diff --git a/simulations/airshower_beacon_simulation/ac_show_signal_to_noise.py b/simulations/airshower_beacon_simulation/ac_show_signal_to_noise.py
index 8141abe..46aac64 100755
--- a/simulations/airshower_beacon_simulation/ac_show_signal_to_noise.py
+++ b/simulations/airshower_beacon_simulation/ac_show_signal_to_noise.py
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ from earsim import REvent, block_filter
 import aa_generate_beacon as beacon
 import lib
 
-
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     from os import path
     import sys
@@ -24,10 +23,14 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
     if os.name == 'posix' and "DISPLAY" not in os.environ:
         matplotlib.use('Agg')
 
+    from scriptlib import MyArgumentParser
+    parser = MyArgumentParser()
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+
     fname = "ZH_airshower/mysim.sry"
 
     fig_dir = "./figures/"
-    show_plots = not False
+    show_plots = args.show_plots
 
     ####
     fname_dir = path.dirname(fname)
diff --git a/simulations/airshower_beacon_simulation/ba_measure_beacon_phase.py b/simulations/airshower_beacon_simulation/ba_measure_beacon_phase.py
index 7da7f03..c638e18 100755
--- a/simulations/airshower_beacon_simulation/ba_measure_beacon_phase.py
+++ b/simulations/airshower_beacon_simulation/ba_measure_beacon_phase.py
@@ -21,14 +21,19 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
     if os.name == 'posix' and "DISPLAY" not in os.environ:
         matplotlib.use('Agg')
 
+    from scriptlib import MyArgumentParser
+    parser = MyArgumentParser()
+    parser.add_argument('--no-use-AxB', dest='use_AxB_trace', action='store_false')
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+
     f_beacon_band = (49e-3,55e-3) #GHz
     allow_frequency_fitting = False
     read_frequency_from_file = True
 
-    use_AxB_trace = True if len(sys.argv) < 2 else bool(int(sys.argv[1]))
+    use_AxB_trace = args.use_AxB_trace
     use_beacon_trace = True # only applicable if AxB = False
 
-    show_plots = True
+    show_plots = args.show_plots
 
     fname = "ZH_airshower/mysim.sry"
 
diff --git a/simulations/airshower_beacon_simulation/bb_measure_true_phase.py b/simulations/airshower_beacon_simulation/bb_measure_true_phase.py
index 0c3e6b5..b0791a2 100755
--- a/simulations/airshower_beacon_simulation/bb_measure_true_phase.py
+++ b/simulations/airshower_beacon_simulation/bb_measure_true_phase.py
@@ -18,9 +18,13 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
     if os.name == 'posix' and "DISPLAY" not in os.environ:
         matplotlib.use('Agg')
 
+    from scriptlib import MyArgumentParser
+    parser = MyArgumentParser()
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+
     fname = "ZH_airshower/mysim.sry"
     c_light = lib.c_light
-    show_plots = True
+    show_plots = args.show_plots
 
     remove_absolute_phase_offset_first_antenna = True # takes precedence
     remove_absolute_phase_offset_minimum = True
diff --git a/simulations/airshower_beacon_simulation/bc_baseline_phase_deltas.py b/simulations/airshower_beacon_simulation/bc_baseline_phase_deltas.py
index 70c4512..6d78b96 100755
--- a/simulations/airshower_beacon_simulation/bc_baseline_phase_deltas.py
+++ b/simulations/airshower_beacon_simulation/bc_baseline_phase_deltas.py
@@ -19,10 +19,14 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
     if os.name == 'posix' and "DISPLAY" not in os.environ:
         matplotlib.use('Agg')
 
+    from scriptlib import MyArgumentParser
+    parser = MyArgumentParser()
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+
     fname = "ZH_airshower/mysim.sry"
     c_light = 3e8*1e-9
-    show_plots = True
-    ref_ant_id = None if not True else [50] # leave None for all baselines
+    show_plots = args.show_plots
+    ref_ant_id = None if True else [50] # leave None for all baselines
 
     ####
     fname_dir = path.dirname(fname)
diff --git a/simulations/airshower_beacon_simulation/bd_antenna_phase_deltas.py b/simulations/airshower_beacon_simulation/bd_antenna_phase_deltas.py
index 242e3fc..894780d 100755
--- a/simulations/airshower_beacon_simulation/bd_antenna_phase_deltas.py
+++ b/simulations/airshower_beacon_simulation/bd_antenna_phase_deltas.py
@@ -21,9 +21,13 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
     if os.name == 'posix' and "DISPLAY" not in os.environ:
         matplotlib.use('Agg')
 
