Teledyne Lecroy Frontline NFC-F, Frontline NFC-B, Frontline NFC-A User Manual
Hardware and Software User Manual
Revision Date: 12/14/2016
TELEDYNE LECROY
Copyright © 2017 Teledyne LeCroy, Inc.
FTS, Frontline, Frontline Test System, ComProbe Protocol Analysis System and ComProbe are registered
trademarks of Teledyne LeCroy, Inc.
The Bluetooth SIG, Inc. owns the Bluetooth® word mark and logos, and any use of such marks by Teledyne LeCroy,
Inc. is under license.
All other trademarks and registered trademarks are property of their respective owners.
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Contents
Chapter 1 Frontline Hardware & Software 1
1.1 What is in this manual 2
1.2 Computer Minimum System Requirements 2
1.3 Software Installation 2
Chapter 2 Getting Started 3
2.1 NFC Hardware 3
2.1.1 Hardware Installation 3
2.1.2 NFC Hardware Settings 4
2.1.3 Capture Tips 4
2.2 Data Capture Methods 7
2.2.1 Opening Data Capture Method 7
2.2.2 Frontline® NFC Data Capture Method 9
2.3 Control Window 10
2.3.1 Control Window Toolbar 10
2.3.2 Configuration Information on the Control Window 11
2.3.3 Status Information on the Control Window 11
2.3.4 Frame Information on the Control Window 12
2.3.5 Control Window Menus 12
2.3.6 Minimizing Windows 15
Chapter 3 Configuration Settings 16
3.1 NFC Configuration 16
3.1.1 NFC Hardware Settings 16
3.1.2 NFC I/O Settings - Datasource 17
3.1.2.1 Filter Settings 17
3.1.2.2 Hardware Trigger 18
3.1.2.3 Start Triggers 18
3.1.2.4 Protocols Enabled 18
3.1.2.5 Automatic Gain Control 18
3.1.2.6 Type 1 Tag Platform 19
3.1.2.7 Mifare Classic 19
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Chapter 4 Capturing and Analyzing Data 20
4.1 Capture Data 20
4.1.1 Capturing Data to Disk - General Procedure 20
4.1.2 Extended Inquiry Response 22
4.2 Protocol Stacks 22
4.2.1 Protocol Stack Wizard 23
4.2.2 Creating and Removing a Custom Stack 24
4.2.3 Reframing 25
4.2.4 Unframing 25
4.2.5 How the Analyzer Auto-traverses the Protocol Stack 26
4.2.6 Providing Context For Decoding When Frame Information Is Missing 27
4.3 Analyzing Protocol Decodes 27
4.3.1 The Frame Display 27
4.4 Analyzing Byte Level Data 62
4.4.1 Event Display 62
4.4.2 The Event Display Toolbar 63
4.4.3 Opening Multiple Event Display Windows 65
4.4.4 Calculating CRCs or FCSs 65
4.4.5 Calculating Delta Times and Data Rates 65
4.4.6 Switching Between Live Update and Review Mode 66
4.4.7 Data Formats and Symbols 66
Chapter 5 Navigating and Searching the Data 72
5.1 Find 72
5.1.1 Searching within Decodes 73
5.1.2 Searching by Pattern 75
5.1.3 Searching by Time 77
5.1.4 Using Go To 79
5.1.5 Searching for Special Events 80
5.1.6 Searching by Signal 81
5.1.7 Searching for Data Errors 85
5.1.8 Find - Bookmarks 87
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5.1.9 Changing Where the Search Lands 88
5.1.10 Subtleties of Timestamp Searching 89
5.2 Bookmarks 89
5.2.1 Adding, Modifying or Deleting a Bookmark 89
5.2.2 Displaying All and Moving Between Bookmarks 90
Chapter 6 Saving and Importing Data 92
6.1 Saving Your Data 92
6.1.1 Saving the Entire Capture File 92
6.1.2 Saving the Entire Capture File with Save Selection 93
6.1.3 Saving a Portion of a Capture File 94
6.2 Adding Comments to a Capture File 94
6.3 Confirm Capture File (CFA) Changes 95
6.4 Loading and Importing a Capture File 95
6.4.1 Loading a Capture File 95
6.4.2 Importing Capture Files 96
6.5 Printing 96
6.5.1 Printing from the Frame Display/HTML Export 96
6.5.2 Printing from the Event Display 99
6.6 Exporting 100
6.6.1 Frame Display Export 100
6.6.2 Exporting a File with Event Display Export 100
Chapter 7 General Information 104
7.1 System Settings and Progam Options 104
7.1.1 System Settings 104
7.1.2 Changing Default File Locations 108
7.1.3 Side Names 110
7.1.4 Timestamping 111
7.2 Technical Information 114
7.2.1 Performance Notes 114
7.2.2 Progress Bars 115
7.2.3 Event Numbering 115
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7.2.4 Useful Character Tables 115
7.2.5 DecoderScript Overview 118
7.2.6 Bluetooth low energy ATT Decoder Handle Mapping 118
Contacting Technical Support 119
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Chapter 1 Frontline Hardware & Software
Frontline Test Equipment family of protocol analyzers work with the following technologies.
