Before I order some replacement Skyport transmitters and receivers...

I've had three sets of the original skyports for something like five years, I've used them for many weddings, they've been treated reasonably well but like tools. One transmitter now only fires sometimes, and a sometimes transmitter is worse than one that never works, so i'll toss it out.

Before I order another couple of sets of skyport speeds, is there anything else compelling that I should consider? Small size is essential as I velcro them to the side of my flash head. I want reliable professional tools, not cheap no-brand ebay triggers. Pocket Wizards are too big, and I don't need ETTL.

Skyports are $190 per transmitter/receiver set. You can't buy the transmitter separately, apparently. That's $380, and it will take me up to five receivers and four transmitters. I could just buy one set, but with shipping to NZ costing $60 I might as well get another set now rather than wait for others to fail.

I considered RadioPopper JrX. It'd cost me $540 for three sets, without the bit that lets me adjust the flash power remotely, which I don't need. So more cost for less working units.

If your only going to velcro them to your flash (Tx and Rx) Cybersyncs are probably the best option.

Otherwise Phottix Strato II are the others up there in quality, but the added features you may not use so much if your only using cords to attach them.

How are cybersyncs better than skyports? They're not afaik, especially since I have 2.5 sets of working skyports.

I have a set of Skyports and a set of Cybersyncs.

The Cybersync receiver uses a AA battery. Since I always carry spare AAs, I can replace them on site if they go bad. I think this is a better option than the non-replaceable rechargeable battery in the Skyport receiver.

The Cybersync transmitter fits more snugly in the hotshoe. Once my Skyport transmitter fell off the camera, hit the gym floor and didn't survive the impact of the 3-foot fall. Those tiny little dip switches in the Skyport components are a weak spot, in my opinion.

I also like the auto- power-off feature of the Cybersync transmitter. Once I accidently left the Syyport transmitter power switch on when I packed it away. There must have been enough pressure on the case to engage the test button because the battery was dead when I went to use it again.

I really like the AC-powered Cybersync receiver for strobes. With the pass-through power cord they stay on indefinitely and with a have no worries with no batteries. I don't know if they make a version that will work with the AC power in your part of the world.

Thanks Curtis, sounds like Cybersyncs are good units. However they're pretty expensive to get from the Australian outlet of Paul C Buff, and given I have five working units of Skyports getting one more of them makes sense. None of those features help me much either, I'm smart enough to charge batteries and keep spares in my kit bag, I turn things off, and they fit fine in the Nikon hotshoe - not that I ever put them in a hotshoe anyway.

I'm pretty sure i'll get Skyports, I just wanted to check that there wasn't something super cheap that was as good.

FWIW, I'm generally not making money with my gear, but I found my Skyports to be unreliable. I wanted to like them, but they failed me too many times, and I just couldn't rely on them. I traded down for the Yongno RF602's. Can't velcro them to the side of your flash head, but I couldn't be happier with their reliabiity. They fire every single time, no hot shoe adapter to fuss with, replaceable batteries, and WAY cheaper. For my needs it was a great decision.

Thanks Scott. I've had no issues with the Skyport reliability at all, they've been awesome for me for 5 years. I'm not keen on random brands that don't even seem to have a website that comes up on the front page for a search on their name on google.