HackRF One
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| Frequency | 1 MHz - 6 GHz (TX and RX, half-duplex) |
| Bands | HF through microwave (1 MHz - 6 GHz) |
| TX power | 0.03 W (Up to +15 dBm TX (~30 mW) depending on band. Test equipment, NOT a power transmitter.) |
| Modes | All modes via SDR software (TX and RX; half-duplex, NOT full-duplex) |
| Weight | 50 g (1.8 oz) - ~50g. Injection molded plastic enclosure. |
| Connector | SMA-F (antenna) + SMA-F clock in + SMA-F clock out |
| Year | 2014 |
| antenna | SMA-F |
| clock in | SMA-F (external clock input for synchronization) |
| clock out | SMA-F (clock output for multi-device) |
| usb | micro USB (Hi-Speed USB 2.0) |
| expansion | internal pin headers for expansion |
| power req | USB bus powered. No external power required. |
The widest frequency range of any affordable SDR (1 MHz-6 GHz), with TX+RX, 20 MHz bandwidth, and 20 MSPS. Open-source hardware and software, clock in/out for multi-device coherence, and PortaPack for standalone use. It is a GNU Radio standard with a large community and tutorial base. The HackRF Pro adds a 100 kHz lower limit. It is cheaper than the BladeRF (~$675) and USRP ($1100+).
An 8-bit ADC (the Airspy and PlutoSDR are 12-bit, so lower dynamic range). Half-duplex only (the PlutoSDR does full duplex). +15 dBm TX is only ~30 mW. Being broadband with no filtering, it is prone to strong-signal overload. No TCXO (frequency accuracy depends on the crystal). Cheap clones have quality issues; buy genuine. It is not compliance-tested for transmit.
A wideband TX/RX SDR for experimenters. The HackRF One covers 1 MHz to 6 GHz with TX+RX in an open-source platform for $200-350. The 8-bit ADC means it will not match the Airspy or PlutoSDR on dynamic range, but little else covers this frequency range at this price. The PortaPack add-on makes it standalone, and the community, tutorials, and GNU Radio integration make it a default SDR for experimentation and security research.
The HackRF One, from Great Scott Gadgets, is one of the most widely used transmit-capable software-defined radios, especially in security research and wireless experimentation. Its headline strength is range: a single device tunes continuously from 1 MHz to 6 GHz. It is open-source hardware, well documented, and supported by a huge software ecosystem. Two limitations define it, though, and both are often misstated.
First, it is half-duplex: it can transmit or receive, but not both at the same time, unlike the full-duplex Pluto or LimeSDR. Second, it samples at 8 bits, which gives it less dynamic range than 12-bit rivals. Transmit power is modest and varies with frequency, and an external amplifier is needed for any real distance. As with any transmitter, lawful use requires the appropriate license; the device itself carries no transmit type-acceptance.
It has been the go-to wideband TX/RX tool for years; Great Scott Gadgets introduced a successor, the HackRF Pro, in 2025, so the original may increasingly be sold from remaining stock. Among transmit-capable SDRs it sits alongside the educational ADALM-PLUTO and the full-duplex LimeSDR.