l Classic Bluetooth
l Bluetooth low energy
l Dual Mode Bluetooth (simultaneous Classic and low energy)
l Bluetooth Coexistence: Bluetooth with 802.11 Wi-Fi
l Bluetooth HCI (USB, SD, High Speed UART)
l NFC
l 802.11 (Wi-Fi)
l SD
l HSU (High Speed UART)
The Frontline hardware interfaces with your computer that is running our robust software engine called the
ComProbe Protocol Analysis System or Frontline software. Whether you are sniffing the air or connecting directly
to the chip Frontline analyzers use the same powerful Frontline software to help you test, troubleshoot, and
debug communications faster.
Frontline software is an easy to use and powerful protocol analysis platform. Simply use the appropriate Frontline
hardware or write your own proprietary code to pump communication streams directly into the Frontline
software where they are decoded, decrypted, and analyzed. Within the Frontline software you see packets,
frames, events, coexistence, binary, hex, radix, statistics, errors, and much more.
This manual is a user guide that takes you from connecting and setting up the hardware through all of the
Frontline software functions for your Frontline hardware. Should you have any questions contact the Frontline
Technical Support Team.
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TELEDYNE LECROY Chapter 1 Frontline Hardware & Software
1.1 What is in this manual
The Frontline User Manual comprises the following seven chapters. The chapters are organized in the sequence
you would normally follow to capture and analyze data: set up, configure, capture, analyze, save. You can read
them from beginning to end to gain a complete understanding of how to use the Frontline hardware and software
or you can skip around if you only need a refresher on a particular topic. Use the Contents, Index, and Glossary to
find the location of particular topics.
l Chapter 1 Frontline Hardware and Software. This chapter will describe the minimum computer
requirements and how to install the software.
l Chapter 2 Getting Started. Here we describe how to set up and connect the hardware, and how to apply
power. This chapter also describes how to start the Frontline software in Data Capture Methods. You will be
introduced to the Control window that is the primary operating dialog in the Frontline software.
l Chapter 3 Configuration Settings. The software and hardware is configured to capture data. Configuration
settings may vary for a particular Frontline analyzer depending on the technology and network being sniffed.
There are topics on configuring protocol decoders used to disassemble packets into frames and events.
l Chapter 4 Capturing and Analyzing Data. This Chapter describes how to start a capture session and how to
observe the captured packets, frames, layers and events.
l Chapter 5 Navigating and Searching the Data. Here you will find how to move through the data and how to
isolate the data to specific events, often used for troubleshooting device design problems.
l Chapter 6 Saving and Importing Data. When a live capture is completed you may want to save the captured
data for future analysis, or you may want to import a captured data set from another developer or for use in
interoperability testing. This chapter will explain how to do this for various data file formats.
l Chapter 7 General Information. This chapter provides advanced system set up and configuration information,
timestamping information, and general reference information such as ASCII, baudot, and EBCDIC codes. This
chapter also provides information on how to contact Frontline's Technical Support team should you need
assistance.
1.2 Computer Minimum System Requirements
Frontline supports the following computer systems configurations:
l Operating System: Windows 7/8/10
l USB Port: USB 2.0 High-Speed or or later
The Frontline software must operate on a computer with the following minimum characteristics.
l Processor: Core i5 processor at 2.7 GHz
l RAM: 4 GB
l Free Hard Disk Space on C: drive: 20 GB
1.3 Software Installation
Download the installation software from FTE.com. Once downloaded, double-click the installer and follow the
directions.
Use this link: http://www.fte.com/nfc-soft.
