RadioPopper PX - Manual (Page 12)

Trouble Shooting
Page 22 Page 23
RadioPopper PX Radio Wireless System
PX Installation Trouble Shooting
Now let’s check the physical installation of your PX units on your Master and Slave flash unit(s).
1) On your Master flash, PX Transmitter should be oriented such that the small “bump” on the front (the signal pickup
sensor) is facing the same direction as the direction of light coming out of the flash. Please refer to Fig. 2.1, Page 13.
2) Make sure the window with the green circle on your PX Receiver (on the back side) is pointing directly into the signal
sensor of your slave flash. The proper location of this sensor is noted by the opening in the sticker supplied with Canon
mounting kits. On Nikon flash units, the IR sensor is the small black circle / window next to the battery door on your
flash. THE RED WINDOW ON THE FRONT OF YOUR FLASH IS _NOT_ THE IR SENSOR. The red window emits a focus assist
light and does not interact with the wireless flash function in any way.
3) For Canon mounting kits, be sure to remove the white center of the circle punched in the sticker. This center dot
should not be applied to the flash as it would block the signal from entering the flash.
PX Burst Mode and Crossed Signals
The PX system operates by “burst” radio transmission. Essentially, the PX Transmitter waits for a data signal to begin
emitting from your Master flash device. It then begins transmitting a packet of radio data including some coding used to
identify the signal and provide error correction. The PX Receiver sees this communication and begins to process it.
This processing time is extremely short, but it does cause the “Morse Code” blinks of light being reproduced by the PX
Receiver to emit very slightly delayed. If your Slave flash is able to “see” the line of sight IR signal coming from your
Master flash directly, then “sees” the signal being produced by the PX Receiver very slightly following, it may see two
copies of the same signal, slightly out of time with each other.
The PX Transmitter and PX Receiver are “smart” enough to quickly adjust this timing delay and catch the signal back up
to real time such that they are both perfectly in timing sync with each other before any instruction is given to actually
make light. Therefore, this timing delay has absolutely no effect on the timing of the pre-flash, ETTL/iTTL exposure
evaluation, high speed sync function, or the timing of the actual flash.
This Burst Mode makes it possible for multiple photographers to now control the same Slave flash unit in any of its
modes, as well as providing robust error correction, and it has no effect what so ever on the actual operation of your
wireless system. However, care must be taken in the mounting of your PX Receiver to your Slave flash to ensure reliable
operation.
Once your PX Receiver is properly mounted, this should not be an issue. It is generally only observable when shooting
the Master flash directly into the Slave flash at very close range, thus it is not a concern in normal operation.
1) Apply the foam ring supplied with your mounting kit to your PX Receiver around the window on the back of the
receive marked by the green circle. This foam ring exists to seal the slight gap between the PX Receiver and your slave
flash so that outside light signals do not enter the light sensor of your slave flash.
2) Try moving the Slave flash significantly out of view of the Master flash - place it in another room or down a hall and
attempt to operate the system. If your Slave flash operates reliably when significantly out of view, then becomes erratic
the same room or small space, then check there are no gaps between the PX Receiver and the light sensor of your slave
flash.
3) Regarding Nikon SB-900, SB-800, and SB-600 Speed Light units: In these units, the physical internal space of the
flash is somewhat open, such that light coming in through the red focus assist window may reflect around the inside of
the flash and still reach the wireless light sensor from the inside. When properly mounted, interference due to crossed
signals is rarely observed and only at close range. If your situation does require placing the Slave flash at close range and
oriented such that the red focus assist window is pointed directly at the Master, place a piece of tape covering the red
window entirely. This will eliminate any light leakage internal to the flash and will allow reliable operation even at very
close ranges.
Additional Support
If you have any questions, concerns, or issues not resolved by this Trouble Shooting section, we absolutely encourage
you to contact us directly. We are happy to assist. In nearly every situation, we are able and happy to resolve any
configuration or setup issue via email or with a short phone call.
Online Support:
radiopopper.com/support
Email:
[email protected]
Phone:
360.713.0776