Pocket Wizards & 580EXII problems

I just purchased a miniTT1 and a FlexTT5 to use with my 580EXII.

The camera dealer said this was better for outdoors than Canon's Infra-red ST-E2 transmitter (which I own).

It seems I'm only able to get around ten feet of distance before the signal is lost and the speedlight will not fire.

Also, if they're too close, it will not fire either.

I did some searching and found this info on the Pocket Wizards' website. They say there are know problems:
http://www.pocketwizar​d.com …rations/technol​ogy/range/

Has anyone else encountered this problem?

I'm considering returning them instead of going through more expense and heart ache.

Can anyone recommend something better or comparable?

the new pocket wizards have a lot of issues I've heard amazing things about radio poppers the px unit is something you would like over 600 feet of range

This is a thread you may want to read.

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=647700

It's rather long but it started as the new PW"s were being released and it documents all the issues, fixes and solutions, shows images and testing for distance, and a lot more very useful information.

It's probably worth taking some time to sit down and read through it.

After doing some reading and checking out some test, I'm going with the radio poppers. It sounds like the RFI issues need to be ironed out with the PW's.

Hmmm, thanks for the helpful links. I think it might be worth keeping them after all. I'll try to find a better channel that gives me a better RF signal. I'm really liking the idea that the pocket wizzards can extend the sync speed and allow much faster shutter speeds. This will take some time to learn.

Thanks!

get a off camera cord and some ferrite chokes from radioshack, that will increase your distance. for the ultimate also get some RF shielding fabric and wrap the flash.

I think I'm going to keep them, and look into adding the items you suggested. I really like the idea that these units can add high-speed sync, to allow faster shutter speeds than 1/200th. To me, that's a biggie, and may be worth the aggravation and expense of adding RF Supression stuff.

I wrote customer service at Pocket Wizzard, and here's what they wrote back:

"I am really sorry to hear about your experience with Mini Flex and the 580EXII. I am quite surprised that you are having such poor range with this flash. Ten feet is uncharacteristically short. I do have to report that one of the bloggers you included is getting closer to the 50 feet I am seeing. I do have to report that we are about to have a third solution that falls in between the using a remote cord and the AC-7. One that will be easier to use and certainly not come with any premium price that you are expecting. Fact is I expect it to be the least expensive and intrusive methods available. As was mentioned of Rob Galbraith.com there are some fabric solutions. We have been chasing this down and found a very effective RF blocking fabric. We have combined it with the RF isolating foot that will be used in the AC-7 and have seen some very good working distances with it. We are currently working to produce a first test lot in the next few weeks. I have an early sample on my desk and find easily fits into my top shirt pocket. It does fully cover the Canon flash on the remote FlexTT5. However, as all one need do is turn on the flash and set it to ETTL, no need to mess with it anyway so no operational problems there.
I pulled your address from this and will look to keep you informed of our progress. Perhaps I can do more once I see how the test production is going.

I am also sorry to hear about your Mac problems. I use windows so have not bumped into your situation. I do find it odd that the designers didn't make it compatible with your version as most of them use Macs.

I wish I had a better answer than "wait just a bit more" but that is where I am at the moment. We expect to have a very good report very soon."

I didn't test them out yet to see how far distance maximum i can get, but definitely i will keep them and i will not rush to get rid of them if they have some issues, at least it is doing great job for me until now, maybe in another time i may try, and not sure if in NY if i can use that CE [European] version there for few days then i will give it a try for long distance range.

Get an Oc-e3 cord from canon. Solves everything. I had a similar problrm

korrektor wrote in post #8520659
Get an Oc-e3 cord from canon. Solves everything. I had a similar problrm

OK, i have this cord already, how can it solves the problem? and where to use it, with mini or with flex? how many i should get of that cord, i have only one?

- the MINI ALWAYS sits on your camera.
- Flex will be hanging attached to the flash. The more the distance between the flex and the flash the better they will work. stretch that cord. One cord for each flash.

korrektor wrote in post #8520941
- the MINI ALWAYS sits on your camera.
- Flex will be hanging attached to the flash. The more the distance between the flex and the flash the better they will work. stretch that cord. One cord for each flash.

Ah ok, then i will order one more then.

get a 430exII and that will solve your problem. the 580ex and 430ex have the same problem as the 580exII. too much interference coming from the flash.

and for the record, I tried the OC3 cord and it didn't help for me at all, not did a 15' foot cable from PW to pocketwizard nor did ferrite chokes.

So far for me, everything is working fine on the CE version. I have a 580EX and a 550EX. I also have the Canon Off-Camera Shoe Cord 2 and it too is working fine if used on both flash. I tried it as far as 50 feet and worked without any issues. I also combined it with my PW Plus IIs, no problem.

I did a test, i have my studio lighting upstairs floor [1st floor] in our house, connected with FlexTT5, i went downstairs with the miniTT1, i can't guess how long is the distance but i desappered from the lights even there is still the space where i can go down by stairs but i can't see the light, i passed the downstairs hall or say living room, and still it is firing, until i reached the kitchen which is not so far from the living room and then it doesn't fire [I ask my daughters to check that flash firing], just go out of the kitchen to the direction of going back to the living room it fires again, but i can't guess or measure the actual distance, but as long this upstairs is not far from the kitchen downstairs so i can guess that the radio range is not increased anymore by this, maybe i am far from the lights to see but as distance if no walls and so it can be close, and the radio signals can reach that easy, so i will try to do the test in open space where i can go as far as i can and check the range or another issues and see, but really i started to worry that this items of PWs really is so interesting but have issues maybe, too bad to spend money on products and find issues with it.