PocketWizard Max User Manual

The

Users Manual

Put the magic of a Wizard into your photos

LPA Design

So. Burlington VT

Users Manual Rev 0.1

Current Rev's: Hardware Software
Transmitter 1.0 1.0
Receiver 1.0 1.0

Last Revision Date: 12/31/98

Mfg. by:

LPA Design
1350 Shelburne Road, Suite 265

So. Burlington, VT 05403
Phone: [phone]LPA
Factory Fax: [phone]

PocketWizard Max

Sales: 1-603-664-5010
Tech Support: 1-603-664-5010
Sales/Tech Fax: [phone]
Sales E-Mail: sales @ lpadesign.com Web Page:
E-Mail: support @ lpadesign.com http://www.lpadesign.com

Table Of Contents

· Introduction / Features

· Getting Started / Using your PocketWizard Max

· Installing Batteries

· Connecting the Transmitter to the Camera

· Connecting the Receiver to a Flash Pack

· Connecting the Transmitter to a Local Strobe

· Transmitter and Receiver Orientation

· Care and Feeding

· Troubleshooting Guide

· Warranty

· Obtaining Technical Support

Introduction

Congratulations on your purchase of the PocketWizard Max radio slave. This is the newest entry
in the most reliable line of radio slave products available. The PocketWizard Max is a fully
digital radio system, making use of a microprocessor in both the transmitter and the receiver.
Digital signaling allows the PocketWizard Max to reject spurious noise, and to receive weak
signals without any degradation in performance.

PocketWizard Max Features

· Sixteen original PocketWizard and PocketWizard Plus compatible channels, plus...

· Sixteen new channels with four channel select ability.

· Hot shoe and 1/4-20 mounting features built in

· LCD Display to show status and settings

· Keypad for easy changes to settings

· Regulated power supply - no performance degradation until low battery indication

· Digital trigger signal virtually eliminates false fires

· Sync at speeds up to 1/250 second with a focal plane shutter or 1/500 second with a lief

shutter (it takes approximately 540uS for the receiver to respond to a sync)

· Will trigger most cameras with motor drive ports

· Allows you to use a strobe you carry with you, a remote strobe, or both

· Light weight - weighs less than 4.5 ounces with batteries.

· Uses 2 AA batteries or AC adapter

Getting Started

Using your PocketWizard Max

13. Install batteries or use an AC adapter in the transmitter and receiver.

14. Attach a sync cord (PC to miniphone is the most common) from your camera to the Sync

In connector on the transmitter or use the hot shoe to mount the transmitter to your

camera. Note that the Sync In and Sync Out jacks look the same,.

15. Attach a sync cord from the Sync Out connector on the receiver to your strobe pack

16. For quick and simple setup, or for use with older PocketWizards, use the up and down

keys (triangular keys) to change the channel number displayed on the LCD screen to

channel 1 thru 16. For more advanced uses, see “4-Channel Triggering” section. Be sure

to set the transmitter and receiver to the same channel number.

17. Turn the transmitter and receiver on. They will automatically sync up to 1/250th of a

second with a focal plane shutter and 1/500 with a lief shutter

18. Verify that the light on the receiver blinks every few seconds

19. Verify that the light on the transmitter double blinks every few seconds

20. Move the LOCAL - BOTH - REMOTE selector switch on the transmitter to the Both

position

21. Press the Test Fire button on the transmitter and confirm that the remote strobe goes off.

The receiver will stay activated as long as you hold the Test Fire button.

Installing Batteries

To install batteries, open the battery compartment door, and insert two AA batteries.
Make sure that they are in the proper orientation, as shown on the label in the battery
compartment. LPA recommends the use of Alkaline batterys only. Standard batteries and
rechargeable batteries will not perform well. Lithium batteries will give you approximately the
same life expectancy as Alkaline batteries and cost more.

When to Change Batteries

In the upper left hand corner of the LCD display is a battery icon with several segments. The
segments show the approximate battery level left. If the battery is new, it should show a “full”
battery, or all segments lit. As the battery wears down, segments will disappear. When the
battery needs replacing, all the segments will have disappeared and the battery outline will blink.
Expected battery life for the receiver is about 120 hours, the transmitter should last about 200
hours.

Connecting the Transmitter to the Camera

To connect the PocketWizard Max transmitter to the camera you have two choices. The
preferred method of connecting is to use the built in hot-shoe. Slide the PocketWizard Max into
the hot shoe on your camera. If you do not have a hot shoe, you will need a PC to miniphone
cable. The miniphone end plugs into the Sync In terminal on the transmitter and the PC
connection plugs into your camera's PC connector.

Connecting the Receiver to the Flash Pack

To connect a receiver to a flash pack requires a cable with a mini phone plug for the Sync Out
terminal on the receiver and the appropriate connector for your strobe. Sync cables are available
for most popular strobes. (see the included accessories list).

Connecting the Transmitter to a Local Strobe

The transmitter is equipped with a miniphone connector labeled Sync Out. With the appropriate
adapter or cable, a strobe pack can be fired by cable from the transmitter without the use of a