Paul C. Buff, Inc. Technical Forum

So I finally tried out a CC/Einstein setup (latest firmware on both I'm using a middle channel instead of the default) for the first time this weekend (I know...took a while, but I was really hoping RP would get their act together and release a Einstein power control receiver).

Just a general question for folks who have used the Cybercommander consistently: have you ever had random sequence of misfires? By misfire, I mean it doesn't trigger.
I had that this weekend and am a bit spooked. It was working great, then would then only occasionally trigger. So I pulled a plan B and switched to using the RP.
The modeling lamp turned off for a little while also (the CC was sitting on a chair so it had nothing to do with it), but I think that was because the Einstein overheated (first time I had to use a sock over a BD because the model complained the images were too sharp and showed bad skin :-)
Later on, I decided to give the CC another try and it was reliable (MUA was packed up). Tested again after the shoot and everything was fine (one or all Einsteins). The only thing I can think of that was slightly different was the MUA had a curling iron and airbrush plugged into the same power strip as one of the Einsteins when the CC misfired.
CC was on top of the camera, though when it misfired, I also pulled it hit the test button on the CC w/ the same misfire behavior (roughly every other press didn't fire).

On a positive note, metering one einstein at a time worked great...this is something that was painful w/ the RP JrX because you couldn't set the everything back to the same point after you tested one channel.
I verified the meter readings w/ a Sekonic and it was pretty much spot on (maybe .1 stop error at most).
Powering the entire setup up/down is cool...everyone thought the power went out when I hit the configuration where everything goes into standby by mistake ;)
Naming a configuration would really be useful (sorry, Paul), even if it would be by painfully using the joystick to scroll through the alphabet like we used to in the old days of arcade games before virtual keyboards and touch screens :)

I have isolated my misfires to a conflict with my wireless-N network. When I am pumping images out to viewing stations I have lots of misfires. When I am not I do not. I've changed channels and frequencies but I have found the best choices yet that eliminate all the misfires. Meanwhile I stop the transfers if I need to shoot a session.

A .1 stop difference would be a more accurate statement. Sekonic meters can vary by .1f or more between themselves, brand new, purchased simultaneously. I do believe, however, you were remarking that the difference is so small as to be negligible, which is the case.

A hair dryer or curling iron would not impact the radio triggering. While rare, if there was any radio interference, changing frequencies would likely dial you out of the problem. There is also the possibility of contact issues, or camera setting issues. A proper trouble shooting would be needed to say for sure what was going on.

Any idea what frequencies your wireless N network is on?
This is in the city with a bunch of wifi APs near by, so that could very well be the case...

And are you using CC only like me or have you tried using a CST on camera?

The CST and CC on the camera both misfire. I have tried them both. Also when this happens my files transfers take about 10 times longer than normal.