Difference between revisions of "Plus IV"

Revision as of 09:16, 26 December 2019

PocketWizard announced the E Release firmware upgrade on September 12, 2019 for the Plus III and Plus IV radios. The information below applies to both Plus IV and Plus IVe Transceivers. Please see our PocketWizard E Release page for details. Operational differences between the two generations of firmware are noted below.

The Plus IV is a radio transceiver, capable of acting as a transmitter or receiver for triggering remote flashes and cameras. It requires at least one other PocketWizard radio for wireless triggering. It can be connected to almost any remote flash or camera with the proper cable.

Like the Plus III, the Plus IV is a manual flash trigger. It is compatible with all other PocketWizard radios operating on the same frequency. Learn more about the frequencies we use on our Frequency Page. It can transmit and receive on Standard Channels, not the ControlTL Channels used by some other radios for TTL flash and power control.

Plus IV Basics

Connecting

Connect a Plus IV to your camera via the hot shoe. This will be your transmitting radio. Connect a Plus IV to each of your remote flashes using the appropriate sync cable or via the flash's hot shoe. These will be your receiving radios. If you are using a camera with no hot shoe, or the hot shoe cannot be used, connect the transmitting Plus IV’s Flash/Camera Port to the camera’s sync terminal. Visit our cablefinder for correct camera cable.

Powering On/Off

Make sure batteries are properly installed. To turn on your Plus IV, move the switch on the side to "on". After a power on confirmation, the Status LED blinks green every few seconds to indicate normal operation. It will blink red in sync with a trigger. To turn off your Plus IV, move the switch on the side to "off".

Channels & Zones

Your Plus IV needs to be on the same Channel as other PocketWizard radios. The radios must also have the same firmware. A radio with Legacy firmware will not be able to communicate with a radio with the E Release. Channels can be set via the Plus IV’s Channel Up/Down Buttons.

• Legacy Firmware: When using Channels 17-32, you can specify Zones A, B, C, and D. See Channels and Zones section below for more info.
• E Release Firmware: When using E Channels 1-32, you can specify Zones A, B, C, and D. When using LR Channels 1-80, you can specify Zones A, B, C, and D. See Channels and Zones section below for more info.

Remote Flash Triggering

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

1. Attach a Plus IV to your camera’s hot shoe. You may also connect the Plus IV radio to your camera’s PC sync port using a PC to miniphone cable.
2. Connect a Plus IV to your remote flash via the appropriate sync cable or by putting the flash in the top hot shoe of the Plus IV.
3. Select Channel and Zone A, B, C, or D via Channel Up/Down Buttons and Zone Toggle Buttons. Set any other PocketWizard radios to a matching Channel and Zone. See the “Using Zones” section for more information.
4. Take pictures normally at or below your camera’s X-sync speed.

Momentarily pressing the TEST button will test trigger the flash.

Remote Manual Flash with Local TTL Flash

Plus IV Transceivers do not transmit TTL information. You can use a TTL flash in the top hot shoe of the transmitting Plus IV, in the camera's hot shoe, and have remote flashes (not in TTL mode) triggered by PocketWizard radios. The remote flashes will ONLY work in manual mode, up to X-sync.

There is a 1/2000 second delay when triggering via PocketWizard radios. This means your radio remote flashes will trigger 1/2000 second after your camera connected flash triggers. For very fast moving objects this may result in image streaking or 2 distinct flash moments on the same image (double exposures).

Remote Camera Triggering

A Plus IV, paired with any PocketWizard transmitter, can be used to trigger a remote camera. The camera needs to have an electronic shutter release connection and have a compatible PocketWizard motor drive cable available. Please visit www.PocketWizard.com to determine the correct motor drive cable. With transmitting and receiving PocketWizard® radios set to the same channel and zone, remote flashes will be synchronized with the camera.

1. Connect Plus IV to your remote camera via the appropriate remote camera cable.
2. Select Channel and Zone A, B, C, or D via the Channel Up/Down Buttons and Zone Toggle Buttons.
3. Press the TEST button on the transmitting PocketWizard radio or fire the camera in your hands. The remote camera will trigger.

If the transmitting PocketWizard radio in your hands is a Plus III, you can pre-release the remote camera by pressing the TEST button half way. This wakes up the remote camera and lets it respond more quickly and consistently. It can also engage autofocus. A Plus IV can receive the half press signal but cannot send it. Only a Plus III can send the half press signal.

• Legacy Firmware: This function is available when using QuadZone Triggering Channels 17-32.
• E Release Firmware: This function is available on all QuadZone Triggering Channels - E Channels 1-32 and LR Channels 1-80.

