Teledyne Lecroy Frontline 802.11 Mounting instructions

Hardware and Software User Manual
Revision Date: 12/14/2016

Copyright © 2017 Teledyne LeCroy, Inc.
FTS, Frontline, Frontline Test System, ComProbe Protocol Analysis System and ComProbe are registered
trademarks of Teledyne LeCroy, Inc.
The following are trademarks of Teledyne LeCroy, Inc.
lProbeSync™
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
2.1 802.11 Hardware 3
2.1.1 Attaching Antennas 3
2.1.2 Connecting/Powering the Frontline 802.11 4
2.1.3 Setting Up for ProbeSync™ 5
2.2 Data Capture Methods 7
2.2.1 Opening Data Capture Method 7
2.2.2 Frontline® 802.11 Data Capture Method 9
2.2.3 Virtual Sniffing 10
2.3 Control Window 10
2.3.1 Control Window Toolbar 11
2.3.2 Configuration Information on the Control Window 12
2.3.3 Status Information on the Control Window 12
2.3.4 Frame Information on the Control Window 13
2.3.5 Control Window Menus 13
2.3.6 Minimizing Windows 17
Chapter 3 Configuration Settings 19
3.1 802.11 Configuration 19
3.1.1 Wi-Fi Scanner Hardware Settings 19
3.1.2 802.11 I/O Settings - Datasource 19
3.1.3 Wi-Fi Device - MAC Address Editor 35
3.2 Decoder Parameters 36
3.2.1 Decoder Parameter Templates 38
3.2.2 Wi-Fi Security Decoder Parameters 40
3.2.3 Adding or Changing TCP/UDP Port Assignments 42
3.2.4 Determining Master and Slave 43
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3.3 Conductive Testing 43
3.3.1 802.11 WiFi Conductive Testing 44
Chapter 4 Capturing and Analyzing Data 47
4.1 Capture Data 47
4.1.1 Air Sniffing: Positioning Devices 47
4.1.2 Capturing Data to Disk - General Procedure 49
4.1.3 Capturing Using Frontline Wi-Fi Datasource with Wireshark® 51
4.1.4 Combining BPA 600, 802.11, and HSU with ProbeSync 54
4.1.5 Sodera & 802.11: Capturing with ProbeSync 56
4.1.6 Extended Inquiry Response 56
4.2 Protocol Stacks 57
4.2.1 Protocol Stack Wizard 58
4.2.2 Creating and Removing a Custom Stack 59
4.2.3 Reframing 60
4.2.4 Unframing 60
4.2.5 How the Analyzer Auto-traverses the Protocol Stack 61
4.2.6 Providing Context For Decoding When Frame Information Is Missing 62
4.3 Analyzing Protocol Decodes 62
4.3.1 The Frame Display 62
4.3.2 Coexistence View 97
4.4 Analyzing Byte Level Data 131
4.4.1 Event Display 131
4.4.2 The Event Display Toolbar 132
4.4.3 Opening Multiple Event Display Windows 133
4.4.4 Calculating CRCs or FCSs 133
4.4.5 Calculating Delta Times and Data Rates 134
4.4.6 Switching Between Live Update and Review Mode 134
4.4.7 Data Formats and Symbols 135
4.5 Data/Audio Extraction 139
4.6 Statistics 142
4.6.1 Statistics Window 142
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4.6.2 Session, Resettable and Capture File Tabs 145
4.6.3 Copying Statistics To The Clipboard 146
4.6.4 802.11 Error Statistics 146
4.6.5 Graphs 146
4.6.5.2 Printing Error Graphs 147
Chapter 5 Navigating and Searching the Data 149
5.1 Find 149
5.1.1 Searching within Decodes 150
5.1.2 Searching by Pattern 152
5.1.3 Searching by Time 154
5.1.4 Using Go To 156
5.1.5 Searching for Special Events 157
5.1.6 Searching by Signal 158
5.1.7 Searching for Data Errors 162
5.1.8 Find - Bookmarks 164
5.1.9 Changing Where the Search Lands 165
5.1.10 Subtleties of Timestamp Searching 166
5.2 Bookmarks 166
5.2.1 Adding, Modifying or Deleting a Bookmark 166
5.2.2 Displaying All and Moving Between Bookmarks 167
Chapter 6 Saving and Importing Data 169
6.1 Saving Your Data 169
6.1.1 Saving the Entire Capture File 169
6.1.2 Saving the Entire Capture File with Save Selection 170
6.1.3 Saving a Portion of a Capture File 171
6.2 Adding Comments to a Capture File 171
6.3 Confirm Capture File (CFA) Changes 172
6.4 Loading and Importing a Capture File 172
6.4.1 Loading a Capture File 172
6.4.2 Importing Capture Files 173
6.5 Printing 173
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6.5.1 Printing from the Frame Display/HTML Export 173
6.5.2 Printing from the Event Display 176
6.6 Exporting 177
6.6.1 Frame Display Export 177
6.6.2 Exporting a File with Event Display Export 177
Chapter 7 General Information 181
7.1 System Settings and Progam Options 181
7.1.1 System Settings 181
7.1.2 Changing Default File Locations 185
7.1.3 Side Names 187
7.1.4 Timestamping 188
7.2 Technical Information 191
7.2.1 Performance Notes 191
7.2.2 Progress Bars 192
7.2.3 Event Numbering 192
7.2.4 Useful Character Tables 192
7.2.5 DecoderScript Overview 195
7.2.6 Bluetooth low energy ATT Decoder Handle Mapping 195
Contacting Technical Support 196
Appendicies 199
Appendix A: Application Notes 200
A.1 ComProbe Automation Server: Why use it? 202
A.1.1 Automation Server Topology 203
A.1.2 Writing Automation Script 203
A.1.3 Running Automation Server Script 205
A.1.4 Saving Automation Captured Data 208
A.1.5 Keeping Track of Events 210
A.1.6 Automation Can Save Time and Money 210
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Chapter 1 Frontline Hardware & Software
Frontline Test Equipment family of protocol analyzers work with the following technologies.
