Multiuser Environments
This page outlines the best practices when many photographers are simultaneously triggering remote cameras at large sporting or other events.
We are very proud of our radios. They provide rock-solid mission-critical performance in venues around the world. Thanks to our broad frequency range, powerful Custom IDs, and proven digital RF signaling methods, our MultiMAX radios can handle several photographers at the same event while providing control and exclusivity like no other remote trigger system.
But they are not originally designed to handle over 100 photographers working the same finish-line event like happens at the largest sporting events.
We continue to improve operation for exclusivity (Custom IDs), simultaneous use (Patterns), and greater distances (Long Range Mode). But too many photographers on the same frequency can still be a concern. Please read this information to learn the best methods to increase your odds of getting that once-in-a-lifetime remote shot at the most crowded events.
Contents
Quick Check List
Here is a quick check list to get you started:
- Get MultiMAX radios from your favorite local source, or upgrade your old ones
- Send them to LPA Design/PocketWizard for Custom IDs
- Upgrade your firmware to the latest that includes Patterns
- Know your frequency
- Find the Sign-up Sheet
- Pick a Pattern
- Set a long contact time on your Receiver
- Use Long Range Mode on your transmitters *and* receivers
- Press and *hold* TEST or your trigger button, don’t tap it
- Use ferrite chokes on long cable runs.
- Get the receiver’s antenna as high as you can
- Maintain line of sight whenever possible
- Dress cables away from antennas
- Consider hard-wiring
Custom IDs, myths and realities
A Custom ID is a private digital code on a MultiMAX. In crowded shooting environments, Custom IDs allow only you to trigger your remote flash or camera. Other photographers cannot trigger your remotes.
A Custom ID is not a “private frequency.” It is an exclusive code installed on top of an existing PocketWizard frequency. Too many photographers triggering simultaneously on the same frequency can be a serious issue, even for Custom ID users. Your remote might not trigger because it cannot “hear” its digital code through all the other digital codes being transmitted on that frequency.
The methods throughout this document can be used to improve operation in multiuser environments.
To get a Custom ID on your MultiMAX you must already own MultiMAX radios, then send your radios to LPA Design / PocketWizard in Vermont.
Custom IDs are $95 USD per ID per radio.
Special notes:
- Custom IDs can only be installed on MultiMAX radios. They are not available for any other PocketWizard radios including Plus III, Plus II, FlexTT5, MiniTT1, etc.
- You cannot buy MultiMAX radios directly from PocketWizard. If you do not own MultiMAX radios, you must purchase them from your local dealer, then send them to LPA Design / PocketWizard.
- Dealers and distributors do not sell MultiMAX radios with Custom IDs already installed. Many dealers will let you drop-ship your MultiMAX radios directly to LPA Design for a Custom ID service.
- All MultiMAX radios that you want to work together must have the same Custom ID installed.
- Custom IDs cannot be installed via the PocketWizard Utility.
- Future firmware upgrades will not erase your Custom IDs. They are permanent.
- You can get more than one Custom ID on a radio. Each additional ID is $95 per radio.
- LPA Design / PocketWizard maintains a database of Custom ID holders. Only you can get your Custom ID on future radios.
- Custom IDs are exclusively installed at LPA Design / PocketWizard in Vermont:
- LPA Design / PocketWizard
- 21 Gregory Drive
- Suite 140
- South Burlington, VT 05403
- http://www.pocketwizard.com/contact/inquiry/
Know your frequency
More important than knowing your Custom ID is knowing what frequency it is using. At any large event, the goal is to have as few photographers sharing a single frequency as possible.
If you have a USB-capable FCC MultiMAX with firmware version 7.50 or higher, you can move your Custom ID to different frequencies. Even though the Custom ID appears on Channel 17, it will use the frequency you set in the radio. Set the frequency under the Other Functions/Custom ID menu.
