Well, I tried them out again today using the Norman 500b's. I let them dangle and I left the cord unwrapped. I set everything up the way I believe everyone else has beem, but sure enough, one of them started shutting itself off again! I'd get one flash out of it, and then it would turn off. The salt in the wounds is that I'm sitting back home in my office again, and they are functioning perfectly. Why they decide to work flawlessly at home, but inevitably malfunction on assignment is beyond me. This is really starting to become comical at this point.
Unless Elichrom figures out why exactly this kees happening to me, it looks like I have no choice but to buy pocket wizards...at twice the price, and twice the size. Ugh. But at least they'll work. Although seeing how my luck has been thus far...
I really wanted to like the Skyports, but apparently something in my setup just wont allow them to function properly.
Ok, at this point I am 90% sure that it is interference or feedback/juice running back through the household-to-miniphone cable that is causing the receivers to shut off. I can stick the receiver right on top of the flash without the cable connected, hit the flash's test button to fire off a full power flash, and they stay on. But when I connect the two with the cable, put the receiver on top of the flash (or just wrap the cable around the flash really), the receiver will shut off when I hit either the flash or the transmitter's test button. And with the Norman's, which are 400ws, even with the receiver just dangling, it will eventually just shut off. So its got to be the cable, right?
What do you all use to connect your flashes and skyports? Are you all using hotshoe-to miniphone adaptor cables? Bear in mind I use 550ex's which have no pc socket, and normans, which use the household plug connection. Any suggestions as to what kind of cable I should use to connect the Norman's and the skyports if the household-to miniphone cable doesn't seem to work?
I just picked up a Skyport universal set and an extra receiver yesterday at Samy's, and I'm having the same issue you are. They work great with my SB-600, but they turn off if I use them with my Vivitar 283. The issue seems very sporadic - the first night I had them, it seemed that I could use the flash once, by test button or camera or flash's test button, and it would turn the receiver off. I've been experimenting today, and I've had runs of 30 minutes that it worked awesome, then I unplugged and re-plugged the sync cord, and it started turning off at random. Here are the things I think might be causing the issue:
1)Sync voltage - I know my 283 has a sync voltage that can exceed 200v, I've heard varying reports on whether that could be effecting it. Early on in testing it seemed like the rx turned off more often when the flash was fully charged (implying more turning off at higher voltages), but I need to test more.
2)Turn on state - whether the receiver is connected when turned on, and whether the flash is on/off/fully charged when turned on. I need more testing, but I don't think it's this.
3)Sync connection - I definitely have seen behavior changes after unplugging/moving the sync port connection, but I haven't been able to narrow down exactly what changes are causing the effect.
I'm triggering them with a D70 or by hand, and using paramount 1/8" to hotshoe adapters. It happens with both of my receivers, but ONLY with the old Vivitar 283. With my SB-600 they are currently 100%. I am just about ready to write it off as an effect of the high sync voltage and replace the 283, but I thought this info might be useful to you. If I get some free time I'm going to bring them to the store and test with a safe sync, to see if that effects the problem.
Don't take this the wrong way, but I am glad to finally hear that someone else is actually having problems with the skyports! I was starting to go nuts thinking I was the only one!
With that said, what you have described is very similar to what I've been experiencing. With my 550ex, by not wrapping the cord around the flash and not velcroing the receiver to the top of the flash, I seem to have mostly eliminated the problem, although it does still seem to occur. However, I have not used the 550ex's out on assignment since, so I can't be positive if those changes fixed the issue or not.
Concerning the Norman 400b's, the problem is still evident, although like you mentioned, it does occur randomly. Last time I used them, one of them worked flawlessly all night, but the other one started to shut off almost immediately. I moved the receiver to various locations, kept it as far as the cable would allow, and it still happened. I ended giving up on that one and just using the working light. Not ideal, but it got the job done.