If you are using a handheld camera to transmit to a remote handheld camera (with Plus IVs on each camera), we suggest using a -ACC cable on both cameras for best results. Using QuadZone Triggering Channels and half pressing on your transmitting camera's shutter button will keep both cameras set to pre-release and enables the cameras to respond more quickly and consistently.

NOTE: A remote radio connected to a remote camera by a remote camera cable will automatically engage Auto Relay mode and send out a trigger on the next higher Channel. If you do not wish to engage Auto Relay mode, see the Disable Hot Shoe section below.

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. For more details about Relay Mode, please see the Relay Mode page.

1. Set the transmitting PocketWizard radio in your hands to a desired Channel and Zone.
2. Set the relaying Plus IV for your remote camera to the same Channel as the radio in your hands and set Triggering Mode to TxRx.
3. Connect the relaying Plus IV’s Flash/Camera Port to the remote camera triggering port of the camera via a remote camera cable.
4. Slide the relaying Plus IV into your remote camera’s hot shoe.
5. Connect your remote flash to a PocketWizard receiver 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 begin the sequence. Make sure your transmitting and relaying PocketWizard radios are set to the same Zone.

• Legacy Firmware: Simply use the next higher Channel as described above for the receiving radios for the flashes.
• E Release Firmware: You can combine LR Channels with E Channels for this. Use the LR Channels for the transmitter to camera, then an E Channel for the flash(es). The Channel numbers and Zones need to match as described above. For example: LR Channel 1 in your hand, LR Channel 1 on the camera, and E Channel 2 for the flashes.

NOTE: A remote radio connected to a remote camera by a remote camera cable will automatically engage Auto Relay mode and send out a trigger on the next higher Channel. If you do not wish to engage Auto Relay mode, see the Disable Hot Shoe section below.

Modes of Operation

The Plus® IV Transceiver supports six modes of triggering for different applications. You can switch between modes by pressing and quickly releasing the MODE button.

	TxRx Mode allows the radio to be used as a transmitter attached to a camera or as a receiver connected to a remote flash or remote camera. As an Auto-Sensing Transceiver, the Plus III automatically switches between transmit and receive. This is the default mode.
	Tx Only Mode disables all receiving (Rx) functionality and allows you to use your Plus IV as a transmitter only. Use this mode when sharing remote flashes with other photographers. This mode will prevent other photographers from triggering the Plus IV on your camera.
	Rx Only Mode disables all transmit (Tx) functionality allowing you to use your Plus IV radios as receivers for remote flashes or remote cameras. Use this mode when you do not want a remote Plus IV to perform relay functions when mounted in the shoe of a remote camera, or to prevent a remote Plus IV from triggering other radios when its TEST button is pressed.
	LR (Long Range) Mode dramatically increases the maximum range of a radio in a given shooting environment. Long Range Mode must be enabled on both transmitting and receiving radios. Use this mode when triggering remote cameras at greater distances. It can also be used with remote flash, but there may be a reduction in maximum X-sync speed. This function behaves differently with Legacy firmware than with the E Release upgrade. Please see below for details.
	RP (Repeater) Mode allows you add one or more Plus IV radio(s) between a pair of transmitting and receiving units to extend your range and increase the maximum triggering distance. This mode is recommended when triggering remote cameras. It can be used with flash with a reduction in maximum X-sync speed. This is not the same operation as Auto-Relay Mode This function behaves differently with Legacy firmware than with the E Release upgrade. Please see below for details.
	HSR (High Speed Receive) Mode shortens the contact time of the Flash/Camera Port, allowing for triggering of remote flashes at higher FPS (frames per second).

LR (Long Range) Mode Details:

• Legacy Firmware: Hit the Mode button to select LR mode. This function is only available in QuadZone Triggering Channels 17-32. Both the transmitting and receiving PocketWizard radios must be set to LR.
• E Release Firmware: Hit the Mode button to select LR mode. You can now choose from LR Channels 1-80. Both the transmitting and receiving PocketWizard radios must be set to LR.

RP (Repeater) Mode Details:

• Legacy Firmware: This mode automatically retransmits any triggers on the selected Channel. Place a Plus IV half way between the transmitting and receiving radios and set the transceivers all for the same Channel. You may use multiple repeaters for extremely long distances. Make sure each repeating radio can only receive the signal from one other radio, otherwise an endless trigger loop could occur! Put the transmitting radio into Tx ONLY Mode for best performance when using Repeater Mode.
• E Release Firmware: RP mode with the E Release uses different Channels. Set the transmitting and first Repeater radio to the same Channel. Then increase the Channel number for each successive repeater unit. For example: If you are using ONE Repeater in the middle, set the transmitting and Repeater radio to Channel 1. Set the receiving radio to Channel 2. If you are using a total of 5 radios for a very long distance, set the transmitter and first Repeater to Channel 1, the second Repeater to Channel 2, the third Repeater to Channel 3, and the receiving radio to Channel 4.

