topic Re: Radio communication issues.EL-1, 600EXII-RT, 430EXIII-RT, YN686EX-RT, ST-E3-RT Speedlite Transmi in Speedlite Flashes

Radio communication issues.EL-1, 600EXII-RT, 430EXIII-RT, YN686EX-RT, ST-E3-RT Speedlite Transmitter

ZR — Sat, 05 Nov 2022 03:05:06 GMT

Hello, Canon. Hi everyone, I've been a professional wedding and event photographer for 25 years, and in the last two years. I have used around six off-camera flash techniques using the six flashes mentioned above. After hundreds of weddings in the previous month, I have connection-linking issues. I read and checked every tutorial possible, and nothing helped.:( I know the menu's sub menus' custom settings, and the only flash linked for hours is the Yonguno YN686EX-RT. All of my Canon brands flash, losing connection after 5-minute. I attached two cellphone photos where you can see the problems after 5-minute. CANON or some of you guys have any idea what's going on? PLEASE HELP ME! Thank you so much.

Re: Radio communication issues.EL-1, 600EXII-RT, 430EXIII-RT, YN686EX-RT, ST-E3-RT Speedlite Transmi

ZR — Sat, 05 Nov 2022 03:12:36 GMT

I forgot in my previous post to mention I'm using three cameras, two R5s, and one R6.

Re: Radio communication issues.EL-1, 600EXII-RT, 430EXIII-RT, YN686EX-RT, ST-E3-RT Speedlite Transmi

Mannies17 — Mon, 07 Nov 2022 01:44:28 GMT

I have the same exact problem.
2 EL1’s. 3 600’s. 2 R6 cameras. All combinations of sender receiver produce link drops when with the EL1s.

The one space the signal interrupts is in my house. I would say 5 of the 20 wedding venues had the same wireless disruption problem. Random link drops.

What is up with this??? I’m way too invested to back out, yet cannot keep resetting these when I have 30 family members in front of me for church family photos.

Re: Radio communication issues.EL-1, 600EXII-RT, 430EXIII-RT, YN686EX-RT, ST-E3-RT Speedlite Transmi

Danfaz — Tue, 08 Nov 2022 02:00:49 GMT

Wifi interference appears to be the issue.

Re: Radio communication issues.EL-1, 600EXII-RT, 430EXIII-RT, YN686EX-RT, ST-E3-RT Speedlite Transmi

halocastle — Mon, 14 Nov 2022 18:17:51 GMT

Have you read this extensive thread (and no, it's NOT solved):

https://community.usa.canon.com/t5/Speedlite-Flashes/Canon-600EX-II-RT-drops-link-HELP/td-p/334018

I'd like to see you take the ST-E3-RT out of the loop and rotate your flashes as the master just to test other scenarios so we can gather more data and insight as to what's going on.

I complain often to this email: canonflash@cits.canon.com

You'll get, "...you're doing it wrong," ...try a different location" (great advice for wedding photogs), or "...send it in for repair" which is probably the last thing you'll want to do.

I use channel 15 and ID 9999 with great(er) success indoors. Outdoors I encounter more drops. I have some Flahspoint triggers on the way -- HEAR THAT CANON!

Re: Radio communication issues.EL-1, 600EXII-RT, 430EXIII-RT, YN686EX-RT, ST-E3-RT Speedlite Transmi

troywh — Fri, 02 Dec 2022 19:57:39 GMT

Same issue with two 600EXII-RT and ST-E3-RT, was having link drops within 5-10mins at house and office building. Would have to cycle power on all units to re-link. Unplugged an Apple Homepod Mini and no link drops over an hour, even with the ST-E3-RT Auto Power On enabled. Plugged the homepod back in and the issue return. So it could be something similar to a Homepod causing radio interference. I've tried changing the channel 1-15, and Radio ID 0000,9999 with no success. I do not have the same sync issues with a Godox AD200 and R2Mark II trigger in the same area.