In regards to trigger voltage, the normans actually have very low voltage. So low in fact that they won't trigger via an unpowered receiver (like my Wein ProSyncs), which is why I bought the Skyports.
I experimented a bit with turn on order as well. I connected everything in the exact order the manual stated, but even that didn't work.
My original theory was that my issues had to do with the h-plug cables that I was using, but considering you are using the standard miniphone-to-hotshoe cable, it looks like that theory might be out the window as well.
Perhaps there was a bad batch of receivers, but the serial numbers of the two replacements elinchrom sent me were drastically different than the original ones I sent in, so it looks like that theory is void as well.
I was in talks with Elinchrom, as well as Mark Astman personally, but they were all busy with trade shows, so I didn't get to pick their brains as much as I would like. I was told I all of my concerns and finding were forwarded to the engineers, but I have yet to hear any response. I'm sick of calling them.
I believe I am going to return the skyports and and bite the bullet on few Pocket Wizard II's. I'm going to miss the small size and the ability to fire individual or all lights at once... but at least they will fire reliably. I hope!
Definitely keep me posted on what you discover. I'll post more if I discover any new findings as well.
Was trying to use my Universal set with Canon 580EX with no problems, but (SURPRISE!!!): When I connected the receiver to NATIVE D-Lite 200 strobe - it started going off on a flash. (Not always after 1st flash, but randomly after a few flashes, while the lamp was always going to off at the moment of a flash)
I've used 3.5mm<->3.5 mm mono cable ,supplied with Skyports Kit.
I'm very much disappointed. Skyport now performs worse, than ebay trigger, which I lost in Egypt this summer ((
I've just tried connecting it so another D-Lite 200 (Wich is actually identical and was purchaced in a kit with first) and it looks, like it does not go off with it
So... I think - the problem is not in a cable. But I also think 2nd D-Lite is also good and the prob is in Skyport, which depends too much on a devece connected.
There is one more observation:
My receiver is a new version (with a on/off button instead of switch). And it not always turn on after either short or long press. Sometimes it takes 2 or 3 clicks on a button to turn it on.
Anyone has same thing?
(It is not a button problem - because ot goes off always on the 1st click - so I think the button works OK)
I think - it is a problem somewhere deeper in logic of che deveice.
I think, I have to return my kit and get PW's kit. But here in Russia - it is not as easy to get a moneyback, so I'll run more tests before I go to fight.
Wow, its starting to look like I'm not the only one having issues with the Skyports after all. I did finally hear back from the engineers at Elinchom via Mark Astmann. Here is what he had to say in regards to the issues I'm having:
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"Hi Ryan,
I've heard back from the Skyport engineer. He suspects that the problem with the Normans is that these are older units which are producing some kind of EMV (electromagnetic vulnerability) spikes which will effect the Skyport modules. The only solution he recommends is the have a longer SYNC cable and bring the Skyport module further away from the unit and it's main power cable. EMV protection circuits are not built into older flash units and as a result they produce a lot of EMV around the unit and into the main power cables.
He is at a loss for why this is happening to the Canon flash, unless, perhaps the Normans were turned on and in the same area as the Canon flash when you were trying to fire them. Perhaps you can test them one more time with the Norman's turned off completely and see if the same thing occurs."
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I certainly wasn't what I was expecting, but this does seem to make sense, especially considering it seems to happen most with the more powerful and/or older strobes and flashes.
My receivers are also the newer versions with the on/off button. And yes, sometimes it does take several presses or one long press to turn the receiver on. This seems especially true after the flash has shut it off.
Best of luck resolving your issues. I would definitely recommend talking with Elinchrom though. They are very helpful, and if nothing else, alerting them to the issues some of us have had will help improve future versions of the Skyports.
In the meantime, I've also returned the Skyports and have ordered PW's.
Arsenitim wrote: Bdigital2,There is one more observation:
My receiver is a new version (with a on/off button instead of switch). And it not always turn on after either short or long press. Sometimes it takes 2 or 3 clicks on a button to turn it on.
