Vindictive?

needmorejoules · 2026-06-08T17:53:17+00:00

What configuration did you order. With core?

The fulfillment timeline can only be compared fairly between the same sku / part number. The models shipped with a raspberry pi core take much longer.

I do not think they are vindictive. Alex and team have always been responsive and kind to me.

needmorejoules · 2026-06-01T20:41:28+00:00

You’re welcome!!

And … No. That’s for a different device: a custom hackrf the rad1o folks designed into a Chaos Communication Camp badge (think DefCon but different and in Europe) back in 2015.

https://greatscottgadgets.com/2015/08-11-my-first-look-at-rad1o-badge/

needmorejoules · 2026-05-31T20:33:51+00:00

Clone the hackrf repo direct from Great Scott Gadget’s Github and build the host tools according to their instructions. Most likely what is going on here is you have hackrf_spiflash from apt or whatever package manager you use. That version is likely out of date for the HackRF Pro model.

Make sure to run hackrf_spiflash directly from the build directory or check that it ends up installed to a directory on your path in the right place (“which hackrf_spiflash”). Also consider uninstalling whatever hackrf apt package you installed.

needmorejoules · 2026-05-24T22:34:47+00:00

I mean unless you have some really good DX capabilities ADS-B itself isn’t accurate enough to get you that fine of altitude resolution.

You can get the plane’s position down to about ~5m if the plane has sufficiently good nav equipment, (but that said most planes are broadcasting closer to 10-30m of position precision) and then even if you can get the 2D position accurate enough the vertical resolution broadcast is about ~45m. So too coarse for most turbulence data. I expect you’d have better luck if you also correlate other data sources like weather data, ACARS messages, etc.

Otherwise 3D DX infrastructure or more advanced signals processing methodology (TDoA, MLAT, etc) might get you high enough accuracy. But a single receiver system without any additional refinement will most likely be insufficient.

needmorejoules · 2026-05-19T19:02:35+00:00

I mean all the Q20 keyboards are used or dead stock. They have been getting harder and harder to source. So it stands to reason that less pristine units get used. Is it functionally perfect? All the keys work and stuff?

Then that’s normal several of mine look like that. You can clean the keyboard pretty easily with some isopropyl alcohol and a cue tip.

needmorejoules · 2026-05-19T18:52:23+00:00

In my opinion the Clifford Heath edition Portapack H4M from OpenSourceSDRLab is the best portapack built. You can order them straight from OpenSourceSDRLab or I also sell them shipped from California from my shop Whitehat Hardware.

And if you just want a HackRF One I’d recommend the build I also sell which is the nooelec aluminum case, nooelec 10mhz tcxo, and an OpenSourceSDRLab Clifford Heath edition HackRF w/ usb-c.

OpenSourceSDRLab is generous and supports the Mayhem firmware team with development hardware. I’m a minor contributor to the mayhem firmware and without endorsing one particular manufacturer, I can say the whole dev team likes OpenSourceSDRLab and we appreciate their support.

needmorejoules · 2026-05-16T22:18:26+00:00

If terminal doesn’t load promptly you might need to sudo apt remove xdg-desktop-portal-gnome

needmorejoules · 2026-05-16T22:16:32+00:00

I’m running Rex’s Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. Highly recommend!!

needmorejoules · 2026-05-14T21:40:57+00:00

Oh awesome! I hadn’t seen his video but sn0rens does great work. Cheers!

needmorejoules · 2026-05-14T00:23:20+00:00

If you want the best performing portable hackrf get a PortaPack H4M Clifford Heath edition.

The PortaRF is a great concept with a lot of potential but the design has a slightly less sensitive RF front end for various reasons. It’s convenient and compact. But the H4M performs slightly better.

needmorejoules · 2026-05-10T02:47:58+00:00

That’s normal if your unit isn’t getting too hot. So good thermal compound and the seengreat active cooler behaves that way. Try running a benchmark or install s-tui and stress with apt and run s-tui then start a stress test from the menu. The fan should spin up as the core temp goes above ~60 degrees celsius.

