HackRF one device

[Bondguy]

Does anyone have any experience with HackRF one ? I would like to buy it but not sure where. Prices are different. Does a low price( for this kind of device) mean it is worse in quality or features or it simplya means  only a lower profit for a seller? Where would you recommend to buy it?

[Mr. Scram]

Does anyone have any experience with HackRF one ? I would like to buy it but not sure where. Prices are different. Does a low price( for this kind of device) mean it is worse in quality or features or it simplya means  only a lower profit for a seller? Where would you recommend to buy it?

Are the lower prices coming from reputable sellers?

[gertux]

Does anyone have any experience with HackRF one ? I would like to buy it but not sure where. Prices are different. Does a low price( for this kind of device) mean it is worse in quality or features or it simplya means  only a lower profit for a seller? Where would you recommend to buy it?

I would always pick one of the original resellers http://greatscottgadgets.com/hackrf/
The price difference is minimal when I take customs and VAT into account.

But most importantly I think Michael Ossmann deserves all credit for this powerful tool.

[Dubbie]

I just bought a limeSDR from the same guys. Looks pretty cool on paper. Looking forward to it arriving.

[edit] different crowd. Ignore me!

[Bondguy]

Yes, I also heard about LimeSDR. Can you compare it with HackRF one?Why did you choose LimeSDR instead?
Thanks

[Dubbie]

I am a relative noob to RF, so take what I say with a hefty shovel of salt.  I liked that the lime seemed a bit more “hackable” and open.  I like the fpga that you can access. To be honest I doubt I will even touch the sides of what either can do.

[gertux]

I just bought a limeSDR from the same guys. Looks pretty cool on paper. Looking forward to it arriving.

[edit] different crowd. Ignore me!

Did you buy the limeSDR from CrowdSupply ?

I would consider a LimeSDR mini if they sold it directly from the UK, Lime Microsystems are based in Guildford, England after all.
Buying from CrowdSupply is a PITA with the customs charges/regulations, specially RF gear.

[jonovid]

HackRF's pop up on aliexpress sold in various states of assembly. as for most software-defined radio from shenzhen. I have not had a good customer experience with try marrying chinese SDR to American microsoft   

[Dubbie]

Yes from crowd supply. I didn’t think of customs. That will be another bill when it arrives I guess

[Jane]

@Dubbie: Why did you decide to buy LimeSDR an not HackRF? Did you read any good customers reports about LimeSDR?Or what was the reason?

[hagster]

LimeSDR has more dynamic range, wider bandwidth and is full duplex(actually 2x2 mimo capable). HackRF one has slightly better software support and goes up to 6GHz, but is only half duplex.

For most people I think the LimeSDRmini is good value.

Dont rule out things like the Airspy etc if you only need rx only.

[Dubbie]

Yes it was mainly the full duplex which sold me. I want to experiment with short range data links.

[Bicurico]

Hi,

I was in the same situation 3 month ago.

After messing around with several cheap RTL2832 I wanted a "better" device, capable of RX/TX.

I looked at all the options, including LimeSDR, HackRF, etc.

My conclusions:

1) The cheapest purchase is the PlutSDR from Analog Devices: http://www.analog.com/en/design-center/evaluation-hardware-and-software/evaluation-boards-kits/adalm-pluto.html#eb-overview

It costs under 100 US$, does RX/TX in full duplex, is compatible to Gnu Radio and sdrsharp. Frequency range is only 325MHz to 3.8GHz, but COULD be hacked to 70MHz to 6GHz. "COULD", because of the major drawback of this device: it is totally out of stock! I placed my order end of September 2017 and Mouser gives me a backorder date of February, 5th 2018. The hack was possible, because you could tell the firmware that the device has a AD9364 instead of a AD9363. It seems that the AD9363 can perform in the extended frequency range, but possibly not fully within specs. The question is if the new batches can be hacked and/or if the AD9363 used will behave like the AD9364. It is thought that early batches might have been fitted with the AD9364 for some reason. I am eager to find out, when my device arrives.

Oh, it also has 12bit ADC vs 8bit on the HackRF.

2) HackRF: "original" or "chinese clone"?

Looking at eBay, it seems tempting to go for the chinese ones, as the hardware is indeed open source: the chinese sellers are efectivily not selling a clone. They just followed the open source specs. However, I have read that those devices may have inferior quality due to cloned/inferior components used. Also, when doing the maths and considering shipping, shipping time and customs, the deal is not THAT attractive anymore.

