For those that are considering radio flash triggers. FlashWaves - Page 2

**Peter Zack** · 07-15-2008, 07:52 AM

Thanks Romoman. I knew that with the 540 I just wish the 360 could as well.

Mike Cash · 07-15-2008, 09:15 AM

Originally Posted by MPrince

RadioPopper Blog RadioPopper Jr.

Thanks.

I was the next-to-last comment entry on the previous update and am glad to see that they have since provided more info.

JCSullivan · 07-15-2008, 11:29 AM

Nice review and information Peter - thanks

romicsteve · 07-17-2008, 05:02 AM

Pete,
I would be cautious about using a high trigger voltage flash such as Vivitar 283 with a Flashwaves receiver. I emailed them about this, and they can not vouch that the 283 won't affect the receiver.
If someone HAS experimented, I'd be curious about the results, though.

**Peter Zack** · 07-17-2008, 06:07 AM

That's good to know and I don't want to spread mis-information. I guess with these old high voltage flashes, a wein sync is still advisable. Funny they couldn't give you a safe voltage limit.

If you're not sure about your flash it may be found here: Photo Strobe Trigger Voltages or should be tested with a multi meter

**Peter Zack** · 09-18-2008, 07:47 AM

I thought I'd just update this for those looking at triggers. I got a few PM's asking some questions about this. So a few more thoughts and experiences with the triggers.

Because of the hot shoe, you can potentially daisy chain multiple receivers and transmitters to extend the range as far as you want. Just have each section on different channels. Mount a transmitter on a receiver which will transmit to the next receiver and so on. Unlimited range!

To fire the camera there is a cable in the box that can be plugged into the PC socket of the receiver and the remote socket of the camera. Just put the receiver on the camera shoe and plug it into the camera. Then using the trigger/test button on the transmitter, you have a wireless remote for the camera.

It usually costs $30-40 for a wireless remote for your camera and now you saved money plus don't have to carry extra parts in the bag. Also the range is much better and more reliable than the cheap wireless remotes. I've used mine (this is why I have 2 transmitters) for paid portrait work.

I put the receiver on the camera and connect it to the remote port. Put that and transmitter #1 (that is going to fire the camera) on channel 5. Then I add a transmitter (#2) to the receiver (on the camera) on channel 8. I then set up my lights with receivers on channel 8.

So one thing about portraits and people who want good work but have no experience is, they are not as comfortable when you are behind the camera, they can be stiff and not sure what to do. Set the camera up on a tripod. walk away from it and talk to your subject. When you get the pose you want, fire the transmitter #1 and the camera fires as well as the lights. Once things start to flow and they enjoy the process you can just grab the camera and without changing parts, Start shooting hand held. Just leave transmitter 1 in your pocket.

Maybe you have no interest in shooting portraits but want to shoot the bees in the flower garden. You can use the same setup with lights if you need them and get close up shots where you are not disturbing the action. Same for birds and other wildlife. Maybe it's some special idea and you want to fire 2 cameras at the same time on the same subject (race cars come to mind) from different angles. With a little imagination, this add on system can offer a ton of possibilities to your camera. Why bother with a second trigger and different channels for the flashes and receivers? You might want to continue firing the camera wirelessly and turn off the flash(es). Just remove the transmitter on the top of the camera and the camera is still wireless but the flashes won't fire for that shot. Or you may want to control 2 flashes desperately. Put one on the camera trigger frequency and the other on another frequency. Then you can fire all or just part of the flash setup.

The hot shoe feature adds so much more creativity to the set up that you don't have with either the Skyports or the PW's.

I have used these all spring and summer for events and weddings. I would estimate they have been triggered 5000 + times and sometimes at pretty decent distances. Not one single misfire. A very good product and well worth considering.

JCSullivan · 09-18-2008, 12:03 PM

Thanks for the update Peter - damn man, you HAVE done your homework.

