{
 "slug": "great-scott-gadgets-cynthion",
 "name": "Great Scott Gadgets Cynthion",
 "maker": "Great Scott Gadgets",
 "category": "instruments",
 "categoryLabel": "Instruments",
 "status": "listed",
 "statusLabel": "Listed by maker",
 "description": "Inspect USB traffic while developing a keyboard or other USB device.",
 "goodFor": "Find enumeration or report problems in your own USB firmware.",
 "youNeed": "Packetry host, Cynthion tools and separately supplied USB data cables.",
 "tradeoff": "USB 2.0 analysis; cable layout and target power need checking.",
 "tags": [
  "USB analyzer",
  "FPGA",
  "Packetry",
  "Firmware debugging"
 ],
 "price": "US$150 without enclosure / US$200 with aluminium enclosure",
 "priceShort": "$150+",
 "priceFrom": "shop.hak5.org",
 "checked": "2026-09-16",
 "url": "https://gadgets.sh/devices/great-scott-gadgets-cynthion/",
 "shortUrl": "https://gadgets.sh/great-scott-gadgets-cynthion",
 "markdown": "https://gadgets.sh/devices/great-scott-gadgets-cynthion.md",
 "image": "https://gadgets.sh/assets/great-scott-gadgets-cynthion.jpg",
 "cutout": "https://gadgets.sh/assets/cutouts/great-scott-gadgets-cynthion.webp",
 "shareCard": "https://gadgets.sh/og/great-scott-gadgets-cynthion.jpg",
 "shops": [
  {
   "merchant": "Great Scott Gadgets",
   "label": "Buy from Great Scott Gadgets",
   "kind": "shop",
   "orderable": true,
   "url": "https://greatscottgadgets.com/cynthion/?utm_source=gadgets.sh&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=great-scott-gadgets-cynthion&utm_content=api",
   "note": null
  },
  {
   "merchant": "Hak5",
   "label": "Buy from Hak5",
   "kind": "shop",
   "orderable": true,
   "url": "https://shop.hak5.org/products/cynthion?utm_source=gadgets.sh&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=great-scott-gadgets-cynthion&utm_content=api",
   "note": null
  },
  {
   "merchant": "Hacker Warehouse",
   "label": "Preorder from Hacker Warehouse",
   "kind": "preorder",
   "orderable": true,
   "url": "https://hackerwarehouse.com/product/cynthion/?utm_source=gadgets.sh&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=great-scott-gadgets-cynthion&utm_content=api",
   "note": "Preorder at Hacker Warehouse when checked on 2026-09-24."
  },
  {
   "merchant": "Crowd Supply",
   "label": "Order on Crowd Supply",
   "kind": "market",
   "orderable": true,
   "url": "https://www.crowdsupply.com/great-scott-gadgets/cynthion?utm_source=gadgets.sh&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=great-scott-gadgets-cynthion&utm_content=api",
   "note": "In stock at Crowd Supply when checked on 2026-09-24."
  }
 ],
 "specs": [
  {
   "group": "Hardware and revision",
   "rows": [
    {
     "label": "Selected package",
     "value": "Cynthion board in its CNC-milled anodized-aluminum enclosure; bare-board listing is separate.",
     "source": "https://www.crowdsupply.com/great-scott-gadgets/cynthion"
    },
    {
     "label": "Confirmed release",
     "value": "r1.4.0 is labeled the initial production hardware release.",
     "source": "https://github.com/greatscottgadgets/cynthion-hardware/releases/tag/r1.4.0"
    },
    {
     "label": "Check your unit",
     "value": "Connect CONTROL and run cynthion info --force-offline to read hardware and firmware information.",
     "source": "https://cynthion.readthedocs.io/en/latest/getting_started.html"
    },
    {
     "label": "Core hardware",
     "value": "Lattice LFE5U-12F ECP5 FPGA; Microchip SAMD11 debug controller.",
     "source": "https://www.crowdsupply.com/great-scott-gadgets/cynthion"
    },
    {
     "label": "Memory",
     "value": "8 MiB RAM and 4 MiB SPI flash.",
     "source": "https://www.crowdsupply.com/great-scott-gadgets/cynthion"
    },
    {
     "label": "USB interfaces",
     "value": "Three USB3343 PHYs, each supporting up to 480 Mbit/s.",
     "source": "https://www.crowdsupply.com/great-scott-gadgets/cynthion"
    },
    {
     "label": "Expansion",
     "value": "Two Pmod-compatible connectors expose 16 FPGA I/O signals.",
     "source": "https://cynthion.readthedocs.io/en/latest/hardware/device_overview.html"
    },
    {
     "label": "Scope",
     "value": "Cynthion hardware does not support SuperSpeed; LUNA gateware is a separate project.",
     "source": "https://greatscottgadgets.com/2023/02-15-renaming-luna-hardware-to-cynthion/"
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "group": "Prepare a USB capture",
   "rows": [
    {
     "label": "Cables",
     "value": "Maker's shipping update says USB cables are not included; choose cables for your host and target ports.",
     "source": "https://www.crowdsupply.com/great-scott-gadgets/cynthion/updates/cynthion-is-at-mouser"
    },
    {
     "label": "Host software",
     "value": "Python 3.9+ and the cynthion package; Linux needs access rules and macOS needs native libusb.",
