Radio Popper PX - will it work in Oz?

[BJWOK]

Hey folks,

After reading/watching the TriCoast Photo comparison of the PocketWizard Mini/Flex and the Radio Popper PX system (http://radiopopper.com/blog/2009/03/14/pocketwizard-flex-tt5-mini-tt1-vs-radiopopper-px-video-review/) i'm pretty sure i have swayed in favour of Radio Poppers, but wanted to find out whether they will work here in Australia?

Anyone have any info?

[Michael]

Yes, they will work. The radio frequency they operate on may be illegal in Australia though.

[CliveyBoy]

They will work, but the frequency band of the USA/Canada units is not approved. They plan to release an EU/Australia/NZ version at the end of May 2009 :)

They have just announced that the new mounting cradle is now on sale. I would expect the PX Junior units to be next, and then the other frequency versions ... sometime. I fear I will be dead before that happens!

[BJWOK]

hmmm, end of may 2009 you say? hmmmm.... lol!

so is anyone in OZ currently using them successfully here right now?

[blackshadow]

They will work. But we use a different frequency spectrum in Australia compared to the US.

I'm not sure if the poppers have been released for AUS/Europe yet.

[BJWOK]

so guys, is there anyone here in OZ currently using radio poppers (of any style) and if so, where did you get them?

[BJWOK]

hmmm, so no one here in oz is using radio poppers?

i've emailed bernard again, but no answer as to the (very late now) oz release date? i'm kinda stuck at the mo as I'm holding off on any triggers while i wait for the local release radio poppers, but then again if the USA versions work but are not on the "correct" frequency, then I'll just bite the bullet and get them.

thoughts anyone?

[Titus213]

My thoughts are that you've waited far beyond my patience level. You're coming up on a year. If you got by without them this long you probably don't need them.

[BJWOK]

not true titus, i've been using a mates pocketwizard II's for weddings. i'd like to get my own tho!!

[Titus213]

So, if you want to stay 'legal' you will have to purchase something that is approved, like PWs or Skyports. Anything else would work but not be legal according to your laws.

[BJWOK]

yeah and that's why i've been holding out for the radio poppers. i'm not at all a fan of the pocketwizards and the condom solution (my gear is 5D, 580EXII's) and skyports are old technology...

ironically the pocketwizard II's that i have been borrowing are GREAT, but again not legal in this country. (they were imported as no one stocked them here a few years ago)

[BJWOK]

update: just got this reply from Bianca over at RadioPopper:

Benon,

Thank you for your follow up. Unfortunately since the last time we've spoken we have experienced a few delays and have been forced to push out our release date to an indefinite date for this year. We are hoping to release before September, however at this point we cannot make any promises. I greatly apologize for not being able to give you any more information.

[BJWOK]

so my position now is that i cannot keep borrowing my mates PWII's and i certainly cannot wait possibly up until september! especially since i also have these emails:

August last year:

Benon,

We are in talks with Ted's for distribution of our PX line. There hasn't been a timeline established for the JrX yet. Please stay in touch with us in the coming months for breaking news.

Then in January this year:

Hello Benon,

Thank you for emailing us, and we appreciate your patience. We are looking to release our EU/AUS specific units by the end of the first quarter (late March). We will post on our website/blog as soon as we have a definite date. In the meantime you can visit the contact section of our website (http://radiopopper.com/contact/) and sign up for our email updates list. This way you don't have to worry about missing out on our much anticipated product releases!

What to do?

[mickeyjuice]

Just buy some used PWIIs in Au freq.

[BJWOK]

hmmm, will they allow high speed sync?

and ettl for the odd time i will use it?

[mickeyjuice]

hmmm, will they allow high speed sync?

and ettl for the odd time i will use it?

Well, you've been using it, so you should know it won't do ETTL.

HSS is easy, though.

Errr, no it's not. Scrap that.

Wow, I've had my new PWs for too long, I think. What a dumb-arse.

[BJWOK]

i've only used them on manual at weddings. and to be honest most of the time my assistant (who owns them) set em up. i do recall not being able to go over 1/160 shutter (on 5D) tho. to enable HSS do you need to set anything on the actual PW?