The Latest HackRF & Portapak Combo - H4M The Flipper Zero Killer?

[@MrHolozip]

Sold! I already have a HackRF, but without the portapack - I ordered this yesterday. Thanks for the overview😀

[@vincei4252]

Thank you. I'd just bought and took delivery of a standalone HackRF but having this in the shack is a great addition too. Just bought one.

[@ТарасКорж-г4т]

Still no good shielding between RF side and digital parts on the top board, which means all the digital noise will appear in many bands just like in the previous verion. Will skip this version, maybe they improve that in future.

[@TechMindsOfficial]

How do you know this if you do not have it? Seriously, what is your source of information or are you just guessing?

[@ТарасКорж-г4т]

​@@TechMindsOfficial I saw the teardown on someone else's video. Even in your video, there is no additional shielding visible from the side. The required shielding here should be heavy, the case should be metallic with a serious metallic separation between digital top and RF bottom parts. Nothing like that comes with this new version.

[@bxqpxd]

@@ТарасКорж-г4т what stops you from modding that in?

[@ТарасКорж-г4т]

@@bxqpxd I did to prove the concept - on the previous version of Portapack. But it was flimsy and thus not usable. The whole physical construction redesign of the top portion is needed to allow a proper shielding and get the noisy digital parts away from the RF input side.

[@3liverse]

@@ТарасКорж-г4тNot sure why they haven’t done that yet. I’ve been waiting for them to. I previously had the Clifford Heath version of the HACKRF but the TX amp came faulty and was unusable.

[@nabinodd]

Does this include the corrected design flaw mentioned by Clifford Heath? I've heard the LNA gets damaged easily. There’s a separate 'Clifford Heath' version on the Open Source SDR Lab site, but I read somewhere that the corrected design is now part of the mainstream version.

[@shemmo]

just placed the order, cant wait to get my hands on this thing

[@yv6eda]

Great device! This version is in my wish list! Thanks Matt!

[@ethzero]

Nice looking bit of kit and surprisingly reasonably priced 👍

[@georgeliquor2931]

Do you have any issues regarding frying the amplifier as reported on other chanels

[@R50_J0]

The sound quality would probably be quite good piped to a set of external desk speakers.

[@funkymonk2254]

Oh That power button is awesome. Gpio! These are great upgrades.

[@kokoso1]

I HAVE IT TOO but there is a noise problem if you use it on low frequencies (im talking about the hackrf one for me the noise is higher for around 20-30 % than on a rtl sdr v4)

[@Christian-lh7ux]

Hi 👋😊 what would you prefer if you could just buy one/ first sdr after "hacked TVstick"^^

[@brianclimbs1509]

When is someone going to develop SSB TX for it? It would be worth buying just for a VHF SSB transceiver since there are none on the market now.

[@TechMindsOfficial]

I like that idea!

[@rbmwiv]

USB 2 meter sounded pretty good. Cool gadget and video.

[@digitalmediafan]

I presume you are losing out in some way just upgrading an existing HackRF with the H4M portapak ?

[@rwojo]

USB-C support is all, I think. Also, if you have a Clifford Heath version of the HackRF, you'll have input protection. That is not available on the H4M pre-assembled version sadly.

[@digitalmediafan]

@rwojo ok don't think I'll bother and with mine it does turn off if you double press the knob

[@rwojo]

@@digitalmediafan Yeah, really only worth it if you travel a lot and have a case that doesn't protect the rotary button, or maybe if you need the GPIO.

[@ehudgavron1]

It's cute. The dial is not an "iPod" wheel, it's a jog/shuttle wheel which was on Umatic and VHS video editing decks 40 years ago. The battery status screen doesn't include temperature, and you don't mention if it's LiOn or LiFePo or NiCd or whatever. The review didn't exxplain the two other SMA connectors on the -bottom- of the unit or whether it can TX on the same 1-GHz in "all modes". That information would be useful. thanks.