Re: Radio communication issues.EL-1, 600EXII-RT, 430EXIII-RT, YN686EX-RT, ST-E3-RT Speedlite Transmi

ZR — Thu, 08 Dec 2022 21:41:28 GMT

Okay, guys, thank you for your answers. The problem is not solved.:) CANON, LISTEN TO THIS!!! I tried all suggestions above, and thank you so much for that. Still, my first post about this issue; I have a Canon R3 and the new STE-10 transmitter. I love them, but the situation has become worst than I can imagine. With the new $119 STE-10 and my $890 EL-1, after a few minutes, of flawless exceptional function, drop the link just to the expensive Canon brand flashes EL-1, 600EXII-RT, and all other Canon flashes. My two inexpensive Yonguno YN600EX-RT II and YN686EX-RT keep a connection for hours without any problem with STE-3, STE-10, or any Canon Flash in the master position. CANON, WHY IS THIS GOOD FOR YOU??? I will sell all my canon brand flashes because nobody can fix this problem, and I don't trust Canon flashes. With this $95 trigger, Yonguno YN-RT II, I will try one more thing. If this cheap trigger is okay with Canon brand flashes to keep the link between them alive for hours, I will sell all of my untrusted Canon flashes. SORRY CANON, BUT YOU GUYS, UNTIL NOW, NEVER HELPED ME WITH THIS ISSUE.

Re: Radio communication issues.EL-1, 600EXII-RT, 430EXIII-RT, YN686EX-RT, ST-E3-RT Speedlite Transmi

Danfaz — Thu, 08 Dec 2022 22:03:08 GMT

What I'm wondering is why this seems to have suddenly started happening with so many people? My flashes never lost connection. Then all of a sudden they started to last Fall. 2 R6s, 2 600EXII-RTs, and an ST-E3-RT. All possible combinations (with and without the ST-E3-RT as Sender) were tested and the links were lost at random times. I sent all of these to be diagnosed at Canon, and no issues were found. It's simply baffling.

Re: Radio communication issues.EL-1, 600EXII-RT, 430EXIII-RT, YN686EX-RT, ST-E3-RT Speedlite Transmi

ZR — Thu, 08 Dec 2022 22:18:15 GMT

Exactly, I've been an off-camera flash photographer for 25 years. I love Canon, but this issue is very frustrating. They don't know (CANON) why the cheapest third-party flash manufacturers like Yonguno are never losing the connection between flashes and cameras.

Re: Radio communication issues.EL-1, 600EXII-RT, 430EXIII-RT, YN686EX-RT, ST-E3-RT Speedlite Transmi

ZR — Thu, 08 Dec 2022 22:24:04 GMT

I know, but the cheap Yonguno flashes keep working. CANON why is this good for you? Why CANON you, don't have the answers for us?

Re: Radio communication issues.EL-1, 600EXII-RT, 430EXIII-RT, YN686EX-RT, ST-E3-RT Speedlite Transmi

ZR — Thu, 08 Dec 2022 22:25:50 GMT

I know this is frustrating. You can not trust your gear.:(

Re: Radio communication issues.EL-1, 600EXII-RT, 430EXIII-RT, YN686EX-RT, ST-E3-RT Speedlite Transmi

ZR — Thu, 08 Dec 2022 22:28:50 GMT

Updated info Canon R3, two R5's, STE-10, STE-3, the same issue.

Re: Radio communication issues.EL-1, 600EXII-RT, 430EXIII-RT, YN686EX-RT, ST-E3-RT Speedlite Transmi

tiffanyljohnson — Fri, 09 Dec 2022 15:27:13 GMT

Oh my goodness I am so glad I found this thread! I have been a wedding photographer for TEN YEARS, and this just EXACT ISSUE started happening to me 2 months ago.

I've tried combinations of:

- 2 brand new R6 bodies with fresh batteries

- 2 Canon transmitters ST-E3-RT (one brand new)

- a combination of 4 Canon 600 ex Rt II (one brand new)

- all fresh, fully charged Enloop batteries

- Tried different channels, different custom ID numbers, turning flashes on/off, etc.

Like all of you, this mainly happens in homes or venues - indoors. It's absolutely embarrassing to be messing with these in front of clients, and my gear isn't working. As a wedding photographer, I can't have untrustworthy gear. This is awful!!!!!

Any solutions yet? CANON PLEASE HELP US!!!!!!!

Re: Radio communication issues.EL-1, 600EXII-RT, 430EXIII-RT, YN686EX-RT, ST-E3-RT Speedlite Transmi

Hazel_T — Fri, 09 Dec 2022 23:48:31 GMT

Hi ZR and the other posters on this thread,

I'm sorry to see you're all having issues with your transmitters and flashes losing communication. Through Canon support we do not have information on non-Canon equipment, so we do not have information on the capabilities of the Younguno flashes mentioned in this thread.

Looking at the replies in this chain it looks like you've all tried the main things to check with connection issues. Things like replacing the batteries in case some of them have lost the ability to hold charge and checking different channels. Another thing to check is to try pairing a single flash with the transmitter one at a time to see if the same thing happens. Sometimes if one of the flashes is malfunctioning it can cause issues like this. If this is only happening with a specific flash we would recommend sending that flash in for repair.

