Why are my PW's inconsistent?

My pocket wizard plusses are borderline unreliable..i think. There is a very good chance of user error also, but I usually have 2 580ex's on lightstands attached to the PW's with the flash zebra hot shoe adapters, and they probably only fire every other time, if that, and almost never fire simultaneously. The output is set to "both" on the transmitter, and they're all on the same channel. I'm wondering if the problem could be batteries (regular energizer or duracell AA's). They also seem to "sleep" if I don't fire them for a minute or two, is this a setting on the flash or PW that I can or need to change? Thanks for looking, and any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Yes, the 580 can be set to not go into powersaving mode, not sure what Cfn it is. It should be in your manual.

As far as the PW's go, did you just get them? New, used?

Have you used them before where they worked well?

What camera are you using (should not make a difference, but good to know)?

Have you tried multiple sets of batteries?

Does the receiver seem to be seated well on the hotshoe?

Are you firing your flashes full power and then not waiting long enough for them to recharge?

Pocket Wizards are pretty darn reliable, look elsewhere before starting to think you have a problem with the PWs.

the only time i have problems like this are when the batteries are going dead

I bought them used, and whenever I do tests in studio, they work flawlessly, it's just at receptions (you know...when it really counts) that they seem to want to annoy me. I have tried different batteries. I'm using them on a 5D, and the transmitter is seated snugly. The powersave mode on the 580's is good to know ( I assumed it was something like that, but good to know that I can turn it off too). Thanks for the advice. as a side note; I was in South Dakota two summers ago for Riverboat Days (Yankton), and it was amazingly fun

Gatorboy wrote in post #6118959
Are you firing your flashes full power and then not waiting long enough for them to recharge?

Pocket Wizards are pretty darn reliable, look elsewhere before starting to think you have a problem with the PWs.

I've never heard anything but good things about them, so I kind of assume it's user error. I think I just need to replace all batteries before every wedding.

yes absolutely. i would never go into a wedding without fresh batteries.

I use my Pocket Wizard Plus tranceivers constantly and have never once experienced any inconsistency, malfunction, misfire or any anomaly. They are rock solid and the only things that can affect their performance are low batteries or a bad cable connecting them to strobes or flashes. If the problem is at the camera then it's either the camera's hot shoe or the PW is not seated properly in the shoe.

Outside of that, like anything else you could have a defective Pocket Wizard but when cables, batteries and connections are all intact they are flawless.

thanks everyone for the input

Salt water affects them too, keep that in mind next time you go swimming with the models

M Powered wrote in post #6119702
Salt water affects them too, keep that in mind next time you go swimming with the models

how do we seal them to keep salt water from getting in? =)

fiveFPS wrote in post #6131046
how do we seal them to keep salt water from getting in? =)

I would use a plastic bag and some rubber bands to seal it tightly.

fiveFPS wrote in post #6131046
how do we seal them to keep salt water from getting in? =)

Get a tube of silicone and run a bead around every button and every seam......