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Chapter 2 Getting Started
In this chapter we introduce you to the Frontline hardware and show how to start the Frontline analyzer software
and explain the basic software controls and features for conducting the protocol analysis.
2.1 NFC Hardware
The following sections describe the NFC hardware connectors and hardware setup.
2.1.1 Hardware Installation
To assemble Frontline NFC, perform the following steps:
1. Attach the antenna to the SMA connector at the top of the unit.
2. Insert the smaller end of the USB cable into the Frontline NFC USB port at the end of the enclosure
opposite the antenna.
3. Plug larger end of the USB cable into an available USB port of your PC.
When completed, your configuration should resemble the following figure.
Figure 2.1 - NFC Hardware Installation
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2.1.2 NFC Hardware Settings
Use the Hardware Settings dialog to select which Frontline NFC you wish to configure. If only one Frontline NFC is
connected, it is automatically selected.
Figure 2.2 - NFC Hardware Settings Dialog
Hardware Settings Dialog
Connecting and using the Frontline NFCAnalyzer
1. Connect the Frontline NFC to an available USB port.
2. Start the analyzer software.
3. Select Hardware Settings from Options menu on the Control window.
4. Choose the Frontline device to use from the drop-down list. The drop-down list shows the serial numbers
of the Frontline devices. If you have only one Frontline device connected to your PC, it is selected
automatically.
5. Select OK to save the settings, Cancel to close the dialog without saving the settings, or Help to access
the Frontline help file.
2.1.3 Capture Tips
NFC can be a tricky protocol to capture reliably. NFC operates over a range of a few inches at most and it is often
difficult to know where to place the antenna to get the best result. The location of the antenna in NFC devices
varies from device to device making it even more difficult to find the proper location. In this section, we present a
few tips to help you more reliably capture NFC data.
The following image illustrates good antenna positioning.
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Figure 2.3 - Antenna Positioning - Good
The device, Frontline NFC unit antenna, and tag are within an inch or two of each other and all are oriented
parallel to each other. This ensures all devices are within NFC’s read range and that the maximum signal is
available to all devices.
In the following image, the devices are too far apart for reliable operation.
Figure 2.4 - Antenna Positioning - Too Far Apart
In the following image, the analyzer antenna is not parallel to the device and tag. This reduces its ability to reliably
capture data.
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Figure 2.5 - Antenna Position Not Parallel
In most cases, placing the antenna between the device and the tag gives the best results. However, for some
combinations of device and tag, performance may be improved by placing the antenna directly behind or next to
the tag as in the image below.
Figure 2.6 - Antenna Positioning - Behind or Next To Tag
Often, a device will only be able to read NFC tags in the area immediately surrounding the device’s internal
antenna. Often times, you’ll need to experiment with the reading device in order to locate its antenna and
determine the best location for the antenna and the tag. In the following image, the antenna of the device on the
left is in the lower portion of its enclosure but the device is incorrectly positioned so the upper portion of the
enclosure is near the analyzer’s antenna. This reduces the quality of the capture.
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Figure 2.7 - Antenna Positioning - Adjust for Internal Device Antenna
2.2 Data Capture Methods
This section describes how to load TELEDYNE LECROY Frontline Protocol Analysis System software, and how to
select the data capture method for your specific application.
2.2.1 Opening Data Capture Method
On product installation, the installer creates a folder on the windows desktop labeled "Frontline <version #>".
1. Double-click the " Frontline <version #>" desktop folder
This opens a standard Windows file folder window.
Figure 2.8 - Desktop Folder Link
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2. Double-click on Frontline ComProbe Protocol Analysis System and the system displays the Select Data
Capture Method... dialog.
Note: You can also access this dialog by selecting Start > All Programs > Frontline
(Version #) > Frontline ComProbe Protocol Analysis System
Figure 2.9 - Example: Select Data Capture Method..., BPA 600
Three buttons appear at the bottom of the dialog; Run, Cancel, and Help.
Select Data Capture Method dialog buttons
Button Description
Becomes active when a capture method is selected. Starts the selected capture method.
Closes the dialog and exits the user back to the computer desktop.
Opens Frontline Help. Keyboard shortcut: F1.
3. Expand the folder and select the data capture method that matches your configuration.
4. Click on the Run button and the Frontline Control Window will open configured to the selected capture
method.
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Note: If you don't need to identify a capture method, then click the Run button to start the
analyzer.