Another thing is related to interferance. Normally changing the channel to the strongest listed one can help in cases like that, but even then sometimes interference can still cause the connection to drop. Typically when that is the cause it will happen in one location but not another. If the issue is only happening in specific locations it would be good to check the channel strength on each flash in the set-up. It could be there is more interferance on one channel for one of the flashes and not on another.

We do take feedback from emails and forum posts into consideration when considering product updates. I have already alerted them to this email, but if you want to contact them directly in the future they can be reached by going to our website HERE and selecting Feedback in the top left corner of the site. We do take customer suggestions and feedback into consideration when we are updating our products and processes.

Re: Radio communication issues.EL-1, 600EXII-RT, 430EXIII-RT, YN686EX-RT, ST-E3-RT Speedlite Transmi

ZR — Sat, 10 Dec 2022 01:06:58 GMT

Hello, Hazel, Believe me, I tried everything you mentioned before. Canon r3 with STE-10 brand new and with my EL-1 $1100 flash. The problem is the same.:( I played with submenus with channels etc., everything and no result. I have no time to deal with the service time of two or three weeks when you shoot 20 wedding events per month. I bought more Yonguno flashes for $135 and a trigger for $95, which are perfect with no link drops. I lost hours and days to figure out something; It's not okay with the canon flashes in slave mode. The EL-1 is almost a perfect flash-on camera, but it's a shame when I want to use it in an off-camera style in slave; the function time is maybe 10 minutes. I spent more than $3000 on Canon brand flashes and will sell them now because I can't trust them. By the way, I ordered from Amazon the Yonguno transmitter, and with STE-10, and STE-3, the Yonguno flashes function hours without any misfire or link drops. Hazel, Please let me know if you find something NEW that I have not tried yet, to resolve this issue.

Re: Radio communication issues.EL-1, 600EXII-RT, 430EXIII-RT, YN686EX-RT, ST-E3-RT Speedlite Transmi

ZR — Sat, 10 Dec 2022 01:12:26 GMT

Hazel, please check this out; here is my website I am a professional photographer from 25 years. https://zoltanwedding.photography

Re: Radio communication issues.EL-1, 600EXII-RT, 430EXIII-RT, YN686EX-RT, ST-E3-RT Speedlite Transmi

tiffanyljohnson — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 14:16:17 GMT

Any updates if you've had any luck with your Canon flashes? I'm debating whether to drop all the extra money on the Yonguno flashes to have as backup. Such a huge disappointment with Canon. They just told me to send all my flashes in to CPS, which would end up costing me hundreds just for them to even START the process. 😞

Re: Radio communication issues.EL-1, 600EXII-RT, 430EXIII-RT, YN686EX-RT, ST-E3-RT Speedlite Transmi

tiffanyljohnson — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 14:18:31 GMT

This EXACT issue just started happening to me around the same timeframe as you. Same setup: 3 R6s, 4 600EXII-RTs, and 2 ST-E3-RTs. What a disappointment. I'm assuming they did charge you to diagnose at Canon?

Re: Radio communication issues.EL-1, 600EXII-RT, 430EXIII-RT, YN686EX-RT, ST-E3-RT Speedlite Transmi

Henchmen360 — Fri, 06 Jan 2023 05:35:53 GMT

I’ve been having the same issue since switching over from my 5D Mark II. With that body I used the ST-E3-RT, 135MM, 85MM, and 35MM prime EF L lenses. No issues at all. Once I switched over to the Canon R body started using 14-35MM RF lens and my original ST-E3-RT, the drop link issue started.

I’ve also followed the suggestions (specific channel, ids, etc…) but issue still persists.

I did also notice that I did get improved performance when I disabled both Bluetooth and WiFi settings on the R body. My thought is the issue is related to some type of interference (as suggested above) since I didn’t have this with my old 5D Mark II body.

One more test I’m going to do is take this outdoors away from any WIFI.

Re: Radio communication issues.EL-1, 600EXII-RT, 430EXIII-RT, YN686EX-RT, ST-E3-RT Speedlite Transmi

tiffanyljohnson — Fri, 06 Jan 2023 18:21:14 GMT

Wow, this is exactly me! How disheartening. Thank you for the tip on disabling bluetooth/wifi, since this always happens for me indoors. I will try to see if that helps any.

I just shipped off my R6, new flashes, transmitters, and lens to Canon to have them look at it. They said everything was fine - so that is a huge disappointment. It must be interference.

What a huge disappointment, Canon! Can you please help all of us???