RC Switch 433MHz not receiving signals from flash trigger

Projects General Guidance
1

So I am using this RC Switch example sketch to try to get the remote codes for this cheap flash trigger I just got. However I get nothing. I also tried the "advanced" receive demo sketch and got nothing in the serial monitor. I am using these type of RX/TX.

I tried my light switch remote and it read those codes just fine. I also tried a 315MHz receiver just in case the device is labeled wrong, but I got no different results. Or any results for that matter. The remote itself works fine with the receivers it came with.

Is there anything I can do to troubleshoot? Am I just out of luck with this thing?

2

You are just out of luck with that remote.

But now the fun part begins.
You can record the pulses with SDR (Software Defined Radio).
And I'm sure someone already discovered the bit stream that is used for the flash lights.
This is a blog about it: Sniffing Canon’s ETTL protocol | Bill Grundmann's Blog
It seems to be a lot harder than I thought.

3

From the description of the flash unit , its using FM, which means the receiver you have simply wont work, as its
an ASK (AM) receiver.

4

mauried:
From the description of the flash unit , its using FM, which means the receiver you have simply wont work, as its
an ASK (AM) receiver.

Ah, well I am glad there is an explanation at least.... Does there exist an FM TX/RX module that I can use with arduino similar to my AM TX/RX?

5

If you have the existing transmitter unit, and are OK with opening it, e.g. using a saw (though it may not be that hard to pop it open)

You could take a look at what the push button on the transmitter unit actually does

The simplest way to trigger using the Arduino is to use a relay, but that may be too slow for you.
A reed relay is faster, but still may not be fast enough.

You may be able to use an opto couple in place of the button (they should be plenty fast enough), but you'd need to measure the voltages on the push button.

I'd not bother trying to find an FM transmitter, as you'd also need to work out what frequency and protocol etc they use, and it would be much easier just to fool the sending into thinking you've physically pushed the button