MiniTT1/FlexTT5 + 580exII + 430 exII = no fire

[alphonsis]

Hi, I feel I did a fairly extensive search for this situation before and didn't find anything. My apologies if I missed a thread on this.

My gear:
1 MiniTT1
1 FlexTT5
1 580exII
1 430exII

My situation:
MiniTT1 on xti hotshoe
580exII on FlexTT5 hotshoe
430exII fired by IR from 580exII

When the 580 is set to master, and 430 is set to slave, (pw's off) the master can fire the slave (using the test button).

Once I connect the flex to the 580, the test button on the 580 no longer fires the 430.

When I press the shutter on the xti, neither the 580 nor the 430 fires.
When I press the test button on the MiniTT1, the 580 doesn't fire.

Touching nothing else, but changing the 580 from Master to normal, the xti can fire the 580.

Thanks in advance!

[c2thew]

there has been known issues of firmware issues with the new pocketwizards. check to see if you have the latest firmware for the pocketwizard. that's what i recall someone else who had the same problem

[alphonsis]

Thanks for the quick reply.

I just checked using the PocketWizard Utility and it says I have the most recent version - Version 4.3

[c2thew]

hmmmmmmmmm..... not sure what to do. scan the forums with the search function and see if you turn up with anything. if i had a set of those pocketwizards i could be more helpful, but i'm using cheap ebay triggers and suffer with their manual abilities

[Borderfox]

Do you need another Flex to fire the 430? I didnt think they could control the master/slave element of the speedlights.

[Hermes]

Don't know if you have a second flex on the 430 but if you don't, you need one. The slaves should also be set to normal ETTL, not 'slave' mode, and the groups set using the group switch on the flex. Ratios will still work.

Just to clarify, are you saying the camera will fire the flash via the flex in normal mode but not in master mode?

The test button on the flash is disabled once you attach the flex so don;t expect it to work. The test button on the flex should work though and the camera should be able to trigger the flex in any mode. Are you sure you don't have the flash configured to not fire in master mode?

[alphonsis]

I didnt think they could control the master/slave element of the speedlights.

That's looking to be the case, sadly.

Don't know if you have a second flex on the 430 but if you don't, you need one.

I don't have a second flex on the 430. I'm trying to be frugal and get the 580 on the flex to fire the 430 via IR.

Just to clarify, are you saying the camera will fire the flash via the flex in normal mode but not in master mode?

Yes

The test button on the flash is disabled once you attach the flex so don;t expect it to work. The test button on the flex should work though and the camera should be able to trigger the flex in any mode. Are you sure you don't have the flash configured to not fire in master mode?

Ah, didn't know about that first part. As for having the flash not fire in master mode, I believe I had that set to on. (I'm at work now and can't check). However, if that was the case, wouldn't the 430 still fire? (which it didn't).

[Hermes]

Pretty sure the flex disables the normal communications of the speedlites (otherwise the slave would be getting two sets of instructions) so I don't think you'll be able to get them to slave without a second receiver.