Channels and Zones

Some PocketWizard® radios, like the MiniTT1® or FlexTT5®, operate on Standard Channels as well as ControlTL® Channels. ControlTL Channels work with TTL or remote flash power control. The Plus IV with Legacy firmware installed can work with any PocketWizard radio transmitting or receiving on Classic Channels, not ControlTL Channels. Plus IVs that have been upgraded to the E Release can only work with other radios that have also been upgraded to E Release firmware. A radio that has been upgraded to the E Release can also be downgraded at any time via the Utility to work with Legacy Channels.

• Legacy Firmware: The Plus® IV Transceiver supports 32 different Standard Channels. Each Standard Channel represents a digital code transmitted on specific PocketWizard radio frequencies. This enables many photographers to work in the same area or for one photographer to exclusively control different sets of receivers. A Plus IV will trigger any number of receiving PocketWizard radios set to the same Channel. Radios set to different channels will not trigger each other. Press the Channel Up/Channel Down Buttons to change channels. Features that use Zones are only available on channels 17-32.
• E Release Firmware: The Plus® IV Transceiver supports 32 different E Channels and 80 different Long Range (LR) Channels. Each Standard Channel represents a digital code transmitted on specific PocketWizard radio frequencies. This enables many photographers to work in the same area or for one photographer to exclusively control different sets of receivers. A Plus IV will trigger any number of receiving PocketWizard radios set to the same Channel. Radios set to different channels will not trigger each other. Press the Channel Up/Channel Down Buttons to change Channels. To access the LR Channels, push the mode button until you see LR appear. The radio is now in Long Range mode and you are selecting LR Channels.

Zones can be used to toggle remote cameras or flashes on or off from a transmitting PocketWizard radio. Zones can also be used when sharing flashes with another photographer so only some of the remote flashes are shared, even when using the same Channel. Zones A, B, C, and D are selectable via the Plus IV’s Zone Toggle Buttons when using Channels 17-32. The enabled Zones are displayed in a box on the right side of the LCD. You can enable any combination of all four Zones. A receiving Plus IV will only trigger if the transmitting PocketWizard radio has at least one matching Zone enabled.

• Legacy Firmware: Zones A, B, C, and D are selectable via the Plus IV’s Zone Toggle Buttons when using Channels 17-32.
• E Release Firmware: Zones A, B, C, and D are selectable via the Plus IV’s Zone Toggle Buttons when using all Channels - E Channels 1-32 and LR Channels 1-80.

Other Functions

TEST Button (Two Stage Trigger)

The Plus IV is capable of receiving a half press signal but not sending one. Half-pressing the TEST button on a transmitting Plus® III pre-releases a remote camera connected to a receiving Plus III or Plus IV with a remote -ACC camera cable. This wakes up the camera and makes it respond more quickly and consistently, but also reduces battery life. Half-pressing this button does not affect remote flashes. Fully pressing the TEST button fires any remote cameras or flashes connected to receiving PocketWizard radios set to the same Channel and Zones.

• Legacy Firmware: This function is available with QuadZone Triggering Channels 17-32 only.
• E Release Firmware: This function is available with all QuadZone Triggering Channels - E Channels 1-32 and LR Channels 1-80.

To learn more about receiving radios that are compatible with Plus III remote half-press, visit our Plus III Half-Press Compatibility page.

Status LED

When you first turn on the radio, you will see a specific power on signal.

• Legacy Firmware: You will see one bold green blink.
• E Release Firmware: You will see a red, green, red, green red sequence.

Then the Plus IV’s status LED will blink in one of three different colors and patterns: green, amber, or red.

1 (single) Green blink indicates good battery life.

2 (double) Amber blinks indicate the batteries are getting low or when TEST button is half-pressed.

3 (triple) Red blinks indicates batteries are critically low and should be changed immediately. The status LED turns solid red when Plus IV is transmitting or receiving a trigger.

Reset

To reset your Plus IV Transceiver back to the default setting, hold the TEST button as you power the radio on.

• Legacy Firmware: The default mode after a reset is TxRx on Channel 17 with all Zones enabled.
• E Release Firmware: The default mode after a reset is TxRx on Channel 1 with all Zones enabled.

USB

The Plus IV can be powered via USB with a compatible AC adapter or from most computers. Future firmware updates can be installed via the PocketWizard Utility.

