I can't get my skyports to work, help!

foodpoison

foodpoison

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Sean
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Okay, recently bought some skyports and a 430ex.

I have them set up like so:
flashsetupdiagramvh7.jpg


The cord in question is this one: Pocket Wizard Plug to PC Plug

The hot shoe adaptor in question is this one: Hama Hotshoe to PC Sync cord Adaptor

I have put the camera on manual mode, and put the skyport into the hotshoe of the camera. The skyport trigger is set on the preset channels, the firing mode set to 'all' (rather than group or off) the group is set to 1 (even though this is irrelevant).

I have put the flash into the hot shoe adaptor, set the flash to manual rather than ETTL, plugged the cord into the hotshoe via pc and the skyport received via 3.5mm jack.
I have set the received to group 1 (even though this is irrelevant), set the channels to the same as the transmitter, default, and turned the skyport on (I can tell because the LED is flashing).

Edit: The problem is, the flash isn't firing, no matter what I do.

I have no clue as to why they aren't working.

Yes, I've rtfm, and there isn't a lot in there thats any help.

Any thoughts or help on this would be really helpful.
 
I've not used Skyports only really cheap things of ebay - that have worked fine.

But - is there a light on the skyport receiver that lights up when it receives the signal from the transmitter, so you can see the transmitter is working, also is there a manual switch on the transmitter (test switch) and does this make the flash go off?
 
I'd ring the flash centre and see what they say, they're a major distributor of them so should know what's wrong. Or try whoever you bought them from.
 
Have You Got Them Set To The Same Frequecy?
 
You have a PM. See if any of those things work that I said. If not get in touch again and I'll try and fix it.

I would of said bring them into college but it'll be a bit too late now haha
 
Long shot and may well be off the mark here (apologies in advance) but have you checked the battery to see if there is THAT small piece of clear plastic stuff in between the battery and contacts?
 
Nope, nothing. I'm pulling my hair out here!
There are so many possibilites.

-Battery is faulty
-Cable is faulty
-Hot shoe adaptor is faulty
-Worst coming to the worst, skyports are faulty

:(
 
LOL.....sometimes the battery is shrink wrapped!

EDIT: Oh well!
 
Just an extra thought, will the flash fire from the camera with the hotshoe fitted, it will not give you ettl, but worth a try to see if the hotshoe is OK.

Jim M
 
Just tried the test button theory, nothing happens, LED just gives slow on flash as normal
 
Thats okay then.
That hama adaptor was from 7dayshop and cost £2.95. I'm not going to bother sending it back, its not worth the effort and the cost of postage!

Cherryrig has sorted me out with an adaptor that I'm picking up on monday, and fingers crossed!
 
no the led doesnt do anything special IIRC My transmitter didn't work the other week, thought it was the battery dead took it out wiped the battery contacts and it worked fine after that.
 
Met with cherryrig today to get his hot shoe adaptor that he had tested (found it worked fine) and my skyports still don't work.

I don't know what the problem could be :(

Hes bringing in his kit on thursday so hopefully we can find out what the problem is.
 
Okay, so, update.
It turns out my flash is buggered.

The skyports all work fine on cherryrig's flash.

Now, I know other people use the skyports and 430ex in conjunction, so I know they work, but I can't figure out why my flashgun doesn't work.
Could it be a problem with the flashgun itself?
Should I just send it back?
 
if its still in waranty yeah
 
No it wasn't set to slave.
I'm sending the skyports back.
If that fails, getting a new cable - hot shoe to 3.5mm jack - gets rid of the dodgy PC.
Failing that, 430ex goes back.
Failing that, commit suicide.
 
Yep we tried that. He tried it on my Nikon SB-26 with he Skyports and cable worked fine. Then I tired my Skyports on his flash and it didn't work and I know my Skyports work 110%. So it's something to do with the Canon. Crappy Canon!! :lol:

EDIT - Why are you sending the Skyports back then?! You know they work fine it's just your flash. Just get another one, even get a Nikon one although you have a Canon camera. Loads of people have!
 
It's your hama hotshoe. The trigger signal is sent to the flashgun using the center pin of the cameras hotshoe adapter. Now this pin is not available on your hama! I had the same troubles using wireless triggers from gadgetinfinity in combination with my D300 and SB600 flashgun...

Find a flashgun that has a pc-snyc port and try your setup that way. I bet you fire the flash with no problems. If this is working, you only need another hotshoe adapter...
 
sanjuu said:
It's your hama hotshoe. The trigger signal is sent to the flashgun using the center pin of the cameras hotshoe adapter. Now this pin is not available on your hama! I had the same troubles using wireless triggers from gadgetinfinity in combination with my D300 and SB600 flashgun...

Find a flashgun that has a pc-snyc port and try your setup that way. I bet you fire the flash with no problems. If this is working, you only need another hotshoe adapter...
Click to expand...

This was fixed ages ago. It turned out (if I remember) he had a rubbish cable that would work on some flashes but not he's. :thinking: But it's all fine now!
 
foodpoison said:
No it wasn't set to slave.
I'm sending the skyports back.
If that fails, getting a new cable - hot shoe to 3.5mm jack - gets rid of the dodgy PC.
Failing that, 430ex goes back.
Failing that, commit suicide.
Click to expand...

Can I have your skyports then? :D
 
damn!

I mean, good! yes good!

so what was the problem then ? duff flash?
 
Would it be possible to ask which hotshoe adapters and cable would be best to get? looking to have a play around with using a 430ex off camera with a couple of adapters and a pc cync cable.

Cheers

Simon
 
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