diff --git a/hidconsole b/hidconsole
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..f80a4979
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hidconsole
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+cd `dirname "$0"`
+
+export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=$PWD/lib
+export PYTHONPATH=$PWD/lib
+
+exec python -OO -m cli.hidconsole "$@"
+
diff --git a/lib/cli/__init__.py b/lib/cli/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..cfe18a79
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/cli/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+# pass
diff --git a/lib/cli/hidconsole.py b/lib/cli/hidconsole.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0ae34e3f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/cli/hidconsole.py
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+
+import logging
+from binascii import hexlify, unhexlify
+
+
+def read_next(handle, timeout=1000, ignore_nodata=False):
+	reply = hidapi.read(handle, 128, timeout)
+	if reply is None:
+		print "!! Read failed, aborting"
+		raise Exception()
+	if reply:
+		print ">> %s [%s]" % (hexlify(reply), repr(reply))
+		return True
+
+	if not ignore_nodata:
+		print ">> []"
+	return False
+
+def console_cycle(handle):
+	while True:
+		if read_next(handle, timeout=100, ignore_nodata=True):
+			continue
+
+		line = raw_input('!! Enter packet to send (hex bytes): ')
+		line = line.strip()
+		if not line:
+			continue
+		if len(line) % 2 == 1:
+			line += '0'
+
+		try:
+			data = unhexlify(line)
+		except:
+			print "!! Invalid input."
+			continue
+		print "<< %s [%s]" % (hexlify(data), repr(data))
+		hidapi.write(handle, data)
+		read_next(handle)
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+	import argparse
+	arg_parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
+	arg_parser.add_argument('-v', '--verbose', action='count', default=0,
+							help='increase the logger verbosity')
+	arg_parser.add_argument('device', default=None,
+							help='linux device to connect to')
+	args = arg_parser.parse_args()
+
+	log_level = logging.root.level - 10 * args.verbose
+	logging.root.setLevel(log_level if log_level > 0 else 1)
+
+	import hidapi
+	print "!! Opening device ", args.device
+	handle = hidapi.open_path(args.device)
+	if handle:
+		print "!! Opened %x" % handle
+		print "!! vendor=%s product=%s serial=%s" % (
+						hidapi.get_manufacturer(handle),
+						hidapi.get_product(handle),
+						hidapi.get_serial(handle))
+		try:
+			console_cycle(handle)
+		except:
+			print "!! Closing handle %x" % handle
+			hidapi.close(handle)
+	else:
+		print "!! Failed to open %s, aborting" % args.device