Packages Hackrf

hackrf

Host tools for HackRF — transfer, sweep, spectrum and firmware utilities

• Version recorded: 2024.02.1
• Categories: ism-subghz, sdr-hardware
• Upstream: https://github.com/greatscottgadgets/hackrf

What it does

The host-side utilities for HackRF hardware: hackrf_info, hackrf_transfer for raw IQ in and out, hackrf_sweep for wideband spectrum, and the firmware and CPLD flashing tools.

Why you would want it

hackrf_info is the diagnostic that tells you whether the board is seen, what firmware it runs, and whether permissions are right. hackrf_sweep is the fastest way to see a very wide slice of spectrum at once, which no GUI does as directly.

Before it will work

HackRF hardware, the udev rules and plugdev membership from the hardware catalog.

How it installs

• apt: hackrf

Known problems

Host tools and device firmware are version-locked; hackrf_info reports a mismatch and it is worth reading. Debian 13 and Parrot ship 2024.02.1 while Kali ships 2026.01.3 (apt-cache policy, 2026-08-28), so the firmware you flash should match the tools your distribution gave you. This is a transmit-capable radio: transmitting into an unterminated port risks the hardware.

Keeping it current

• probe: apt policy
• strategy: apt_upgrade

Source: catalog/packages/hackrf.yaml