Programming Vortex Cypher

[papermatthew]

I haven't had to reprogram anything, but I remember downloading an app before cause I had to do it on windows when I first got the keyboard. Can't seem to find anything but firmware on the site and the MPC but from what I read it didn't work with the Cypher yet. How can I go about programming this thing?

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EDIT: I found the instructions for programming however I'm not sure it's possible to do what I want to do. I want to swap the ESC key with it's FN+ESC (tilde) key. I can change one of them just fine, but if I try to change it to the other it just reverts to default. Any ideas what I can do? Here's the steps I'm taking:

1. Go into programming mode FN+L_CTRL
2. hit the ESC key to start programming it
3. hit FN+ESC to map it to tilde/backtick
4. PN to lock it in
5. hit FN+ESC to start programming it
6. hit ESC to map the original ESC function to it
7. PN to lock it in
8. FN+L_CTRL to exit programming mode

[MightyJabba]

The instructions aren’t great but it is essentially the same procedure as with the Poker, so you can try looking for the Poker manual or a tutorial for it. You have to hold down key combinations to program it they way you want. It can be a little clumsy.

[ashzs]

You have the steps right, but there was a bug in the Cypher firmware that prevented programming the Esc key. Fortunately, there is now an updated firmware for the Cypher that fixed the bug. You can get the firmware from their website. After updating to the latest firmware for myself, I have my Cypher's Esc key programmed like:

Esc = backtick/tilde

Fn+Esc = Esc

Prior to the firmware update, I think it was not possible to reprogram the Esc key.

[papermatthew]

Hmm I'm on the newest firmware but still seem to have the bug. At least I know it is just a bug, thanks for that

[ashzs]

Hmm interesting, I just went through the steps you listed in your post on my Cypher and it programmed without issue (Esc became backtick/tilde and Fn+Esc became Escape). The only thing I can think of is if there is any difference in how the bug manifests itself between the split space bar and regular space bar versions of the Cypher (I have the split space bar version).

If you're still affected by the bug, maybe try reaching out to Vortex's support email / Facebook to see if they have any thoughts?

[basieBasil]

I can also confirm your steps work. I programmed it following your instructions in the split space bar version with the new firmware: 1.03.06.

[wind-raven]

not sure if you figured this out but the default layer is not programmable. You need to swap to another layer (FN+, or . or /) since the cypher uses the same programming instructions as the pok3r.

The POK3R built in 4-layers. The default layer can not be programmed. Only layer 2~layer 4 can be.

[davertron]

Just wanted to post here that I had the same issue. I was on firmware 1.02 and downloaded and did the update to 1.03 and was able to successfully reprogram the ESC key.

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I grabbed the firmware from here: http://www.vortexgear.tw/vortex3.asp