RadioPopper Jr time

jbergdoll wrote in post #6869242
What I'm saying is, it looks cheap and unattractive... like a POS basically.

thats what i thought haha.
i dont let looks dictate what gear i buy, but honestly i wouldnt mind having a fat trigger with a cool antenna/bayonet (if you think hard enough) that says POCKETWIZARD PLUS II on my hot shoe.

C'mon guys... lets not slag without just cause..

We asked for cheap manual triggers... they've answered with a $99 kit ($59 for extra receivers) that has 16 channels and 1700 ft of range and is made here in north america... Do a quick search on the cactus triggers and you'll find loads of people complaining about range and mis-fires. I'll bet anyone $20 that these things don't misfire 10% as badly as the cactus units and will absolutely kill poverty wizards for reliability at any range over 80 ft.

And if you like the cheapie units, you can upgrade the software to talk to studio lighting... It's and "UPGRADE" people... when was the last time someone even gave you an option not to buy features you dont need right away in a trigger system?

And/or you can upgrade to the PX units and get FULL E-TTL with 3 groups so now you can play with 5 speedlights spread over an outdoor shot without ever leaving your tripod. The PX transmitter will trigger those JrX receivers so you can leave in those Alien Bees or manual speedlights. How cool is that?

I dont wanna tick anyone off here but stop whining about the looks and go read the press release. It's not the worlds cheapest trigger nor is it a studio trigger nor is it an E-TTL trigger. It's an expandable SYSTEM that scales from the small end to the large and doesn't make you throw away your investment. Entry price to the system? $99, half the cost of flashwaves or skyports and still cheaper than cybersyncs.

If you want good looks, fine by me but that's not what this "system" is about, not even close!

The PX units seem to be absolutely epic!
Really really sweet, I am not going to buy PWs, will stick with skyports for now, but when I have the cash, and strobes (never) I will get them

rnourse wrote in post #6870131
C'mon guys... lets not slag without just cause..

We asked for cheap manual triggers... they've answered with a $99 kit ($59 for extra receivers) that has 16 channels and 1700 ft of range and is made here in north america... Do a quick search on the cactus triggers and you'll find loads of people complaining about range and mis-fires. I'll bet anyone $20 that these things don't misfire 10% as badly as the cactus units and will absolutely kill poverty wizards for reliability at any range over 80 ft.

And if you like the cheapie units, you can upgrade the software to talk to studio lighting... It's and "UPGRADE" people... when was the last time someone even gave you an option not to buy features you dont need right away in a trigger system?

And/or you can upgrade to the PX units and get FULL E-TTL with 3 groups so now you can play with 5 speedlights spread over an outdoor shot without ever leaving your tripod. The PX transmitter will trigger those JrX receivers so you can leave in those Alien Bees or manual speedlights. How cool is that?

I dont wanna tick anyone off here but stop whining about the looks and go read the press release. It's not the worlds cheapest trigger nor is it a studio trigger nor is it an E-TTL trigger. It's an expandable SYSTEM that scales from the small end to the large and doesn't make you throw away your investment. Entry price to the system? $99, half the cost of flashwaves or skyports and still cheaper than cybersyncs.

If you want good looks, fine by me but that's not what this "system" is about, not even close!

I admit, the pricing is very attractive. The range, as long as it is inline with their previous unit, is outstanding. I wish there was a Jr unit out right now, I would buy them. As it stands, I need 3 tx units and 5 rx units, so I can't wait until june/july? to get my hands on these.

My problems with the design isn't the looks, its that I can see getting snagged on those little knobs sticking out on the side like that and I could honestly see shutting the tx unit off on accident with how it is sticking out on the back. These may be major design flaws. Maybe they are a non-issue, but that is just what sticks out to me at first glance. I would have put a real switch on the left or right side of the unit, not a button on the back. That is my biggest complaint with my current Skyports, the stupid button on the recevier.

Also, I wonder if they know that 75% of the US is on Eastern or Central time, not Pacific. Would have liked to have seen the end of the big release before I went to bed last night.

Jim M wrote in post #6869038
I downloaded the pdf. The JrX transmitter & reciever basic kit is $99. The kit that adjusts Alien Bees and White Lightnings is $129. The difference is apparently just software, which you can upgrade later for $50. Unless my math is off, it is significantly more expensive to buy individual components.

