Beginner's Guide To The HackRF & Portapak With Mayhem 

Im recovering from "combat related injuries" / Severe Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Your content and playing with SDRs and being a novice "maker" is my health defense mechanism which helps me through the recovery process which is challenging to put it lightly. Thanks 🙏!

Pre-amp will die so just use a cheap LNA if needing that because the hackRF only does 250mw might be more on some models, Also if usb issue happens where it will not read in windows or gives unknown device" There is a small IC that when i removed it made the usb work however it will back feed usb power from the hackrf so make sure you have a usb port that can discard back feed. I hope this helped anyone with these issue i have experienced.

Great video. If you have time, please make some more showing the features.

Very nice! When I bought HackRF Portapack a while ago, I was literally messing around with it because there's not much documentation about the menu at that time. Mine was the touch screen version, so far, I love it and boy oh boy the bandwidth is so huge compared with RTL SDR lol. My pet peeve is that I wish they give a physical button to turn on/off the device, mine came with an acrylic cap for the knob so you don't accidentally turn on the device. Looking forward with this series in the future!

Great video Matt all the best for the new year

You should explain what it is and it's use first. If you already know, you don't need this beginner guide, if you don't, this guide will be a bit confusing. My biggest issue with the device is the prominent selector knob that prevents it from fitting in most pockets. I fabricated a cap to cover it but the bulk is annoying. The lack of battery display sucks too. Your biggest omission are the features of the hackrf independent of the portapack.

I've been looking for a portable radio that will do the usual FM, amateur / broadcast SW stuff AND have DAB. I did notice a DAB item listed, so may be worth a closer look :) Thanks, Matt.

Also, it would be good to warn people NOT to enable AMPs (RX nor TX) until they know a bit more what they're doing, and to avoid turning those amps on near strong RF (even on a hill next to any kind of transmitter, or when keying up a radio). It _WILL_ burn.

Great video, as always 👍

Thank you very match for this very instrucive video

Hi Matt, Thanks for the video content over the year. Some very interesting products. Although I find the computer programming a little difficult to understand. Happy Christmas David M0DUU

Awesome detailed video ❤

Thank you so much for the most informative radio RU-vid channel. I've used your help to activate my Analog Devices SDR's additional ARM cores and widening the frequencies. I have the version with ipv connectors for MIMO and a external clock. Could or can you use the Temperature Controlled Crystal upgrade one my Hack RF One via the Clock Out or would you think it better to get a external GPS disciplined Temperature Controlled Crystal and use it as opposed to the plug in one sold for that plugs into the HF1?

1.9.0 just released right after you posted this. :)

I bricked my original hackrf with the portapack H2 a few years ago. For this price the combo kit seems great!

Amazing video. Very well done

Thanks, Matt 👍

The latest version 1.9.0 is now available. Many apps are now stored on the SD card so updating the SD card files is necessary to have all applications available.

The TX power is only a few mW I think ? Plus it's apparently fairly deaf on UHF ?

I hope you’re enduring all the apocalyptic style weather England has been hit with recently. I have a portapack question. Are the headers on the PCB set up in such a way as to allow it to be used with the OperaCake?? Seems like the antenna switch would be invaluable when changing between the different functionality of the portapack

wonderful video !

Hi Matt I have got my portapack today, the same one as your new one, i have updated it to the same version as you, it is receiving well decoding air-plain data, and it is receiving aprs audio well but it is not decoding the aprs data, is there any settings i have to do ? Thanks Dave 2E0DMB

i have a really big question that i hope you could answer, when im go into the audio app and select the SPEC i get a small tab underneath and it say BW with selectable options such as 20m, 2m and 500K. what are these numbers referring to?

this is very educational video bro tnx.. SO how can i open the cars door with this equipment in my street... ;)

Is there any big difference between the Chinese copy u bought and the actual hack rf?

Can you make video explaining the use of each antennas

Hi again Matt, What is the best size and speed SD card to get for this portapack, Also dose it have the high spec TCXO installed and the 2 amp battery as advertised ? Thanks Dave 2E0DMB

From the looks of it, you know how to use the hackrf one with Portapack. I have one of the first ones with 1 rotery encoder in the middle, completely up to date V1.9.1 and everything works fine, but when I connect it to the PC it often goes wrong because the sample rate does not go lower than 8 msps, SDR sharp and others quickly fail and crash. . You can then just start over again, but of course nothing will change in the end. My question is, can this be lower than 8 msps or not? There is of course no added value in purchasing this.

Could a newbie get to use this device.

Hi to all, I have a question, I was planning to buy a TinySA ultra, now seeing this video, I was wondering if this Hackrf + portapack can do EVERYTHING a Tiny SA can do. A TinySA can show the whole frequency range from lowest frequencies to highest frequencies. Can the Hackrf show this also? Thanks for any useful info.

Hi Matt, Thanks for this video as I have ordered this one from Banggood 5 days ago and it is on the plain today, so I should have it in the new year, good news that it has a speaker, as I didn't see this in the add, Thanks Dave 2E0DMB

Wheres the jammer option?

Am i right in saying that it is easy to fry the amp on the hack rf.

I got one after watching this. It has been working fine, then suddenly just a black screen. I've done nothing to it. I've tried booting it pressing the menu keys, but nothing happens. The LED status lights do not light up. On separating the boards and plugging the Hack RF into the USB socket lights them up. Any ideas folks? I'm new to all this stuff...

Can you ensure your frequency is not traced or tracked when receiving or sending?

Does this firmware make changes only to the Portapack, or does it change the program and the Hackrf itself?

