such a system.

It seems what I want doesn't quite exist, but maybe some manufacturer will see this thread & consider it.

If you're wanting what you're looking for, and if it really exists, expect to pay a LOT of money for it. If you think that 2-3 Ranger setups is too expensive, You're not going to find anything cheaper.

Why not start "bottom up" and work through it that way, instead of getting buried in specs?

How many heads do you need? You are going to use your on camera flash for fill?

Whhen I need to, I will use 2 heads up front on 1 pack, plus 2 heads in back on another. Wires, but at least they don't run through the set.

Maybe try it first and see what you can live with? If you are using flash fill, you may only have 1 head up front anyway?