Difference between revisions of "PlusX"

Revision as of 13:34, 4 March 2013

The PlusX is a radio transceiver, capable of acting as a transmitter or receiver for triggering remote flashes and cameras. To use the PlusX at least one other PocketWizard radio is required. With the proper cable, it can be connected to any remote flash or camera.

Much like its predecessors, the Plus II and Plus III, the PlusX is a manual flash trigger and is compatible with all PocketWizard radios on the same frequency. The PlusX transmits and receives on Standard Channels, not on ControlTL Channels used by other radios for TTL flash power control.

PlusX Basics

Connecting

The PlusX can be connected to your camera in two different ways, either through the top shoe of the camera or with a sync cable.

Top Shoe: Slide the PlusX into the top shoe of the camera and secure it using the locking ring. Make sure to orient the antenna to the back of the camera while placing the radio into the hot shoe.

Sync Cable: If you are using a camera with no hot shoe, the hot shoe cannot be used, or you are remotely triggering your camera, connect the transmitting PlusX’s Flash/Camera Port to the camera’s sync terminal. The PlusX can also be connected to almost any flash using the appropriate sync cable. Visit the PocketWizard Cable Finder to find the correct cable for your camera or flash.

Powering On/Off

Locate the switch on the left hand side of the radio (with the channel selector facing you). When the switch is down the unit is off and when in the up position it is on. When the unit is on the Channel Selector will be lit up and the Battery Indicator will blink.

Channels

To change the channel on your radio simply turn the Channel Selector to find your desired channel. Turning the Channel Selector clockwise will change the channel in ascending order, turning it counter-clockwise will change the channel in descending order. When selecting your channel, make sure that the dial fully clicks into place otherwise you may not be transmitting/receiving on the correct channel.

Note: All radios MUST be on the same channel to properly trigger remote flashes or cameras (except when using Auto-Relay).

Battery Indicator

The LED on the top of the PlusX will blink three different colors (green,amber, and red) at different intervals to indicate the remaining battery power.

• One green blink indicates between 100% to 50% remaining battery life.
• Two amber blinks indicates between 50% to 25% remaining battery life.
• Three red blinks indicates less than 25% remaining battery life.

Remote Flash Triggering

With transmitting and receiving PocketWizard® radios set to the same channel, remote flashes will be synchronized with the camera.

1. Attach a PlusX to your camera’s hot shoe. You may also connect the PlusX radio to your camera’s PC sync port using the appropriate cable.
2. Connect a PlusX to your remote flash via the appropriate sync cable.
3. Select a Channel. Set any other PocketWizard radios to matching the previously set Channel.
4. Take pictures normally at or below your camera’s X-sync speed.

Momentarily pressing the TEST button will test trigger the flash.

Remote Camera Triggering

With transmitting and receiving PocketWizard® radios set to the same channel, remote flashes will be synchronized with the camera.

1. Connect PlusX to your remote camera via the appropriate remote camera cable.
2. Select a Channel.
3. Press the TEST button on the transmitting PocketWizard radio or fire the camera in your hands. The remote camera will trigger.

Features

Transmit Only Mode

Transmit Only mode allows you to disable the receiver function of the PlusX. Use this mode when sharing remote flashes with other photographers. This mode will prevent other photographers from triggering the PlusX on your camera.

To put the PlusX into Transmit Only Mode:

1. Start with the radio powered off.
2. Press and hold the TEST button.
3. Turn on the radio and then release the TEST button

If performed correctly the selected channel should blink. To disable this mode simply turn the radio off and then back on again.

Auto-Relay

Auto-Relay allows you to trigger remote flashes in sync with a remote camera and requires only three PocketWizard radios. Using Auto-Relay is the only situation where not all PocketWizard radios are set to the same channel since the relaying radio triggers them one channel higher than it received on.

To preform Auto-Relay:

1. Set your transmitting PocketWizard radio to your desired channel.
2. Set the relaying PocketWizard radio for your remote camera to the same channel as the radio in your hands.
3. Connect the relaying PocketWizard radio’s Flash/Camera Port to the remote camera triggering post of the camera via a remote camera cable.
4. Slide the relaying PlusX into the remote camera’s hot shoe.
5. Connect your remote flash to a PocketWizard receiving radio via the appropriate sync cable and set it to one channel higher than the transmitting PocketWizard radio in your hands.
6. Press and release TEST on the PocketWizard transmitter in your hands to fire both the remote camera and remote flash in sync.

Sustaining High Performance

Your PocketWizard radios use the environment as a medium for transmitting and receiving radio signals. The performance of your radios depends on their placement in the environment, nearby radio interference, and the radios’ orientation and position relative to each other.

Wireless Basics

Whenever possible, maintain a line of sight between radios and keep antennas parallel. Make sure radios are not near any large metal, concrete, or high water-content objects. People and trees are mostly water! Make sure radios are not blocked by these objects or by hills.

The PlusX Transceiver’s antenna is fairly omnidirectional and its orientation should not significantly impact performance in most shooting scenarios, but optimizing for radio reception will always improve the maximum range.

Maintain at least a 12” distance between antennas. Avoid direct antenna contact with anything metallic. “Dead spots” have a number of causes, but the solution is usually the same: move the radio a few inches or feet away from the problem area.

Technical Information