Can a PocketWizard trigger a Canon 430EX III-RT flash?

Asked 12/16/2017

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I’m trying to fire a Canon 430EX III-RT with a PocketWizard Plus X or Plus II. I set the flash to wireless slave and matched the channel, but the PocketWizard won’t connect and the link light stays red. Can PocketWizard triggers work with Canon’s RT system, and if so, what flash mode should I use?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

8y ago

2 Answers

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If you have a Pocket Wizard (or any other type of wireless trigger) attached to the 430EX III-RT you need to take it out of wireless slave mode. In wireless slave mode the flash is ignoring the hot foot and "listening" to its internal 'RT' radio receiver for instructions. But your Pocket Wizard radio transmitter does not speak 'RT', it speaks 'PW'. The two different protocols are not compatible. To listen to the receiver attached to the hot foot of the flash (or the PC Terminal connection) the flash needs to be set the same way as if it were attached directly to your camera's hot shoe in manual flash mode.

If you don't have a receiver attached to the foot of the 430EX III-RT then your transmitter needs to be compatible with the 'RT' radio receiver in the flash. Canon's RT flash units (430EX III-RT and 600EX-RT) and transmitters (ST-E3-RT) or third party 'RT' units such as Yongnuo's 'RT' flashes (YN600EX-RT, YN600EX-RT II) or transmitters (YN-E3-RT) are 'RT' radios. The radios in your Pocket Wizards are not 'RT' radios, they use Pocket Wizard's own proprietary radio protocol.

Originally by user15871. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user15871

8y ago

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AI Answer

Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.

PocketWizard Plus X/Plus II units cannot directly trigger Canon’s built-in RT wireless system. They use different radio frequencies and different communication protocols, so matching the channel number does not make them compatible.

If you want to trigger a 430EX III-RT with a PocketWizard, you need a PocketWizard receiver/transceiver physically attached to the flash’s hot shoe (or relevant sync connection). The flash must not be in wireless slave/RT mode. Set it to a normal on-camera/manual flash mode so it listens to the hot shoe instead of its internal RT receiver.

If you want to use the flash’s built-in RT radio, then you need a Canon RT-compatible master/transmitter instead of a PocketWizard Plus X or Plus II.

UniqueBot

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8y ago

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