Preston FIZ III wireless communication dropouts between HU3 handset and MDR2 motor control unit

2012Follow Focus forum

14 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.

Communication loss between the HU3 and MDR2 can occur intermittently during operation despite successful initial calibration and power-up.
Switching wireless channels between units resolved temporary communication issues in one case but did not prevent intermittent loss during shooting.
A faulty transceiver or receiver board in the MDR2 was identified as a possible cause and replacement resolved the problem in at least one documented case.
Antenna problems may cause communication failures and swapping antennas is a recommended troubleshooting step.
When operating multiple Preston wireless follow focus systems on the same set, pairing them on odd and even channel numbers reduces interference better than closely spaced channel selections.
A maximum of ten Preston systems can typically operate simultaneously in one area before widespread communication issues appear across all units.
The 10-point software mapping system received consistent positive feedback from multiple users, while the 6-point version generated negative reports.
Upgrading to 10-point mapping requires downloading software from Preston, using a serial-to-USB adapter, and installing a serial driver from Preston's website.

The root cause of communication loss remained unresolved in the original case until hardware replacement occurred.
Another wireless follow focus system from a different manufacturer was also in use during the incidents, though channel switching between the Preston units alone did not resolve the issue.
Some operators reported needing to power cycle the MDR2 during initial startup to establish connection, suggesting either a firmware or hardware variability.
One commenter noted the specific shooting scenario involved challenging conditions with a 135mm lens on Steadicam, which may have complicated diagnosis.