Hardware Debugging Recipes

Learn ESP32 Bit Pirate by doing real tasks. These short recipes act like practical documentation: start from zero, connect safely, run useful commands, then grow into UART, I2C, SPI, GPIO, flash, IR, SubGHz, USB, network and debug workflows.

Beginner

Scan an unknown I2C device

A quick address scan before you lose an hour chasing the wrong example code.

Any CLI
5 min

Beginner

Identify an unknown I2C device

Turn an ACK address into a safer identification workflow before reading registers.

Any CLI
6 min

Beginner

Dump a SPI flash chip from your browser

Make a clean backup before a repair attempt, with the browser as the workbench.

Web SPI Flash Programmer
10 min

Beginner

Sniff UART between two boards

Tap RX and ground first, then let the boot logs tell you what is really happening.

Any CLI
5 min

Beginner

Read an iButton ID

Read the ROM code from a tag without writing a throwaway sketch.

Any CLI
5 min

Beginner

Use the logic analyzer with PulseView

Turn a suspicious pin into a waveform you can measure and share.

PulseView
10 min

Beginner

Dump an I2C EEPROM safely

Probe the chip first, then dump it through the dedicated EEPROM shell instead of guessing register reads.

Any CLI
10 min

Beginner

Recover a stuck I2C bus

Before rewiring everything, clock the bus and send a stop condition to release a stuck target.

Any CLI
5 min

Beginner

Read a DS18B20 temperature sensor

Confirm the sensor ROM first, then let the firmware decode the temperature value.

Any CLI
5 min

Intermediate

Dump a 1-Wire EEPROM

Use the EEPROM shell instead of raw 1-Wire instructions when you need a reliable backup.

Any CLI
5 min

Beginner

Measure a GPIO signal frequency

Check if a pin is alive and roughly how fast it toggles before opening a full logic capture.

Any CLI
5 min

Beginner

Generate PWM or move a servo

Generate a quick test signal from the bench without writing a sketch.

Any CLI
5 min

Beginner

Capture an infrared remote signal

Point the remote, capture the protocol/data, then decide if you need to record or replay it.

Any CLI
3 min

Intermediate

Load and send a Flipper IR file

Use saved .ir files as reusable remote profiles instead of manually entering every command.

Any CLI
3 min

Beginner

Use USB HID keyboard and mouse mode

Test HID behavior directly from the firmware without writing a TinyUSB example.

Any CLI
5 min

Intermediate

Expose an SD card as USB storage

Move files through the board without removing the SD card when the hardware supports it.

Any CLI
3 min

Beginner

Open the SPI SD card shell

Check files from the bench without moving the card or adding a temporary sketch.

Any CLI
5 min

Intermediate

Analyze a SPI flash from the CLI

Probe first, then use analyze/search/strings before deciding what to dump or modify.

Any CLI
5 min

Beginner

Scan Wi-Fi and find local devices

Use the board as a small network probe after it connects to your own Wi-Fi.

Any CLI
3 min

Intermediate

Sniff CAN frames with MCP2515

Configure bitrate and verify controller status before trusting captured CAN frames.

Any CLI
5 min

Beginner

Auto-detect an unknown UART baud rate

Find the baud rate before you waste time guessing terminal settings.

Any CLI
5 min

Beginner

Bridge a UART console

Turn the board into a quick serial console adapter after the passive checks are done.

Any CLI
3 min

Intermediate

Transfer files over UART with XMODEM

Stage the file on SD, then use XMODEM only when the target expects it.

Any CLI
10 min

Beginner

Scan nearby Bluetooth devices

List nearby devices and addresses before attempting any connection.

Any CLI
5 min

Intermediate

Test BLE HID keyboard and mouse mode

Test HID behavior without writing a BLEHIDDevice sketch.

Any CLI
3 min

Intermediate

Find active Sub-GHz frequencies

Discover the active frequency before trying to decode a frame.

Any CLI
10 min

Intermediate

Receive and analyze a Sub-GHz frame

Capture the frame shape and encoding hints before deciding whether any replay workflow is appropriate.

Any CLI
5 min

Intermediate

Scan 2.4 GHz RF24 channel activity

Use channel activity as a clue before trying any payload receive workflow.

Any CLI
5 min

Beginner

Read a PN532 RFID tag UID

Identify a tag family and UID before attempting any write or clone workflow.

Any CLI
5 min

Intermediate

Scan the FM band with Si4713

Use sweep and trace to inspect the band before considering any broadcast experiment.

Any CLI
5 min

Intermediate

Check cellular modem status

Check modem/SIM/network state before trying SMS, calls or USSD.

Any CLI
3 min

Advanced

Scan for SWD pins

Reduce blind probing by scanning a controlled set of candidate pins.

Any CLI
5 min

Advanced

Scan for a JTAG pinout

Let the firmware test permutations instead of manually trying every JTAG wire order.

Any CLI
5 min

Advanced

Use OpenOCD adapter mode

Switch to adapter mode only after wiring and target voltage are confirmed.

Any CLI
5 min

Intermediate

Bridge a half-duplex UART console

Use one shared TX/RX GPIO when the target console is half-duplex instead of normal UART.

Any CLI
3 min

Intermediate

Read an SLE4442 smartcard

Probe ATR and security memory before any write or PSC operation.

Any CLI
5 min

Intermediate

Dump a 93Cxx Microwire EEPROM

Select the right chip model and ORG setting before trusting a 3WIRE EEPROM dump.

Any CLI
5 min

Beginner

Test an I2S microphone or speaker

Verify audio wiring with built-in tests before writing a custom sketch.

Any CLI
5 min

Intermediate

Connect a W5500 Ethernet module

Use a wired network path to separate Wi-Fi problems from LAN or application problems.

Any CLI
10 min

Beginner

Test an addressable LED strip

Verify LED power, data direction, protocol and color order before writing animation code.

Any CLI
5 min

Intermediate

Bridge the ESP32-C5 Expander

Confirm the expansion module handshake before using the bridged shell.

Any CLI
5 min

Advanced

Send a CAN frame with MCP2515

Send one known standard CAN frame after status confirms the adapter is healthy.

Any CLI
10 min

Beginner

Read I2C registers

Read a documented ID or status register to confirm the device behaves like the expected part.

Any CLI
5 min

Intermediate

Check an HTTP endpoint

Test the actual web endpoint, not just ping reachability.

Any CLI
5 min

Beginner

Open a Web Serial terminal

Open the CLI from a browser before installing a desktop terminal.

Web Serial Terminal
1 min

Intermediate

Use Bus Pirate-style bytecode instructions

Use compact bracket sequences when a full driver would be overkill.

Any CLI
5 min

Beginner

Read a SPI flash JEDEC ID

Read manufacturer/device bytes before a full flash dump or write.

Any CLI
5 min

Intermediate

Dump a SPI EEPROM 25X chip

Use the dedicated SPI EEPROM shell instead of guessing raw reads.

Any CLI
10 min

Intermediate

Program an AVR with AVRDUDE

Use ESP32 Bit Pirate as the Bus Pirate-style adapter AVRDUDE already understands.

AVRDUDE
10 min

Advanced

Write a SPI flash image with Flashrom

Write only after probe and backup; let Flashrom verify the image.

Flashrom
10 min

Intermediate

Read USB host descriptors

Dump descriptors before writing USB host code.

Any CLI
5 min

Intermediate

Use the USB IR Toy LIRC adapter

Use mature LIRC tools when you want raw IR timing capture from the desktop.

LIRC
10 min

Beginner

Pulse a GPIO in microseconds

Generate a quick trigger pulse without writing a sketch.

Any CLI
5 min

Beginner

Sniff GPIO edges from the CLI

Find out if a pin is alive before committing to a full capture.

Any CLI
5 min

Intermediate

Open a Modbus TCP session

Use Modbus mode only on systems you own or are explicitly allowed to test.

Any CLI
5 min

Intermediate

Test a raw TCP service with nc or telnet

Check the service itself, not just network reachability.

Any CLI
5 min

Intermediate

Check open ports with nmap mode

Check only the ports you need, on systems you are allowed to test.

Any CLI
5 min

Beginner

Choose the right GPIO pinout

Check exposed GPIOs before assigning protocol pins.

Wiki
5 min

Beginner

Save pin profiles and aliases

Turn repeated bench steps into a shorter command flow.

Any CLI
5 min

Advanced

Use the SubGHz Raw CDC adapter

Drive CC1101 from scripts when the normal interactive UI is not enough.

USB CDC
10 min

Beginner

Dump SIM card information from a cellular modem

Check SIM status before chasing network or SMS problems.

Any CLI
5 min

Beginner

Check GSM/LTE network registration

Use CELL mode to check cellular registration, signal information and available operators from a GSM/LTE modem.

Any CLI
3 min

Intermediate

Send a USSD request from a modem

Use CELL mode to send USSD codes from a cellular modem after SIM and network registration checks.

Any CLI
5 min

Beginner

List SIM phonebook contacts

Use CELL mode to display contacts stored on a SIM card through a cellular modem phonebook command.

Any CLI
5 min

Intermediate

Send an SMS from a cellular modem

Use CELL mode sms operations to send a message from a GSM/LTE modem after SIM and network checks.

Any CLI
5 min

Beginner

Use the UART AT command helper

Use UART mode at helper to send guided AT commands to modems and serial modules.

Any CLI
3 min

Intermediate

Emulate a UART peripheral for firmware tests

Use UART emulator mode to test how another board behaves when a serial peripheral sends expected data.

Any CLI
3 min

Intermediate

Auto-reply when UART text appears

Use UART trigger to send a predefined response when a byte pattern is detected.

Any CLI
3 min

Intermediate

Monitor I2C register changes

Use I2C monitor or trace to watch changing registers on a target device over time.

Any CLI
3 min

Intermediate

Run I2C health diagnostics

Use the I2C health command to check timing and stability of a target device.

Any CLI
3 min

Advanced

Emulate an I2C slave device

Use I2C slave mode to listen as a target address and log master operations.

Any CLI
3 min

Intermediate

Write a test page to an NFC tag

Use RFID mode with a PN532 module to write lab data to an NTAG or Ultralight page.

Any CLI
3 min

Intermediate

Erase a lab NFC/RFID tag

Use RFID erase flow with PN532 for lab tags where wiping user data is expected.

Any CLI
3 min

Intermediate

Record an infrared remote to a .ir file

Use INFRARED record to capture remote frames and save them to LittleFS in Flipper-style .ir format.

Any CLI
3 min

Beginner

Use the infrared universal remote shell

Launch the INFRARED remote shell to send common keys such as power, volume and mute across known protocols.

Any CLI
3 min

Beginner

Sweep SubGHz frequency activity

Use CC1101 SubGHz sweep to find active frequency areas before receiving or decoding frames.

Any CLI
3 min

Intermediate

Record a SubGHz signal to LittleFS

Use SubGHz record to capture symbols from a CC1101 receiver and save them to LittleFS.

Any CLI
5 min

Advanced

Load a Flipper SubGHz .sub file

Upload a .sub file to LittleFS and load it from SubGHz mode for CC1101 playback tests.

Any CLI
10 min

Beginner

Start the Web CLI through Wi-Fi hotspot

Use Wi-Fi hotspot mode to access the browser CLI without an existing router or saved credentials.

Web CLI
5 min

Beginner

Make the first serial connection

Get to a working prompt before debugging the target hardware.

Any CLI
3 min

Beginner

Select a protocol mode quickly

Use direct mode selection instead of scrolling through menus every time.

Any CLI
1 min

Beginner

Use help and man before a workflow

Find the command vocabulary from the firmware itself.

Any CLI
1 min

Beginner

Open the system status shell

Check firmware and memory state before blaming the target device.

Any CLI
5 min

Beginner

Create command aliases for common tasks

Turn long bench commands into short repeatable actions.

Any CLI
5 min

Beginner

Repeat commands for quick testing

Repeat a simple check without writing a script.

Any CLI
3 min

Intermediate

Chain commands with delays

Build tiny scripts from the prompt without a host-side Python file.

Any CLI
5 min

Beginner

Detect an unknown GPIO signal with wizard

Use wizard as the first safe question before selecting a protocol mode.

Any CLI
5 min

Beginner

Enable smart pull-ups per mode

Use mode-aware pull-ups instead of guessing which input needs help.

Any CLI
3 min

Beginner

View GPIO logic on the device screen

Get a quick visual signal check without opening PulseView.

Any CLI
5 min

Beginner

View analog GPIO values on screen

Check whether a sensor output changes before writing ADC code.

Any CLI
5 min

Intermediate

Listen to GPIO activity as audio

Use your ears as a quick activity detector for repetitive signals.

Any CLI
5 min

Beginner

Manage LittleFS files from the Web UI

Move .ir, .sub and other small workflow files without a separate filesystem tool.

Web UI
3 min

Beginner

Open Python Scripting Lab

Run a small Python workflow in the browser before installing or maintaining a local Python setup.

Python Lab
3 min

Beginner

Run an I2C scan from Python Scripting Lab

Turn the familiar I2C scan into a browser Python workflow you can edit, save and repeat.

Python Lab
5 min

Intermediate

Use Python automation over serial

Move from manual commands to repeatable host-side tests.

Python
10 min

Beginner

Configure an nRF24L01 module

Start RF24 work by saving a known-good pin and channel configuration.

Any CLI
10 min

Intermediate

Send a small RF24 payload

Verify a 2.4 GHz lab link with a tiny controlled payload.

Any CLI
5 min

Intermediate

Receive RF24 payloads

Turn the firmware into a quick RF24 payload receiver for lab tests.

Any CLI
5 min

Beginner

Sweep RF24 channels for activity

Choose quieter RF24 channels before transmit/receive tests.

Any CLI
5 min

Beginner

Configure an addressable LED strip

Create a safe LED baseline before testing animations or individual pixels.

Any CLI
3 min

Beginner

Set one LED pixel by index

Verify LED order and indexing without animating the whole strip.

Any CLI
3 min

Beginner

Play an I2S test tone

Verify I2S output with a known tone before playing or debugging audio data.

Any CLI
3 min

Intermediate

Record from an I2S microphone

Confirm I2S microphone wiring before writing custom audio code.

Any CLI
5 min

Intermediate

Bridge a half-duplex UART bus

Talk to simple single-wire UART devices from the CLI.

Any CLI
3 min

Advanced

Send a timed HDUART query

Build controlled request/response tests on a shared UART line.

Any CLI
3 min

Intermediate

Probe an SLE4442 smartcard ATR

Identify the card and ATR before dump, write or security actions.

Any CLI
5 min

Intermediate

Check SLE4442 security status

Check retry counter and protection status before risky smartcard actions.

Any CLI
5 min

Advanced

Write bytes to a 93Cxx EEPROM

Practice controlled Microwire EEPROM writes after a backup.

Any CLI
3 min

Advanced

Erase a lab 93Cxx EEPROM

Practice destructive Microwire erase only on replaceable chips.

Any CLI
10 min

Intermediate

Receive a specific CAN frame ID

Focus CAN logging on one identifier instead of reading every frame.

Any CLI
5 min

Beginner

Check MCP2515 CAN status

Check controller errors before blaming the target bus.

Any CLI
3 min

Beginner

Trace one FM frequency

Check one FM frequency before experimenting with broadcast operations.

Any CLI
5 min

Intermediate

Start a BLE HID keyboard server

Validate BLE HID keyboard mode with a short controlled text send.

Any CLI
5 min

Intermediate

Use BLE mouse movement

Test BLE HID mouse mode without writing a custom HID sketch.

Any CLI
5 min

Intermediate

Sniff 1-Wire bus timing

Use 1-Wire sniff mode to observe reset, presence and bit timing on a Dallas-style single-wire bus.

Any CLI
5 min

Intermediate

Copy an RW1990 iButton in the shell

Open the 1-Wire iButton shell to read a Dallas key ID and write it to a compatible RW1990 test key.

Any CLI
5 min

Intermediate

Write a 1-Wire scratchpad test pattern

Use the documented 1-Wire write sp command to send an eight-byte scratchpad pattern to a supported lab device.

Any CLI
5 min

Beginner

Send repeated UART text with spam

Use UART spam to send a repeated text or newline pattern at a fixed interval while testing serial devices.

Any CLI
5 min

Beginner

Read UART as raw hex bytes

Use UART raw mode to view serial traffic as hexadecimal bytes instead of printable ASCII.

Any CLI
5 min

Beginner

Probe a UART device with ping

Use UART ping to send predefined probes and detect whether an unknown serial target answers.

