600 EX-RT radio problems

[bruceplotkin]

I've been having problems while shooting weddings with my 600EX-RT flashes not firing as slaves (radio mode) consistently. I've talked with CPS and we ran through all the possible issues including channel changing but other than trying to upgrade to the newer flash version we can't seem to come up with a solution. The master-slave firing works fine in my office but when at an event the slaves might start off firing but then stop working, even as I move closer to them with the master. Again I've tested out looking for the strongest channel and changing them accordingly. My other photographer, ,using the Chinese versions, has no problems. This has happened  multiple times/. Wondering if anyone else experiences this.

[PamM]

I also have been having issues with my Canon flashes dropping their link to the transmitter, this started about 5 years ago and has got progressively worse such that my last shoot the link dropped out hundreds of times and I wasted 3 hours to get 3 shots. Originally I found this with my MK III but has got worse since I purchased my R5 3 years ago. I rang Canon support Australia and they just said bundle up my transmitter, flashed and Camera and post them all interstate and they would look at them. This was an unacceptable solution,  I then rang Sun Studios here in Melbourne where I purchased the camera and the person (Rob) who answered the phone knew exactly the problem and indicated that the ‘interference’ was due close proximity to , mobile phone and 5G. This makes sense as this issue is sporadic, location dependent and unpredictable. His solution was to set the Channel of my transmitter and all the flashes to ‘Auto” and ensure that I reset the ID of each of the above to a PIN that I would remember and would be unique. Apparently’Auto’ enables the units to optimise themselves to dynamically choose a Chennel that has minimal interference.  I can report that THIS WORKS!!!! I did a shoot today and did not have one link drop out at the previous location where it dropped out after very shot. This problem was causing me such grief I had been professionally embarrassed so many times for ‘wasting’ clients precious time and losing what would have been winning shots, and consequently this has cost my business.  I cannot believe that Canon did not know of this problem and its solution and did not let registered camera owners know of this issue and the very easy solution.  So good luck and especially a big thank you to Rob from Sun Studios!!!

[BillWayToday]

Yes it's RF "interference".  2.4GHz is massively over-used by millions of IoT devices - including our beloved speedlites.  You should see what my spectrum analyzer shows!  Optical is a solution, but with limitations of course.  In studio I've converted to continuous light (which has some nice advantages anyhow).  

Apparently other brands of trigger systems work better.  See other posts here.