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issue with Cactus V6 flash not working

hansslegershansslegers
in V6 Problems
I have a Canon 5d mark lV and when I get the V6 all set up when I press the test button on the transceiver to sync them up the LED on both lights up as orange. When I take a photo the camera doesn't trigger the flash but the flash does go off when the test button is used. I switched to another camera. Used strobes and flashlights, new batteries and switched trigger and receiver. Nothing helps. Sometimes there is one flash. I did also a factory reset. Does someone has a suggestion?
Hans

Comments

  • hansslegershansslegers
    Is there no one with an idea?
  • heringjiheringji
    I am having this same issue. I have four total Cactus V6s. Two of them on my Canon 580 flashes on stands, one on my camera, one in my hand that I use in Transceiver mode to fire my camera and my flashes at the same time. I do home interior photography work. I'll be going along everything working just fine, then all the sudden the V6s won't trigger the flashes. The orange light on the V6s attached to the flashes blinks when I change the power from my hand-held transceiver unit (I do this just to see if it's communicating), also the flashes will fire when I manually test trigger the V6s attached to each of them. They just suddenly quit firing for long spans of time.

    Changing everything to a different channel does not work. I've tried doing things like turning everything off, and then turning them all on again using a "from the top, down" approach - turning on first the flashes, then the V6s, etc. Seldom that works, but usually not. It's extremely frustrating and embarrassing as the client is standing there watching me flounder around. Eventually I get things working, but it takes sometimes 10 minutes. There seems to be no rhyme or reason when it suddenly decides to work again. Any advice would be appreciated.
  • heringjiheringji
    Also I have tried things like having both flashes set to Group A, B, C and D. And of course usually they are set to different Groups so I can control them separately and I have tried that. It's an intermittent problem, sometimes I haven't even moved anything, flashes or camera. One minute they're firing fine repeatedly, then for the next 10 minutes, they're not.
  • AdminAdmin
    hansslegers said:

    When I take a photo the camera doesn't trigger the flash but the flash does go off when the test button is used.

    Please check our email regarding possible ways to diagnosing the problem.
  • AdminAdmin
    heringji said:

    . It's an intermittent problem, sometimes I haven't even moved anything, flashes or camera. One minute they're firing fine repeatedly, then for the next 10 minutes, they're not.

    Judging from your descriptions, it seems the setup has been intervened by some new WIFI devices at the shooting location. You may try setting the radioID to prevent potential interference and see if has improved. Also please check whether you have any new WIFI setup recently that runs on 2.4GHz. If your WIFI channels happen to be very close to the Cactus 16 channels, it may cause intermittent interference to your setup. If possible, you may consider limiting the WIFI to the 5GHZ if your equipment is 802.11AC compatible.

  • heringjiheringji
    Thanks so much for the response. Not being extremely tech savvy, could you expand on what this means? "Also please check whether you have any new WIFI setup recently that runs on 2.4GHz."
  • AdminAdmin
    edited November 2019
    The following are some example:
    1. New wireless routers or extender.
    2. Smart indoor wifi hub like Google Home or Amazon Echo, smart wifi plug, smart wifi lamp, etc.

    Certainly new devices from your neighbor may also be one possibility. In either case, please try testing with different RF channels and radio ID to minimize the RF interference. If you are in channel 1, try something like channel 10 or 11. As we arrange the channels in an ascending order of the bandwidth, don't try with adjacent channels when testing the RF interference.
  • heringjiheringji
    Okay I'll give that a try. Thank you!
  • hansslegershansslegers
    After many different advice's from tech support ( thankx for that!) my problem still exist. It has nothing to do with wifi or so.It occurs on different places. @Heringji did you solve the problem. I think I can throw them away because I think my warranty is passed. It is a pity I like to work with these triggers.
  • AaronT28AaronT28
    it is mysterious at times that the same work flow would produce results as expected and at other times simply do not work......I rarely have a session that some issue does not arise but with experience generally find a way to get through....it always seems to be something different
  • hansslegershansslegers
    After several mails and trying different things Cactus helpdesk advised me to do, I ended up with no results. It is very strange that 2 units doesn't work anymore. I was advised to send them for service but my warranty has passed for 6 months . So I have to buy new ones. But I am hesitating. I love the cactus, but this issue is concerning me. Is there anyone with the same problem?
  • kenjkenj
    Admin said:

    hansslegers said:

    When I take a photo the camera doesn't trigger the flash but the flash does go off when the test button is used.

    Please check our email regarding possible ways to diagnosing the problem.
  • kenjkenj
    I have intermittent problems the likes of which you describe as well. One of the anomalies I notice is that when I'm having the problem, the battery power indicators will show less than full battery power. When I remove the batteries to test them, they'll both be well above 1.5 volts. I wonder if you've noticed your battery indications when you're having problems. I also wonder what could drop the power between the battery and the indication. Could the reduced power be not sending enough electricity between the V6 contacts and the flash contacts?
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