MiniTT1 FAQ's:

Q:  How do I know if I have the latest firmware?

A:  The current Firmware is verion 5.000.  To see what verison your radios have, plug them into the PocketWizard Utility via the USB port, your current firmware version will appear on the Utility screen as the "Application Version". 

Click the "Maintenance" tab on the Utility and then click "Check for Updates".  A screen will appear showing the most current firmware available for your radio.   Click “download now” and follow the prompts to update your radio. 

IMPORTANT:  Make sure all your other MiniTT1’s and FlexTT5’s are on the same firmware version.  If they are on different versions they may not operate properly.

Once you have updated your radios and disconnected from the Utility do a factory “reset” of the radio by holding the TEST button while powering the radio on.   Do not release TEST until you see four green blinks.  This takes about ten seconds.

New firmware version notifications will be posted on our website's download page, on our facebook page, on our twitter feed and emailed to owners who registered their product.

Q:  Will HyperSync work with one MiniTT1 or FlexTT5 on camera and a      Plus II on a third party flash?  Will the MiniTT1 and FlexTT5 work with   my existing PocketWizards?

A:  Yes!  All the new PocketWizard radios will work with all existing      PocketWizard radios on the same frequency and channels (make sure to get the matching frequency for your world region!).  For E-TTL II operation, you will need the new system for both transmitting and receiving.  For simple triggering or to experience HyperSync, you can have a MiniTT1 or FlexTT5 as the Transmitter on your camera and any combination of FlexTT5, PlusII, MultiMAX, or flash packs with PocketWizard radios built-in as receivers.

Q:  When will Canon ControlTL radios be available to buy?  Where can I  
 purchase?  What dealer will have them first?

      A:  In the US & Canada, the MiniTT1 and FlexTT5 for Canon are
          available to purchase from many popular dealers.  Check with
          your favorite dealer for availability. 
 
          Click here for CE 433 MHz product information and availability.

 
Q:  When will Nikon ControlTL radios be available?  How much? 

     A:  In the USA, Nikon product is due out by early 2010 and
         should be similarly priced to Canon models. 


Q:  Will the Nikon product work with my Nikon and will it work with some
of the features I like about my Nikon? 

     A:  The Nikon products are currently being developed.  We are making
         every effort to have a seamless Nikon system but not all “gotchas”
         are known at this time.  We have high hopes for a great system,
         though!


Q:  What will HyperSync be like on a Nikon?  How fast can I go?

     A:  The Nikon products are still being developed.  We fully expect to
         have HyperSync working, but fastest shutter speeds are not
         known at this time.


Q:  Can I adjust my remote Speedlites manually?  Can I remotely adjust
my Speedlites manual power settings?

    A:  You can adjust the manual power settings of your remote Canon
         Speedlites directly from a 580EXII flash mounted on your
         on-camera MiniTT1™ or FlexTT5™.  

         Working with a Canon 580EX II in the shoe of the MiniTT1 or 
         FlexTT5, you can independently control the power output of up to
         three groups of lights (you can have as many lights in each group
         as you want) from full power down to the lowest setting simply
         through the user interface on the back of the 580EX II.   Now you
         can work with total control with your remote lights, without leaving
         your shooting position.  Click here for more info on Manual Power
         Control.

         Remember, when using the FlexTT5 for E-TTL II, you can use the
         camera’s flash compensation adjustment for remotely change the
         power output of all the remote Speedlites.


Q:  Will the new units trigger my Metz, Quantum, Sunpak, or other E-TTL 
 flash?

     A: Yes, you can now trigger a Metz, Quantum, Sunpak or other E-TTL
         flash when used in the top shoe of a MiniTT1 or FlexTT5 in manual
         mode only.  A firmware upgrade is required to utilize this function.
         Click here to download the new firmware.

         The manual triggering circuit (P2 on the FlexTT5) is based on our
         tried and true triggering formula carefully developed over the years
         and should be able to trigger those flashes manually, but E-TTL II
         for these 3rd party brands is still a work in process.


Q:  Can I put a Vivitar or other manual flash in the top shoe?

     A:  If your manual Speedlite-style flash has a sync voltage of less
         than 50v, then yes, this will be possible but requires a
         firmware update. 


