Bluetooth Host Controller Interface (HCI) sniffing provides valuable insight for Bluetooth developers. With HCI sniffing you have a transparent view into the commands and events that are being sent back and forth between the host stack and the controller. The hardwired HCI interface is always "on" and does not need to synchronize with air interfaces. It gives the developer or tester a better overall view on both air and HCI transports.

For example a device may not transmit an air packet due to an issue between host and host controller. Looking at the HCI commands and events through Frontline's HCI protocol analyzers will quickly establish where the problem lies. This ability is key to ensuring that a packet being sent from the host stack is received by the controller.

Points of Observation
Frontline HCI products and transports:

All of the Frontline HCI sniffers can be used as stand-alone sniffers or as options ComProbe BPA 600.

ComProbe USB ComProbe High Speed UART (HSU) ComProbe SD
ComProbe USB ComProbe High Speed UART (HSU) ComProbe SD
  • Capture and decode HCI data externally using our USB ComProbe II.
  • Displays USB protocols in Frame Display.
  • Powered by USB.
  • Stand alone or optional Add-on to BPA 600
More information about HCI USB transport and Frontline FTS4USB analyzer...
  • Sniff H4, H5 and BCSP.
  • Speeds up to 8Mb.
  • Direct TTL connection to your HCI UART transport layer.
  • Powered by USB.
  • Needs access to the Rx (receive), Tx (transmit) and Gnd (Ground) terminals of the serial HCI link. These points are at TTL (Transistor, Transistor Logic voltage levels).
  • Add-on to BPA 600
More information about HCI UART transport and Frontline ComProbe High Speed UART (HSU) analyzer...
  • Interoperability analysis over multiple bus types
  • Capture and analyze SPI bus data
  • Non-intrusive in-line capture and analysis
  • Support for 1 and 4-bit modes
  • Compatible with current SD, SDIO and MMC specifications
  • Stand alone or optional Add-on to BPA 600
More information about HCI SD transport and Frontline ComProbe SD analyzer...

Capture and decode HCI

Frontline's HCI protocol analyzer(s) are very portable and require very little set up. They provide detailed information and display all HCI commands and events in one powerful UI.

The HCI sniffer displays and decodes all the protocol layers all the way through the profile. The profile list includes:

  • L2CAP
  • SDP
  • RFCOMM
  • OBEX
  • OPP
  • FTP
  • BIP
  • HFP
  • HID
  • HSP
  • HCRP
  • SAP
  • MAP
  • HDP