nRF Sniffer for 802.15.4 doesn't appear on Wireshark interface

[Md Mazedul Islam Khan]

I am struggling to see nRF Sniffer for 802.15.4 as an interface in the Wireshark interface list under the startup welcome screen. I am using nRF62840-Dongle and flashed it by utilizing the nrf802154_sniffer_dongle.hex available under the GitHub nRF-Sniffer-for-802.15.4 repository. I didn't find a specific binary for nRF62840-Dongle device there.

• Since I flashed the nRF62840-Dongle device using a mismatched binary nrf802154_sniffer_dongle.hex, is it the main cause of the issue? If so, where do I get the correct binary for the nRF62840-Dongle device?

I have Python 3 installation with Homebrew including Pip 3. I have listed the relevant installation path in the following:

• which python: python not found
• which pip: /usr/local/bin/pip
• which python3: /usr/local/bin/python3
• which pip3: /usr/local/bin/pip3

I installed pyserial using pip3 install pyserial. I copied the nrf802154_sniffer.py file under the ~/.config/wireshark/extcap location which is a Personal Extcap path.

When running the python3 nrf802154_sniffer.py --extcap-interfaces command, it outputs the following valid confirmation:

extcap {version=0.7.2}{help=https://github.com/NordicSemiconductor/nRF-Sniffer-for-802.15.4}{display=nRF Sniffer for 802.15.4}
interface {value=/dev/cu.usbmodemF1BD057D01BB1}{display=nRF Sniffer for 802.15.4}
control {number=6}{type=button}{role=logger}{display=Log}{tooltip=Show capture log}

So, what am I missing? Why nRF Sniffer for 802.15.4 interface isn't appearing on the Wireshark Custom Interface list?

[Jørgen Holmefjord]

Hi,

I assume you meant nRF52840-Dongle? The firmware named "nrf802154_sniffer_dongle.hex" is the correct file to use with this dongle. We do not have other dongles that support IEEE 802.15.4. The output from the "--extcap-interfaces" command also indicates that the sniffer firmware is found and working correctly.

I do not have too much experience with MacOS, but I assume this is caused by the missing "python" application. Can you try to change the first line of the script from "python" to "python3", or to create a symbolic link from python3 to python?

Best regards,
Jørgen

[Md Mazedul Islam Khan]

I am afraid that didn't work either. nRF still doesn't appear in the Wireshark Custom Interface list

[Jørgen Holmefjord]

Did you try both suggestions?

Have you tried restarting Wireshark and reboot the computer?

Which Python 3 version are you using?

[Md Mazedul Islam Khan]

Yes, I tried using both suggestions in your initial response. I created a symbolic link to ensure Python appears in the path when running python and not only python3.

I changed the relevant line of code from python to python3 as well, refreshed Wireshark custom interface list, no luck.

Didn’t reboot the computer!

I am using Python v3.10.9.

[Marte Myrvold]

Hi,

The sniffer does not work with Python v3.10. Please downgrade to Python v3.8 or v3.9.

Best regards,

Marte