If you have a non-USB FCC MultiMAX, your Custom ID is locked on a single frequency. The last digit of your Custom ID determines the frequency. See the table below. Even though your Custom ID may appear on Channel 17, it is likely using a different frequency to transmit.
| Non-USB FCC MultiMAX | |
|---|---|
| Last Digit of Custom ID | Frequency (MHz) |
| 0 | 354 |
| 1 | 353.5 |
| 2 | 353 |
| 3 | 352.5 |
| 4 | 352 |
| 5 | 351.5 |
| 6 | 351 |
| 7 | 350.5 |
| 8 | 350 |
| 9 | 349.5 |
| A | 349 |
| B | 348.5 |
| C | 348 |
| D | 347.5 |
| E | 347 |
| F | 346.5 |
There are some Custom IDs in use that do not follow this table. If you are unsure, contact LPA Design for more information. We will research your radio in our database and help you understand which frequency you are actually using.
CE MultiMAX radios only have 1 frequency for all Custom ID use. USB CE MultiMAX radios can use Patterns to get more simultaneous users. Non-USB CE MultiMAX radios do not have access to Patterns.
Set a Pattern
There can be multiple Custom IDs triggering on the same frequency at very large sporting events. Your Custom ID will prevent someone else from triggering your camera, but it won’t prevent someone else from stepping on your trigger signal and potentially canceling out the triggers.
MultiMAX firmware 7.51 or later has a feature called Patterns. Patterns mix-up the RF trigger repeat rate. This helps when there are multiple photographers on the same frequency. Patterns help keep simultaneous triggers from overlapping and cancelling each other out on the same frequency.
Patterns are only helpful for remote camera triggering. They are not helpful for remote flash triggering.
For USB FCC MultiMAX radios with Custom IDs, Patterns are set under the Other Functions/Custom ID menu. This menu only appears if you have Custom IDs installed in your USB FCC MultiMAX.
For USB CE MultiMAX radios, with or without Custom IDs, Patterns are handled differently. Channels 17 – 32 are all on the same frequency already, so Patterns are available without Custom IDs installed. Select a Pattern under the Other Functions/Custom ID menu, and make sure to set a different channel or Custom ID from other CE photographers.
Patterns are only available for USB MultiMAX radios, FCC or CE. MultiMAX radios without USB ports cannot take advantage of Patterns.
Engage Long Range Mode
MultiMAX firmware version 7.50 and later has a special feature called Long Range Mode.
Long Range Mode increases the usable distance, up to double, between two MultiMAX radios. This mode must be activated on all radios that are expected to work together. When it is activated on a transmitter, LT will be displayed. When it is activated on a receiver, -LR- will be displayed. Long Range Mode is designed primarily for remote camera triggering.
Long Range Mode is set under the Other Functions/Range Mode menu.
Long Range Mode is only available for USB MultiMAX radios, FCC or CE. MultiMAX radios without USB ports cannot take advantage of Long Range Mode.
Long Range Mode can be used with Custom IDs and Patterns. Use longer Contact Times and hold TEST when triggering instead of tapping. This is the recommended configuration for triggering a remote camera at any large sporting event.
Set Longer Contact Times in your Receiver
Contact time controls how long a receiver holds the shutter button pressed on your remote camera after it receives a radio trigger. It is always set on your receiving MultiMAX. Setting it on your transmitter has no effect on remote cameras.
A longer contact time on your receiver helps RF performance in a crowded multiuser environment. If your remote MultiMAX receives a single correct RF trigger packet over the air, it will trigger your camera for the duration of the contact time. If another single RF trigger packet makes it through before the contact time finishes, it will continue holding the camera triggered. It only takes a very few trigger packets to get a long motor drive burst which may yield more usable finish line results.
EXAMPLE: You want a remote finish line camera to trigger a lot of frames right at the end of the race. Set your contact time to a reasonable burst length. If your camera can do 6 FPS in high speed drive mode, consider setting your contact time to 1 second. Any single RF trigger packet received will guarantee you get at least 6 images.
Contact time is set in a MultiMAX under the Basic Settings menu. Adjust using the letter and arrow keys.
