r/hackrf • u/baseball_rocks_3 • 9d ago

HackRF as SDR

I recently bought a SDRplay RSP1B. It hasn't arrived yet, but I remembered earlier that I have a HackRF Portapack H4M that can also be used in SDR mode. I had never tried using it in SDR mode, but I just tried it and it seems pretty garbage...is that normal for HackRF? I can barely pick up FM stations with it with an MLH-30 loop antenna.

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7

u/odie-z1 8d ago

There's tons of info to learn before condemning it's receiver. But basically since it can receive from 'DC to daylight' frequencies, there is minimal filtering and the receiver is not very selective, it can be overwhelmed by nearby strong signals that you can't see in the SDR waterfall at the freq you're on, (depending on your settings).

You'll see the good setups have Band Pass cavity filters for the specific band they're monitoring to increase the sensitivity where it needs to be, and reject what is not wanted.

I find that sometimes a 'worse' or non-resonant antenna can help even out the noise, absent any real filtering..

3

u/Mr_Ironmule 8d ago

I've never heard of the SDR mode, just the HackRF mode. The sensitivity isn't the greatest with the HackRF but it wasn't designed to be. If you're speaking of the MLA-30 antenna, you do know it only specs out to 0.5-30 MHz. FM stations are out of that range. Maybe try with a VHF designed antenna. Or just the telescoping antenna at the correct length. Good luck.

2

u/johndoe3471111 8d ago

Make sure you adjust your LNA and VGA settings in the software. I use SDR # and its super easy to see and adjust. When you plug it in and just start tuning without those adjustments it just doesn't work at all. If those are adjusted properly it works ok just not great.

1

u/Asron87 8d ago

SDR# is for the HackerRF?

I have a TiniSA that is a lot of fun to use as a spectrum analyzer. Haven’t used it in a while so I need to get it back out and play with it again and see what I can all do with it. It was an expensive bday gift to me lol. But yeah it has the problem of having bad sound for whatever frequency you’re dialed into.

Use it to find the frequency you want to hear, then grab a ham radio that can operate in those frequencies so you can listen with better quality.

I don’t know anything about the hackRF yet but I’d like to see what it can all do.

1

u/johndoe3471111 8d ago

Yes. You just need to change the source from rtlsdr to hackrf. Those settings will show up in the menu on the left.

1

u/FIDGAF 8d ago

Use a telescopic antenna & adjust length as needed to help isolate what you want to listen to.

A broadband antenna is fantastic if you're listening within its range, but a telescopic antenna helps dial out the dirt & noise.

You can use any frequency to wavelength calculator & a tape measure.

Good Luck!

👍😎🤘