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Using your Rad1o in HackRF mode

When in “HackRF mode”, rad1o behaves like the HackRF (the very popular SDR by Michael Ossmann). That means that the rad1o has to be connected to a computer or smartphone and then acts as an interface to world of radiowaves.

Booting into HackRF mode

When in HackRF mode, the rad1o display shows something like “Booting HACKRF.BIN” or “Booting HKRF-OLD.BIN”. If not, change the mode.

Connecting to your PC

Connect a microUSB cable to port A.

Verifying connection

Linux: run

lsusb | grep -i OpenMoko

if there is a line of output, you're fine

Giving your user access to the device

Linux: Create a new file in


with the .rules suffix, containing

SUBSYSTEMS=="usb", ATTRS{idVendor}=="1d50", ATTRS{idProduct}=="6089", MODE:="0666"
SUBSYSTEMS=="usb", ATTRS{idVendor}=="1d50", ATTRS{idProduct}=="cc15", MODE:="0666"

You can also download the file from here.

Getting libHackRF

You could install your distribution's libhackrf package. Or, you could take the easy route for all relevant dependencies (including GNU Radio and friends) you might meet later on and use (no root necessary for the stuff you build yourself):

git clone --recursive
cd pybombs 
#prepare to answer a lot of questions with the default answer
#if you're not on debian/ubuntu you should change the install preferences away from deb,src
./pybombs install hackrf
./pybombs install gnuradio gr-osmosdr
#create and use shell setup script
./pybombs env 
echo "source /home/<username>/target/" >> ~/.bashrc
#zsh: >> ~/.zshenv

Testing stuff


howto/use_hackrf.txt · Last modified: 2015/08/14 17:30 by mkie