Paul C. Buff, Inc. Technical Forum

Hoping somebody can help me out here...I can't get my B800s to fire using the CST and CSR from my EOS 7D at all. I've reviewed a lot of the previous forum questions about similar issues and have taken the following actions to try and rectify the situation:
- Made sure E-TTL II was set to manual on the camera
- Disabled Live View
- Made sure camera was in manual shooting mode
- Lightly pushed down on the CST to ensure contact with the the hot shoe
- Turned the CST backwards
- Ensured the CST and CSR were on the same channel
- Changed the battery on the CST
I am able to get the B800s to fire if I push the test button on the back of the strobes, but that's the only way. The light on the CSR flashes green when it is plugged into the strobe, however, all I get is a single red light flash if I push the test button on the CST or CSR. This is starting to drive me insane because I haven't been able to use my strobes in over a year because of this issue. Can anyone help?

Sounds like the CSR is broken...the test button on it should fire the strobe...

How are you connecting the CSR to the Bee?

The power cord from the CSR to the back of the bee and the power cord belonging to the bee to the power socket on the CSR.

You also need to connect the CSR to the Bee with the sync cable that came with the CSR. It's a mono 1/8" plug. Plug it into the sync port on the Bee and the port on the CSR.

I have the sync cord connected correctly as well...Forgot that part in my previous reply.

With the power cord connected to the bottom of teh reciever, and the power cord of the reciever going to the light, do the following tests in order. Note when the light fails to fire, as this help determine the cause:

-Does light fire from its own test button?
-Does the light fire when you plug in the 1/8" cord into the hole marked "sync"?
-Does the light fire when you plug in the 1/8" cord into the hole on the side of the reciever?
-Does the light fire from the test button of the reciever?

Make sure the frequency dials of the reciever and transmitter match. The indicator on the dial is the deeper darker cut end of the dial. Odd numbered frequencies are marked, even frequencies are unmarked and lie between the odd frequencies. Once this is done, continue with the following tests:

-Does the flash fire when the test button on the CST is pressed?
-If not, does the LED on the reciever blink red when the button on the transmitter is pressed and released?
-If not, does the LED on the CST blink red when the button is pressed and released?
-Does the flash fire from the hotshoe when the shutter button is pressed?

The light fires from its own test button.
The light fires when I plug the sync cord into the hole marked "sync"
The light fires when I plug the sync cord into the hole on the side of the receiver
The light DOES NOT fire from the 'test' button on the receiver. All I get is a single red LED flash after I release the test button.

With that series of tests completed, should I continue on to the next set of tests?

You're shorting pins when you plug the wire in like that.
Are you using the official cybersync cable? Or are these your cables?
Cybersyncs need mono cables...not stereo (count the #segments on the tip...there should be 2)...

I know TS will respond soon but the cable sounds suspect to me also. Must be mono and, I believe, "non-attenuated" to work properly.