+    from scriptlib import MyArgumentParser
+    parser = MyArgumentParser()
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+
     fname = "ZH_airshower/mysim.sry"
 
-    show_plots = True
+    show_plots = args.show_plots
     ref_ant_id = None # leave None for all baselines
 
     ####
diff --git a/simulations/airshower_beacon_simulation/ca_period_from_shower.py b/simulations/airshower_beacon_simulation/ca_period_from_shower.py
index 6d2aaf7..82e562c 100755
--- a/simulations/airshower_beacon_simulation/ca_period_from_shower.py
+++ b/simulations/airshower_beacon_simulation/ca_period_from_shower.py
@@ -149,11 +149,15 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
 
     atm = AtmoCal()
 
+    from scriptlib import MyArgumentParser
+    parser = MyArgumentParser()
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+
     fname = "ZH_airshower/mysim.sry"
 
     fig_dir = "./figures/periods_from_shower_figures/"
     fig_subdir = path.join(fig_dir, 'shifts/')
-    show_plots = False
+    show_plots = args.show_plots
 
     allowed_ks = [ -2, -1, 0, 1, 2]
     Xref = 400
diff --git a/simulations/airshower_beacon_simulation/cb_report_measured_antenna_time_offsets.py b/simulations/airshower_beacon_simulation/cb_report_measured_antenna_time_offsets.py
index 0f89f0d..dd5265f 100755
--- a/simulations/airshower_beacon_simulation/cb_report_measured_antenna_time_offsets.py
+++ b/simulations/airshower_beacon_simulation/cb_report_measured_antenna_time_offsets.py
@@ -18,10 +18,14 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
     if os.name == 'posix' and "DISPLAY" not in os.environ:
         matplotlib.use('Agg')
 
+    from scriptlib import MyArgumentParser
+    parser = MyArgumentParser()
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+
     fname = "ZH_airshower/mysim.sry"
 
     fig_dir = "./figures" # set None to disable saving
-    show_plots = not False
+    show_plots = args.show_plots
 
     ####
     fname_dir = path.dirname(fname)
diff --git a/simulations/airshower_beacon_simulation/da_reconstruction.py b/simulations/airshower_beacon_simulation/da_reconstruction.py
index 55cbf46..fcbd59d 100755
--- a/simulations/airshower_beacon_simulation/da_reconstruction.py
+++ b/simulations/airshower_beacon_simulation/da_reconstruction.py
@@ -28,11 +28,15 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
 
     atm = AtmoCal()
 
+    from scriptlib import MyArgumentParser
+    parser = MyArgumentParser()
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+
     fname = "ZH_airshower/mysim.sry"
 
     fig_dir = "./figures/"
     fig_subdir = path.join(fig_dir, 'reconstruction')
-    show_plots = False
+    show_plots = args.show_plots
 
     ####
     fname_dir = path.dirname(fname)
diff --git a/simulations/airshower_beacon_simulation/db_longitudinal_figure.py b/simulations/airshower_beacon_simulation/db_longitudinal_figure.py
index 980bb7d..b84f6e3 100755
--- a/simulations/airshower_beacon_simulation/db_longitudinal_figure.py
+++ b/simulations/airshower_beacon_simulation/db_longitudinal_figure.py
@@ -24,10 +24,14 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
     if os.name == 'posix' and "DISPLAY" not in os.environ:
         matplotlib.use('Agg')
 
+    from scriptlib import MyArgumentParser
+    parser = MyArgumentParser()
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+
     fname = "ZH_airshower/mysim.sry"
 
     fig_dir = "./figures/"
-    show_plots = False
+    show_plots = args.show_plots
 
     ####
     fname_dir = path.dirname(fname)
diff --git a/simulations/airshower_beacon_simulation/scriptlib.py b/simulations/airshower_beacon_simulation/scriptlib.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..766aab6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/simulations/airshower_beacon_simulation/scriptlib.py
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+"""
+Some preconfigured ArgumentParser
+"""
+
+from argparse import ArgumentParser
+
+def MyArgumentParser(default_show_plots=False, **kwargs):
+    """
+    A somewhat preconfigured ArgumentParser
+
+    Set show_plots=True to by default enable showing plots.
+    """
+    parser = ArgumentParser(**kwargs)
+
+    # Whether to show plots
+    parser.add_argument('--show-plots', action='store_true')
+    parser.add_argument('--no-show-plots', dest='show-plots', action='store_false')
+    parser.set_defaults(show_plots=default_show_plots)
+
+    return parser