Console Command Reference

The NanoVNA-F V3 accepts 28 ASCII commands over its USB serial interface. Commands can be sent from any serial terminal (PuTTY, screen, minicom) or programmatically from scripts.

For connection setup, see the Console Commands how-to guide.

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Command Summary

Command	Syntax	Description
help	help	List all registered commands
reset	reset	Reset the device (USB disconnects)
cwfreq	cwfreq {freq}	Set CW pulse frequency in Hz
saveconfig	saveconfig	Save language and touch calibration
clearconfig	clearconfig 1234	Factory reset (all data lost)
data	data [0|1]	Get measurement data (0=S11, 1=S21)
frequencies	frequencies	Get sweep frequency list
scan	scan {start} {stop} [points] [outmask]	Scan and output data (outmask 0-7)
sweep	sweep [start] [stop] [points]	Set sweep parameters
touchcal	touchcal	Calibrate the touchscreen
touchtest	touchtest	Test touch panel input
pause	pause	Pause the sweep
resume	resume	Resume the sweep
cal	cal [load|open|short|thru|done|reset|on|off]	Calibration commands
save	save [id]	Save state to slot (0-6)
recall	recall [id]	Recall state from slot (0-6)
trace	trace [0-3|all] [format|scale|refpos|channel|off] [value]	View or set trace attributes
marker	marker [1-4] [on|off|{index}]	View or set marker attributes
edelay	edelay [value]	Set electrical delay in nanoseconds
pwm	pwm {0.0-1.0}	Set screen brightness (0=off, 1=full)
beep	beep on/off	Test the buzzer
lcd	lcd {X} {Y} {W} {H} {color}	Fill rectangle on LCD (16-bit hex RGB)
capture	capture	Get screenshot (hex, 800x480, little-endian)
version	version	Get firmware version string
info	info	Get device information
SN	SN	Get 16-bit serial number
resolution	resolution	Get LCD resolution
LCD_ID	LCD_ID	Get LCD controller ID

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Detailed Command Reference

help

Lists all registered commands.

help

No parameters. Returns the full command list with brief descriptions.

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reset

Resets the device. The USB connection will drop, so you must reconnect your serial terminal afterward.

reset

Caution

Any unsaved calibration data will be lost. Save your state first with the save command if needed.

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cwfreq

Sets the CW pulse frequency. In this mode PORT1 outputs a pulsed signal, not a continuous wave.

cwfreq {frequency_hz}

Parameters:

Parameter	Required	Description
frequency_hz	Yes	Frequency in Hz

Example:

cwfreq 450000000

Sets the CW pulse frequency to 450 MHz.

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saveconfig

Saves language setting and touchscreen calibration data to persistent storage.

saveconfig

Tip

Always run saveconfig after touchcal to persist the touchscreen calibration.

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clearconfig

Restores the device to factory settings. Requires the safety parameter 1234.

clearconfig 1234

Danger

This erases all calibration data, save slots, language settings, and touch calibration. There is no undo.

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data

Returns complex measurement data (real and imaginary parts) for each sweep point.

data [0|1]

Parameters:

Parameter	Required	Default	Description
0 or 1	No	0	0 = S11 data, 1 = S21 data

Output is one line per sweep point, each containing a real and imaginary floating-point value separated by a space.

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frequencies

Returns the frequency of each sweep point, one per line, in Hz.

frequencies

Useful for correlating data output with specific frequencies.

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scan

Performs a sweep with the given parameters and outputs measurement data according to the output mask.

scan {start_hz} {stop_hz} [points] [outmask]

Parameters:

Parameter	Required	Default	Description
start_hz	Yes	—	Start frequency in Hz
stop_hz	Yes	—	Stop frequency in Hz
points	No	Current	Number of sweep points
outmask	No	0	Bitmask controlling output (see table)

Output mask values:

Mask	Output Fields
0	No data output (sweep only)
1	Frequency
2	S11 data
3	Frequency + S11
4	S21 data
5	Frequency + S21
6	S11 + S21
7	Frequency + S11 + S21

Example:

scan 200000000 500000000 11 7

Sweeps 200 MHz to 500 MHz with 11 points, outputting frequency, S11, and S21 data.

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sweep

Sets sweep parameters without triggering an immediate data output. Two usage forms are available.

Form 1: Set start, stop, and points directly

sweep [start_hz] [stop_hz] [points]

Form 2: Set a single parameter by name

sweep [start|stop|span|center|cw|points] [value]

Examples:

sweep 200000000 500000000 78
sweep start 200000000
sweep center 350000000
sweep points 201

When called with no arguments, sweep returns the current sweep configuration.