And thank you Genes Pentax who was the original person recommending these. He took a lot of flack but he was right.

kerrowdown · 09-18-2008, 01:03 PM

Hey Peter. could you just shoot Nikon anyway

**Peter Zack** · 09-19-2008, 03:23 PM

Originally Posted by kerrowdown

Hey Peter. could you just shoot Nikon anyway

I should read my own posts. Duh

Mike Cash · 09-20-2008, 04:07 AM

After waiting around since about last December for the Radiopopper Jrs which were promised for "Summer 2008" (as they still are on the website) and seeing that there is very little possibility they are going to have them out by November, when I will have an absolute need for something, I am almost certainly going to order this product next month.

**Peter Zack** · 09-20-2008, 04:48 AM

Mike, I don't think you'll be disappointed in any way with them. This is the best source for price I've found: http://g9chon.com/RS.html and you might want to consider one part they have (which is included in the box) as a spare or extra.

The kit has a hard plastic hot shoe mount. It is 1/4" (tripod thread) screw on one end and the hot shoe 'tab' on the other with a tightening knob. The receivers have a tripod mount threaded socket on the bottom side to put the unit on a tripod standard screw or a light stand etc. This part screw in there and it allows you to mount the receiver on the camera's shoe to be used as a wireless remote (as I described above) or on an umbrella head. In my case I have that part on the receiver, I have a standard lightstand with a swivel umbrella head mounted on the lightstand. The swivel head has the locking hole to put the umbrella in, The top part is an adjustable grooved track for a flash. In the grooved track I mount the receiver with the plastic shoe adapter. Then I put the flash on the receiver's hot shoe. Presto you have a completely portable umbrella light.

So the reason I mention this is hat it's $25.00 from them to ship small parts. This is one item that you might be taking on and off the receiver and there is the possibility of loosing it. I think they charged me $8.50 for an extra shoe and a mounting shoe (you can use these to make a custom mount on a piece of wood or anything else) The part number is in the picture.
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Their email address is g9chon@gmail.com if you have questions before the purchase and they respond fairly quickly.

Mike Cash · 09-21-2008, 04:39 AM

I trust your judgment implicitly. I've only been holding off because the Radiopoppers were supposed to have a price of around $25 for each component.

**Peter Zack** · 09-21-2008, 05:09 AM

wow, now that's cheap. seems almost too cheap for a quality unit but the company has a good reputation.

MikePerham · 09-21-2008, 10:20 AM

Originally Posted by Peter Zack

... Actually my only gripe would be the AF360/540 units going to sleep in too short a time. That's why the AF400T's are so great. Powerful and when hooked up to either AC or a quantum battery, they stay on all day with much faster recycle times. Plus they work TTL with my *istD.*

Good point ...and thanks for the review. I also find the units go into sleep mode much too quickly, and what makes it even worse is that they default back to P-TTL and need to be reset to your manual settings again ...a real pain!

Do you think that if one were to use the battery pack Pentax make for the 540, it would alleviate this problem as it seems to do with your AF400T?

Another question, can you set each of the 3 receivers at a different channel and fire them separately (with the test button) by setting the trigger to the corresponding channel? I would like to be able to do this to take an exposure reading separately for each flash. I would assume you can then set the trigger to a particular setting that would fire all the channels concurrently ...is that correct?

Thanks ...Mike.

ps: Just picked up on Romoman's comment about being able to disable the auto sleep mode on the 540 ...wow what a find. Saves me no end of grief. Thanks!!

**Peter Zack** · 09-21-2008, 07:57 PM

No I have a TR3 for the 540. But the 540 is programmable to keep it from going to sleep. I mis spoke myself earlier and the 360 is the flash that shuts down.

As for firing the flashes on different frequencies on the transmitter. Yes it will work. You just have to remember which flash is on which setting. If you then want to fire them at the same time together, you would have to go to each receiver and change the receiving frequency to the same setting on all. There is no button or setting on the transmitter to fire all frequencies simultaneously.