Unable to trigger Alien Bee

I'm trying to trigger a B800 for the first time using the sync port and a YN-603. I'm using a pc to 1/4" cable connected to the trigger, and that's connected to a 1/4" to 1/8" adapter which is plugged into the sync port on the strobe. It's not working.

This setup works with another strobe minus the 1/4" to 1/8" adapter, and the adapter works when I test it with some headphones. Is there some proprietary connection pathway in the sync port requiring a special cable? Or is the strobe broken?
(I'll add that the adapter is a stereo female to mono male plug, wondering if that might be the problem.)

I've also noticed that it won't optically trigger unless another flash is essentially pointed directly at it. Is that normal for these sensors?

Thanks

1) Are you actually connection to the sync port on the YN-603. This is the screwlock PC port on the front of the device? The port on the side is for a shutter release cord.

2) Ditch any stereo (three conductor) device. That MAY be the issue. Use only mono (2 conductor) adapters to negate mysterious stereo sync issues.

3) In your last paragraph it is unclear what "it" might be. I would cite the name of the device you are referring to and delete the ambiguous "it".

Enjoy! Lon

I just got back from getting a mono adapter, and after swapping it out/fiddling with the sync port, the AB is firing! The port feels like it might be a little loose, but I really think it was the stereo to mono adapter dropping the important channel.

In the last paragraph I was referring to the B800 as "it." To optically trigger the strobe, I have to point another strobe toward the back of it. There isn't enough bounce light coming back at the AB otherwise, even though the room is lighting up a lot. I thought I read somewhere that the optical sensor isn't great on these, so I was just looking for some confirmation on that.

thcomb wrote in post #16242844
In the last paragraph I was referring to the B800 as "it." To optically trigger the strobe, I have to point another strobe toward the back of it. There isn't enough bounce light coming back at the AB otherwise, even though the room is lighting up a lot. I thought I read somewhere that the optical sensor isn't great on these, so I was just looking for some confirmation on that.

Optical slaves typically work nicely in studio like conditions, specifically in small to medium sized rooms not painted very dark colors.

The work poorly outside, in huge rooms, and if the surrounding surfaces reflect little light.

From my experiences the optical slave in the AB units performs about the same as other studio flash units and about the same as other general purpose accessory optical slaves.

Enjoy! Lon