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touchcal

Initiates touchscreen calibration. A crosshair appears that you must tap accurately (use a stylus).

touchcal

Note

Run saveconfig after completing the calibration to store it permanently.

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touchtest

Enters touchscreen test mode. Touch anywhere to verify coordinates are reported correctly. Press any physical button to exit.

touchtest

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pause

Pauses the sweep. The display freezes at the last completed sweep.

pause

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resume

Resumes the sweep after a pause command.

resume

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cal

Manages calibration via the console. When called without parameters, returns the current calibration status string.

cal [load|open|short|thru|done|reset|on|off]

Parameters:

Parameter	Description
(none)	Print current calibration status
open	Perform open calibration
short	Perform short calibration
load	Perform load calibration
thru	Perform through calibration
done	Finalize calibration (compute coefficients)
reset	Clear calibration data from memory
on	Apply calibration correction
off	Remove calibration correction

Calibration sequence:

cal reset
cal open
cal short
cal load
cal thru
cal done
save 0

Caution

Send cal reset before starting a new calibration sequence. Connect each calibration standard and wait for 2-3 complete sweeps before issuing the corresponding command.

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save

Saves calibration data, trace settings, and marker table position to a storage slot.

save [id]

Parameters:

Parameter	Required	Description
id	No	Slot number, 0 through 6

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recall

Recalls a previously saved state from a storage slot.

recall [id]

Parameters:

Parameter	Required	Description
id	No	Slot number, 0 through 6

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trace

Views or modifies trace attributes. When called with no arguments, returns the attributes of all active traces.

trace [0|1|2|3|all] [{format}|scale|refpos|channel|off] [value]

Format values: logmag, phase, delay, smith, smithrlc, swr, polar, linear, real, imag, resistance, reactance, qfactor

Examples:

trace                      # Show all trace attributes
trace 0                    # Show trace 0 attributes
trace 0 swr                # Set trace 0 format to SWR
trace all off              # Turn off all traces
trace 0 scale 15           # Set trace 0 scale to 15 dB/div
trace 1 refpos 5           # Set trace 1 reference position to 5
trace 0 channel 1          # Set trace 0 to S21 (0=S11, 1=S21)

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marker

Views or modifies marker attributes. When called with no arguments, returns the attributes of all active markers.

marker [1|2|3|4] [on|off|{index}]

Parameters:

Parameter	Description
1-4	Marker number
on	Enable the marker
off	Disable the marker
{index}	Move marker to the given sweep point index

Examples:

marker                     # Show all marker attributes
marker 1                   # Show marker 1 attributes
marker 1 off               # Turn off marker 1
marker 1 56                # Move marker 1 to sweep point 56

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edelay

Sets the electrical delay compensation in nanoseconds. Used to de-embed cable or connector delay from phase measurements.

edelay [value]

Example:

edelay -0.1

Sets the delay to -0.1 ns (-100 ps).

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pwm

Adjusts the LCD backlight brightness.

pwm {0.0-1.0}

Parameters:

Parameter	Required	Description
brightness	Yes	0.0 (off) to 1.0 (full brightness)

Example:

pwm 0.85

Sets brightness to 85%.

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beep

Tests the buzzer.

beep on/off

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lcd

Draws a filled rectangle on the LCD screen. Useful for testing or custom display overlays.

lcd {X} {Y} {WIDTH} {HEIGHT} {color}

Parameters:

Parameter	Description
X	Horizontal position (pixels from left)
Y	Vertical position (pixels from top)
WIDTH	Rectangle width in pixels
HEIGHT	Rectangle height in pixels
color	16-bit RGB color in hexadecimal (RGB565 format)

Example:

lcd 100 100 50 50 F800

Draws a red 50x50 square at position (100, 100). F800 is pure red in RGB565.

Common RGB565 colors:

Color	Hex Value
Red	F800
Green	07E0
Blue	001F
White	FFFF
Black	0000
Yellow	FFE0

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capture

Transmits a full screenshot as raw pixel data. Data is hexadecimal, little-endian, 16 bits per pixel, at 800 x 480 resolution.

capture

Note

For a more convenient screenshot workflow, use the NanoVNA-Saver PC software’s built-in screenshot feature instead.

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version

Returns the firmware version string.

version

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info

Returns device information including hardware revision, firmware version, and build details.

info

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SN

Returns the unique 16-bit serial number assigned to the device.

SN

Note

The SN command is case-sensitive — it must be uppercase.

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resolution

Returns the LCD resolution (800 x 480 for the NanoVNA-F V3).

resolution

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LCD_ID

Returns the LCD controller identification string.

LCD_ID