User's Manual
Maximizing Radio Performance
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RadioPopper PX Radio Wireless System
About This Section
You should generally enjoy reliable and worry free operation of your RadioPopper PX system. We have designed your PX
system using high quality components and quality engineering. When your camera manufacturer designed your exist-
ing “line of sight” wireless ash system, they never intended the signal to be relayed by radio. In fact, many engineers
have considered a system such as the PX impossible due to the extreme high speed of the signal produced by the ash
system. The line of sight “conversation” between your ashes happens so quickly that it is not possible to use industry
standard methods of transmitting information by radio.
It turns out it is indeed possible to transmit a signal at the required speed and to reliably activate remote ashes by
radio, though it requires a perfectly tuned receiver able to lock onto a clean radio signal. This section is provided to
familiarize yourself with how radio signals work, how to maximize use of your system, and how to identify situations
where you may have less than ideal performance. You should not experience signicant issues with your radio system
that would limit the overall usefulness of the system. You may however occasionally come into contact with various
situations and environments that produce unexpected behavior. This section is provided so you will understand what
you are seeing in these situations and can act accordingly to minimize the impact on your picture taking experience.
Understanding Radio Signals
Your existing “line of sight” wireless ash system operates by producing an extremely fast series of “blinks” of light.
These blinks of light are seen by the slave ash. Your RadioPopper PX system transmits these “blinks” in real time by
radio signal. Due to the extreme high speed of this “blink” signal, a clean radio link must be maintained between your
PX Transmitter and any PX Receivers to transmit all of the “blinks” in perfect timing and without missing any blinks along
the way. Understanding how the radio signal moves through space and possible sources of radio interference will help
you maximize the range, reliability, and overall performance of your PX system.
The radio signal emits outward in the shape of a doughnut from the sides
of the antenna. The signal is therefore strongest 360 degrees to the sides of
the antenna when the antenna is pointed straight up. The weakest signal is
emitted out the very point of the antenna, as well as straight downward out
the bottom of the antenna.
When the signal is emitted - it will continue long distances in a straight line outward from the antenna. Anything placed
between the transmitter and receiver will reduce the range and strength of the signal. When the signal hits a metal
surface, the surface tends to reect the signal in new directions.
Ideal Conditions
In open air free space you can expect operation out 1,000 ft or more. This assumes the use of the standard (included)
receiver antenna, and assumes no obstacles are present between the PX Transmitter antenna and the antenna on the PX
Receiver. This also assumes that both antennas are pointed straight upward and there is no radio interference present.
This ideal condition range is reduced as objects are placed between the PX Transmitter and any PX Receivers.
Normal Conditions
Under normal conditions where your slave ashes are placed within 50 feet or so of the master, you should generally
observe reliable and worry free operation regardless of placement or orientation. In these “normal” situations it is not
necessary to pay much attention to the direction the antennas are pointing, environment, or obstacles.
In most cases it is okay to point the ash head of your master upward for bounce or when using certain types of
lighting modiers, as well as pointing the antenna to the side during vertical picture taking. The radio signal is usually
suciently strong at these closer ranges and most environments have enough objects and walls present to help the
signal reect around in every direction to allow for worry free operation.
When using your system indoors, you can usually get away with placing more obstacles between the units as the radio
signal tends to “reect” around the inside of a building. The signal will generally reect from anything metallic such as
structures and wiring inside walls of buildings. This “reected” signal will tend to wrap around groups of people, walls,
and down hallways.
You may however occasionally notice signal is lost or your slave ash fails to operate reliably in situations where the
transmitter antenna is not pointed upright depending on your shooting environment and depending on the placement
of your slave ashes. Sometimes in vertical picture taking or with the master ash head pointed upward, the transmitter
radio signal must go through your camera or your body to reach the slave which may reduce range. This generally
happens in large open spaces or when the slaves are placed a greater distance from the master.
When using your system outdoors, some care must be taken in the placement of slave ashes. The radio signal is
impeded by dense materials such as concrete, masonry, brick, tile, etc., as well as objects with lots of water - such as
planters, dense brush, large trees, and groups of people.
It is usually possible to activate your slave ashes through windows and exterior walls with reduced range. Some
exterior walls may be too dense to allow a clean transmission of the radio signal, and many windows are treated with
metallic lms which may reduce or block the radio signal.
In many cases, using the optional Dipole antenna on your receiver will help increase reliability in the above situations by
making the PX Receiver more sensitive to the radio signal.
Radio Interference
Your PX Transmitter uses a frequency not used by many other devices (it is safely outside the band of 900mhz cordless
phones and cell phones for example). However, most environments do have a certain amount of background radio
interference - usually emitted by other electrical devices present in the environment. ALL electric devices emit some
radio signals on certain frequencies. You may encounter various types of radio interference in the operation of your
PX System depending on your shooting environments. Recognizing and avoiding interference will help minimize the
disruption to your picture taking and maximize the usefulness of your PX system.
Antenna
Radio Signal
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