Creating a Shortcut
A checkbox labeled Create Shortcut When Run is located near the bottom
of the dialog. This box is un-checked by default. Select this checkbox, and the
system creates a shortcut for the selected method, and places it in the
"Frontline ComProbe Protocol Analysis System <version#>" desktop folder and
in the start menu when you click the Run button. This function allows you the option to create a shortcut icon that
can be placed on the desktop. In the future, simply double-click the shortcut to start the analyzer in the associated
protocol.
Supporting Documentation
The Frontline <version #>directory contains supporting documentation for development (Automation,
DecoderScript™, application notes), user documentation (Quick Start Guides and the Frontline User Manual), and
maintenance tools.
2.2.2 Frontline®NFC Data Capture Method
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l Requires one Frontline NFC hardware.
l Captures and Decodes NFC data.
2.3 Control Window
The analyzer displays information in multiple windows, with each window presenting a different type of
information. The Control window opens when the Run button is clicked in the Select Data Capture Method
window. The Control window provides access to each Frontline analyzer functions and settings as well as a brief
overview of the data in the capture file. Each icon on the toolbar represents a different data analysis function.
Figure 2.10 - Control Window
Because the Control window can get lost behind other windows, every window has a Home icon that brings
the Control window back to the front. Just click on the Home icon to restore the Control window.
When running the Capture File Viewer, the Control window toolbar and menus contain only those selections
needed to open a capture file and display the About box. Once a capture file is opened, the analyzer limits Control
window functions to those that are useful for analyzing data contained in the current file. Because you cannot
capture data while using Capture File Viewer, data capture functions are unavailable. For example, when
viewing Ethernet data, the Signal Display is not available. The title bar of the Control window displays the name of
the currently open file. The status line (below the toolbar) shows the configuration settings that were in use when
the capture file was created.
2.3.1 Control Window Toolbar
Toolbar icon displays vary according to operating mode and/or data displayed. Available icons appear in color,
while unavailable icons are not visible. Grayed-out icons are available for the Frontline hardware and software
configuration in use but are not active until certain operating conditions occur. All toolbar icons have
corresponding menu bar items or options.
Table 2.1 - Control Window Toolbar Icons
Icon Description
Open File - Opens a capture file.
I/O Settings - Opens settings
Start Capture - Begins data capture to disk
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Table 2.1 - Control Window Toolbar Icons (continued)
Icon Description
Stop Capture - Available after data capture has started. Click to stop data capture. Data can
be reviewed and saved, but no new data can be captured.
Save - Saves the capture file.
Clear - Clears or saves the capture file.
Event Display - (framed data only) Opens a Event Display, with the currently selected bytes
highlighted.
Frame Display - (framed data only) Opens a Frame Display, with the frame of the currently
selected bytes highlighted.
Notes - Opens the Notes dialog.
Cascade - Arranges windows in a cascaded display.
2.3.2 Configuration Information on the Control Window
The Configuration bar (just below the toolbar) displays the hardware configuration and may include I/O settings. It
also provides such things as name of the network card, address information, ports in use, etc.
2.3.3 Status Information on the Control Window
The Status bar located just below the Configuration bar on the Control window provides a quick look at current
activity in the analyzer.
l Capture Status displays Not Active, Paused or Running and refers to the state of data capture.
o
Not Active means that the analyzer is not currently capturing data.
o
Paused means that data capture has been suspended.
o
Running means that the analyzer is actively capturing data.
l
% Used
The next item shows how much of the buffer or capture file has been filled. For example, if you are
capturing to disk and have specified a 200 Kb capture file, the bar graph tells you how much of the capture
file has been used. When the graph reaches 100%, capture either stops or the file begins to overwrite the
oldest data, depending on the choices you made in the System Settings.
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l
Utilization/Events
The second half of the status bar gives the current utilization and total number of events seen on the
network. This is the total number of events monitored, not the total number of events captured. The
analyzer is always monitoring the circuit, even when data is not actively being captured. These graphs
allow you to keep an eye on what is happening on the circuit, without requiring you to capture data.
2.3.4 Frame Information on the Control Window
Frame Decoder information is located just below the Status bar on the Control window. It displays two pieces of
information.
l Frame Decoder (233 fps) displays the number of frames per second being decoded. You can toggle this
display on/off with Ctrl-D, but it is available only during a live capture.
l #132911 displays the total frames decoded.
l 100% displays the percentage of buffer space used.