Special Features

Fast Mode

The Plus IV can be set to trigger more quickly which reduces flash clipping at or around X-sync for some cameras. Clipping appears as a black bar, or underexposed area, usually at the bottom of your image. It can happen with slower shutter cameras (1/200 X-sync cameras usually have slower shutters), combined with a longer duration flash. These timing factors, combined with the time it takes for the Plus III to transmit and receive, can cause clipping in some situations. You can use either of these methods, or combine them, to speed up the Plus IV triggering time and possibly eliminate flash clipping in your images:

Method 1: Tx Only mode: Use the MODE button to set your on-camera radio to Tx Only Mode. This enables the Plus IV to respond about 15% faster to triggers from the camera. This simple method may be all you need to eliminate clipping for most situations.

Method 2: Fast Mode: Set your receiving radio, connected to a flash, to Fast Mode. This feature is only available on QuadZone Triggering Channels, and trades the ability to set a specific Zone for a faster trigger response time. You need to engage Fast Mode on each receiving Plus IV connected to a flash. Setting it on your on camera transmitting radio will have no effect.

• Legacy Firmware: This function is available when using QuadZone Triggering Channels 17-32.
• E Release Firmware: This function is available on all QuadZone Triggering Channels - E Channels 1-32 and LR Channels 1-80

To engage Fast Mode:

1. Set each receiving Plus IV to a QuadZone Triggering Channel.
2. Use the MODE button to set HSR (High Speed Receive) Mode. HSR Mode does not affect clipping by itself (it is for faster FPS (Frames Per Second)), but is required for Fast Mode. Note: HSR is different than HSS (High Speed Sync). This radio does not support HSS.
3. Turn off all Zones by pressing the letters A, B, C, or D until no Zone indicators are showing on the LCD. The Channel indicator will change from CH to F to indicate you have entered Fast Mode.

Hot Shoe Disable

This is a new feature that allows the photographer to disable the hot shoe contact. This is most commonly used when a Plus IV is in the hot shoe of a remote camera, to prevent Auto Relay Mode from engaging.

When using a PocketWizard radio in the hot shoe of a remote camera and connected by a remote cable, the radio will automatically transmit a relay signal one Channel higher than the signal it received. For example, if the transmitting radio and the radio connected to the camera are set to Channel 1, the radio connected to the camera will then relay a transmitting signal on Channel 2. If there is a separate receiving radio, it will fire on Channel 2. This is the way the product is designed to work.

However, if a second photographer is using Channel 2 and the first photographer is not using relay but just a remote camera, the relay signal could inadvertently trigger the second photographer’s equipment.

Normally that would not be an issue as there are rarely multiple PocketWizard shooters. In a situation like a professional basketball game, photographers need to register the Channels they plan to use. If a photographer is only planning on triggering remote cameras on (for example) Channel 24, another photographer could be assigned Channel 25. When the photographer using Channel 24 fires his camera remotely, his connected PocketWizard will trigger any receiving remotes set to Channel 25.

To disable the hot shoe of the Plus IVe, hold down the Zone D button for three seconds until the “CH” on the display changes to “Cd”. The Plus IV will not receive any signal from its hot shoe. To disable this feature simply hold the Zone D button for another three seconds until “Cd” switched back to “CH” on the display or turn the radio off. When the radio is turned back on, it will return to an active hot shoe.

• Legacy Firmware: This feature is not available with Legacy Plus IV firmware
• E Release Firmware: This feature is available in firmware version 2.605

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 Plus IV 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. Always obey the laws of physics.

Radio Basics

Always remove the batteries from electronic devices when storing the units for an extended period of time to prevent battery leakage. Remove spent batteries promptly.

Be sure you are using the most current version of firmware available.

If you are having any trouble with the radios, always start with a reset.

As with any electronic, store the unit in a cool, dry place, away from dust.

Technical Information

Frequency: Plus® IV FCC/IC: 340.00 – 354.00 MHz

Plus® IV CE: 433.42 – 434.42 MHz

Transmit Output Power: Less than 1 milliwatt (1/1000 of a watt)

Batteries: 2 x AA (IEC:LR6)

Battery Life: Up to 50 hours (with alkaline batteries)

Triggering Delay: 1/1200 of a second

Bandwidth: Narrowband

70KHz Transmit

230KHz Receive

Storage Temperature (without batteries): Above -30° C (-22° F) and below 85° C (185° F)

Flash/Camera Port Sync Voltage Tolerance: 300 Volts

Backlit LCD: The Plus IV backlit LCD activates automatically when any button other than TEST is pressed. It turns off after 5 seconds.

LEDs: Red LEDs are used for dim light application and do not indicate a hazardous status.

CE Directive: Plus IV CE confirms to council directive (1999/5/EC).

RoHS: Plus IV FCC/IC and CE versions are RoHS compliant.