Hi Matt, I know you have an older one of these, have your preamp chips ever gone bad on you, Is it worth keeping some in my parts bin just in case , Thanks Dave 2E0DMB

can i connect ham it up to it ?

Do it contain sd card or it needs to store files in it or what?

hi i got a hack rf. and it came with version 1.9.1. is this the latest. and how do i get maps on it please. this is probably 1 of a million question . so please be gental.... tks

Good afternoon. Tell us why the two lower antenna outputs of the device are needed.

What happens if you use the wrong antenna for a specific app?. Will it break the device or the antenna?

what would i do if my computer doesnt have a micro sd port

Interesting

Remember you HAVE TO roll the drive back to the 1.0 found in the mayham download

It wont work for me,tells me hackrf not found,can someone help? Looked into it but anything i try wont work

What is this device used for

Try as I might, I cannot get maps to show on my Portapack H2... I have downloaded the files and the latest firmware from the github site. But all I get is 'no maps.bin file found'... I cannot figure it out! I'm getting aircraft data with my outside antenna (airband antenna) - but no maps will display. Any idea what I need to do...? Thanks for the video. M0VXD.

I have a love hate relationship with the H2. I think out of all the issues the power bttn is the worse, that and no responsive key presses happen all the time. Just wish they would fix these issues in the next reversion if any.

FYI: This coupon can only be used in Australia, Brazil, Russian Federation, United Kingdom, United States.

or its possible to make this show digital tv and use as mini tv? Also is there software version that removes dangerous app and leaves only safe ones?

Bangood version includes the speaker which is nice.... I have the 1 from Ali and that 1 comes with an amp, where the Banggood version does not. Was gonna order a second one ffrom banggood since the coupon value is great but: "This coupon can only be used in Australia,Brazil,Russian Federation,United Kingdom,United States" I live in Vancouver Canada.... lame.

Does it receive short wave.

Good video. Could you are anyone recommend a good seller?

As a European I can't use the code. Otherwise I would jumped on the deal. Thanks for the video!

I'd really like them to work on the scanner function. It has always been lame.

Is the narrator Richard Ayoade?!?!?!

i want, but my wallet says no. also banggood and aliexpress ain't origionals btw

ADSB is 1090 MHz not GHz. Interesting gadget at an almost snap purchase price ... Late Christmas present maybe ...

I found the price too high. If the price of such pack was under the 100 bucks. I would buy it.

only a criminal nerd would buy this

these are junk outdated apps nothing new , needs sstv decode, cw decode etc etc to be of any use at all

Sir, Does Opensourcesdr lab hackrf portapack 2 mayhem firmware or not

I built my own Omnidirectional QHF Helix antenna tuned for weather satellites but I would love to get that special metal dish made by Nooelec! I have their FM and Saws Sawbird (GOES) both of which really help to get the best signals. I am saving my AD Pluto to set it up with a amp and a filters for the Q100 Oscar when I am recovered enough to sit for the HB3 and ask Baskom for a GHz add on...the tests are much more difficult here in Switzerland. I am an American dual national and the U.S. Federal Laws state that my official domicile is the last one I had before leaving which was Lexington, KY. I can vote in the United States elections but don't because I vote here and I don't think that is fair. I should have to pick one for voting but the U.S. accepts but doesn't fully "recognize" dual nationally but you can have it but they will always considered you American in a conflict. I am also here as the health care is super duper superior for my issues which are Severe (hyper levels of unprovoked violence - who would have thought being a lawyer would come with that in the job description?!?). But, what do you think about this approach and anyone else could reply, given officially I am domiciled in Lexington KY for US Federal Purposes, could I not take the U.S. Amateur Radio exams via video exam as is done now there? Then, after working my way up to the Extra catagory, then ask for conversion by the Swiss as I think by agreement they will convert amateur radio licenses? I could then take the exams in English as opposed to French (my second language) as the HB9, is extremely technical meaning you better have a bachelor's in electrical engineering or have taken a special course which covers only that needed by the Baskom for the HB9. I think I could pass the HB3 in French but the HB9 looks super scary with schematics and formulas etc ... I am learning some of this anyway being a "novice hobby maker" and I am working with KICAD a little with some starting simple design PCBs but I'm not an electrical engineer or a radio frequency engineer. Second question: I really have wanted my amateur radio license since I first saw a man at camp when I was young with an old school Kenwood HF rig and super long wave length invented Vs off the trees. At college, I lived in Helena, Montana next to the National Guard Communication system and the whole field had HF wires antenna stretched out all around the place. I was also just south of Malstrom AFB (the reason the Chinese weather balloons were floating over Montana as they control 250 ICMB approx when I was a student there. We would see them when we were on the back roads going hunting as that's how my roommate and I ate well during Uni. A Mule Deer, a few white tail, and antelope for sausages. Then, we would fish in the warm weather and freeze trout and in the lakes Northern Pike and we would see the fenced off areas and a concrete slab, cameras and antenna. I was a resident of MT as I lived there before starting Uni but my roommate grew up there. He said, don't even drive down the dirt road leading up to them or by the time you reached the fence a Blackhawk helicopter and a security team of special operators would be on you that fast. But, the cool part was seeing all the different US aircraft which would fly training flights down the tight canyons in-between Helena and Great Falls doing a U-turn in the Helena valley and going back to the base. We saw all of them but mostly A-10s and Blackhawks, the occasional bat wings which are so bizarre to see flying every time you see them as it seems so odd.

Hi Matt This is a very very nice inspiration - thank you so much. 73 de OZ2BKK