Understanding the behavior of the DitStorm Cypher™ wi-fi function is important, as it can be confusing if you don't know what it is doing. This article explains the entire range of operation for both Direct Mode and Internet or Device Mode.
The Cypher operates on wi-fi in two distinct modes:
- Wi-Fi Server Mode
- Wi-Fi Device Mode
The Server Mode is when the Cypher presents itself as the CYPHER network, available in your list of local wi-fi services in your device wi-fi settings. When you connect to this limited network, which of course is NOT connected to the internet, you are operation in AP mode or what we refer to as Direct Mode.
Direct Mode is simply a connection between Cypher and your computing device - a PC, Mac, tablet, or phone.
When in Direct Mode, you can go into SETTINGS and enter your local wi-fi network information: SSID and PW. Click SAVE to save the values, and CONNECT to connect to your local network.
Now we have a little problem. You just gave your Cypher the means to connect to your home network, but your computing device is still connected to - or was connected to CYPHER. I say “was” because as soon as you click CONNECT, Cypher drops CYPHER network wi-fi Server Mode, and starts wi-fi Device Mode. In device mode, it attempts to connect to your local network as a wi-fi device.
This assumes your network router will accept Cypher. There are some complicated reasons some routers will reject Cypher. Contact some IT friend to figure that out if it fails.
On your screen immediately after clicking CONNECT is a countdown timer. It is asking you to return your device to connect to your local network, and gives you 2 minutes to do so. More below on what happens if it fails to connect.
Keep in mind that Cypher is a distributed program - some running on the browser, the rest running inside Cypher. But once you CONNECT, Cypher switches from server to device mode, and the two components of software are disconnected. The component running on the browser is looking for your local network to be reconnected to your computing device, and then it will look for and reconnect to its other component in Cypher automatically, if allowed by your router.
So quickly return your computing device to the local network. Some computers will do this automatically once they recognize CYPHER is gone, but often it takes a while for that to occur. Thus, manual resetting is required.
Once the browser component finds and establishes a connect to the Cypher, you can click the big INITIALIZE SYSTEM button to return to Cypher, reconnecting the two software components for normal operation.
The requirement for a button here is due to security requirements in the browser, FYI.
The important thing to realize here is now that the Cypher can connect to your network, it will NOT show up in the available networks list in your wi-fi settings on your computing device.. It cannot be in both places at the same time. This is why you can’t find CYPHER - it is already connecting or connected to your local network, waiting for you to connect to it via cypher.local on your browser.
If Cypher can’t connect to your network for some IT reason, or. you are at a different location where your home network does not exist, Cypher will revert to wi-fi server mode, and CYPHER will reappear in your wi-fi networks list, after trying to connect for about 2 minutes. You can connect to it in direct mode as described earlier.
Leaving the home network setting intact when not a home means that every time you plug it in, it is going t take 2 minutes to become available. Thus, it is a good idea to delete the two values, SAVE the deleted values, so it will not labor for 2 minutes trying to find and connect to your home network.
To recover wi-fi server mode at home, turn off your router, wait for CYPHER to return to the wi-fi networks menu, reconnect as described earlier, and clear and save the SSID and PW. Then turn your router back on.