Update firmware

If you are UNDER v2.0.0 or nightly n_240114, you can only update with hackrf mode with normal procedure (instead of update with hackrf serial)
Above v2.0.0 or nightly n_240114, you are free to update whatever you want, however, online serial update is still recommend.

In theory, it is impossible to brick the device, since you can always try the DFU recovery procedure. However, the updating might become fiddly in certain conditions.

Normal procedure

Video guide

If you prefer watching a video guide, you should watch this one: click here

Firmware

Get the latest firmware from the page. Please check the FAQ if you have any additional question.

HackRF/PortaPack itself via Flash Utility

Note: If you didn't see the Flash Utility app, it would means your fw version is not support. Try using other methods to update to latest version.

The Flash Utility can also be used to program new firmware from a bin file stored on a MicroSD card, mentioned below. The Flash utility is the update method of choice for users that may not want to run an app on their PC, or may want to switch between firmware versions when in the field. If you download and unzip the latest mayhem_v#.##_COPY_TO_SDCARD.zip contents to your SD card, the latest firmware image will be found in the FIRMWARE folder (this method also updates the external apps in the APPS folder, mentioned below).

Windows

Connect the device via USB
Switch to HackRF mode via the on-screen option (in the PortaPack)
Double click flash_portapack_mayhem.bat and follow the instructions
Reboot the device

Linux

Note

To Ubuntu and Mint user: Ubuntu based distro never maintains their repo for hackrf host (cli client) package. You’ll face a lot of weird problems if your hackrf is R9. To resolve these, please compile hackrf package yourself, or use other distro.

Connect the device via USB
Switch to HackRF mode via the on-screen option (in the PortaPack)
Upload the firmware with hackrf_spiflash -w new_firmware_file.bin (eg. portapack-h1_h2-mayhem.bin for mayhem firmware or hackrf_one_usb.bin for stock hackrf firmware)
Reboot the device

MacOS

HackRF CLI tools for MacOS available through MacPorts or Homebrew

If necessary, install the HackRF tools: brew install hackrf
Connect the device via USB
Switch to HackRF mode via the on-screen option (in the PortaPack)
Upload the firmware with hackrf_spiflash -w new_firmware_file.bin
Reboot the device

MicroSD card files

Your PortaPack has a slot for a memory card. You need to provide a MicroSD with enough space (16GB is recommended, over 32GB will be omitted due the limits of the FAT32). This is necessary for certain functionality, like the world map, GPS simulator, external apps, and others.

Get the latest files from the page. You need to uncompress (using 7-zip) the files from mayhem_vX.Y.Z_COPY_TO_SDCARD.7z to a FAT32 formatted MicroSD card.

Note

How to put into sdcard?
Extract the root directory of the 7z archive into the root directory of your sdcard.

Don't directly put the 7z archive file into sdcard
Don't extract into any sub-folder of sdcard
Don't use unbranded sdcard.

External Apps

External apps (.ppma files placed in the APPS folder of the MicroSD card) will only function if their version matches the firmware version. Be sure to update these files also when updating firmware.

Troubleshooting

Please check this guide.

Note

The wiki is yet to be completed. Please feel free to add content and collaborate.

Important

This is a public wiki. Everything you write here will be public and everyone can see it. So please don't take your personal notes here.
Unless it's necessary, don't attach links that redirect to tutorials/articles outside of this wiki. This is because the content could easily out dated, or the linked site could be a content farm providing false information.