Testing Three HackRF Antennas

[@MyTube4Utoo]

I bought a HackRF Portapack like 3-months ago and never got around to even checking the antennas. I'm glad I ran across this video. Thank you.

[@tonyh6309]

SMA connectors are typically only rated for 500 connection/disconnection cycles. You might want to consider using a replacable adapter to save wear on the VNA connectors. The additional signal loss/ impedance mismatches/reflections etc. would be a small disadvantage, but likely acceptable in most use cases. Of course the VNA connectors may be simple to replace (if the instrument is easily dismantleble) in your case but that might not be the case on more expensive test equipment.

[@gorak9000]

Surprising that that little antenna with the inductances in it is so wideband!

[@paulcohen1555]

Can you remove the coax of the last antenna? Maybe the "too good" response was due to high losses in that coax?

[@samsami1130]

Amazing as always ❤️... can you share a good and reasonable price for vna v3

[@daniloxyz]

Absorption doesn't mean emission. Try measuring S21 with an EM probe on port 2.

[@gjbcapital1847]

Yes, all those long cable cheap antennas have ‘low swr’ because of cable attenuation.

[@catalinalb1722]

Hackrf repair? This sounds good since mine is bricked. A few years ago I was flashing Mayham and for some reason it got stuck. I can't flash dfu... The main chip is getting warm and that's it... Do you think I can recover it somehow? I even bought another portapack but no success.

[@bryngerard4334]

Seems like there are many fixes for different/similar problems found on the Internet. So a search to see if there is any thing that relates to your problem is worthwhile. Have you tried holding down the right button of the cluster of buttons and rhen turning it on. Apparently it selects different screen drivers. Good luck!

[@catalinalb1722]

@@bryngerard4334 yeah I tried that... Thanks

[@sinpwnzorz]

All my wifi antennas are RP-SMA, was yours not?

[@KerryWongBlog]

The antennas for the HackRF radio have standard SMA connectors, not RP-SMA.

[@sinpwnzorz]

@@KerryWongBlog ya same. But every wifi antenna I own is RP. Are your wifi antennas regular SMA?

[@KerryWongBlog]

@@sinpwnzorz No, typical wifi antennas use RP-SMA.