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HackRF Hardware

The HackRF is the SDR board that the PortaPack connects to. Multiple versions are supported by Mayhem.

HackRF One (R1–R9)

The HackRF One is the original board created by Michael Ossmann at Great Scott Gadgets. It has been manufactured in multiple hardware revisions (R1 through R9), all fully supported by Mayhem.

Specification	Value
Transceiver	Half-duplex
Operating frequency	1 MHz to 6 GHz
Sample rates	2 to 20 Msps (quadrature)
Resolution	8 bits
Max RX power	−5 dBm (exceeding this risks permanent damage; up to 10 dBm is safe with the RX amp disabled)
USB	High-Speed USB 2.0, Type-A or Micro-B

Max TX power (HackRF One)

Frequency range	Approximate TX power
10 – 2150 MHz	5 to 15 dBm (increases as frequency decreases)
2150 – 2750 MHz	13 to 15 dBm
2750 – 4000 MHz	0 to 5 dBm (increases as frequency decreases)
4000 – 6000 MHz	−10 to 0 dBm (increases as frequency decreases)

For measured values see: empirical TX power measurement

CLKout / CLKin (HackRF One)

Hardware revision	Behaviour
R1–R8 (OG, Si5351C)	User-configurable 4 kHz–60 MHz via Settings → Radio
R9 (Si5351A)	Fixed 10 MHz, software-gated on/off only

Signal level is 0 V to 3 V into a high-impedance load (square wave).

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HackRF One R10C

The R10C is a HackRF One variant manufactured by OpenSourceSDRLab, sold bundled with the H4M PortaPack. It uses the same chipset and hardware architecture as the R9 (Si5351A clock generator) and is treated identically by the Mayhem firmware. The only hardware difference from R9 is the USB-C connector instead of Micro-B.

Specification	Value
Based on	HackRF One R9
USB	High-Speed USB 2.0, Type-C
CLKout	Fixed 10 MHz (same as R9)
Firmware compatibility	Full Mayhem support (detected as R9)

Note

Despite the "R10" in its name, the R10C is not related to the HackRF Pro. It is a HackRF One with a USB-C connector, manufactured by a third party.

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HackRF Pro

The HackRF Pro was announced by Great Scott Gadgets on 26 June 2025. It is a major upgrade of the HackRF One while maintaining backward compatibility. Mayhem supports it via the PRALINE build target.

Specification	Value
Transceiver	Half-duplex
Operating frequency	100 kHz to 6 GHz
Tunable range	0 Hz to 7.1 GHz
Sample rates	Up to 20 Msps (standard); up to 40 Msps (4-bit half-precision)
Resolution	8-bit standard; 16-bit extended precision at low sample rates (typical ENOB 9–11); 4-bit half-precision
Clock reference	Built-in TCXO (no GP_CLKIN dependency)
Logic	iCE40 FPGA (replaces the CPLD of HackRF One)
USB	High-Speed USB 2.0, Type-C

CLKout / CLKin (HackRF Pro)

User-configurable 4 kHz–60 MHz via Settings → Radio (same range as HackRF One R1–R8).

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PortaPack Hardware

The PortaPack is an add-on board that attaches to the HackRF and provides a standalone user interface. Multiple versions exist. For a full comparison see PortaPack Versions.

Feature	Details
Display	320 × 240 px color LCD (ILI9341), 2.4" (H1) or 3.2" (H2/H4M)
Touchscreen	Resistive touch, configurable threshold
Controls	Encoder dial + 5 directional buttons (up/down/left/right/select)
Storage	microSD card slot (FAT32)
Audio out	3.5 mm headphone/speaker jack
Microphone	Built-in (H2M, H4M only)
Battery management IC	Yes (H4M only)
GPIO port	Expansion header (H4M only)
GPS	External GPS module supported (NMEA over UART)

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Mayhem Firmware

Mayhem is a community firmware for HackRF + PortaPack that greatly extends the capabilities of the Havoc firmware it was forked from.

App categories

Category	Description
Receivers	Decode and display signals: ADS-B, AIS, APRS, POCSAG, ACARS, EPIRB, and many more
Transmitters	Transmit a wide range of signals and protocols
Transceivers	Full send/receive apps: Microphone, KISS TNC
Recon	Frequency scanner and signal hunter
Capture	Record IQ data to microSD as .C16 or .C8
Replay	Play back captured IQ files
Remote	Remote control via USB
Looking Glass	Wideband spectrum overview
Utilities	Tools: antenna calculator, file manager, IQ trim, notepad, and more
Settings	Device configuration, radio parameters, display, themes
Games	Included games: Tetris, Doom, Pac-Man, and more
Debug	Hardware diagnostics and developer tools
External Apps	Loadable .ppma apps from the SD card

Key firmware features

• External apps: Load additional apps from the SD card without reflashing
• Screenshots: Capture the display to a PNG file on the SD card
• Stealth mode: Disable backlight during TX
• Sleep mode: Turn off display while keeping radio running
• Custom splash screen: Load a user-supplied BMP image on boot
• Themes: Multiple color themes for the UI
• GPS integration: Apps can use position data from an attached GPS module
• App Settings persistence: Per-app settings saved to SD card
• Frequency manager: Store and recall named frequencies
• Playlist/Replay editor: Sequence multiple captures for playback

Notes

• Half-duplex means the device can transmit or receive, but not both simultaneously.
• The operating frequency range (1 MHz–6 GHz for HackRF One) covers most common radio services. See Wikipedia: Frequency allocation for a detailed breakdown.
• Always consult Intended Use and Legality and your local regulations before transmitting.