[@sevenmoons1869]

Just purchased this for the first time given the upgrades made with the V4! looking forward to playing around with it. I’m a newbie in the SDR space but have been looking for something portable like this to take with me places. there’s currently a bounty out there for adding FLEX paging to the POCSAG app, as that’s far more common here in the US. hoping somebody bites the bullet on that. Cheers!

[@GamingAmbienceLive]

does it have the GPS and 10MHz TCXO like H2M?

[@anvayashakti2374]

Thank you for the review. Where is available to buy?

[@brantwinter]

aliexpress link is broken

[@kb1qzh]

11.11 Sales are up. Do you have a list of links to your favorite products? I was thinking of a Pluto+

[@scottwood1143]

Thanks for the heads-up!

[@TechMindsOfficial]

Any time!

[@LordHog]

Sorry, I am confused. Does the full kit include the HackRF? Generally the HackRF is close to $400 dollar just by itself. This seems to be a lot cheaper than that

[@jmileshc]

It's a clone not a "genuine" unit.

[@LordHog]

@@jmileshc Thank you for the clarifications. I was about to get one, but was a bit hesitant. Sounds like I should be okay. Thanks!!

[@rickasisco]

Can't wait to see what people come up with for the GPIO breakout

[@GamingAmbienceLive]

does it have the GPS and 10MHz TCXO like H2M?

[@MrHankster49]

Is this a kit, which must be assembled? Or is it a fully complete & tested unit, ready to use? What is the current price approximately? Thanks

[@mysafename1694]

I haven't seen a pager in the last 20 years who uses them anymore. I used to work at a Cell phone stor. We used to sell pagers, but I haven't seen one in probably two decades.

[@donfickles1501]

They are mostly just used in emergency on call situations. Paramedics, tech engineers etc. I had one to my surprise about 6 years ago at a company I was at. We would hand it off weekly to someone else to have possession of.

[@Frustratedfool]

Pagers still work somehow if the mobile phone service is saturated or has other issues. That reliability is why they are still used. Probably cheaper too. Or heavier if bought from certain countries.

[@julioqueiroz9707]

CAn that decode video and play on the screen?

[@goiterlanternbase]

So there is an encoder used, that does not suck? The last design tend to fail after some use and at least the replacement is rather easy.

[@TheElectronicDilettante]

Could you do an experiment comparing the noise floor of this new setup in its acrylic case versus the previous version in a metal case? With the new GPIO header and power switch, it likely wouldn’t fit in the old metal case, but if it did, that would be the best way to determine how much, if any, the metal case reduces noise. Also, it might be worth warning viewers about the importance of having either an antenna or a 50-ohm SMA load connected to the HackRF Portapack’s antenna port while it’s powered on, especially when cycling through menus and within the transmit functions menu. Without a proper load, the device could potentially suffer damage or cause unwanted interference due to high reflections or improper impedance matching during transmission. Thanks again for the great video

[@m4rkb0y]

Great review, thank you. Will be interesting to see how clean the tx is on a scope.

[@mikedmann7487]

Think i would 3d print a thicker case to allow a bigger battery to be installed. Looks badda$$.

[@PaulStrickland]

The Ali-express link is a dead link

[@S_T.]

I have one question. Why on online shop says that it comes with h2 and not h4m?

[@TechMindsOfficial]

The H2M is the older version, the H4M is on the official website, just search for it. Cheers

[@gmathieson7184]

will this thing do stuffs to wifi and bluetooth

[@WX4CB]

Can u add this to a regular hackrf? I have a standalone one that would be great for my work.

[@Mark_B544]

Why is the flipper zero more expensive than this? Is it better or worse?

[@вечная_мерзлота]

flipper 0 is just a hype . I have it. absolutely useless toy unless u want to impress your friends with TV switching ON/OFF.