lClassic Bluetooth
lBluetooth low energy
lDual Mode Bluetooth (simultaneous Classic and low energy)
lBluetooth Coexistence: Bluetooth with 802.11 Wi-Fi
lBluetooth HCI (USB, SD, High Speed UART)
lNFC
l802.11 (Wi-Fi)
lSD
lHSU (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.
Frontline 802.11 Hardware & Software User Manual 1

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.
lChapter 1 Frontline Hardware and Software. This chapter will describe the minimum computer
requirements and how to install the software.
lChapter 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.
lChapter 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.
lChapter 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.
lChapter 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.
lChapter 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.
lChapter 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:
lOperating System: Windows 7/8/10
lUSB Port: USB 2.0 High-Speed or or later
The Frontline software must operate on a computer with the following minimum characteristics.
lProcessor: Core i5 processor at 2.7 GHz
lRAM: 4 GB
lFree 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/80211-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.
2.1 802.11 Hardware
2.1.1 Attaching Antennas
When you remove the Frontline 802.11 from the box, the first step is to attach the antennas (Figure 2.1).
Figure 2.1 - Front Panel
1. Attach an antenna to each front panel connector.
Frontline 802.11 Hardware & Software User Manual 3

Figure 2.2 - Frontline 802.11 with both antennas attached
2.1.2 Connecting/Powering the Frontline 802.11
Once you have attached the antennas, the next step is to power up and connect the Frontline 802.11 to the
computer.
1. Insert the power cable (DC connector) from the 12 volt AC adapter into the Power port on the Frontline
802.11 back panel (Figure 2.3).
Figure 2.3 - Back Panel - Power
2. Plug the 12 volt AC adapter into the AC power source. The front panel Power light illuminate (Figure 2.1).
3. Insert the USB cable into the USB port on the Frontline 802.11 back panel (Figure 2.4).
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Figure 2.4 - Back Panel - USB
4. Insert the other end of the USB cable into the PC.
5. It may take as long as thirty seconds for Windows to recognize that the Frontline 802.11 hardware is
connected to the PC. The Activity light on the Frontline 802.11 front panel (Figure 2.1 will blink during this
period, when the light is steady, the Frontline 802.11 hardware is ready to communicate with the
Frontline software.
2.1.3 Setting Up for ProbeSync™
The Frontline 802.11 hardware has ProbeSync™ which allows for synchronization of Frontline hardware clocks
and timestamping. One Frontline device will act as the master device by providing the clock to the slave device
receiving the clock. Do not confuse "master" and "slave" with the Bluetooth device master and slave relationships.
Refer to the following tables.
802.111802.112
802.111802.112
OUT IN OUT IN
Master Slave X X
Slave Master X X
Table 2.1 - 802.111Synced to 802.112
BPA 600 802.11 BPA 600 802.11
OUT IN OUT IN
Master Slave X X
Table 2.2 - BPA 600 Synced to
802.11
Note: The Frontline BPA 600 device must always be the master node in ProbeSync mode.
802.11 HSU 802.11 HSU
OUT IN OUT IN
Master Slave X X
Table 2.3 - HSU Synced to 802.11
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Note: The Frontline HSU device must always be the slave node in ProbeSync mode, must
always be the last device in the ProbeSync daisy-chain configuration.
ProbeSync allows a Frontline Sodera and a 802.11 hardware to be connected together to run off of a common
clock, ensuring precise timestamp synchronization while capturing multiple wireless technologies such as
Bluetooth and 802.11. One device will act as the master device by providing the clock to the slave device
receiving the clock. The devices are connected in a daisy-chain configuration. Refer to the following table, to Rear
Panel Connectors, on page1, and to Connecting/Powering the Frontline 802.11 on page 4.
