Performance can typically be enhanced significantly by selecting an appropriate antenna, external amplifier, and/or external filter for the application. Testing is required to finely measure performance in an application. These specifications can be used to roughly determine the suitability of HackRF for a given application. HackRF’s concrete specifications include operating frequency range, maximum sample rate, and dynamic range in bits. To learn the exact answer for a specific application, you would have to measure it yourself.
HACKRF VS WIFISPY UPDATE
Even a seemingly minor software update might result in a significantly different answer. For example, an answerable question might be: What is the minimum power level in dBm of modulation M at frequency F that can be detected by HackRF One with software S under configuration C at a bit error rate of no more than E%? Changing any of those variables (M, F, S, C, or E) would change the answer to the question. Any answer would be very specific to a particular application. This isn’t a question that can be answered for a general purpose SDR platform such as HackRF. What is the minimum signal power level that can be detected by HackRF? ¶
However, the absence of one is not a show-stopper as the ADALM Pluto can always be complemented with an external Bias Tee.ĬLK IN / CLK OUT Clock references are used for synchronization across multiple systems and also enables the use of a better quality reference oscillator.
Having a Bias tee is invaluable for remote operation. The ADALM therefore has an advantage in being suitable for full-duplex operation, while the HackRF offers half-duplex.īIAS TEE We have discussed Bias Tees in detail here. Using these you can both transmit and receive at the same time. The ADALM Pluto has two RF ports – one for transmit and the other for receive. You can only transmit or receive at one time. While the filter bank is not as extensive as the SDRPlay, it is better than the ADALM Pluto SDR which has no filtering. HackRF has a few filters that accomplish this. PRE-SELECT FILTERS Filters are used to eliminate signals that would otherwise result in interference. The ADALM Pluto is a clear winner in this regard. We have discussed this in a separate post. Each bit contributes 6 dB to the dynamic range – which is quite significant. The frequency range of the ADALM Pluto is narrower and doesn’t cover anything lower than 325 MHz or higher than 3.8 GHz.ĪDC/DAC # OF BITS The number of ADC bits determines the dynamic range of the receiver and transmitter. At the high end, it allows capture and processing of signals operating in the 5 GHz Wi-Fi band.
At the low end, this allows operation at HF which is a very popular band for amateur radio. Let’s take a look at each of the specifications and features in the table above and delve a little further into what they mean and how they impact the user.įREQUENCY RANGE The frequency range of the HackRF goes down to 1 MHz and all the way up to 6 GHz.
SPECIFICATIONĪs seen from the comparison table above, the HackRF and ADALM Pluto each have their individual strengths and weaknesses. Here is a comparison of various hardware and system attributes of the HackRF One and ADALM Pluto SDRs. So without further ado, let’s get right down to it. For instance it uses the AD9363 transceiver chipset.įor this article, we decided to take a closer look at their products to understand how they differentiate and which one might be the better value for money. Needless to say it uses parts made by Analog Devices wherever possible as it serves as a showcase or evaluation platform for their technology. The ADALM Pluto was Analog Devices’ foray into the SDR market with a similar transceiver platform.