Q: Will you be making a Sony, Olympus, Hasselblad, or Pentax version,
or enabling other camera TTL systems besides Canon and Nikon?

     A:  Other camera brands may be considered in the future if interest is
         high enough. One step at a time! Our product roadmap does not
         have other camera models on it in the near future.


Q:  Will there be a MiniTT1 Transmitter that will work on all cameras for
manual firing, not E-TTL II?   Will you be making a generic radio slave
version using the new form factor?

     A:  Yes it's called Basic Trigger Mode.  When enabled, it allows the
        MiniTT1 or FlexTT5 to work as a transmitter on ANY camera it will
        fit. Now those looking for the new small form factor of the MiniTT1
        can useit on other DSLR’s, SLR’s or even medium format cameras
        with standardhot shoes. The MiniTT1 and FlexTT5 are completely
        reverse compatiblewith all previous PocketWizards so they will work
        with whateverPocketWizards already owned.  Click here to download
        the new Firmware to enable this feature.  Click here for more new
        features on the Firmware upgrade.

 
Q:  The Canon 5D Mark II, will it work?

     A:  Yes, the Canon 5D Mark II camera works with the MiniTT1 and
         FlexTT5. 

Q:  Are there other “TT” units available?  (ex.-TT2, TT3,TT4)

   A:  Not yet.  : - )  ControlTL is a technology platform and will grow over
        time.  We left some wiggle room in the numbering so we can
        expand as we need to.

Q:  Can I use the new PocketWizards and the Canon IR system at the
same time?

   A: You can use the optical triggering of a 580EX (I or II) or an ST-E2 in
       the shoe of a MiniTT1 or FlexTT5 for optically controlling slave group
       A.   You cannot use it for slave groups B or C.  This is because the
       ControlTL system is reducing the use of flash energy for
       communication so you can trigger more quickly and waste less
       batteries.

Q:  Will my “TT” units be able to “teach” my Profoto, or other flash packs
with PocketWizard radios built-in, the channel I want to use?

   A: Yes.  You will not get TTL using these flash packs and they must be
       taught a Standard Channel, not a ControlTL Channel.  Fortunately
       every time the MiniTT1 or FlexTT5 trigger they send out both a
       ControlTL and a Standard Channel simultaneously.

Q:  Can the MiniTT1 be attached to a PC terminal with a cord?

   A: The MiniTT1 and FlexTT5 used as a transmitter are designed to be
       triggered by communication with a Canon DSLR hot shoe.  There are
       no inputs other than the dedicated hot shoe.  The latest firmware
       has a Basic Triggering feature:
       http://www.pocketwizard.com/news_events/news/new_features/
       Using this feature, and a hot shoe to PC cable or adapter, you could
       trigger the bottom shoe of the MiniTT1 or FlexTT5 from a PC
       terminal.

Q:  Is there a way to reset the MiniTT1 and FlexTT5?

   A:  Yes.  Hold TEST as you power the radio on until you see 2 green
        blinks – that resets the channels back to what you last selected in
        the PocketWizard Utility.  Hold TEST as you power on the radio for
        10 seconds (until you see 4 green blinks) to reset to factory
        defaults.  Read more about RESET in the manual.

Q:  Will my older PocketWizard transmitter fire a flash connected to my
FlexTT5?

   A:  Yes, standard triggering will work in this fashion.  You will not get
       HyperSync or E-TTL II using this method however.  For standard
       triggering, make sure the FlexTT5 has been set to a Standard
       Channel.  If so, it will fire a flash from P2 or the top hot shoe in sync
       with all of your other PocketWizard radios.

Q:  How do I get the best range with my Canon 580EX, 580EX II or 430EX?

  A: Canon Speedlite models 580EX and 580EX II, and especially the
     430EX (not the 430EX II), emit RF interference that can substantially 
     reduce the effective operating range of many radio slaves, including
     the FlexTT5. For these model flashes, please utilize the mounting
     suggestions on Page 30 of the Owner’s Manual to optimize range.

