HackRF Hardware
HackRF Hardware Specifications:
- MCU – NXP LCP4330 dual core ARM Cortex M4/M0 (LPC4330FBD144)
- CPLD – Xilinx XC264A CoolRunner-II (XC2C64A-7VQG100C)
- RF ICs -
- MAX2837 – 2.3GHz to 2.7GHz Wireless Broadband RF Transceiver
- MAX5864 – 22Msps Analog Front End
- RFFC5072 – Wideband Synthesizer/VCO with Integrated 30MHz to 6 GHz Mixer
- Frequency Range:
- 10 MHz to 6 GHz
- 300 KHz to 30 MHz accessible when paired wit Ham It Up RF upconverter
- Bandwidth – 20 MHz max
- Transmit Power (Preliminary, based on Jawbreaker beta hardware):
- 30 MHz to 100 MHz: 5 dBm to 15 dBm, increasing as frequency decreases
- 100 MHz to 2300 MHz: 0 dBm to 10 dBm, increasing as frequency decreases
- 2300 MHz to 2700 MHz: 10 dBm to 15 dBm
- 2700 MHz to 4000 MHz: -5 dBm to 5 dBm, increasing as frequency decreases
- 4000 MHz to 6000 MHz: -15 dBm to 0 dBm, increasing as frequency decreases
- Transceiver – Half-duplex
- Optional Add-ons – PortaPack: LCD screen, directional buttons, and audio ports for standalone use.
- Power – USB (5V)
You can get the schematics for Jawbreaker Beta board in KiCad format, as well as download the assembly files, schematics (PDF), BoM, and gerber files. I’d assume the final hardware may be slightly different (TBC).
HackRF Software
HackRF beta units can be used on Linux, MaC OS X, and Windows platforms, and connected via the USB port of your PC. HackRF already works with the GNU Radio software framework, but support can be added to other SDR software as well.
You can retrieve the firmware for the CPLD and MCU on github, and they’ve also released host files for HackRF tools and library. As mentioned in the introduction, the beta hardware has already been used with Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB), Bluetooth monitoring, spectrum sensing, wireless microphones, AIS, FM radio, and more. More information explaining how to work with the platform is available on the Wiki.
Many people will probably just use the device connected an Host computer via USB, but it’s also possible to use it in standalone with PortaPack add-on to expand the hardware with a display, keys, and audio ports.
