Tools / CatSniffer

CatSniffer

HARDWARE
Electronic Cats · BLE · Sub-GHz · Zigbee · LoRa
GitHub repository ↗

CC1352 + RP2040 multiprotocol sniffer; runs Sniffle for modern BT5/4.x LE capture, plus Sub-GHz/Zigbee/LoRa workflows. On Linux it can also present as a virtual HCI host BLE adapter via the catnip tool.

COMPATIBLE SOFTWARE & PROJECTS

Sniffle SOFTWARE NCC Group repo ↗

The reference modern open-source sniffer for Bluetooth 5 and 4.x LE on TI CC1352/CC26x2 (and CatSniffer). Python host, all BT5 PHYs, extended advertising, follows connections — the default LL-layer capture choice today.

Wireshark SOFTWARE open source site ↗

The universal packet dissector. Capture tools across these protocols export to PCAP, and Wireshark dissects, decodes and lets you filter the frames here — supplying a network/link key where one is needed to decrypt in place.

catnip SOFTWARE Electronic Cats repo ↗

The CatSniffer V3 host toolset (CatSniffer-Tools / catnip): one CLI over the CatSniffer that manages firmware and captures across protocols. It sniffs BLE (via the Sniffle firmware), IEEE 802.15.4 Zigbee/Thread and LoRa straight into Wireshark over an extcap; its cativity mode shows live 802.15.4 channel activity and Zigbee/Thread network topology; its SX1262 spectrum analyzer scans the sub-GHz/LoRa bands in real time; it decodes Meshtastic live or offline (trying default PSKs, with a TUI dashboard); the SX1262 reads and transmits (G)FSK packets on 433/868/915 MHz over a scriptable serial bridge; it scans Apple Find My / AirTag devices; and on Linux it presents the CatSniffer as a native HCI (hciX / vHCI) Bluetooth adapter for host tools like Bleak and bettercap.

Kismet SOFTWARE Kismet Wireless repo ↗

Passive wireless detector, sniffer and wardriving tool. Channel-hops to log every AP, client and SSID (with GPS) and captures to pcapng without ever transmitting — the reference quiet survey/capture tool. Beyond Wi-Fi it has the widest 802.15.4/Zigbee datasource support of any tool here: a dedicated CatSniffer v3 Zigbee source (channels 12–26) plus nRF52840, CC2531, RZUSBstick, nRF51822 and NXP KW41Z (Kismet git / 2025-10+ releases).

USED IN THE WAYFINDER

Bluetooth Low Energy · LLBluetooth Low Energy · ATBluetooth Low Energy · APLoRa / LoRaWAN · SPLoRa / LoRaWAN · LLLoRa / LoRaWAN · ATSub-GHz ISM / Remotes · SPSub-GHz ISM / Remotes · LLSub-GHz ISM / Remotes · ATZigbee / 802.15.4 · SPZigbee / 802.15.4 · LLZigbee / 802.15.4 · ATThread / Matter · IGThread / Matter · SPThread / Matter · LLThread / Matter · CRThread / Matter · ATThread / Matter · AP