     "source": "https://cynthion.readthedocs.io/en/latest/getting_started.html"
    },
    {
     "label": "Packetry",
     "value": "Documented installers: Linux AppImage, macOS Homebrew and Windows installer; source builds are also documented.",
     "source": "https://packetry.readthedocs.io/en/latest/quick_start.html"
    },
    {
     "label": "Analyzer firmware",
     "value": "Factory FPGA configuration is USB Analyzer. cynthion run analyzer loads it; cynthion flash analyzer makes it the default.",
     "source": "https://cynthion.readthedocs.io/en/latest/getting_started_packetry.html"
    },
    {
     "label": "Update path",
     "value": "cynthion update updates MCU firmware and FPGA flash; record installed versions first.",
     "source": "https://cynthion.readthedocs.io/en/latest/getting_started.html"
    },
    {
     "label": "Analysis connection",
     "value": "CONTROL → computer running Packetry; TARGET C → target host; TARGET A → device under test.",
     "source": "https://cynthion.readthedocs.io/en/latest/tutorials/usb_analysis.html"
    },
    {
     "label": "One computer",
     "value": "The tutorial permits one host for both roles, with CONTROL and TARGET C on different hubs.",
     "source": "https://cynthion.readthedocs.io/en/latest/tutorials/usb_analysis.html"
    },
    {
     "label": "Capture sequence",
     "value": "Start capture before attaching the target to include enumeration. Match the target speed if the UI requests it.",
     "source": "https://cynthion.readthedocs.io/en/latest/tutorials/usb_analysis.html"
    },
    {
     "label": "Documented result",
     "value": "The keyboard tutorial inspects enumeration plus key press/release transfers.",
     "source": "https://cynthion.readthedocs.io/en/latest/tutorials/usb_analysis.html"
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "group": "Power and development",
   "rows": [
    {
     "label": "Device supply",
     "value": "5 V DC for Cynthion itself. Use USB cables no longer than 2 m.",
     "source": "https://cynthion.readthedocs.io/en/latest/support/safety_information.html"
    },
    {
     "label": "Target supply",
     "value": "Pass-through supply: 5–20 V, up to 3 A; target must match voltage/current. Cynthion-supplied target load: at most 500 mA.",
     "source": "https://cynthion.readthedocs.io/en/latest/support/safety_information.html"
    },
    {
     "label": "Expansion voltage",
     "value": "Pmod and mezzanine connectors must not exceed 3.3 V.",
     "source": "https://cynthion.readthedocs.io/en/latest/support/safety_information.html"
    },
    {
     "label": "Other modes",
     "value": "Facedancer and LUNA provide USB-device development paths beyond Packetry analysis.",
     "source": "https://greatscottgadgets.com/cynthion/"
    },
    {
     "label": "Design downloads",
     "value": "r1.4.0 archive includes schematics, assembly diagrams, BOM, placement and Gerber files.",
     "source": "https://github.com/greatscottgadgets/cynthion-hardware/releases/tag/r1.4.0"
    },
    {
     "label": "Hardware license",
     "value": "The hardware design repository uses CERN-OHL-P-2.0.",
     "source": "https://github.com/greatscottgadgets/cynthion-hardware"
    }
   ]
  }
 ],
 "docs": [
  {
   "label": "Official Cynthion product",
   "url": "https://greatscottgadgets.com/cynthion/"
  },
  {
   "label": "Enclosed purchase option",
   "url": "https://www.crowdsupply.com/great-scott-gadgets/cynthion"
  },
  {
   "label": "r1.4.0 production design files",
   "url": "https://github.com/greatscottgadgets/cynthion-hardware/releases/tag/r1.4.0"
  },
  {
   "label": "Host installation and updates",
   "url": "https://cynthion.readthedocs.io/en/latest/getting_started.html"
  },
  {
   "label": "Analyzer configuration",
   "url": "https://cynthion.readthedocs.io/en/latest/getting_started_packetry.html"
  },
  {
   "label": "USB keyboard capture tutorial",
   "url": "https://cynthion.readthedocs.io/en/latest/tutorials/usb_analysis.html"
  },
  {
   "label": "Ports and expansion",
   "url": "https://cynthion.readthedocs.io/en/latest/hardware/device_overview.html"
  },
  {
   "label": "Electrical and cable limits",
   "url": "https://cynthion.readthedocs.io/en/latest/support/safety_information.html"
  },
  {
   "label": "Packetry installation",
   "url": "https://packetry.readthedocs.io/en/latest/quick_start.html"
  },
  {
   "label": "Maker statement on excluded cables",
   "url": "https://www.crowdsupply.com/great-scott-gadgets/cynthion/updates/cynthion-is-at-mouser"
  },
  {
   "label": "Hardware source and license",
   "url": "https://github.com/greatscottgadgets/cynthion-hardware"
  },
  {
   "label": "Cynthion/LUNA scope explanation",
   "url": "https://greatscottgadgets.com/2023/02-15-renaming-luna-hardware-to-cynthion/"