[@ethzero]

I have a Flipper Zero too. Sorry to hear some people can't find much use for one but there are plenty of apps, ever expanding it's capabilities. My main use is for electronic diagnosis/control

[@gfuentes8449]

@@вечная_мерзлота huh? I can do that with my phone. Can't you open RFID door locks?

[@Global_News_UK]

In the UK, do I need a ameture radio license to use it?

[@TechMindsOfficial]

Only if you are transmitting on the Ham Radio bands.

[@S_T.]

If enyone bought it, how long it took to get?

[@keeper1855]

Still no application for finding meteo baloon...

[@richardharris5819]

I've heard that the H4M-V2 will be out in early 2025

[@joonglegamer9898]

I hope it has the clifford upgrade + maybe if we've been nice, an ESP 32 chip for easy Wifi stuff as well. Then I'd get one.

[@TheRecurrence]

Is there somewhere public that this info is available to follow along for a release date?

[@bskarpa]

I heard that it might have RF shielding too

[@richardharris5819]

@@bskarpa I heard the same thing.

[@hansmaier3689]

Can Not recommend the flat dial nob! Hardware Need Build in Filter, the Input is overloaded and so Bad sensitivity

[@James-k2c9k]

Link to aliexpress does not work

[@csparty11]

It's not on the site anymore, they took it off this morning. Either it's sold out completely but then there would be other sellers i assume.

[@jmileshc]

@@TechMindsOfficial Hmm, that doesn't work either for me? what's the vendors shop name please?

[@James-k2c9k]

@@jmileshc there are actually no hackrf ones in aliexpress at all anymore for some reason

[@eduarddavidescu119]

I bought one yesterday from Aliexpress. I think it is sold out

[@raymondmartin6737]

I thought Mayhem was the poster man for Allstate Insurance Company? 😅

[@NX6.2]

Do you not understand how to properly use a question mark? It's not that complicated.

[@BeneeUK]

The link doesn’t work for the full kit, any ideas Tech Minds?

[@TechMindsOfficial]

You’ll have to order direct from their website site, link also in the description. Cheers

[@BeneeUK]

@ thank you!

[@BeneeUK]

​@@TechMindsOfficial Oddly the link works now, said not available in your country earlier!

[@sn0ren]

woop

[@ducky1681]

A wild portapack connoisseur appears!

[@MyTube4Utoo]

My next purchase.

[@Make-Asylums-Great-Again]

I will buy it for you.

[@MyTube4Utoo]

@Make-Asylums-Great-Again lol Thanks.

[@timmturner]

Until they add the modification which keeps the amp from being destroyed it's not worth the other IMO.

[@paulmark63]

Hi Matt does it do FT8. Paul in Kent

[@digitalmediafan]

no digital modes it seems....

[@GeorgeAdams]

Not yet at least

[@simonbaldwin69]

So what is it like with spurious transmissions?

[@TechMindsOfficial]

Add your own filters to use on air.

[@EI6DP]

Amazing technology - anything beyond the on-off switch and I'm lost. 🤪

[@KJP1]

Lol

[@mrw1160]

GPIO 👏 modules and apps folks get to work! 👏

[@David-UK24]

Page cannot be found 😣

[@virtual812]

@TechMindsOfficial I have yet to make contact with anyone who has had success with the battery management. Issues are battery not cutting off at an appropriate voltage, cycle counter reading 0 regardless number of actual cycles, device failing to function correctly at low voltages (possibly due to regulator dropout voltage / failed 3.3v rail). Can you comment on your experience with this? I'd love to hear at least someone is having some success, or confirm my suspicions of a batch / design issue.

[@BrianHall]

I’m also experiencing major issues with battery charging. I had the unit plugged in to a USB wall adapter but it never charged more than 56%, and seemed to be stuck there. It’s also very confusing because when the unit is powered off with the switch but then plugged in with the USB power cable, the unit turns on. I can’t figure out the best way to charge the H4M beyond 56% despite leaving it plugged in for a couple of days.

[@TechMindsOfficial]

With mine I had to have it powered on for it to charge. It did reach 100% and I used a Raspberry Pi USB mains adapter.