I just bought mine from Amazon UK and had the device in my hands after 3-4 days.

The HackRF is great. Having a bandwidth of 20MHz instead of the 2MHz of the RTL23832 is by itself worth the money. Being able to TX, as well, is simply amazing. For instance, I did the following tests:
a) Record the whole FM radio band (88MHz - 108MHz). I could then replay it at a different frequency, i.e. 174Mhz-184MHz) and receive individual radio stations with my Uniden scanner.
b) I recorded a analog CATV channel (actually two, which were within the selected frequency range) and again, could TX it at what ever frequency I wanted and tune a field meter to watch the broadcast.
c) I recorded the different buttons of my home alarm remote control, only to find out that it doesn't use rolling keys...  Epic fail! Now I can activate/deactivate my home alarm using my laptop. If I wanted, I could leave the HackRF connected to my home PC and activate/deactivate the alarm over the internet.

There are many more things you can do and my three examples are just the tip of the ice berg. Learning GNU Radio is not so easy: the logic is easily understood, but understanding how to use all the modules takes a lot of time, not to mention programming your own (I am not even close to this level).

Having only half duplex is actually not that much of a big deal, as you can use a separate RTL2832 for RX (within its frequency range), if you really need full duplex.

3) LimeSDR

Great device, but it comes with two issues:

a) Bigger price tag than the HackRF
b) Not so easy to purchase: where do you buy it? On their website only?
c) No case included: I strongly recommend to NOT use these devices without a case. When dealing with cables, connectors, antennas, you WILL eventually have them touch the PCB and cause a short... I speak of self experience...

There are other devices and the prices go up according to specs. At the end you are looking at products from Signal Hound and wondering if you should join the TEA - Test Equipment Addicts...

Have fun!

Regards,
Vitor

[Lord of nothing]

I found HACK-RF HackRF One board 285.00 € not that cheap.

[hagster]

The LimeSDR mini is half the price of the HackRF. First deliveries are expected by thr end of Jan. After that you should be able to buy it from the crowd supply site.

[Jon.C]

I have one of aliexpress and it works very well


https://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?catId=0&initiative_id=SB_20180106094542&SearchText=HackRF+One

[Bicurico]

i bought this one: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B071FMH7T5

Thats 258 Euro.

The cheapest offers from China were around 180 Euro, but I would have had to pay around 40 Euro for customs/handling and wait 2-3 months for shipping and customs to finally hand the parcel over.

This is why I decided to pay 30 Euro more and:

- get it in 4 days
- have the "original" one with original plastic case
- have the starter kit antennas

Regards,
Vitor

[Lord of nothing]

EUR 151,29 + free Shipping from China!
I NEVER (!!!) Pay any Custom Fees from any product I bought via Ebay!
The know what the have to declare. 
I only payed Custom Fee from US Seller.   

[Bicurico]

Good for you.

Here in Portugal customs are now controlling parcels, even from China.

And they know EXACTLY what all the different products are worth: they too know how to use eBay, AliExpres, etc.

If the documenation says "gift" or some silly value, you can be 100% sure you will receive a notification to send over documentation: invoice, order, payment, etc.

All items which have been paid for with more than 20 Euro have to pay VAT, customs and handling.

This is why shops like Gearbest have now what they call "EU Warehouses"...

Cheers,
Vitor

PS: No offense meant - quite the opposite! Use this freedom as much as possible, one day it might end, like here in Portugal.

[Lord of nothing]

  the next time i fly to portugal i can bring some chinesse good from you. 

[Bicurico]

Joke aside, it use to be easy to have stuff shipped from China. Now MOST packages containing slightly more expansive stuff get checked. Last time it happens to me was with a Uni-T 61 E. Had to pay around 30 Euro for customs. At the end it was just 30% cheaper than in the local electronics store.

Only cheap stuff up to 20 Euro arrives without passing customs.

And the worst isn't having to pay, but the delay in receiving. One order took 2 weeks to arrive and 3 and a half months to clear customs! They are totally understaffed.

Cheers,
Vitor

[Lord of nothing]

So how to use an wideband SDR the best way? 
Is there an Software who allow me to decode multiple Signals at the same Time?
For example there are multiple ACARS Freq on the Airband who broadcast Signals.