580EX not firing in manual mode with skyport

I just got the miniphone to hot shoe adapter for my skyport wireless sets and 2 questions really arise from using it now.
1. I can use the flash in TTL mode but what is the power ratio? I assume that since the flash isnt gathering data from the camera that its set to a 1/1 power of some sort.. anyone else know?
2. The skyport wont fire the 580ex in manual mode.. anyone know a work around with this? I've seen stuff online that said the PC connector and hot shoe are manual master disabled by Canon.. I've seen a capacitor mod that supposedly enables the timing of the pulse to be set longer on the skyports to trigger the flash but the mod is on the flash itself.. anyone have a decent work around?

I dont need to fire any other flashes just the 580 in manual mode from the camera.

The PC sync port will work if you will set the 580EX II in some mode other than Manual-Master. Use any of the other Manual modes and the sync port will work.

Enjoy! Lon

I'm not talking about an EX II model just the original 580EX not being able to flash in any manual modes. I've tried manual-OFF, manual-Master, manual-Slave and none of those work with the skyport which leads me to believe that I need to capacitor mod the flash to have it go off in manual mode.

P.S. Never mind I'm going to try and do the capacitor mod as it seems the required delay on the skyport to trigger the 580 in manual mode simply isnt there.

PolskiObscura wrote in post #5780217
I'm not talking about an EX II model just the original 580EX not being able to flash in any manual modes. I've tried manual-OFF, manual-Master, manual-Slave and none of those work with the skyport which leads me to believe that I need to capacitor mod the flash to have it go off in manual mode.

P.S. Never mind I'm going to try and do the capacitor mod as it seems the required delay on the skyport to trigger the 580 in manual mode simply isnt there.

I think the 580EX typically works with the Skyports if you set the flash to something other than manual-master mode.

Have you confirmed the Skyports you have work in general (like with some other flash)?

Enjoy! Lon

Which is total garbage and useless to me since I cant control the flash power, leaving the flash on TTL mode (which is the only way it fires now) and setting it up to +3 or -3 has zero effect on the flash. Thus its a dumb flash and just fires at what ever the default. So the skyports dont work in any manual setting (regardless if the switch is OFF/Master/Slave. I dont have any other flashes to confirm that the skyports work in general and they fire every time in TTL mode but set the flash to Manual or Multi on the back and the flash doesnt fire at all which kind of leads me to believe that the pulse the skyports output isnt long enough to fire the flash in manual.

I cant wait for my Qflash + battery so I can ditch this pos flash once and for all.

PolskiObscura wrote in post #5780217
I'm not talking about an EX II model just the original 580EX not being able to flash in any manual modes. I've tried manual-OFF, manual-Master, manual-Slave and none of those work with the skyport which leads me to believe that I need to capacitor mod the flash to have it go off in manual mode.

P.S. Never mind I'm going to try and do the capacitor mod as it seems the required delay on the skyport to trigger the 580 in manual mode simply isnt there.

There should not be any reason why the flash shouldn't fire in manual while the "wireless selector" is in the off position. The flash output is adjusted simply by the select dial.

However, if your flash is working fine on your camera, the problem is either the hot shoe adaptor, the sync cable or the skyports.

To eliminate the hot shoe adaptor & the cable, pull the cable from the skyport receiver and short the end pin to the metal side. If the flash fires, the problem lies with either the receiver or the transmitter.

Please ensure that they are on the same channel and also physically operate the slide switches a few times and confirm that the group is the same (if you are using the group setting) or simply still, set the transmitter to ALL.

The 580 is a great flash with skyports, I use them a lot.

PolskiObscura wrote in post #5780329
Thus its a dumb flash and just fires at what ever the default. So the skyports dont work in any manual setting (regardless if the switch is OFF/Master/Slave. I dont have any other flashes to confirm that the skyports work in general and they fire every time in TTL mode but set the flash to Manual or Multi on the back and the flash doesnt fire at all which kind of leads me to believe that the pulse the skyports output isnt long enough to fire the flash in manual.

I cant wait for my Qflash + battery so I can ditch this pos flash once and for all.

Just one more thing, the skyports wont give you multi flash abilities (i.e. when set to multi) It will fire the initial flash nor will they provide you with second curtain sync although it will fire, but not on the second curtain.

PolskiObscura wrote in post #5780329
Which is total garbage and useless to me since I cant control the flash power, leaving the flash on TTL mode (which is the only way it fires now) and setting it up to +3 or -3 has zero effect on the flash. Thus its a dumb flash and just fires at what ever the default. So the skyports dont work in any manual setting (regardless if the switch is OFF/Master/Slave. I dont have any other flashes to confirm that the skyports work in general and they fire every time in TTL mode but set the flash to Manual or Multi on the back and the flash doesnt fire at all which kind of leads me to believe that the pulse the skyports output isnt long enough to fire the flash in manual.

I cant wait for my Qflash + battery so I can ditch this pos flash once and for all.

You misunderstood flashzebra's post. There is no reason why you can't use the 580EX in any mode you wish (excluding Multi, of course since that requires the connection of the 4 dedicated pins also), including manual mode. If you are having problems with it, then I suspect either a defective 580EX or an issue with the Skyport. I use my 580EX all the time in manual mode with my PW units connected via a hotshoe without any problem.