What a headache I had tonight with the CyberSyncs

[v35skyline]

Received CyberSyncs on Monday. Tested them that night and they worked flawlessly. Not a single misfire.

Have been messing around with them periodically during the week. Again, not a single misfire.

Took them out tonight only to have them misfire on several accounts (15+ times). I replaced the batters in the transmitter, all receivers, and all strobes. Everything worked like a charm for the next 25 shots. Then each strobe would only fire if I was within 4 feet of the receiver. Changed all the batteries, again. Then the strobe farthest away from me fired, but the two closest didn't. Walked around hitting the test button on the transmitter and each strobe fired spontaneously. Sometimes it would be the one closest to me, other times it would be the one farthest from me.

I finally decided to change the frequency...and they all worked. Doh! Everything was set on channel 5 from Monday to most of this evening. The strobes fired flawlessly for ~25 times tonight, and then they suddenly stopped working. A new radio frequency must have been introduced at some point tonight that interfered with my CyberSyncs. I changed them from channel 5 to 9 and they worked...mostly. Changed them to channel 11 and they all worked flawlessly!

Cliffnotes: I'm an idiot.

[bobbyz]

You are probably the first one to report therse problems. Hope you aren't doing something wrong.

[mrloofer]

Thanks for the tip. Mine were set to 5 and now I know to change it to 9! :)

[GenuineRolla]

Yeah, sounds like you might have been in a place that interrupted with that frequency.

Glad to hear that you figured it out.

[mellofelow]

interesting... I'm receiving my set (4 receivers) today and going to have to give this a trial. Thanks.

[v35skyline]

Thanks for the tip. Mine were set to 5 and now I know to change it to 9! :)
I think this was an isolated problem. It was probably something in the area that was interfering with channel 5's frequency, but that doesn't mean channel 5 won't work for you.

Hmm, it worries me that this is unheard of. :(

On channel 5 and 9, no strobe would flash unless I was withing 15 feet. 1, sometimes 2, strobes would fire if I was within 25 feet (and that was only if I was lucky). On channel 11, I was half way across the parking structure (well over 200 feet) and every strobe fired flawlessly.

[Wilt]

Just maybe another user was close enough and using Ch 5 to cause a level of interference without triggering your units visibly.

[1downfall]

whew!! glad to see it got worked out. I am saving for these right now...and do not need horror stories.:rolleyes:

[leks]

Just maybe another user was close enough and using Ch 5 to cause a level of interference without triggering your units visibly.

I wonder if this is a problem since so many have the cybersyncs nowadays? I know when I received mine they came set to 5 and I haven't changed them since. Maybe, I should use a different channel? lol

To the original poster, where were you using your strobes?

[HeadShotz]

whew!! glad to see it got worked out. I am saving for these right now...and do not need horror stories.:rolleyes:

Don't freak out too much. I've had mine for over a year and not even a fraction of a second of a problem. Thousands and thousands of triggers and not one pre or misfire. Works all the time, everytime, 100% for me..in my studio or on location.

I've tried all channels..same 100% result.

[v35skyline]

I went out to test the equipment, again, tonight. Everything worked flawlessly for the first ~25 shots. Then things started acting up, again. This time a little differently.

To make things less complicated, I'm going to name each strobe - V1, V2, and S3 (Vivitar 1, Vivitar 2, Speedlite 3). All batteries are fresh (one day old, used to fire the strobes less than 40 times). All cords were plugged in securely, all receivers were blinking green (not 3 times rapidly), time was given for all strobes to recycle. I started the night off on Ch 11.

Again, everything was working flawlessly until I noticed V2 did not fire while V1 and S3 did. I walked over to V2 and hit the test button on the transmitter. V1 & S3 fired, but V2 did not. I changed everything to Ch 13, pressed the test button on the transmitter, and only V1 and S3 fired, not V2. I swapped V1 and V2's receivers (not the cords, just the CyberSync receivers). Stood by V2 and hit the test button on the transmitter. Nothing from V2. I then hit the test button on V2 itself and it fired. I waited for it to recycle, then I hit the test button on V2's receiver and it fired. So V2 itself works. The receiver is able to send the signal to fire (confirmed when I hit the test button on the receiver and V2 fires). The cable is capable of sending the signal (again, confirmed when I hit the test button on the receiver and V2 fires).

And then all of a sudden everything started working again. I pressed the test button on the transmitter 6 times (allowing the strobes to recycle fully in between each press) and all strobes fired. I was frustrated and cold, so I didn't test them beyond those 6 times and I just went home.

[Titus213]

I thought I lived in a Bermuda Triangle of radio signals but I've never had an issue with the Cybersyncs.

I hope there is a way for you to figure this out.

[GenuineRolla]

I wonder if its the cables going from the receivers to the flash units.

[GCGuy]

Only issue I ever had with my Cybersyncs was one transmitter that would not reliably trigger the receivers. Popped out the battery and found some corrosion inside causing the problems. Emailed PCB and they immediately shipped me a replacement no questions asked and at no charge to me. That's what I call service!! They all work flawlessly now :)

[57hardtop]

yeah...he might just have a funky set...it happens with every manufacturer of everything...no QC is 100%. That's where good customer service takes over. I know it's a hassle, but maybe he should just send everything back and I'm sure they will send him all new stuff no questions asked.

[v35skyline]

I wonder if its the cables going from the receivers to the flash units.
I don't think it is, because when I press the test button on the receiver it is able to send the signal through the cord to the flash unit and the flash fires. However, when I press the test button on the transmitter...nothing happens.

[v35skyline]

BTW - I've already e-mailed customer service and they responded by asking what flash units I am using. They told me to make sure the receivers were on...

[*Knowledge*]

Sorry to hear about the mishaps, hopefully you're able to clear this up sooner than later.
BTW, the Evelyn shots were nice. :wink: