Test apps

March 8, 2026 · View on GitHub

This folder contains manual / hardware-in-the-loop test scripts for the WebSDR monorepo.

Currently the main entry is usb-test.ts — a WebUSB smoke test that opens a device, runs RX streaming, then TX streaming.

Prerequisites

  • Node.js + npm installed.
  • A supported SDR device connected via USB.
  • Permissions to access USB devices on your OS.
    • On Linux you might need udev rules (recommended) or to run with elevated privileges depending on your setup.

USB smoke test (RX + TX)

The script roughly does:

  1. Ensure a WebUSB implementation exists (ensureWebUsb()).
  2. Initialize control module (initControl()).
  3. Request/select a USB device (requestDevice()).
  4. Open the device and the control interface.
  5. Run an RX streaming loop and print stats.
  6. Run a TX streaming loop.
  7. Close everything.

Run

From the repository root:

cd test-apps
npm install
npm run test:usb

What you should see

  • Logs about selecting/opening the device.
  • RX stream started → packet stats → RX stream stopped.
  • TX stream started → packet stats → TX stream stopped.
  • Final USB test completed.

Configuration

You can tune parameters by editing constants near the top of usb-test.ts, for example:

  • packetSize
  • rxConfig / txConfig (frequency, bandwidth, samplerate, gain)

Troubleshooting

  • Permission denied / libusb errors

    • Ensure your user has access to the USB device.
    • On Linux this typically means udev rules.

  • Timeout waiting for packets

    • The RX test uses a finite safety timeout while waiting for in-flight packets.
    • Check USB stability, device firmware, and that streaming is supported.

  • No WebUSB implementation found

    • The underlying WebUSB layer attempts to use usb (preferred) or fall back to webusb.
    • Verify dependencies are installed and compatible with your platform.

Safety / regulatory note (TX)

The TX part may cause RF transmission depending on your device and setup. Only run TX tests if you understand your hardware chain and comply with local regulations (use appropriate shielding / dummy load where applicable).