Phase Tutorial: Radio Communication and Battery In Depth

MWM, the creators of the very first wireless DVS system Phase, have released new information on how Phase works in depth. They have taken time to answer many common questions about Phase and how they can continue to update it creating a better solution for DJ’s everywhere. To learn more follow the links the below or contact MWM directly at [email protected]

Get to know Phase: 5 things to know about its radio communication

Get to know Phase: All battery questions answered by an engineer

Before launching Phase, our technical team had already years of experience in both digital and physical products to satisfy the needs of the DJ community. This know-how made possible for the specialized engineering team of Phase to develop all the custom-made features of the product. Phase wireless system works thanks to a radio communication protocol, and today we will deliver to you five facts that you probably didn’t know about Phase radio communication.

1. No Bluetooth, nor Wi-Fi. A more efficient custom-made radio protocol specially designed for Phase.

Phase works with radio frequencies and with a custom-made communication protocol exclusively designed at MWM. The Phase Receiver and the Remotes must communicate constantly, for which a strong radio signal with a minimum of interference and latency is necessary. Having previous experience with protocols such as Bluetooth 4.0 (since Mixfader and Prolink work with it), engineers found it was not powerful and fast enough to send and receive the amount of data required for Phase to function correctly. With this new custom-made radio protocol, the latency for information transfer is six times shorter than with Bluetooth 4.0.

2. The radio signal allows the Phase Receiver and the Remotes to communicate exclusively.

The radio communication protocol allows the Phase Receiver and the Remotes to communicate exclusively, a function that starts automatically once these are out of the Receiver (and properly linked and calibrated). When the Remotes are placed inside the Phase Receiver, both elements communicate through their gold metallic pins. Additionally, an easy way to confirm that the radio communication is working accurately is to check the LED animation corresponding to the pause mode feature.

3. Phase automatically alternates between 12 different radio channels, to always offer the best performance.

Phase works with a built-in system that is constantly monitoring the quality of the radio frequency. Part of this system are algorithms developed by our team, which can identify when the radio frequency in one channel is not strong or constant enough to maintain the quality of the sound (becoming noisy or saturated). When this occurs, the algorithms automatically detect the best next channel to switch to, which ensures great stability at all times while using Phase.

4. Phase’s intelligent radio algorithm automatically adapts to the environment to optimize battery consumption.

Since Remotes are constantly sending data and communicating with the Phase Receiver, this function represents a battery consumption of nearly 70% and explains why two Remotes’ batteries can discharge at different paces.

The algorithms are continually monitoring the quality of the radio channels, so the battery consumption is automatically set depending on the needs of radio power for a specific environment. For example, in a setting with low interference and noise, Phase does not need to work on the strongest radio signal setting, so less battery needs to be used. The radio communication protocol has been constantly upgraded to increase its adaptability to different environments.

5. Two Phase units can’t interfere with each other: every Phase possesses his own radio signature.

Even if two Phase units are working with the same custom-made radio communication protocol, the moment a user links a Phase Receiver and a Remote, the process will establish that said Receiver only communicates with that particular Remote. This is possible due to particular pieces of information assigned to that single Phase unit, that will act as identifiers for both elements (Remotes and Receiver) to establish communication with each other exclusively.

Phase exclusive communication protocol is constantly being improved by the engineering team responsible for product development. The fact that the radio communication system was created in-house is an advantage, since it provides the technical team all the freedom to research and work on numerous ways to make Phase more versatile and robust, enabling it to adjust to more environments. This autonomy and endless possibilities encourage our engineers to work with motivation in the multiple ways available to take Phase technology further.

If you have any questions concerning your Phase, please visit our website and support section, or directly contact our product specialists at [email protected] Don’t hesitate to leave your thoughts and comments in the section below, we will be happy to talk to you directly there!

What kind of battery do the Remotes have and how do they work?

Jean-Baptiste: The Phase Remotes have a built-in Lithium-ion battery which is the top solution in batteries in the technology industry nowadays. This is why they can be found in most electronics, such as smartphones, laptops, and tablets. Like all batteries, they work due to a chemical reaction which leads to the particles inside them to produce energy. Lithium-ion batteries are rechargeable, very reliable, and safe to use in electronic devices.

Why did you choose this technology?

JB: Top quality and duration were the key concepts when conceiving Phase. Lithium-ion batteries were the right solution since they provide the most reliable technology possible and for Phase, we are using the top-quality batteries available in the market. 

Lithium-ion batteries are widely accessible, easy to integrate into the product, and offer a great lifetime, since they can last for years with proper use and care.

The size was also a determinant when choosing this technology since these batteries allow customizable measures. For the Phase Remotes, we needed a small and light battery that could store a big amount of energy. We worked extensively on different prototypes to find the right balance between a comfortable Remote size and many hours of performance.

How does battery work in the Phase Remotes? How long does the battery last?

JB: The battery consumption of the Remotes is directly related to their radio communication since the more powerful the radio signal needs to be, the more battery power is required. The environment in which you use Phase is a key factor since “noisy” environments (in terms of radio signals) demand a stronger radio communication to guarantee stability. Last but not least, the Firmware version you have installed is crucial. For example, the Firmware V4 update represented an important enhancement to the battery duration. 

Understanding all of this will help you get to know better the behavior of your battery. We have had tests and users’ reports of a battery duration of 11 or even 12 hours, however, the average is 10 hours, so as you can see, it varies.

What is the best practice to charge the Remotes properly?

JB: The first important thing is to ensure you have updated your Phase to the latest Firmware version. You can charge a Phase to a wall outlet, with a laptop or with a USB hub as long as the power is 5 Volt. The normal charge time is two hours and the LED animation of the Remotes will indicate the process is completed.

Besides this, avoid discharging the Remotes completely and then storing them or not charging them again for a long time since this practice can affect the battery. Constantly charging the Remotes, won’t damage their batteries.

Why did some batteries get swollen? Is this dangerous?

JB: This is something that can happen to all devices that have this type of battery. It doesn’t have to do with the quality of the product but with many different factors, such as transportation, storage, and manufacturing processes. Lithium-ion batteries are a relatively new technology that still can be improved with time, but as I mentioned, it is highly reliable already.

Additionally, with the rest of the engineering team, we have added extra layers of security to optimize the battery lifetime and performance with every Firmware update and with the battery configuration that users can access on MWM Connect. Besides this, our team has made sure to run extra safety tests with the manufacturer.

A swollen battery is not something dangerous, however, if you experience this problem with one of your Remotes, stop using the product and contact our support team. We will provide you a fast service (with a reply within 48 hours) and all the expenses related to returning the product or product replacements will be covered by us.

What is the battery lifetime of the Remotes? Is it possible to change the batteries at any point?

JB: A device with a lithium-ion battery can last for years with proper care. The duration of the Remotes’ batteries will depend on factors such as use and storage conditions, and if these are normal, the product can last a long time.

Since the Remotes have a built-in battery, we highly advise you not to replace them yourself since this can damage your product, and exempt you from the warranty.

If your Phase is presenting battery problems related to manufacturing flaws within 2 years, contact us at [email protected] to get assistance within 48 hours. It will cover any issues and shipment costs, whether it requires a repair or a product replacement.

After this period, if you have any battery problems or if you want to change the batteries of your Remotes, please don’t hesitate to contact our support team. We will work on a case by case basis, and after an evaluation, I’m sure we will be able to provide the best solution for you.