INTRODUCTION
For most customers, by telling us what gimbal you have purchased, we will pre-configure your Alpha Link S.Bus for you. However, if you are having difficulty, you can follow these steps to set up your Alpha Wheels and Alpha Link for your gimbal.
Wireless Notice
The Alpha Link S.Bus XR is a wireless device, and just like all wireless devices, it can experience wireless interference.
We encourage you to thoroughly read our Wireless Best Practices Guide. It will give you loads of helpful tips to help you avoid ever having to experience a bad take because of wireless interference.
CHANGE THE ALPHA LINK'S MODE
mode,4
For MōVI Pro and XL users the mode should be set to 4.
Follow the instructions in this video to change the mode in the Alpha Link Receiver.
CONNECT THE ALPHA LINK TRANSMITTER TO THE ALPHA WHEELS
Turn off the Alpha Wheels.
Using the EXT cable on the Alpha Link Transmitter, plug the Alpha Link Transmitter into the Alpha Wheels' EXT port.
Turn on the Alpha Wheels.
Always make sure the Alpha Wheels are off before plugging in the Alpha Link. The Alpha Wheels will only search for an Alpha Link during boot up.
CONNECT THE ALPHA LINK RECEIVER TO THE MOVI
Using the supplied 1A Tools cable, connect the Alpha Link Receiver via the OUTPUT connector to the COM1 port on the MōVI.
The MōVI will self configure itself when it discovers the API from the Alpha Link.
ADJUST MOVI SETTINGS
You will need to make some adjustments to certain settings in your MōVI app. Under the Dual Op > Adjustments menu:
Pan/Tilt Joystick > Window: 0
This should never be anything but 0.
Pan/Tilt Joystick > Expo: 0
If you would like to be able to do small moves and very fast moves all at one speed, increase this. Keep in mind, this will remove repeatability.
Remote Rate Scale: 100
You can adjust this setting to make the MōVI respond slower or faster to the default speeds. 200 will go twice as fast. 50 will go half as fast.
Pan/Tilt Joystick > Smoothing: 0
Feel free to adjust this if you would like smoothing on the wheels. Keep in mind, this will remove repeatability.
INDICATOR LIGHTS
The Alpha Link Transmitter and Receiver both have indicator LED to give you status info.
On the Transmitter, if the LINK light is on, that means it has established connection and recently received confirmation that data has reached the Receiver.
On the Receiver, a solid STATUS light indicates that it is on, and is receiving wheel data.
On the Receiver, a fast blinking STATUS indicates that while it is receiving data, data is being lost. This could be due to poor signal strength or too high of signal strength. The transmitter can overwhelm the receiver if too close.
On the Receiver, a slow blinking STATUS indicates that it has lost connection and is attempting to re-connect.
OPERATING OVERVIEW
To change the speed, adjust the knobs for pan and tilt independently. There are 5 speeds, two directions, and a neutral gear for each axis.
With a knob vertical, that axis is the neutral gear.
By rotating a knob to the right, or clockwise, that axis will increase speed in the REGULAR orientation.
By rotating a knob to the left, or counter-clockwise, that axis will increase speed in the INVERTED orientation.
For MōVI Users
When you put the PAN in NEUTRAL, the pan axis will switch into MAJESTIC allowing while allowing the tilt to remain controlled by the wheels.
When you put both PAN and TILT in neutral, the MōVI will switch into full majestic mode.
GEAR RATIOS
When your Alpha Link and Gimbal are setup properly according the instructions above, the gear ratios will have a range of speeds that line up with conventional Arri gear heads with some additional speeds.
| Alpha Link | PAN | TILT | ARRI Equiv. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slow | |||
| Med Slow | |||
| Medium | |||
| Med Fast | |||
| Fast |