2.3.5 Control Window Menus
The menus appearing on the Control window vary depending on whether the data is being captured live or
whether you are looking at a .cfa file. The following tables describe each menu.
Table 2.2 - Control Window File Menu Selections
Mode Selection
Live
Capture
File
Close
Go Live
Reframe
Unframe
Recreate
Companion File
Reload Decoders
Hot
Key
Description
Closes Live mode.
Returns to Live mode
If you need to change the protocol stack used to interpret a
capture file and the framing is different in the new stack, you
need to reframe in order for the protocol decode to be correct. See
Reframing on page 25
Removes start-of-frame and end-of-frame markers from your
data. See
Unframing on page 25
This option is available when you are working with decoders. If
you change a decoder while working with data, you can recreate
the ".frm file", the companion file to the ".cfa file". Recreating the
".frm file" helps ensure that the decoders will work properly.
The plug-ins are reset and received frames are decoded again.
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Table 2.2 - Control Window File Menu Selections (continued)
Mode Selection
Live &
Capture
File
Open Capture File
Hot
Key
Ctrl--OOpens a Windows Open file dialog. at the default location
"...\Public Documents\Frontline Test Equipment\My Capture
Files\". Capture files have a .cfa extension.
Description
Save
Exit ComProbe
Protocol Analysis
System
Recent capture files A list of recently opened capture files will appear.
The View menu selections will vary depending on the Frontline analyzer in use.
Mode Selection Hot key Description
Live &
Capture
File
Mode Selection
Capture
File
Event Display
Frame Display
Notes
Ctrl-SSaves the current capture or capture file. Opens a Windows
Save As dialog at the default location "...\Public
Documents\Frontline Test Equipment\My Capture Files\".
Shuts down the ComProbe Protocol Analysis System and all
open system windows.
Table 2.3 - Control Window View Menu Selections
CtrlShift-E
CtrlShift-M
Table 2.4 - Control Window Edit Menu Selections
Hot-
key
CtrlShift-O
Opens the Event Display window for analyzing byte level
data.
Opens the Frame Display window for analyzing protocol
level data
Description
Opens the
comments to a capture file.
Notes window
that allows the user to add
The Live menu selections will vary depending on the Frontline analyzer in use.
Table 2.5 - Control Window Live Menu Selections
Mode Selection Hot-Key Description
The following two rows apply to all Frontline products except Set in Target.
Live
The following rows apply to all Frontline products
Live Clear Shift-
Frontline NFC Hardware & Software User Manual 13
Start Capture
Stop Capture
Shift-F5 Begins data capture from the configured wireless devices.
F10 Stops data capture from the configured wireless devices.
Clears or saves the capture file.
F10
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Table 2.5 - Control Window Live Menu Selections (continued)
Mode Selection Hot-Key Description
Live &
Capture
File
Hardware Settings
I/O Settings
0 - Classic
1 - Bluetooth low energy
0 - Classic
1 - Bluetooth low energy
System Settings
Directories...
Check for New
Releases at Startup
Side Names...
Protocol Stack...
Set Initial Decoder
Parameters...
AltEnter
Opens the System Settings dialog for configuring capture
files.
Opens the
the default file locations.
When this selection is enabled, the program automatically
checks for the latest Frontline protocol analyzer software
releases.
Opens the
of the slave and master wireless devices.
Opens the
protocol stack they want the analyzer to use when decoding
frames.
Opens the
may be times when the context for decoding a frame is
missing. For example, if the analyzer captured a response
frame, but did not capture the command frame, then the
decode for the response may be incomplete. The Set Initial
Decoder Parameters dialog provides a means to supply the
context for any frame. The system allows the user to define
any number of parameters and save them in templates for
later use.Each entry in the window takes effect from the
beginning of the capture onward or until redefined in the Set
Subsequent Decoder Parameters dialog. This selection is not
present if no decoder is loaded that supports this feature.
File Locations dialog
Side Names dialog
Select a Stack dialog
Set Initial Decoder Parameters window
where the user can change
used to customize the names
where the user defines the
. There
Set Subsequent
Decoder
Parameters...
Automatically
Request Missing
Decoder
Information
14 Frontline NFC Hardware & Software User Manual
Opens the
where the user can override an existing parameter at any
frame in the capture. Each entry takes effect from the
specified frame onward or until redefined in this dialog on a
later frame. This selection is not present if no decoder is
loaded that supports this feature.
