Thank you for purchasing Arsenal! This guide will help you get up and running quickly.
What You’ll Need
These instructions are for Sony users with an Android phone running 7.0 (“Nougat”) or newer. If you own a different brand of camera or use an iPhone, please see our other setup articles.
Your Arsenal order ships with:
1 Arsenal hardware device
1 USB cable for charging Arsenal
1 USB cable for connecting your camera (not needed for Sony WiFi cameras)
How to charge your Arsenal
Arsenal has a built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery. To charge your Arsenal:
Find the included USB charging cable
Plug the cable into Arsenal’s charging port on the right side of the device, near the power button. Take care to orient the cable correctly with the two small "teeth" facing down.
Plug the other end into a USB power source (or wall outlet, using a USB wall adapter)
A small orange light indicates Arsenal is charging. When charging is complete, the light will turn off.
IMPORTANT: Only Arsenal’s right USB port will charge the device. Be sure to connect the charging cable to Arsenal’s right side. (Using the wrong port won’t damage the device, but it also won’t charge!)
Be sure to fully charge Arsenal before using it in the field or storing it for a long period of time.
If you have trouble charging your Arsenal, see power and battery troubleshooting.
Before you start setup...
To help your first experience with Arsenal go smoothly, we strongly recommend the following:
On your phone:
Turn off the Smart Network Switch/Adaptive WiFi on your phone. This setting allows the phone to automatically switch from WiFi to a cellular network in an attempt to maintain a stable connection to the internet. This can cause the WiFi connection to the Arsenal to be dropped. To turn this off, check your phone's advanced WiFi settings. Locations and names can vary between brands and providers but you'll find a setting with a name that is similar to the following:
- Switch to Mobile Data
- Auto Network Switch
- Automatically Switch Network
- WiFi+
- Adaptive WiFi
- Smart Network Switch
- Adaptive connectivity
Ensure you have a good internet connection. This will help avoid a frustrating download process.
On your camera:
If possible, start with a blank memory card in your camera. This will improve the Arsenal app's initial performance.
Fully charge your camera's battery.
Make sure your camera is set to Aperture Priority mode
How to set up your Sony and Android with Arsenal
The first time you use Arsenal, you’ll need to set it up with your phone and camera. The download and installation of the firmware usually takes around 15-20 minutes.
Arsenal uses a mobile app to control and update the Arsenal device from your phone. To download the app, open the Play Store on your phone and search for “Arsenal Remote”.
If you have any trouble accessing or downloading the app from the app store please use the following APK (Android Application Package) install link: Arsenal 1 (1.0.4)
You may need to copy this link and paste it into a new tab in your phone’s web browser:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1H1tP8mwMt2ZwfwKYxeH_4wFsZrokipKH/view?usp=share_link
1. Charge your Arsenal
2. Download the Arsenal Remote app
3. Link your phone to Arsenal
Next, you’ll link Arsenal with your phone app so it can control your camera and send updates to your device.
Turn on your Arsenal device by briefly pressing and releasing the power button. You’ll see a small green light turn on.
Open the Arsenal app on your phone.
The app will ask to join a temporary “arsenal” WiFi network. When prompted, allow the connection.
If you have trouble linking your phone to Arsenal, see app and phone troubleshooting.
4. Update Arsenal’s Firmware
If a firmware update is available, you will be prompted to download and install it before using Arsenal. You will not have to do this often, but it is important to check for new updates before you go out to shoot with Arsenal. Especially if you will not have internet access.
When the app prompts you to update the firmware, click Download.
Your phone will rejoin your normal WiFi network to download the update. If no WiFi is found, it will ask if you want to download using cellular data. The file is approximately 400MB, so this will use a significant amount of data, and carrier charges may apply. When the download is finished, the app will request to rejoin the Arsenal network. Select “Join” and your phone will begin transferring the file to your Arsenal.
After the transfer is completed, the blue LED bar will turn on and Arsenal will begin installing the firmware updates. This takes approximately 15 minutes.
When Arsenal has finished installing the firmware update, the blue LED bar will turn off. In the app, click Next. Note: Do not click Next until the blue LEDs have turned off.
Arsenal will set up a new, private WiFi network for your device, (e.g. arsenal-adjective-noun-number). Give permission to join the new network when prompted.
5. Attach Arsenal to your camera
Note: The USB curly cable is not needed for a Sony WiFi camera
The easiest way to do this is by using your camera’s hot shoe
Hold the device so that the Arsenal lettering is on top and facing you when you’re behind the camera.
Line up Arsenal’s “foot” behind your camera’s hot shoe (the metal slot on top of the camera).
Slide Arsenal into the hot shoe.
6: Configure your Sony camera settings to work with Arsenal
Sony (A5000, A5100, A6000, A6300, A6500, A7, A7R, A7S, A7ii, A7Rii, A7Sii)
Arsenal controls these Sony cameras via the Sony PlayMemories “Smart Remote Control" app over WiFi. If you see “Smart Remote Embedded” please see here to update.
To connect to Arsenal wirelessly:
Select Smart Remote Control App on your camera
Push the trash can on your camera to retrieve your camera’s Password
Turn on the Arsenal Device
Hit connect
When you see the “Camera Not Detected” screen click “SETUP A NEW SONY CAMERA” button
A screen for you to enter the password from your camera will pop up
Enter the password
Click Connect
After the first time setup and connection, Arsenal should remember your camera's network name and password and connect as soon as it sees the network.
Reminder: You will need to start the Sony PlayMemories Smart Remote app on your camera each time you want to connect to Arsenal. Your camera should be set to Aperture Priority mode to make the initial connection.
Additional note: If you have two-factor authentication enabled on your Sony Entertainment, you'll need to disable this setting:
Visit the Sony Account Management site
Go to the Account tab and select Security
In the 2-Step Verification section, select Edit next to Status and choose "Deactivate"
Need more information on the Smart Remote Control App, click here.
Now you’re ready to start shooting with Arsenal!
Learn more
The app is pretty intuitive, so feel free to dive in. Or, check out our other Getting Started articles:
If you need further assistance please reach out to our friendly Support Team.