Advice on choosing channel number

[Blue439]

Hello everyone, this is my first post on this forum.

I am in the process of transitioning from Phottix Indra500s to Godox AD600 Pro IIs.

I am thinking about programming the X Pro trigger I have ordered and choosing a channel for my lights. I seem to recall that, with the Phottix Odin II trigger, there were certain advantages to choose a higher number (say, channel 17) over a lower one (say, channel 4).

I have no crowding problem to consider as I have never shot near anyone using radio triggers. I do mostly studio work in a house far away from any other, and when in the field I shoot mostly Romanesque churches (you guys in the UK call them “Anglo-Saxon”) and those are not often crowded…

If at all possible, I’d rather choose a lower channel number (5 or 7), unless that deprives me of some options that would only be available with higher channel numbers.

Many thanks in advance for your help.

 

[nog]

Some Godox triggers give the option to scan all channels and then gives you the option of selecting one of the better channels the Godox scan found. I don't know of any issue with higher channel numbers but could be wrong

 

[Nod]

Anything other than the default channel will reduce the likelihood of conflict with other users.

 

[CharleyL]

Other things WIFI controlled can affect your signals, as well as other electronics radiating signals in these frequencies nearby. It doesn't have to be another photographer.

The Godox "X" band makes use of channels in the upper end of the WIFI frequencies. Most of the lower frequencies can get noisy in some locations, but the upper end of WIFI is usually quieter and Godox chose these for this reason. I have a bunch of GVM LED light panels that also use WIFI control from an App on cell phones. If you can scan the X channels it's a good idea to do, but usually any of the channels used by Godox are relatively quiet. I did this scan when first using Godox lights in my studio and then just picked channel 10 for my system. I have never had a problem in the studio with that channel. But it's possible that when out shooting in a park or other location, that you might also need to scan and use a different channel. I'm a very long way from all of you, so I'm not at all worried about any of you causing me problems, but Godox and their X system is becoming very common among photographers using wireless flash.

Then too, this remote location might have interference from other electronics in use nearby that might make certain channels unusable there. Spurious emissions from instruments and machinery can cause certain channels to be unusable. Large gatherings of people are another place where certain channels might already be in use by other photographers too. If your flash ever fires when you are setting up, but you are not actually taking photos yet, look around the area and you will likely find another photographer who is also using Godox lights and is on your channel. Don't bother him, he was there first. Just do a scan and pick another channel for your lights, one that is at least several channels from the one that he is using. The Godox transmitter and lights only have a range of 3-400' so he should be relatively easy to find. If he is farther away than that he is not likely the cause of your problem. Again, just scan and then pick another channel to use. The Godox system also has the ability to use Identity Codes along with the channel settings. This is another way to avoid interference from other photographers, but someone else using the same channel might still cause a problem if he triggers his flash at the same time that you do if you are both on the same channel even using different Identity Codes. I have never needed to use identity codes. Radio signals on the same frequencies can tend to cancel each other out. Just pick another quiet channel.

Charley

 

[Blue439]

Thank you all for your answers, and especially Charley for a very detailed one.