When checked, this selection opens a dialog that asking for
missing frame information. When unchecked, the analyzer
decodes each frame until it cannot go further and it stops
decoding. This selection is not present if no decoder is loaded
that supports this feature.
Set Subsequent Decoder Parameters dialog
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Table 2.5 - Control Window Live Menu Selections (continued)
Mode Selection Hot-Key Description
Enable/Disable
Audio Expert
System
The Windows menu selection applies only to the Control window and open analysis windows: Frame Display,
Event Display, Message Sequence Chart, Bluetooth Timeline, Bluetooth low energy Timeline, and
Coexistence View. All other windows, such as the datasource, are not affected by these selections.
Table 2.6 - Control Window Windows Menu Selections
Mode Selection Hot-Key Description
Live &
Capture
File
Cascade
Close All Views
Ctrl-W Arranges open analysis windows in a cascaded view with
When enabled, the
it is not available. Only available when an Audio Expert
System licensed device is connected.
window captions visible.
Closes Open analysis windows.
Audio Expert System
is active, other wise
Minimize Control
Minimizes All
Frame Display
Event Display
Mode Selection Hot-Key Description
Live &
Capture
File
Help Topics
About Frontline
Protocol Analysis
System
Support on the Web
and
Table 2.7 - Control Window Help Menu Selections
When checked, minimizing the Control window also
minimizes all open analysis windows.
When these windows are open the menu will display these
selections. Clicking on the selection will bring that window to
the front.
Opens the Frontline Help window.
Provides a pop-up showing the version and release
information, Frontline contact information, and copyright
information.
Opens a browser to
fte.com
technical support page.
2.3.6 Minimizing Windows
Windows can be minimized individually or as a group when the Control window is minimized. To minimize
windows as a group:
1.
Go to the Window menu on the Control window.
2. Select Minimize Control Minimizes All. The analyzer puts a check next to the menu item, indicating
that when the Control window is minimized, all windows are minimized.
3. Select the menu item again to deactivate this feature.
4. The windows minimize to the top of the operating system Task Bar.
Frontline NFC Hardware & Software User Manual 15
Chapter 3 Configuration Settings
In this section the Frontline software is used to configure an analyzer for capturing data .
3.1 NFC Configuration
3.1.1 NFC Hardware Settings
Use the Hardware Settings dialog to select which Frontline NFC you wish to configure. If only one Frontline NFC is
connected, it is automatically selected.
Figure 3.1 - NFC Hardware Settings Dialog
Hardware Settings Dialog
Connecting and using the Frontline NFCAnalyzer
1. Connect the Frontline NFC to an available USB port.
2. Start the analyzer software.
3. Select Hardware Settings from Options menu on the Control window.
4. Choose the Frontline device to use from the drop-down list. The drop-down list shows the serial numbers
of the Frontline devices. If you have only one Frontline device connected to your PC, it is selected
automatically.
5. Select OK to save the settings, Cancel to close the dialog without saving the settings, or Help to access
the Frontline help file.
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3.1.2 NFC I/O Settings - Datasource
The I/O Settings is used to configure the data capture settings of the ComProbe NFC analyzer. To access the I/O
Settings dialog, go to Options menu I/O Settings on the Control window.
Figure 3.2 - I/O Settings Dialog
3.1.2.1 Filter Settings
This setting allows adjustment of the frequency range used by the ComProbe when capturing NFC signals. The
available options are:
l Automatic
l 110 KHz to 570 KHz
l 200 KHz to 900 KHz
l 210 KHz to 1400 KHz
l 450 KHz to 1500 KHz
l 100 KHz to 1500 KHz
The default value for this setting is Automatic which automatically adjusts the filter settings according to the
protocols selected for capture. In most cases, this value provides the best performance. Selecting a specific
frequency range may improve capture performance when attempting to capture a specific protocol in difficult
situations. The following guidelines apply when adjusting the filter settings:
l For systems such as NFC-F which use a 212 kHz subcarrier, 110 kHz to 570 kHz may be used.
l For systems such as NFC-A and NFC-B which use an 848 kHz subcarrier, 450 kHz to 1500 kHz may be used.
Other filter values may be tried to improve performance.