I'm not sure they heard the actual desire of most of us, although I may be projecting my own desire onto others. I just wanted something that worked at a good range and didn't cost an arm and leg with no fancy stuff. Don't have any Paul C. Buff stuff and don't want any. I especially don't want to pay for the hardware to allow upgrading to control something I don't have. I just want to fire my pack-and-head units and do it inexpensively. Maybe all the Paul C. Buff fans are happy.

Here is a link to the PDF.
http://radiopopper.com …_xsystem_pressr​elease.pdf

It is cheaper to buy the same component in bulk than it is to buy two different components. It likely would cost the exact same amount to have the PCB (printed circuit board) made with the extra capability as it would to make one without the capability. Making a PCB costs about the same when they are relatively simple like these are. This way, they get a better bulk discount on them from the printer.

Either unit would cost more if they made them with different components to allow or not allow for the control of PCB lights.

The design is ugly and perhaps the protuberances are going to prove problematic, I agree... we would have all liked pretty "sleek" units but as I said, that wasnt the point.

As for the press release.. I went to bed as well

And for some reason they're being coy about pricing on the blog however its printed right in the pdf press release so I don't really understand why.

I'm ready to order JrX now! For the price it is worth the risk and if the deliver as advertised it is a great deal in my mind!!

If you need the features these units provide then the price is fine. If you wanted what was originally proposed for the Jr (at the ridiculously low suggested price) then you will be disappointed.

Look awesome, can't wait.

Damm it!!!...I just bought a set of Cybersyncs, and now these come out!!

Why does this always happen to me!,

Heh... I bought Cybersyncs, and I still don't regret getting them. Initially back at the beginning of this year I was anxiously waiting for the RP Jr's, but when summer came and went with no announcement, I had to go with the Cybersyncs.

And I'm glad I didn't wait. The JrX's won't be available until the last week of Feb. 2009, which means I would be realistically be receiving the units in March '09?? Yeah... I've got Cybersyncs now and I used them for a paid shoot that I just couldn't trust to the GI triggers.

Glad to see that RP finally did announce the JrX's, but it was just way too late for me. Don't get me wrong. I may end up getting a set of RPs in the future, I'm just glad I didn't wait.

Cybersyncs aren't that much more, not a big deal. Some dont like the 'looks' of the radiopoppers anyway and prefer the PW,cybersnyc look. Personally I prefer the radiopopper look b/c it isnt some huge antennadong looking thing sticking way out of my camera just asking to be broken off. I dont do studio work so the lower profile of the radiopopper appeals to me. However...I was so close to buying cybersyncs last week.

Personally I'm in love with the FlashWave unit from a looks perspective... they're 10x prettier and more practical than anything else what with the tripod hole on one side and the hot shoe on the other. Its a true "no-wires" design that still inclides all the jacks and wires just in case you'd prefer a mess of spaghetti. But I can see why it wouldn't work for anything like the PX that was doing E-TTL. To do that I suspect you need to talk to the speedlights' IR port which would mean you MUST be strapped onto the front of the flash.

I was totally sold on the FlashWaves but for a TX and two RX units I can either pay $300 or I can shell out $158 for the JrX kit which will then grow with me. I suspect I might have to learn to live with the butt-uglies!

DDCSD wrote in post #6870234
It is cheaper to buy the same component in bulk than it is to buy two different components. It likely would cost the exact same amount to have the PCB (printed circuit board) made with the extra capability as it would to make one without the capability. Making a PCB costs about the same when they are relatively simple like these are. This way, they get a better bulk discount on them from the printer.

Either unit would cost more if they made them with different components to allow or not allow for the control of PCB lights.

I can see your point to a degree. And if I got a transmitter and two receivers, it would cost me around $200 with CyberSync and only around $160 with Radiopopper JrX. The way it looks to me, for the people who would use the features, these are the greatest thing since sliced bread. For me, I will probably buy them eventually, but it just wasn't the simple gizmo I was hoping for. I would have preferred not having the PCB compatible units made at all. However, I'm sure enough people have PCB units that it will be better for the company the way they did it. I should note that some of my remarks are tainted by the fact that I apparently got the only set of "poverty wizards" that actually work with 100% reliability.

Bummer it isn't close to $25. I am a bit disappointed that they took so long and did not give us any updates until the very end. I was going to purchase CyberSynchs....but damn....those are some nice features on the Jrs. I can imagine it coming in handy a lot. I guess since I have to wait a few months for them to produce it, it would allow my wallet more time to recuperate.