Difference between revisions of "Channels"

Revision as of 11:18, 15 September 2019

Channels allow you to work with other photographers or keep your triggering exclusive. Some Channels operate on different frequencies to help you avoid radio interference. All PocketWizard radios set to the same Channel work together.

This section has Channel tables for the USA FCC / IC (Industry Canada) frequency radios that operate between 340 and 354 MHz. If you have CE frequency radios that operate between 433.42 and 434.42 MHz range then visit the CE Channels page.

There are two kinds of Legacy PocketWizard Channels: Standard Channels and ControlTL Channels. On September 12, 2019, PocketWizard introduced the E Release. This firmware upgrade is currently available only for the Plus III and Plus IV FCC radios. With this new upgrade, the radios now use E Channels and LR (Long Range) Channels.

Radios with the E Release upgrade will not work with radios that have not been upgraded. For example, you cannot use a Plus III with the E Release with a Plus II. However, radios with the E Release can be downgraded to the Legacy firmware via the Utility program. If the radio has been downgraded to Legacy firmware, it can then be used with the older PocketWizard radios. The radios can be upgraded and downgraded as needed. Please see our PocketWizard E Release page for more details about the upgrade.

Standard Channels

Standard Channels are used when triggering a Plus series,MultiMAX or other PocketWizard radio that performs triggering only and not power control or TTL functions.

Standard Channels 1 through 16

Standard Channels 1 through 16 are considered Classic or Legacy Channels and are the most basic PocketWizard Channels. They are used for simple triggering scenarios, and contain no zones, power control, or TTL functions.

These Channels all exist on the same frequency. Each Channel is its own 16-bit digital code on top of that frequency. The frequency in use for USA FCC/IC radios is 344.04 MHz. The Plus and Plus II radios use only Channels 1 through 4. The PlusX uses Channels 1 through 10. The Plus III and MultiMAX radios use a total of 32 Channels. 1-16 are Standard Channels, 17-32 are Quad-Zone Triggering Channels (see below for details).

All other PocketWizard radios use Standard Channels 1 through 16.

* Some very early models of the Classic only had channels 1 through 10.

Standard Channels 17 through 32

Standard Channels 17 through 32 were introduced with the PocketWizard MAX. They are also called Quad-Zone Triggering Channels or MultiMAX Channels. These Channels add the benefit of Zones A, B, C, and D. Zones allow you to control up to 4 different groups of lights on the same Channel.

These Channels are each on their own frequency and each Channel number is its own 20-bit digital code.

ControlTL Channels

ControlTL Channels were introduced with the Canon MiniTT1 and FlexTT5. They are used in all ControlTL radios like the Canon & Nikon MiniTT1 and FlexTT5, the Canon FlexTT6, as well as the PowerST4, PowerMC2, or other ControlTL radios. These Channels allow for remote power control of compatible studio flashes, and work with ControlTL signals sent from a transmitting ControlTL radio.

ControlTL Channels do not have a unique channel code like Standard Channels, and are separated only by frequency.

E Channels

E Channels were introduced with the E Release firmware upgrade in September 2019. This upgrade is available for the Plus III and Plus IV FCC radios and will be expanded to more radios in the future. The E Channel range is from Channel 1 to Channel 32. These Channels are QuadZone Triggering Channels and Zones are available for all 32 Channels. The E Channels are only available on Plus III or Plus IV radios that have been upgraded and will only communicate with other E Channels.

LR Channels

LR Channels were introduced with the E Release firmware upgrade in September 2019. This upgrade is available for the Plus III and Plus IV FCC radios and will be expanded to more radios in the future. To access the LR Channels, press the Mode button on the radio until you see LR on the screen. The LR Channel range is from Channel 1 to Channel 80. These Channels are QuadZone Triggering Channels and Zones are available for all 80 Channels. The LR Channels are only available on Plus III or Plus IV radios that have been upgraded and will only communicate with other E Channels.

Channel and Frequency Overlap

Some ControlTL Channels use the same frequencies as some Standard Channels. A ControlTL Channel broadcasting on a Standard Channel's frequency will not trigger it, but if the radio transmissions are occurring at the same time, then there is a possibility one or both may not trigger. A single ControlTL transmitter set to transmit on both Standard Channel 17 and ControlTL Channel 5 will handle this properly. Two radios on the same frequency, like a MultiMAX transmitting on Standard Channel 18 and a ControlTL radio receiving on ControlTL Channel 6, may interfere with each other - when the MultiMAX is transmitting, the ControlTL receiver may not hear its trigger because it is on the same frequency.

Mixing ControlTL and Standard Channels

It is easy to use ControlTL and Standard Channel radios together, combining both types of Channel into one setup. How you make this work will depend primarily on the transmitter you are using.

ControlTL Transmitter

If you are using a MiniTT1, FlexTT5 or a FlexTT6 as a transmitter, you can incorporate Standard Channel remotes without changing any radio settings. The MiniTT1 and FlexTT5 transmit both ControlTL and Standard Channels simultaneously, allowing any PockwetWizard receiver to be triggered in sync. This enables you to use TTL or power-controlled flashes alongside other manual flashes.

For this setup, simply match all the Channels on your radios. To see what Channels you are using on your ControlTL transmitter, connect the radio to your computer via USB and launch the PocketWizard Utility. Navigate to the Channel Tab and note both the ControlTL Transmit Channel and Standard Transmit Channel. By default the MiniTT1, FlexTT5, and FlexTT6 use ControlTL and Standard Channel 1 in Configuration 1 (C1).

Standard Channel Transmitter

If you are using a Standard Channel radio like the Plus III, PlusX, MultiMAX, or Plus II as a transmitter, you can still use your FlexTT5s as receivers. The FlexTT5 can only receive on one type of Channel at a time. In order for the FlexTT5 to receive on a Standard Channel, you will want to configure it for Basic Trigger Mode. Once the radio is set to Basic Trigger, just match the receive Channel to that of your transmitter.

NOTE: We highly recommend using Basic Trigger Mode for FlexTT5s meant to receive on a Standard Channel. Only use the "Use ControlTL for Receive" check-box if you need your receiving FlexTT5 to use Relay Mode to trigger a TTL remote in turn.