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3.1.2.2 Hardware Trigger
This setting enables or disables the use of the ComProbe NFC’s hardware trigger input. The following values for
this setting are:
l Not Used
l Rising Edge
l Falling Edge
When enabled, ComProbe NFC will not begin capturing until the selected event occurs on the hardware trigger
input. A timestamp value of 0 corresponds to the triggering event. By default, the hardware trigger input is not
used and capture is started immediately upon clicking the Start Capture icon.
3.1.2.3 Start Triggers
The available options in the drop-down list are:
l Start Capture Immediately
l Start Capture at Rising Edge
l Start Capture at Falling Edge
The default option is to Start Capture Immediately.
3.1.2.4 Protocols Enabled
The ComProbe NFC can capture data from the following protocols:
l NFC-A
l NFC-B
l NFC-F
To enable or disable a particular protocol, check or uncheck its associated checkbox. By default, ComProbe NFC
captures all protocols.
3.1.2.5 Automatic Gain Control
Automatic Gain Control allows ComProbe NFC to reduce its capture sensitivity if the signal it’s receiving is too
strong. It is enabled by checking the Enable Automatic Gain Control check box. By default, Automatic Gain
Control is enabled.
3.1.2.5.1 Automatic Gain Control Time
When Automatic Gain Control is enabled, this option determines when Automatic Gain Control is applied. By
default, Automatic Gain Control is active only at the start of a message and, once the gain has been adjusted,
Automatic Gain Control is disabled until a new message is received. If the Continuous option is selected,
Automatic Gain Control is active during reception of the entire message.
3.1.2.5.2 Automatic Gain Control Level
When Automatic Gain Control is enabled, this setting determines how strong the signal must be before automatic
gain adjustment is applied. By default, gain reduction is not enabled until the received signal is more than five (5)
times an internal reference value. If the 3 Times (3x) option is selected, gain reduction is applied when the
received signal is three (3) times the internal reference value.
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3.1.2.5.3 Automatic Gain Control Reduction
When Automatic Gain Control is enabled, this setting controls the amount by which the gain is reduced when the
received signal exceeds the Automatic Gain Control Level. The available values for this setting are:
l 0 dB
l 5 dB
l 10 dB
l 15 dB
The default option is 15 dB.
3.1.2.6 Type 1 Tag Platform
When reading a Type 1 tag, the reading device inserts a delay between each byte sent to the tag. This delay time
varies from reader to reader. Enabling the frame aggregation option causes these bytes to be collected into a
single frame as long as they are separated by less than the maximum allowed delay time. If frame aggregation is
enabled and the reader’s frames continue to appear as a series of single-byte frames, the maximum delay time
should be increased until the bytes begin to appear together in a single frame.
3.1.2.7 Mifare Classic
When Mifare Classic support is enabled, the software will attempt to recognize and decrypt the contents of Mifare
Classic tags. Only Mifare Classic tags that use the well-known encryption key published by NXP Semiconductor are
currently supported.
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Chapter 4 Capturing and Analyzing Data
The following sections describe the various ComProbe software functions that capture and display data packets.
4.1 Capture Data
4.1.1 Capturing Data to Disk - General Procedure
Note: Capture is not available in Viewer mode.
1.
Click the Start Capture button to begin capturing to a file. This icon is located on the Control ,
Event Display, and Frame Display windows.
2. Files are placed in My Capture Files by default and have a .cfa extension. Choose Directories from the
Options menu on the Control window to change the default file location.
Note: For the Dashboard, when you capture to series of files, the window displays the
data from the beginning of the first capture, even when a new file in the series is
created. This is because the Dashboard is a "Session Monitor", which means that
even if you capture to a series of files, the data from the first file is always displayed.
The display does not refresh when a new capture file in a series is created.
3. Watch the status bar on the Control window to monitor how full the file is. When the file is full, it begins
to wrap, which means the oldest data will be overwritten by new data.
4.
Click the Stop Capture icon to temporarily stop data capture. Click the Start Capture icon again to
resume capture. Stopping capture means no data will be added to the capture file until capture is
resumed, but the previously captured data remains in the file.
5.
To clear captured data, click the Clear icon .
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l If you select Clear after selecting Stop Capture, a dialog appears asking whether you want to save
the data.
o
You can click Save File and enter a file name when prompted .
o
If you choose Do Not Save, all data will be cleared.
o
If you choose Cancel, the dialog closes with no changes.
l If you select the Clear icon while a capture is occurring:
o
The capture stops.
o
A dialog appears asking if you want to save the capture
o
You can select Yes and save the capture or select No and close the dialog. In either case, the
existing capture file is cleared and a new capture file is started.
o
If you choose Cancel, the dialog closes with no changes.