Sodera 802.11 Sodera 802.11
PROBESYNC OUT PROBESYNC IN OUT IN
Master Slave X X
Table 2.4 - Sodera Synced to 802.11
1. Using a CAT 5 Ethernet cable (less than 1.5 meters (4.9 feet)) insert one end to the master Frontline device
OUT jack.
2. Insert the other end of the cable into the slave Frontline device IN jack.
Figure 2.5 - Back Panel - ProbeSync with BPA 600
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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 2.6 - Desktop Folder Link
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
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Figure 2.7 - Example: Select Data Capture Method..., BPA 600
Three buttons appear at the bottom of the dialog; Run,Cancel, and Help.
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.
Select Data Capture Method dialog buttons
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.
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
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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®802.11 Data Capture Method
l802.11
oRequires one Frontline 802.11 hardware.
oCaptures 802.11 data on the selected channel.
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l802.11 Double
oRequires two Frontline 802.11 hardware with ProbeSync™.
l802.11 Triple
oRequires three Frontline 802.11 hardware with ProbeSync™.
l802.11 with USB
oRequires one Frontline 802.11 and one Frontline USB hardware.
l802.11 with USB and SD
oRequires one Frontline 802.11, one Frontline USB, and one Frontline SD hardware.
2.2.3 Virtual Sniffing
The Virtual Sniffer is a live import facility within Frontline®software that makes it possible to access any layer in a
stack that the programmer has access to and feed this data into the Virtual Sniffer. Please refer to the “Show Live
Import Information“button on the Virtual Sniffer Datasource window in Frontline software. More information is
available in the Live Import Developer's Kit located in the Development Tools folder in Frontline Protocol Analysis
System desktop folder, and a white paper is available at Bluetooth Virtual Sniffing
lFTS Side
oNo hardware required.
oFrontline software acquires data via user-developed software.
lIEEE 11073+
oNo hardware required
ofor sniffing data virtually from the continua Enabling Software Library (CESL) IEEE 11073 tester.
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.
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Figure 2.8 - 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.
Icon Description
Open File - Opens a capture file.
I/O Settings - Opens settings
Start Capture - Begins data capture to disk
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.
Table 2.5 - Control Window Toolbar Icons
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Icon Description
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.
Coexistence View - Opens the Coexistence View dialog.
Wi-Fi Error Statistics - Opens the Wi-Fi Error Statistics dialog.
Table 2.5 - Control Window Toolbar Icons (continued)
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.
lCapture Status displays Not Active, Paused or Running and refers to the state of data capture.
oNot Active means that the analyzer is not currently capturing data.
oPaused means that data capture has been suspended.
oRunning 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.
lUtilization/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
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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.
lFrame 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.
l100% 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.
Mode Selection Hot
Key Description
Live Close Closes Live mode.
Capture
File
Go Live Returns to Live mode
Reframe 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 60
Unframe Removes start-of-frame and end-of-frame markers from your
data. SeeUnframing on page 60
Recreate
Companion File
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.
Reload Decoders The plug-ins are reset and received frames are decoded again.
Table 2.6 - Control Window File Menu Selections
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Mode Selection Hot
Key Description
Live &
Capture
File
Open Capture File Ctrl-
-O
Opens a Windows Open file dialog. at the default location
"...\Public Documents\Frontline Test Equipment\My Capture
Files\". Capture files have a .cfa extension.
Save Ctrl-
S
Saves the current capture or capture file. Opens a Windows
Save As dialog at the default location "...\Public
Documents\Frontline Test Equipment\My Capture Files\".
Exit ComProbe
Protocol Analysis
System
Shuts down the ComProbe Protocol Analysis System and all
open system windows.
Recent capture files A list of recently opened capture files will appear.
Table 2.6 - Control Window File Menu Selections (continued)
The View menu selections will vary depending on the Frontline analyzer in use.
Mode Selection Hot key Description
Live &
Capture
File
Event Display Ctrl-
Shift-E
Opens the Event Display window for analyzing byte level
data.
Frame Display Ctrl-
Shift-M
Opens the Frame Display window for analyzing protocol level
data
Statistics Ctrl-
Shift-S
Opens the Statistics Window that shows information about
packet throughput.
Coexistence View Opens the Coexistence View window that can
simultaneously display Classic Bluetooth,Bluetooth low
energy, and 802.11 packets and thourghput.
Wi-Fi Error
Statistics
Opens the Wi-Fi Error Statistics window that displays the
number of packet errors.
Table 2.7 - Control Window View Menu Selections
Mode Selection Hot-
key Description
Capture
File
Notes Ctrl-
Shift-O
Opens the Notes window that allows the user to add
comments to a capture file.
Table 2.8 - Control Window Edit Menu Selections
The Live menu selections will vary depending on the Frontline analyzer in use.
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