Wireless to strobe on Nikon D90

[brewercm]

I've spent a couple of days trying to figure this out and looking up old threads and haven't found an answer yet.

I bought a set of the Alzo wireless triggers (picture below) to run some strobes I bought to use with my Nikon D90. The strobes fire fine as slaves but I want to use these for times when the strobes can't pick up the flash. Is there anyone using these with a D90 with success? I've tried several different settings on the camera but none work. I even tried the camera in auto mode and it just acts like the transmitter isn't attached and attempts to pop up the flash on its own. The set works fine when I use the test button on the transmitter but just not when connected to the hotshoe.

Any help or ideas would be appreciated. And I don't have the $$ at the moment for the Pocket Wizards, Elinchromes, or RPoppers. Maybe in the future though.

[dmcantrell]

It sounds like the camera is not recognizing that the transmitter is in the hot shoe. That's where I'd start my debug. Perhaps the little contact on the transmitter is not making good contact with the hot shoe?

Have you ever used a off-camera flash in the hot shoe successfully?

[TXhummer2]

I think you are missing the hot shoe part:

ALZO off camera shoe Y sync cord NIKON iTTL + Wireless - eBay (item 390129733992 end time Jun-08-10 08:19:39 PDT)

[brewercm]

Originally Posted by dmcantrell

Have you ever used a off-camera flash in the hot shoe successfully?

Not yet. I've been playing with it quite a bit, but I'll check it again when I get home to make sure the bottom piece of the hot shoe transmitter isn't messed up where it wouldn't make contact.

The reason I asked is there was an old thread on here where somebody was using the same transmitter/receiver as this one apparently successfully. I just don't remember now if it was on a D90 or not.

[bondarnes]

The piece with no cords is the transmitter and should be in the hotshoe of your camera with no cord attached. The other piece is the receiver for the off camera flash. It must be plugged into the sync socket of your flash. Make sure both units are on the same channel using the small white buttons. Also make sure both units have batteries installed correctly.

[WarrenG]

After following Don's advice... also try cleaning the contact with an erasure. Often times these triggers will not fully "seat" in the hotshoe so try sliding it all the way forward, then slightly back in the shoe. If that does not work, you can also try plugging the "pc to sync cord" into the trigger (but not placing it in the hotshoe), and the cameras sync port. See if it will fire then. If it works, there may be an issue with the transmitters contact.

[doctahjones]

i use a set that looks exactly the same on my d80 with no problems, except it's a 16 channel (4 dip switches). like everyone is saying, i'd check the contact to make sure it's making a good connection.

it also could be that the transmitter itself might be broken. these are very cheaply made. if you're handy, take the screw out of the transmitter (like you were going to change the battery) and have a look to see if maybe the wire that goes to the hotshoe contact came unsoddered or something.

[dmcantrell]

I had a Cactus transmitter, and it would fit into the hot shoe backwards and forwards. make sure that the transmitter is installed in the hot shoe in the correct orientation.

On my cactus, which looks similar to the one you've pictured, the "pointier" end should be forward.

[MT Stringer]

And I don't have the $$ at the moment for the Pocket Wizards, Elinchromes, or RPoppers. Maybe in the future though.

You would save yourself a lot of frustration if you threw those things away and got something that works. I something similar to your setup and did just that. I got so aggravated because they wouldn't fire consistently more than 6 out of 10 times.

A lot of folks like the RF-602 wireless triggers. They are pretty reliable, according to the users - and affordable also.

Personally, I have used the Elinchrom Skyports and the Paul C Buff Cybersync's. I have a transmitter for each camera body and a receiver for each strobe or speedlight. I have triggered 2 strobes and a speedlight at the same time with no problems encountered.

Cybersync receiver attached to Alien Bee 1600 in high school gym.
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/d...p/MTH_4966.jpg

Cybersync receiver attached to Canon 580 EX II in a high school gym.
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/d...MTH_3726r1.jpg

Good luck.
Mike

[ChristopherCoy]

I'm currently using a set just like that with no problems on my D90.

[brewercm]

Well, I pulled it appart after still not getting it to work. Then I noticed it would help if they actually even attempted to solder the wire to the hot shoe contact. Gonna fix it then give it another try.

[WarrenG]

Good deal. I do agree with Mike though, you should upgrade when you can. I love my skyports.

[brewercm]

Definitely want to, but baby steps.

[doctahjones]

Originally Posted by doctahjones

...and have a look to see if maybe the wire that goes to the hotshoe contact came unsoddered or something.

Originally Posted by brewercm

Well, I pulled it appart after still not getting it to work. Then I noticed it would help if they actually even attempted to solder the wire to the hot shoe contact. Gonna fix it then give it another try.

yes! i r winnar!!!

[brewercm]

Yes you are sir, and a big thank you. I couldn't find my soldering iron either after going through it all so just emailed the place to have them send a new one since the purchase of a new iron wasn't something I need right now, I can wait to ask my sons which one has it later.

I just wasn't sure if for some reason this transmitter didn't work on the D90 or something. Definitely kind of wish they had included a sync port on it, but oh well.

BTW, they may not have top of the line equipment but I purchased these on Amazon through CowboyStudio and they have outstanding customer support. Most all emails have been answered within minutes and hours at the latest.