To see how to capture to a single file, choose System Settings from the Options menu on the Control window.
When live capture stops, no new packets are sniffed but there can still be packets that were previously sniffed but
not yet read by the ComProbe analyzer. This happens when packets are being sniffed faster than the ComProbe
analyzer can process them. These packets are stored either on the ComProbe hardware itself or in a file on the
PC. If there are remaining packets to be processed when live capture stops the Transferring Packets dialog
below is displayed showing the packets yet to be read by the ComProbe analyzer. The dialog shows the name of
each ComProbe hardware device, its process id in square brackets, and the number of packets remaining. These
stored packets are read until they’re exhausted or the user clicks the Discard button on the dialog.
Unlike 802.11, Bluetooth packets never come in faster than the datasource can process them. However, Bluetooth
packets must still be stored so that they can be read in chronological order with the 802.11 packets.
Figure 4.1 - Packet Transfer Dialog
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Chapter 4 Capturing and Analyzing Data TELEDYNE LECROY
4.1.2 Extended Inquiry Response
Extended Inquiry Response (EIR) is a tab that appears automatically on the Frame Display window when
you capture data.
Figure 4.2 - Frame Display Extended Inquire Response
EIR displays extensive information about the Bluetooth® devices that are discovered as data is being captured. EIR
provides more information during the inquiry procedure to allow better filtering of devices before connection;
and sniff subrating, which reduces the power consumption in low-power mode.Before the EIR tab was created,
this type of information was not available until a connection was made to a device. Therefore, EIR can be used to
determine whether a connection can/should be made to a device prior to making the connection.
Note: If a Bluetooth device does not support Extended Inquiry Response, the tab displays
Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) data, which is less extensive than EIR data.
4.2 Protocol Stacks
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4.2.1 Protocol Stack Wizard
The Protocol Stack wizard is where you define the
protocol stack you want the analyzer to use when
decoding frames.
To start the wizard:
1. Choose Protocol Stack from the Options
menu on the Control window or click the
Protocol Stack icon on the Frame
Display.
2. Select a protocol stack from the list, and click
Finish.
Most stacks are pre-defined here. If you have special
requirements and need to set up a custom stack, see
Creating and Removing a Custom Stack on page 24.
1. If you select a custom stack (i.e. one that was defined by a user and not included with the analyzer), the
Remove Selected Item From List button becomes active.
2. Click the Remove Selected Item From Listbutton to remove the stack from the list. You cannot
remove stacks provided with the analyzer. If you remove a custom stack, you need to define it again in
order to get it back.
If you are changing the protocol stack for a capture file, you may need to reframe. See Reframing on page 25 for
more information.
You cannot select a stack or change an existing one for a capture file loaded into the Capture File Viewer (the
Capture File Viewer is used only for viewing capture files and cannot capture data). Protocol Stack changes can
only be made from a live session.
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Chapter 4 Capturing and Analyzing Data TELEDYNE LECROY
4.2.2 Creating and Removing a Custom Stack
To create a custom stack:
1. Choose Protocol Stack from the
Options menu on the Control
window or click the Protocol Stack
icon on the Frame Display
toolbar.
2. Select Build Your Own from the list
and click Next.
3. The system displays an information
screen that may help you decide if you
need to define your own custom stack.
Defining a custom stack means that the
analyzer uses the stack for every
frame. Frames that do not conform to
the stack are decoded incorrectly.
Click Next to continue.
Select Protocols
1. Select a protocol from the list on the
left.
2. Click the right arrow button to move it
to the Protocol Decode Stack box
on the right, or double-click the
protocol to move it to the right.
3. To remove a protocol from the stack,
double-click it or select it and click the
left arrow button.
4. If you need to change the order of the
protocols in the stack, select the
protocol you want to move, and click
on the Move Up and Move Down buttons until the protocol is in the correct position.
5. The lowest layer protocol is at the top of the list, with higher layer protocols listed underneath.
Auto-traversal (Have the analyzer Determine Higher Layers)
If you need to define just a few layers of the protocol stack, and the remaining layers can be determined based on
the lower layers:
1. Click the All additional stack layers can be determined automatically button.
2. If your protocol stack is complete and there are no additional layers, click the There are no additional
stack layers button.
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