Anyone has same thing?
Arsentium,
Not sure what you are referring to since the Universal receivers have always had a on/off button. Only the transitter has a switch. One touch should be all that is needed to turn it off or on, however you may have to wait a brief moment for the light to cycle. Something you won't notice when you go to turn it off.
actually on the first shipping Universal receiver/transmitter sets, the receivers had the same on/off switch on the side as the transmitter still does. Quite a few people have commented on disliking this change, having discovered it after ordering additional receivers that featured the new button. If you check out the review here http://www.blewbmx.com/reviews.php you'll notice that all of the pictured receivers have the side switch. Did anyone ever find out why elinchrom changed to the button style?
For what its worth, all five of my receivers had the on/button. I've also experienced the the same delay in turning on that Arsenitim has, especially after a receiver has shut off due to the strobe firing.
I've searched thru flickr for people who use Skuports and send a message to all of them asking about how do they turn units on.
I have sent 12 questions.
6 answered so far. Ans all of them report, that universal receiver often takes more, than one press of button to go ON.
Yes - There is a delay, before LED starts blinking, and that's normal. But in many cases - if I just press a button and wait wait wait - it does not go on. Then I click button again.
b.t.w. All 6 people are still very happy with skyports. Also, I was sitting here and firing my 2nd D-Lite and Skyport never went off - so my 1st D-Lite looks different to Skyport
Now I've done with Canon 580EX tests (Flawless!!! ).
I bought a transmitter and 2 receivers back in May and attempted to hook them up to my Vivitar 285s. To cut a long story short, both of my Vivitar 285's blew up when I connected them to my Skyports. I thought they were dud flash units, but now I'm really starting to wonder. I don't want to sacrifice my last remaining 285 to test the theory.
You can also add me to the list of people whose Skyports worked great at home, but refused to fire on important jobs. My new Pocket Wizards on the other hand, have been flawless.
Bdigital2 wrote:
The standby mode kicks in after 4 hours non-use. Thats not the issue in my case however. Mine seem to shut off within a few flashes. Today for instance, I was shooting team shots, and my one "good" receiver worked flawlessly, so I decided to add another kicker light. Turned the unit on, took one photo, and the receiver turned off again. Bear in mind they were all fully charged and kept in seperate soft compartments with no chance on turning off accidentally.
I've tried to call elinchrom, but getting through to an actual person has been impossible.
Anyone else have any thoughts beyond my bad luck having my buy two dud receivers?...Show more →
I have the same problem with my universal receiver and Canon 580 EXII. The skyport works perfectly with elinchrom lights so there's nothing wrong with the receiver. I think the sync cable to the flash (or most likely) or the contact on the flash is slightly off.
I have the same problem with turning the universal receiver on that sometimeds I have to press the on button 2 times. But it always works. I don't have the problem with the units turning off. I have used it on my 580 EX and my Elinchrome D-Lite 4's
Mark Astmann wrote:
We don't have confirmed shipping dates on the Universal Skyport Receiver yet as Elinchrom is testing every major camera they can get their hands on. As the manufacturers are all introducing new models this fall (some have already been announced), Elinchrom wants to be sure the module works with everything.
Sounds really good, but I want to clarify a couple of things. I have two of the RX kits and a USB transceiver - total of 4 RX transceivers (plugged into 2x600RX and 2x300RX), 2 camera transmitters, and the USB transceiver.
1. I assume I'll have to buy a camera remote cable specific to my camera (I have several high-end Canons - 5D, 1D Mark III, and soon 1Ds MarkI III, so I'll need a cable with an N3 connector) - there is no standard connector to fire the camera, right? Can't fire the camera from a PC socket or hotshoe because they are output, not input.
2. Will I be able to trigger the cameras from the USB transceiver? In other words, can I trigger 4 strobes and 2 cameras (assuming I have 2 on-camera receivers) from my laptop?