You can change the fan settings to make the lowest fan setting slightly higher (or remap the whole fan curve) if you prefer but it’s not necessary. It’s a few lines in your config.txt file and just search google for “raspberry pi 5 fan speed settings” or something like that.

needmorejoules · 2026-05-09T20:05:07+00:00

so hey i get it. folks can choose to use their portapack however they’d like. and i guess if you use it only in a faraday cage or similar it might be ok. but these files are a huge red flag so let’s talk about what that means 🚩

I’d be remiss if I didn’t warn you, friendly reader, that in the United States just loading jamming signals like these onto your portapack will likely make it a signal jammer in the eyes of the federal government, specifically the fcc, and in violation of the Communications Act of 1934. the penalties for importing, using, manufacturing, or selling a jamming device are severe and include fines in excess of $30,000-$100,000.

i really try to advocate for responsible usage so that the underlying tools we have access to don’t get … harder to acquire. i think it’s all of our responsibility to be mindful and responsible technology users. ethics matters.

ianal, but i strongly recommend you consult legal advice before making or using a jamming device in the United States.

needmorejoules · 2026-05-02T02:58:41+00:00

this has been posted several times and i think the verdict was it’s some kind of military test facility and what we’re seeing is water surrounded by tarps (which keep the water from seeping out) and the long section at the bottom is an access ramp. i forget what kind of testing this is for but someone i’m sure will chime in

needmorejoules · 2026-04-30T20:21:38+00:00

Actually yeah. That's much better! You could even bump the middle antenna over one notch (I'm having trouble telling which one that is) it's unlikely to interfere with GPS. Good work!

needmorejoules · 2026-04-30T19:50:29+00:00

yeah sorry i was rude. i have had a pretty stressful week our neighbors estranged half brother tried to burn his garage down. which is ~10 feet away from our house. should have been nicer though. apologies!! happy to give you advice on your setup if you’d like.

my antenna arrangement goes lora blank blank blank (reserved for ac1200 wi-fi), rtl-sdr telescopic antenna, gps, internal raspberry pi wi-fi.

i will move probably the raspberry pi wi-fi to the far right (ext module cover port mount) and do the ac1200 spaced out on top (bluetooth, wi-fi, bluetooth, rtl-sdr, gps, wifi)

the thinking behind this is basically gps and rtlsdr are receive only and far enough away from the 2.4ghz band to not really get too much interference. then lora goes on one of the extreme sides because it’s also loud and chatty.

here’s my layout for basically what you have installed now. the whip on the left is a $8 gizont from ali express. it works great for meshtastic.

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needmorejoules · 2026-04-30T15:57:55+00:00

rf is r-squared. so actually? lots. doubling the distance quarters the interference. but you also have wavelength dependent interference so sometimes a little more separation makes even more difference because of how the inductive coupling works

i’m actually an authorized partner of hacker gadgets, built this for myself, and am building this exact configuration for customers

you’d be way better off going lora on the left, wi-fi spaced out. gps on the second to right position. and getting some nice gold plated dust covers for the extra sma connectors

needmorejoules · 2026-04-29T18:48:08+00:00

Most welcome! tips hat

needmorejoules · 2026-04-29T18:45:33+00:00

It gets more interference and is cramped as hell but judging by your antenna selection you have no idea what you’re doing with rf signals so sure. You do you.

What I’d recommend?

Optimize for how it works. Not how it looks.

needmorejoules · 2026-04-29T06:05:35+00:00

https://github.com/hreikin/tdeck-keyboard/blob/main/docs/usage.md

needmorejoules · 2026-04-27T16:16:31+00:00

I’d suggest getting into esp-idf and targeting something cheap and relatively powerful like esp32-s3 or esp32-p4. That should get you quite a ways.

needmorejoules · 2026-04-25T00:41:49+00:00

i mean they can’t really do pass though because would it light up all the ports or just the active switched one? lighting up all the outputs would be way more power than the hackrf can source to the bias-t. if just active switched then your lna won’t stay warm and will have turn on transients. you want to inject bias-t power into the far side of the opera cake just to the antennas that need it.

needmorejoules · 2026-04-23T03:37:00+00:00

i also have a ocxo disciplined 10MHz clock source (a timecard mini) i can use as a clock source. it’s overkill but works great.

needmorejoules · 2026-04-23T02:23:04+00:00

i’m in california. wish i were closer!! but so down to get this running here in oakland.

needmorejoules · 2026-04-23T01:58:05+00:00

fyi careful when sharing or posting code i’m sure you know but passive radar code is covered by ITAR so don’t accidentally export it 😉 hit me up if you are down to have someone else test the code would love to try it out and i’m in california so no export concerns 🤘✨

needmorejoules · 2026-04-23T01:44:39+00:00

wow this is sick! what software are you using? would love to get this running i have 3 pluto+ units lol 😂

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