[@TechMindsOfficial]

oh and i had it set to IC and not volts.

[@BrianHall]

@ thank you! That was the trick for me! 👍

[@christianivancsits6885]

Does it have a TCXO?

[@christianivancsits6885]

FYI OpenSourceSDRLab customer support says "on the H4M there is a tcxo"

[@fotografm]

I got one and it's great. Thoroughly recommend !

[@dominiquejones8007]

How much does it cost?

[@fotografm]

@@dominiquejones8007 160 USD

[@psy237]

so are the dolphins dead now or not?

[@mrrolandlawrence]

wow this is going to be my xmas present then :)

[@AbdiPianoChannel]

The link is not available

[@TechMindsOfficial]

If the AliExprss link is not working, then try the official website link, second link down.

[@stevengill1736]

Nice! I'd love to try it....

[@kimverboven7908]

Thank You 73s

[@KnightWolf2012]

I knew I should have checked out the other day, looks like it’s sold out or no longer available

[@thegorkyones762]

Guys, can you advice which one should I get...?? Flipper zero or H4M...??? First time user.

[@frankiecal3186]

No way. This things like 4x bigger.

[@boo-ix]

Thanks 🙏

[@TechMindsOfficial]

You’re welcome 😊

[@DynamicVlogs69]

Does not work with police radios in Chicago Illinois.

[@sc20910]

What is BurgerPgr? Can it allow me to order a Big Mac remotely? ;)

[@sireveman]

You ali link does not work.

[@ralphthebrick]

Guess what Santa 🎅 is bringing me 🎁

[@Xiantez]

I have both, not a flipper zero killer - they are different tools for different purposes with some overlap.... Get a portapack with it to keep it protected if you do get one...

[@ziomalZparafii]

9:22 I was not expecting to hear Polish on this video 🤯😁

[@brookerobertson2951]

You need to be careful with it because if you press the wrong button you can shut down the internet.

[@TechMindsOfficial]

That’s very true!

[@scandicdream]

So, how can you make some $ with this thing?

[@georgeliquor2931]

I expected it to be more expensive, it wasn't so i bought it, thanks for the link

[@mikeehrmantraut2607]

Any useful thing you actually do with this?

[@BeneeUK]

Purely subjective question

[@edwardfletcher7790]

I wish they'd make it run off 18650's in a battery holder....

[@mrw1160]

Whats stopping you from modding it?

[@edwardfletcher7790]

@mrw1160 Nothing, except it would be external to the protection of the case....

[@mrw1160]

@@edwardfletcher7790 I assume that is why they didn't choose the 18650s. However if you made a mounting bracket by drilling a couple holes in the bottom of the case wiring it in should be pretty easy

[@edwardfletcher7790]

@@mrw1160 Thanks for the advice. That's the route I've gone with other units I've modded., Radio, Gameboy etc

[@mrw1160]

@@edwardfletcher7790 Since you mentioned gameboy I opened up a DS Lite and popped off the stock ipex connector and added a new ipex to an sma adapter and drilled a hole where the lanyard holder goes to fasten the sma connector in place when resealing the case, I was able to extend the range of pictochat with various antennas.

[@scrampker]

Not sure I've ever heard anyone say 'H' quite the way you do. :)

[@TechMindsOfficial]

The letter "H" is commonly pronounced as "Aitch" in most English-speaking countries, including the UK, Canada, and Australia. In some regions, particularly in parts of the US, it may be pronounced as "Haich." However, "Aitch" is the standard pronunciation in most contexts.

[@scrampker]

@@TechMindsOfficial I've spent a lot of time in the UK, and I've never heard them pronounce it 'haich' with the emphasis on the h breathing sound like you do in this video. It must be a dialect I've not come across. All my friends and colleagues there would say it 'aitch,' just like here in the US. Just an interesting sound that caught my ear is all. Dialects vary wildly in the US as well. Someone from New Jersey might sound totally unintelligible to someone who is used to hearing the official "General American" or "American Dialect," which you will likely hear on any official broadcast.

