DIT Triage - Network Setup
Symptom: Problems occurring during initial network setup before the shoot begins, or after a network reconfiguration.
1. Router won’t boot or has no power?
LEDs are off, or the router doesn’t respond.
Yes — Check the power cable and try a different outlet. If using a power strip, plug directly into the wall. If the router is completely dead (DOA), use a backup router or phone hotspot as emergency. If no backup router, fall back to SOP_DIT_Wired_Only.
No (router is booting) → Next.
2. Devices can’t find the Wi-Fi network?
The SSID doesn’t appear in any device’s Wi-Fi list.
Yes — Check: Is SSID broadcast enabled? (Router admin panel, usually enabled by default.) Is the router broadcasting on the band your devices support? If you configured 5 GHz only, older iPads (iPad Air 1st gen, iPad mini 2) don’t support 5 GHz. If you configured 2.4 GHz only, check that the 2.4 GHz radio is enabled.
Recommendation: Use 5 GHz for DIT work. It has less interference from production equipment (wireless triggers, walkies, Bluetooth). Only fall back to 2.4 GHz if range is insufficient.
No (SSID visible) → Next.
3. Devices connect to Wi-Fi but can’t reach each other?
iPads and laptop are both on the Wi-Fi network but Capture Pilot can’t find the server, or devices can’t ping each other.
Yes — → EC - Router Config Checklist — this is almost always a router configuration issue (AP isolation, client isolation, band steering separating devices, or mDNS/Bonjour passthrough disabled).
If you need to check one thing fast: log into the router admin panel and look for “AP Isolation” or “Client Isolation” — disable it.
No (devices can reach each other) → Next.
4. Bonjour services not being discovered?
Capture Pilot on the iPad says “Searching for Server” even though the network is up and devices can ping each other.
Yes — → EC - Bonjour Diagnosis for the full diagnostic flow including dns-sd commands and mDNSResponder restart.
Quick fix: On the laptop, try restarting the Bonjour service: in Terminal, sudo killall mDNSResponder. Then restart the Image Server in Capture One.
No (Bonjour is working) → Next.
5. Venue insists you use their Wi-Fi?
The venue IT team requires all devices on their network, or they won’t allow a separate router.
Yes — Why it usually fails: Venue networks have captive portals, heavy congestion, client isolation enabled, mDNS filtered, and unknown DHCP behavior. Capture Pilot will likely not work.
Negotiation strategy: “We need our own local network for the equipment to communicate. It doesn’t need internet access. Can we run our own router alongside your network?” Offer to keep the DIT router on a different channel. If they insist on their network for internet, use the venue Wi-Fi on the laptop for internet (Capture One Live cloud uploads) and the DIT router on Ethernet for local traffic (Capture Pilot, Live for Studio).
No (using your own router) → Next.
6. Bluetooth interference degrading 2.4 GHz?
Bluetooth operates in the 2.4 GHz band. Apple Pencil, AirPods, Bluetooth keyboards, and other BT devices add noise.
Yes — Fix: Switch the DIT network to 5 GHz (preferred solution). If 5 GHz isn’t an option, minimize active Bluetooth devices near the router and iPad. Disable Bluetooth on devices that don’t need it.
No → Next.
7. DNS resolution failing with no internet uplink?
When the DIT router has no WAN/internet connection, macOS and iPadOS still try to resolve DNS queries (Apple services, license checks, iCloud). These queries timeout slowly (5-30 seconds each), causing periodic stalls.
Yes — Fix: In the router admin panel, set the DNS server to the router’s own IP address (e.g., 192.168.8.1). This makes DNS queries fail immediately instead of timing out. Alternatively, set static DNS on each device to 127.0.0.1 or the router IP.
No (has internet or no stalls) → Next.
8. macOS Bonjour broadcasting on the wrong network interface?
If the MacBook Pro has both Wi-Fi and Ethernet active, Bonjour may advertise the Capture Pilot service on the Wi-Fi interface instead of the Ethernet interface that connects to the DIT router. The iPad, on the router’s Wi-Fi, can’t reach the service.
Yes — Fix: System Settings > Network > click the gear icon > Set Service Order. Drag Ethernet above Wi-Fi. Or simpler: turn off Wi-Fi on the laptop entirely during the shoot if you don’t need it for Capture One Live cloud uploads.
No (only one interface active) → Next.
9. Nuclear: Network is unsalvageable
Every diagnostic has been exhausted. The network simply will not work.
→ SOP_DIT_Wired_Only — fall back to wired-only workflow.
Tell the client: “We’re going to use a wired monitor for review today. You’ll see images on this screen and can tell me your ratings verbally.”