diff --git a/lightsync/protocol/simulator.py b/lightsync/protocol/simulator.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7e6d794
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lightsync/protocol/simulator.py
@@ -0,0 +1,143 @@
+"""Software UDP simulator — receives and logs WLED-compatible packets.
+
+Used for hardware-free protocol testing. Listens on a UDP port and parses
+all incoming packets (DRGB, DRGBW, DNRGB, animation commands), logging
+them for test assertions.
+
+Usage as standalone server:
+    python -m lightsync.protocol.simulator
+
+Usage in tests:
+    loop = asyncio.get_running_loop()
+    transport, protocol = await loop.create_datagram_endpoint(
+        SimulatorProtocol, local_addr=("127.0.0.1", 0)
+    )
+    port = transport.get_extra_info("sockname")[1]
+    # ... send packets to 127.0.0.1:port ...
+    assert protocol.packets[0].protocol == "DRGB"
+    transport.close()
+"""
+import asyncio
+import struct
+from dataclasses import dataclass, field
+from lightsync.protocol.drgb import PROTOCOL_DRGB, PROTOCOL_DRGBW, PROTOCOL_DNRGB, WLED_PORT
+from lightsync.protocol.animation_cmd import ANIM_CMD_MARKER, decode_animation_cmd
+
+PROTOCOL_NAMES = {
+    PROTOCOL_DRGB: "DRGB",
+    PROTOCOL_DRGBW: "DRGBW",
+    PROTOCOL_DNRGB: "DNRGB",
+    ANIM_CMD_MARKER: "ANIM_CMD",
+}
+
+
+@dataclass
+class PacketLog:
+    """Parsed representation of a received UDP packet."""
+    protocol: str
+    addr: tuple
+    led_count: int = 0
+    start_index: int = 0
+    raw: bytes = b""
+    decoded: dict | None = None
+
+
+class SimulatorProtocol(asyncio.DatagramProtocol):
+    """Async UDP protocol that parses and logs incoming WLED-compatible packets.
+
+    Supports all four packet types:
+    - DRGB (0x02): RGB pixel data
+    - DRGBW (0x03): RGBW pixel data (SK6812)
+    - DNRGB (0x04): Multi-packet RGB with start index
+    - ANIM_CMD (0xAC): LightSync animation command
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self) -> None:
+        self.packets: list[PacketLog] = []
+        self.transport: asyncio.DatagramTransport | None = None
+
+    def connection_made(self, transport: asyncio.DatagramTransport) -> None:
+        self.transport = transport
+
+    def datagram_received(self, data: bytes, addr: tuple) -> None:
+        if len(data) < 2:
+            return
+
+        proto_type = data[0]
+        name = PROTOCOL_NAMES.get(proto_type, f"UNKNOWN(0x{proto_type:02X})")
+
+        log = PacketLog(protocol=name, addr=addr, raw=data)
+
+        if proto_type == PROTOCOL_DRGB:
+            # Format: [0x02][timeout][R][G][B]...  — 3 bytes per LED after 2-byte header
+            log.led_count = (len(data) - 2) // 3
+
+        elif proto_type == PROTOCOL_DRGBW:
+            # Format: [0x03][timeout][R][G][B][W]...  — 4 bytes per LED after 2-byte header
+            log.led_count = (len(data) - 2) // 4
+
+        elif proto_type == PROTOCOL_DNRGB:
+            # Format: [0x04][timeout][start_hi][start_lo][R][G][B]...
+            # Start index is big-endian uint16 at bytes 2-3; pixels start at byte 4
+            if len(data) >= 4:
+                log.start_index = struct.unpack_from(">H", data, 2)[0]
+                log.led_count = (len(data) - 4) // 3
+
+        elif proto_type == ANIM_CMD_MARKER:
+            try:
+                log.decoded = decode_animation_cmd(data)
+            except Exception:
+                log.decoded = None
+
+        self.packets.append(log)
+
+        # Human-readable log for standalone mode
+        details = f"{log.led_count} LEDs" if log.led_count else ""
+        if proto_type == PROTOCOL_DNRGB:
+            details += f" start={log.start_index}"
+        if log.decoded:
+            details += f" cmd={log.decoded}"
+        print(f"[SIM] {name} from {addr}: {details or len(data)} bytes")
+
+    def error_received(self, exc: Exception) -> None:
+        print(f"[SIM] Error: {exc}")
+
+    def connection_lost(self, exc: Exception | None) -> None:
+        pass
+
+
+async def run_simulator(
+    host: str = "0.0.0.0",
+    port: int = WLED_PORT,
+) -> tuple[asyncio.DatagramTransport, SimulatorProtocol]:
+    """Start the UDP simulator and return (transport, protocol).
+
+    Args:
+        host: Bind address. Use "0.0.0.0" for all interfaces or "127.0.0.1" for loopback.
+        port: UDP port to listen on. Defaults to WLED_PORT (21324).
+              Pass 0 to let the OS assign a free port (useful in tests).
+
+    Returns:
+        Tuple of (transport, protocol). Call transport.close() to stop.
+    """
+    loop = asyncio.get_running_loop()
+    transport, protocol = await loop.create_datagram_endpoint(
+        SimulatorProtocol,
+        local_addr=(host, port),
+    )
+    actual_port = transport.get_extra_info("sockname")[1]
+    print(f"[SIM] Listening on {host}:{actual_port}")
+    return transport, protocol
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    async def _main() -> None:
+        transport, protocol = await run_simulator()
+        try:
+            await asyncio.sleep(float("inf"))
+        except KeyboardInterrupt:
+            pass
+        finally:
+            transport.close()
+
+    asyncio.run(_main())