  }
 ],
 "blueprint": {
  "openness": "open-hardware",
  "opennessLabel": "Open hardware",
  "summary": "Cynthion is fully open hardware: complete KiCad schematics and PCB under CERN-OHL-P, plus open BSD-licensed host software and the Amaranth/LUNA gateware framework.",
  "files": [
   {
    "kind": "schematic",
    "label": "Top-level schematic (cynthion.kicad_sch)",
    "url": "https://github.com/greatscottgadgets/cynthion-hardware/blob/main/cynthion.kicad_sch",
    "format": "KiCad"
   },
   {
    "kind": "pcb",
    "label": "PCB layout (cynthion.kicad_pcb)",
    "url": "https://github.com/greatscottgadgets/cynthion-hardware/blob/main/cynthion.kicad_pcb",
    "format": "KiCad"
   }
  ],
  "repos": [
   {
    "url": "https://github.com/greatscottgadgets/cynthion-hardware",
    "role": "hardware",
    "official": true,
    "license": "CERN-OHL-P-2.0",
    "stars": 113,
    "pushed": "2024-08-27"
   },
   {
    "url": "https://github.com/greatscottgadgets/cynthion",
    "role": "firmware",
    "official": true,
    "license": "BSD-3-Clause",
    "stars": 199,
    "pushed": "2026-05-22"
   },
   {
    "url": "https://github.com/greatscottgadgets/luna",
    "role": "sdk",
    "official": true,
    "license": "BSD-3-Clause",
    "stars": 1140,
    "pushed": "2026-08-19"
   }
  ],
  "parts": [
   {
    "part": "Lattice ECP5 (LFE5U-12F-6BG256C)",
    "role": "FPGA",
    "datasheet": "https://www.latticesemi.com/Products/FPGAandCPLD/ECP5"
   },
   {
    "part": "Microchip ATSAMD11D14A-M",
    "role": "debug/control MCU"
   },
   {
    "part": "Cypress/Infineon S27KS0641",
    "role": "HyperRAM (working memory)"
   },
   {
    "part": "Microchip USB3343",
    "role": "USB PHY"
   }
  ],
  "notes": "Verified repo existence/license via `gh api repos/greatscottgadgets/cynthion-hardware` (CERN-OHL-P-2.0, 113 stars) and by fetching raw .kicad_sch files and grepping lib_id/value fields for chip part numbers. Full KiCad source tree confirmed via git tree listing (bank*.kicad_sch, ram.kicad_sch, usb_phy.kicad_sch, etc.).",
  "checked": "2026-09-27"
 },
 "sourceFiles": {
  "kicad": [
   {
    "label": "Top-level schematic (cynthion.kicad_sch)",
    "repo": "greatscottgadgets/cynthion-hardware",
    "folder": "https://github.com/greatscottgadgets/cynthion-hardware/tree/main/",
    "project": "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/greatscottgadgets/cynthion-hardware/main/cynthion.kicad_pro",
    "schematics": [
     "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/greatscottgadgets/cynthion-hardware/main/aux_port.kicad_sch",
     "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/greatscottgadgets/cynthion-hardware/main/bank0_1.kicad_sch",
     "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/greatscottgadgets/cynthion-hardware/main/bank2_3.kicad_sch",
     "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/greatscottgadgets/cynthion-hardware/main/bank6_7.kicad_sch",
     "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/greatscottgadgets/cynthion-hardware/main/bank8_configuration.kicad_sch",
     "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/greatscottgadgets/cynthion-hardware/main/clock_misc.kicad_sch",
     "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/greatscottgadgets/cynthion-hardware/main/control_port.kicad_sch",
     "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/greatscottgadgets/cynthion-hardware/main/cynthion.kicad_sch",
     "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/greatscottgadgets/cynthion-hardware/main/debugger.kicad_sch",
     "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/greatscottgadgets/cynthion-hardware/main/expansion.kicad_sch",
     "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/greatscottgadgets/cynthion-hardware/main/indicators_buttons.kicad_sch",
     "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/greatscottgadgets/cynthion-hardware/main/power_distribution.kicad_sch",
     "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/greatscottgadgets/cynthion-hardware/main/power_supplies.kicad_sch",
     "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/greatscottgadgets/cynthion-hardware/main/ram.kicad_sch",
     "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/greatscottgadgets/cynthion-hardware/main/target_port.kicad_sch",
     "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/greatscottgadgets/cynthion-hardware/main/type_c.kicad_sch",
     "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/greatscottgadgets/cynthion-hardware/main/usb_phy.kicad_sch"
    ],
    "boards": [
     "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/greatscottgadgets/cynthion-hardware/main/cynthion.kicad_pcb"
    ]
   }
  ],
  "models": []
 },
 "firmware": [],
 "chips": [
  "ecp5",
  "samd",
  "usb3343"
 ]
}