Difference between revisions of "Channels"

Revision as of 08:16, 29 August 2011

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 PocketWizard Channels: Standard Channels and ControlTL Channels.

Standard Channels

Standard Channels are used when triggering a Plus II, 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.

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-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, 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.

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.