Alien Bees only works at 1/60 shutter speed?

Okay so I got to use my new AB800 yesterday but had a weird problem...

I could only use it at 1/60 shutter speed... anything else and I'd get a black-out image...

I was using a hong kong-made wireless unit to trip the flash, but I've used the exact same unit on the alien bees at a local studio I sometimes rent with no problems...

I have checked this with the sync cord yet but that's my next experiment...

any thoughts?

Moon

the sync speed depends on your camera. did you adjust your aperture when you increased your shutter speed?

Yep try the sync cord, the radio trigger is the obvious culprit.

I don't have much of a problem with my canon and AB lights with the PWs. However when using my Contax I have to go 1/60 as well. Try the sync cord, it's probably has a much "higher" delay than the sync cord.

yeah, the cord is 15 feet long, should be plenty.

Trivia:
I can get away with 1/200 easy with PC sync cord (1/250 if only one light (no slaves)), but only 1/160 with AB radio remote before the shutter starts cutting into the picture.

As long as I am at least at 1/125 I am happy.

turn your camera flash off and set the camera on manual mode. Use either sync cable or a wireless flash trigger ( you can get a cheap one that works about 100ft away for under 30 bucks off ebay).

new batteries in the remote receiver did the trick... still can't go above 1/200 though

The only way you can go above that is using an Canon EX flash. Which unless you are shooting very high-speed objects you should not need more then 1/200. The only reason I need 1/125 or better is because of ambient light causing ghosting if a person moves too much. If I turn off all lights then I can leave the shutter at 30 seconds and the flashes stop the action.

hey long... cool I didn't know that

the ambient light has to be within 2 stops