Any CLI
5 min

Beginner

Press a USB HID gamepad button

Use USB gamepad mode to send a single HID button press such as A, B or LEFT to a connected host.

Any CLI
5 min

Intermediate

Send a USB system control action

Use the USB sysctrl command to emulate hardware control button actions on a connected host.

Any CLI
5 min

Intermediate

Choose a dedicated USB adapter mode

Use the USB adapters menu to reboot ESP32 Bit Pirate into flashrom, AVRDUDE, SUMP, OpenOCD, IR Toy or SubGHz tool modes.

Any CLI
5 min

Beginner

Use ESP32 as a USB-UART dongle

Use an ESP32 as a practical USB-to-serial adapter when desktop tools need a CDC serial port.

Any CLI
5 min

Intermediate

Configure the JTAG/SWD scan pin group

Use JTAG config to select which GPIOs are included in SWD or JTAG pinout brute-force scans.

Any CLI
5 min

Intermediate

Run a passive Wi-Fi sniffer session

Use Wi-Fi sniff mode to cycle channels and display nearby 2.

Any CLI
5 min

Beginner

Look up a MAC address vendor

Use Wi-Fi lookup mac to query vendor details for a MAC address while documenting devices on a bench network.

Any CLI
5 min

Beginner

Look up IP address details

Use Wi-Fi lookup ip to get basic public IP or hostname details while checking network targets from the CLI.

Any CLI
5 min

Beginner

Start a Wi-Fi access point

Use Wi-Fi AP mode to create an access point from the firmware and optionally keep station fallback when credentials exist.

Any CLI
5 min

Intermediate

Analyze a URL from the firmware CLI

Use Wi-Fi http analyze to run a URL analysis workflow from the firmware CLI after connecting to Wi-Fi.

Any CLI
5 min

Advanced

Clone a MIFARE UID to a magic card

Use the RFID clone flow with a PN532 to copy a source UID to a compatible magic MIFARE Classic lab card.

Any CLI
5 min

Beginner

Check logic levels before wiring a target

Confirm voltage, shared ground and GPIO direction before connecting an unknown digital target.

Any CLI
3 min

Beginner

Wire a CC1101 Sub-GHz module

Connect SPI plus GDO0, then configure the selected board pins from the SubGHz shell.

Any CLI
5 min

Beginner

Wire an nRF24L01 RF24 module

Connect SPI plus CE and CSN, then configure the selected board pins from RF24 mode.

Any CLI
5 min

Beginner

Wire a Si4713 FM module

Connect I2C and reset, then configure the selected board pins from FM mode.

Any CLI
5 min

Beginner

Wire a PN532 RFID reader in I2C mode

Set the PN532 to I2C mode, connect SDA/SCL, then initialize it from RFID config.

Any CLI
5 min

Intermediate

Wire a W5500 Ethernet module

Connect SPI, CS and IRQ, then configure Ethernet mode for the selected board pins.

Any CLI
5 min

Intermediate

Wire an MCP2515 CAN module

Connect SPI and CAN bus roles before configuring CAN mode.

Any CLI
5 min

Solved a real hardware problem with ESP32 Bit Pirate? Share the wiring, command and result so others can learn the same workflow by practice.

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Use these recipes when

Practical entry points for learning the firmware feature by feature, while keeping the full Wiki as the reference.

Start from zeroOpen Web Serial, select a mode, read help, check status and learn the CLI without a long setup.
Find unknown hardwareScan I2C, read UART logs, detect GPIO activity, identify chips and avoid guessing before writing code.
Backup memoriesDump SPI flash, I2C EEPROM, 1-Wire EEPROM or smartcard data before repair work or firmware experiments.
Use ESP32 adaptersRun ESP32 serprog, ESP32 SUMP logic analyzer, USB CDC, IR Toy/LIRC and browser-based SPI flash workflows.
Practice real protocolsLearn UART, I2C, SPI, DIO, Infrared, SubGHz, RFID, CAN, Ethernet, BLE and USB through small tasks.
Build repeatable testsUse alias, repeat, command chaining, delays, profiles and Python automation for repeatable bench workflows.
TroubleshootIdentify and resolve issues in your hardware setup or firmware configuration.
Learn by practiceUse the recipes to learn the firmware feature by feature, while keeping the full Wiki as the reference.