Channels

Next recommended reading: Canon or Nikon Compatibility

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 433.422 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 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 frequency used for CE radios is 433.62 MHz.

The Plus and Plus II radios use only channels 1 through 4.

All other PocketWizard radios use Standard Channels 1 through 16.

Standard Channels 1 through 16
Standard Channel	Plus and Plus II only use channels 1 through 4	All PocketWizard radios including: MAX, MultiMAX, ControlTL radios, OEM flashes, Sekonic meters, Classics *
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
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.

Standard Channels 17 through 32
Standard Channel	Frequency	All PocketWizard radios except: Plus, Plus II, Classics
17	346.5
18	347
19	347.5
20	348
21	348.5
22	349
23	349.5
24	350
25	350.5
26	351
27	351.5
28	352
29	352.5
30	353
31	353.5
32	354

See the CE Channels page for frequency information on 433 MHz radios with a CE marking on them.

ControlTL Channels

ControlTL Channels were introduced with the Canon MiniTT1 and FlexTT5. They are used in all ControlTL radios like the 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 Canon E-TTL II and Nikon i-TTL/CLS commands.

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

ControlTL Channels 1 through 20
ControlTL Channel	Frequency	All PocketWizard ControlTL radios like: MiniTT1, FlexTT5 PowerST4, PowerMC2
1	340
2	345
3	341
4	346
5	346.5
6	347
7	347.5
8	348
9	348.5
10	349
11	349.5
12	350
13	350.5
14	351
15	340.5
16	341.5
17	342
18	342.5
19	343
20	345.5

Channel and Frequency overlap

Some ControlTL Channels use the same frequencies as some Standard Channels. A ControlTL Channel broadcasting on a Standard Channels frequency will not trigger it, but if the radio transmissions are occurring at the same time, then one or both may not trigger.