Ordering Skyports - what cables & accessories?

I'm ordering skyports soon (2 transmitters, 3 receivers), what accessories do I need that I can get from B&H? They're to fire modified Sunpak 383s, they have 3.5mm female mono jacks to trigger then. I'll also fire AlienBees, and i'd like to be able to use a 550EX as a slave too - so some kind of a hotshoe I guess.

They'll be on 40Ds, most of the time i'll have a speedlite on the hotshoe, so some way to secure the skyport will be handy too. My Speedlites all have velcro on them, is that a good way to do it?

So any suggestions about whether I need any particular cords or anything?

Easiest and most reliable (but not really cheapest) solution to get them to work with any hot shoe flash, is to get one of these for each flash/skyport. That gives you a nice solid shoe connection going right into the Skyport receiver. They're pretty well made for what they are. No worries about it snapping in half unlike some of the cheaper PC versions.

If the Sunpak 383 has 3.5mm female jacks already (I assume that's what you mean), you can use the miniphone to miniphone cables that come with each receiver.

For AlienBees, the receivers also come with what you need already.

TIm, they come with everything you need for your 383's, for your 550ex on a hot shoe adapter, get the best you can (preferably metal construction). Some of the hot shoes (even in the $35-$45.00 region are very poor) If you were able to get a good strong version, try to get one with the 3.5mm mono plug or modify it to take one. Any & all of the hot shoe adapters I have purchased (4 different ones), the PC connectors have been rubbish.

Velcro is the way to go to mount the transmitter on your camera mounted flash (I mount mine on the side opposite the battery door)

The first thing you need to do to the receivers is to glue a rubber washer over the on/off switch.

Left hand edge of this shot:

Thanks Don, that Paramount cord will be idea to run the 550 into the Skyport. For the 383s i'll use the cord that comes with the Skyports.

Mark, what's the rubber washer for? I have velcro, i'll attach it somehow. B&H doesn't seem to have screw connection PC cords, they sound pretty handy - the regular ones do fall out fairly regularly.

Edit - hey you've done the same thing to your 383s as I have! Except my modifications are permanent, I ripped out the AA holder. I'm still not 100% clear what the washer's for... does it keep getting turned off or something? Also seems the screwlock PC connectors from FlashZebra are like 5 meters... a little longer than you need from a camera to a flash trigger!

He put the washer there to prevent bumping the button either way - on or off. It's a poor design on Elinchrom's part - turns on way too easy, especially when stored in the case. I like everything about 'em except that.

I use velcro on the head to connect mine up. That keeps it off the door for when I need to change batteries, and it puts the receiver as high as you can get it for better range/accuracy.

cdifoto wrote in post #5863788
He put the washer there to prevent bumping the button either way - on or off. It's a poor design on Elinchrom's part - turns on way too easy, especially when stored in the case. I like everything about 'em except that.

Exactly right, nothing worse than having them accidentally turned on & being flat when you get to site. They aren't the easiest thing to store/carry so the washer is a must.

The earlier version apparently had a sliding switch which would have been preferable.

You will also need to get a multibox with wide spaced sockets so you can charge all the receivers at the same time, standard spacings are a bit tight to get the chargers with their adapters.

Velcro spots are the answer, right hand side of this shot.

tim wrote in post #5863772
Also seems the screwlock PC connectors from FlashZebra are like 5 meters... a little longer than you need from a camera to a flash trigger!

Cut it down, solder a 2.5 plug on & your in business.

EDITED: Changed size of plug

These are the cables I got from Flash Zebra. At $15 each they aren't particularly cheap. It's pretty crazy that Elinchrom doesn't include an adapter cable for a standard PC terminal.

cdifoto wrote in post #5863788
He put the washer there to prevent bumping the button either way - on or off. It's a poor design on Elinchrom's part - turns on way too easy, especially when stored in the case. I like everything about 'em except that.

I use velcro on the head to connect mine up. That keeps it off the door for when I need to change batteries, and it puts the receiver as high as you can get it for better range/accuracy.

Good call - thanks.

Mark Vuleta wrote in post #5863811
You will also need to get a multibox with wide spaced sockets so you can charge all the receivers at the same time, standard spacings are a bit tight to get the chargers with their adapters.

Good idea. I have heaps of multiboxes, i'll just plug a bunch in if I can't find wide ones.

Mark Vuleta wrote in post #5863815
Cut it down, solder a 3.5 plug on & your in business.

Bob_McBob wrote in post #5863859
These are the cables I got from Flash Zebra. At $15 each they aren't particularly cheap. It's pretty crazy that Elinchrom doesn't include an adapter cable for a standard PC terminal.

I just spotted that - $15 is a reasonable price for a well made cable IMHO. You should see the cables I made myself to power the flashes from the SLA batteries... i'm kinda worried that they're going to short out and explode. I think i'd better get proper ones made!

I'm going to get screwlock cables from Flash Zebra, but i'm not sure how long they need to be. I want to go from the 40D sync port to either the top of the opposite side of the flash, without too much slack, but enough length to reach. Can anyone offer advice on the cord length?

I'd get an 18" cord and wrap the excess around the foot if need be...just so I knew I had enough to move the flash head around without problems.

i have a 350D and the universal skyport kit, got my hotshoe to skyport/pocketwizard from flashzebra.com not a single issue with it, works flawlessly.

one thing i dont like about the transmitter, is theres no hotshoe lock like pocketwizards or the EX flashes, one time it slid halfway out and didnt fire my flash, looked around and finally noticed it wasnt pushed all the way in, that sucked.

Ridebmx wrote in post #5874545
one thing i dont like about the transmitter, is theres no hotshoe lock like pocketwizards or the EX flashes, one time it slid halfway out and didnt fire my flash, looked around and finally noticed it wasnt pushed all the way in, that sucked.

I agree that part sucks. I'm going to put gaffer tape around it to hold it in place.

cdifoto wrote in post #5874510
I'd get an 18" cord and wrap the excess around the foot if need be...just so I knew I had enough to move the flash head around without problems.

Don't you trip over?

Im about to order some as well. Im glad I ran into this thread.