[Hackrf-dev] HackRF and Raspberry Pi

[Cinaed Simson]

On 02/23/2017 03:37 PM, Marc Pàmies Massip wrote:
> Hi Chuck,
> 
> What I want to do is to scan a whole GSM band (let's say GSM-900) tuning
> the device at a different frequency at each step. With my computer I
> have no problem to work at the highest recommended sample rate (20 MHz),
> but I wanted to know if the same could be done with a combination of
> Raspberry/HackRF or Raspberry/RTL-SDR.
> 
> Your think I could do it using the cheaper solution that you suggested?

Yes, for all the bands below 1.2 GHz, use a decent RTL dongle

   https://www.nooelec.com/store/nesdr-smart-sdr.html

which is stable at a sampling rate of 3.2 MHz and an error on order with
a HackRF.

For bands above 1.2 GHz - DCS or PCS - you'll need a HackRF - which
should work on the rpi since the channels are 200 kHz wide.

I've run the HackRF at a sampling rate of 1.75 MHz on BeagleBone Black.

So the HackRF should work on a rpi if has a FDI USB chipset.

Buy a decent logperiodic antenna


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cellular-Log-Periodic-Yagi-Antenna-CANT-0041-LTE-Verizon-AT-T-Wilson-Zboost-Ncon-/381271094632?hash=item58c5873568:g:VLUAAOxy0zhTMhWZ

The RTL dongle has a FEMALE SMA female connector - as does the HackRF.

The antenna has a FEMALE N-TYPE connector.

Ao you'll need a MALE N-TYPE to MALE SMA cable


http://www.ebay.com/itm/LMR240-UF-ULTRA-FLEX-SMA-MALE-N-MALE-Coaxial-RF-Pigtail-Cable-USA-/141788900952?var=&hash=item66a75640d5

choose your length.

I'd recommend 10 feet - get the antenna away from your compter and SDR -
and it allows you

Build a simple small stand out of PVC 3/4 inch pipe.

A long cable allows you move it around. It also gets the antenna away
from compter and SDR.

Then download kalibrate-rtl, and kalibrate-hackrf. They will allow you
to scan to calibrate your RTL dongle and HackRF and scan the GSM bands.

And last but not least, subscribe to

  gr-gsm at googlegroups.com


> 
> Thanks a lot for your answer,
> 
> Marc.
>>
>> On 23/02/2017 20:33:40, Chuck McManis <chuck.mcmanis at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> I don't think this question, as asked, can be answered. Is the HackRF
>> and Raspberry Pi signal compatble? Yes they are. Can you plug a HackRF
>> into the Raspberry Pi and have it recoginize it and talk to it? Yes
>> you can. Can you do all the things that people do with HackRFs when
>> using a Raspberry Pi, no you cannot.
>>
>> You can start that question from the other side though, like "I do
>> with my HackRF and my current machine, can I swap in a Pi and still do
>> that?" (probably the answer is "no" unless you are just tuning in FM
>> radio stations).
>>
>> So here is my recommendation, you will not be able to do anything
>> other than tune a wider range of frequencies with a HackRF/Pi
>> combination than you would with a RTL Dongle/Raspberry Pi. The latter
>> is about $80 total cost US, the former nearly $500. If you want to
>> tune ranges outside the RTL dongle's tunable range then build an RF
>> mixer so that you can use to upconvert (or downconvert) signals
>> outside of the RTL dongle's range into a frequency it can tune to.
>> Even a mixer/RTL/Pi combo is going to be cheaper than the HackRF.
>>
>> On Thu, Feb 23, 2017 at 11:05 AM, Marc Pàmies Massip
>> wrote:
>> > Hello,
>> >
>> > I wanted to ask if it is feasible to use a HackRF with a Raspberry
>> Pi. I
>> > have seen that some people use both hardware together, but it sounds
>> strange
>> > to me considering that the minimum sample rate recommended for the
>> HackRF is
>> > 8 MHz. A Raspberry Pi can support such a high sample rate? Are there
>> any
>> > other drawbacks to consider if this combination was to be done?
>> >
>> > Thank you in advance.
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > HackRF-dev mailing list
>> > HackRF-dev at greatscottgadgets.com
>> > https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/hackrf-dev
>> >
> 
> 
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