     Using Canon’s Off Shoe Cord OC-E3 to separate the flash from the
     FlexTT5 greatly improves range (4 – 5x).  Adding a ferrite choke on
     the cable near the flash increases range similarly.  Placing the
     FlexTT5 above the flash by 18” or more, and angled as pictured in
     the manual on page 30,  improves reception dramatically.  All three
    of these simple solutions combined provide the best reception.

    The Canon 430EX II and 550EX do not emit significant RF interference.
    These flash models provide the best range performance.  The 420EX
    and 220EX are somewhere in-between the “quiet” flashes and the “RF
    noisy” models and may perform acceptably.  All Speedlites can benefit
    from the suggested techniques as they provide the best opportunity
    for optimizing your lighting and your radio reception independently.

    Click here for more range extending solutions.

Q:  Why doesn’t my 580 EX II flash always fire when connected to my FlexTT5?

  A: Have you mounted the FlexTT5 for best RF reception per the
      manual, page 30?
      Are you using high capacity batteries?  Firing faster than the flash can
      recharge will cause it to not trigger.
      Does the red LED on the FlexTT5 blink in sync with the trigger?  If so,
      then the radio is working.
      Is the remote unit in MASTER mode?  Set it to normal E-TTL mode.
      Are you using Custom Functions?  Try switching some off.


Q:  Can I get a Custom ID (private channel) for my ControlTL radios?

  A:  Not yet.  We are working on a system for Custom IDs for the MiniTT1
      and FlexTT5.  Custom IDs on the Standard channels are highly likely
      and just need time to be developed.  Custom IDs on the ControlTL
      channels for E-TTL are not likely.

Q:  I tried everything and the radios don’t work! What do I do?

   A: Although you may have performed some of these steps before,
       please follow the instructions below.

       1. Perform a factory reset on all your units. Hold down the TEST
       button while powering each unit on and do not release it until you
       see four green blinks. This takes about ten seconds.

       2. Connect your MiniTT1 to a USB port directly on your computer and
       launch the PocketWizard Utility.

       3. Click on the Misc Tab under Configuration C1 and make sure
       Force TTL Master Mode is checked and the Camera Model is set to
       Auto.

       4. Click the Set Both Configs button and click Yes when prompted.
 
       5. Wait until the utility has finished writing the settings and then
       unplug your MiniTT1. You'll know it's done when "Writing the
       settings. Please wait..." disappears from the bottom left of the
       PocketWizard Utility window.
 
       6. Mount the MiniTT1 on your camera and attach a Speedlite to its
       top shoe.

       7. Set the MiniTT1 to C1.

       8. Attach a Speedlite to a remote FlexTT5 and set it to C1.

       9. Turn on your camera, the on camera Speedlite, and the Speedlite
       attached to the remote FlexTT5. Make sure both flashes are set to
       ETTL Mode.

      10. Try triggering your camera a few times. Both the on camera and
      remote flashes should fire.
 
      If you're still having problems at this point, your PocketWizards
      may be defective and eligible for exchange under warranty.

Q:  How fast of a shutter speed can I use with HyperSync?

    A: The fastest acceptable X-sync speed achievable with HyperSync is
       dependent on a number of factors.

      1. The flash duration of your particular strobes:
      Large studio strobes typically have longer durations than smaller
      flashes like Speedlites. This should help increase your maximum
      X-sync speed.

      2. The power output level of your strobe:
      Most flashes will have a longer flash duration at full power than at
      lower settings.

      3. The particular camera you're using:
      Cameras with smaller sensors typically can achieve X-sync at higher
      speeds than those with larger sensors when using HyperSync.

      4. Personal preference:
      It's normal to observe some difference in exposure between the top
      and bottom of the frame when using HyperSync. Some individuals
      may find this more acceptable than others for their particular
      application.
      You can see a chart outlining some starting points for adjusting the
      HyperSync Offset at the bottom of this page on our website:
      http://www.pocketwizard.com/inspirations/technology/hypersync_fpsync/

Q:  What cable do I need?

   A: You can use the Cable Finder on our website to find cables
       appropriate for different cameras and flashes. Here’s a link to the
       cable finder: http://www.pocketwizard.com/support/cable_finder/

Don't see the question you need answered?  Ask us directly via our contact page.