[@timainsworth-h8x]

One hackrf has to pluig into the computer to run a program, the other hackrf has a screen and microcontroller to run programs so it can be used alome withoout being plugged into a computer..

[@Larimuss]

I’ll try it if it doesn’t cost. $200. 😢 would love a flipper but it’s too expensive for a toy in Aus. This thing looks sick, sell it for $100 and I’ll buy one right now. 😂

[@brothercannon]

Looks like a modded Zune.

[@scrampker]

I don't understand how the full kit with HackRF is only $150, but I paid $330+ for my standalone HackRF One.

[@TechMindsOfficial]

It's because the HackRF boards that come with this kit are essentially a clone, which are a lot cheaper than the original version. IMO though, I have not see much difference between real / clone, but I know some have had issues with front end blowing.

[@scrampker]

@@TechMindsOfficial Cool, I ordered the kit for my pureblood HackRF One. Hopefully it doesn't experience that static/antenna issue you mentioned.

[@0xKruzr]

so this is... way, way, WAY more capable than a FlipperZero, right?

[@C4H6As]

You can record and retransmit parts of the spectrum with all the signals inside. You do not have to know what it exactly is, only have to adjust the recording bandwidth. It works for LoRa e.g. Too bad that the SD card only works with FAT32 and has a file size limit of 3GB. So it cannot be used for long term recording even with big cards. If the file size limit is reached, it says "Disk full!" and does not start a new file. I hope this will be fixed soon.

[@nicknieznany]

The killer will be clean DIY project to build it on Arduino o RBPi.

[@gshockhodinky]

👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@BenjiNotknown]

Full Duplex and i'm in

[@TechMindsOfficial]

You can buy two lol.. Not sure if a second receiver could be added to the GPIO port, doubt it, if if you could, then yeh, full duplex. otherwise you will need a PlutoSDR.

[@EnlightenedSavage]

Looks like a zune.

[@FNUKSTER1366]

Unfortunately unavailable on Ali express , good video's Matt

[@pawegraczyk6050]

Some polish trucker :)

[@bradt5426]

Lets be honest, has anyone ever received POCSAG in the wild regularly?

[@TechMindsOfficial]

Here in UK we have it constant, its used in the medical sector.

[@GeorgeAdams]

This would be sweet for Meshtastic.

[@PengoVK3PGO]

Don't have one (yet), but doesn't look like anyone's seriously attempted to tackle adding Meshtastic and LoRa yet. There's an open feature request on the github though

[@egbertbotterman7185]

So wait.. You added a superfantastic on-off switch (always found pulling the cable a real hassle!). You left the controls with only the wheel and no other buttons, and you added an external GPIO port which has no software support yet whatsoever? Yeah.. Sounds like a great deal! 🙂 But in its defence.. It does look nice!

[@kaczkinson]

9:29 - lol, they speaks Polish ;p

[@MacGuffin1]

HackRF is older than flipper lol

[@frankiecal3186]

It needs to be smaller this thing is a brick.

[@Make-Asylums-Great-Again]

Bruhseph

[@Un_Pour_Tous]

Why is there this android/apple cult of personality when it comes to these devices? PPL are fuken weird.

[@cgarzs]

7:40 If the messages aren't meant for other eyes then they shouldn't be so openly broadcast in cleartext.

[@bashkillszombies]

I'm predicting it will be as janky, broken, and underwhelming as the mayhem edition where it's got a load of features but they aren't implemented yet and never will be - the problem with open source development.

[@TechMindsOfficial]

Your crystal ball is broken then because all of the mayhem apps are working.

[@afb9999]

Meh should be less than $100

[@lewiskelly14]

The flipper was an awful device

[@kokoso1]

10:43 who cares

[@big_ol_chungus]

Gonna use my ham hold up