nRF 52840 dongle loaded with BLE Sniffer 4.1.1 not showing traffic in wireshark

[Kat0]

Hi. 
I bought a nRF 52840 dongle, followed the steps to install nrfutil, python requirements, flashed the dongle with 4.1.1 zip file in the nrfutil share/firmware folder as per instructions. 

dongle can enter bootloader mode, can flash BLE Sniffer firmware, can be detected in MacBook Pro as /dev/cu.usbmodem101 and as COM3 in windows. 

However, after flashing, dongle’s LED remain unlit when i plug it into the computer. In wireshark for both MacBook Pro and windows, I can see the nRF BLE interface, double click to capture the interface but there is totally no traffic displayed in the wireshark window. 

Anyone encountered this and managed to solve this? Any help would be greatly appreciated.  

thank you!

[Benjamin]

Hi,
I will do some testing tomorrow. In the mean time, could you share the versions of the following software on your MacBook setup:

-Wireshark
-nrfutil ble-sniffer
-macOS
-J-Link

Also, does the sniffer show up as a toolbar in Wireshark?

Best regards,
Benjamin

[Kat0]

hi, 

thanks for the reply.

Wireshark: Version 4.6.6 (v4.6.6-0-g3a22c3ef473d)

nrfutil ble-sniffer: nrfutil-ble-sniffer 0.19.0 (5303908 2026-04-30)

macOS: 15.6.1 (24G90)

i'm using a nRF52840 Dongle. 

yes, it does show up as an interface in wireshark, i can double click into it, just that it opens an empty window with no traffic at all.

thanks.

[Benjamin]

Hi,
It works on my end with the sniffer_nrf52840dongle_nrf52840_4.1.1.zip software.

Can you share the nrfutil device list output?
Can you a screenshot of this list in Wireshark?

[Kat0]

Hi. 
in wireshark, it shows

nRF Sniffer for Bluetooth LE: /dev/cu.usbmodem101-None

[Benjamin]

Okay, it is supposed to be /dev/tty.*. Can you share the nrfutil device list output? Also, how exactly did you program the dongle?

[Kat0]

hi, 

device list output as per below:

Product         nRF Sniffer for Bluetooth LE

Ports           /dev/tty.usbmodem101

Traits          nordicUsb, serialPorts, usb

i programmed the dongle using the below:

nrfutil device program --firmware sniffer_nrf52840dongle_nrf52840_4.1.1.zip --serial-number <serial>

thank you.

[Benjamin]

Could you try to reflash the firmware and paste commands and output here?
Also, what is the version of your J-Link Software?

[Kat0]

Hi. 
reflashed the firmware using this

nrfutil device program --firmware sniffer_nrf52840dongle_nrf52840_4.1.1.zip --serial-number <serial>

how do I install the j-link software? I’m using the nRF dongle. Do I need the j-link software?

thank you.