All units have been shipped except where contributors did not confirm their shipping address and have not responded to emails. If this is you, please contact hackrfblue@gmail.com immediately. After November 1st 2015 all remaining boards will be donated to hackerspaces.
You can use the HackRF Blue in any way that you would use the HackRF One - the same software, the same firmware, and the same antennas.
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Why is the HackRF Blue This Cheap?
- The components used in our boards come out of the same factories that supply RS components, Mouser, and Digikey but we go straight to the source. None of our components are 'no-name';
- Our team is based in a major manufacturing hub - the exact same place the original boards are made;
- We have strong connections with the PCB and component manufacturing community, and every member of our team speaks Chinese which also goes a very long way towards getting things done efficiently;
- Instead of organizing manufacturing from afar, we're on the ground on the factory floor. This also has the added benefit of preventing the manufacturer from switching components behind our backs, something that is commonplace and happened to Michael Ossmann himself during prototyping, and we suspect during production too (on at least some boards, resulting in performance issues);
- We've spent 6 months finding and testing components, as well as negotiating favorable terms with manufacturers;
- We don't need to make a profit, we just need to cover our costs when giving out free boards; and
- We've left out the clock-in and clock-out headers as well as interface/expansion headers on the base version, many have not been using these and want a cheaper option.
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Performance, Compatibility and Reliability
- RF performance is basically the same as the HackRF One through the whole spectrum from 6GHz down to 125kHz. We were able to listen to shortwave radio on 4.9MHz and get data from low-frequency RFID at 125kHz (this is not an improvement, the HackRF One can also do this);
- The device is 100% compatible with the HackRF One. All software and firmware for the HackRF One will work on the HackRF Blue in exactly the same way;
- Each individual device will of course be thoroughly tested before shipping.
Features/specifications
~5 MHz to 6 GHz operating frequency
half-duplex transceiver
up to 20 million samples per second
8-bit quadrature samples (8-bit I and 8-bit Q)
compatible with GNU Radio, SDR#, and more
software-configurable RX and TX gain and baseband filter
software-controlled antenna port power (50 mA at 3.3 V)
About the Perks
HackRF Blue ($200)
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Comes with a USB cable. Interface headers as well as the clock-in/clock-out headers can be added at any time with basic soldering skills.
Acrylic Case Kit ($9)
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A clear acrylic case to protect your HackRF. Comes with risers and screws. The final version will use smaller risers, lowering the height of the top acrylic layer, we didn't have any when taking these pictures but it should look something like this (below).
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Telescopic Antenna ($19)
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The antenna covers 33MHz to ~1GHz. It is extends from 20-110cm in length. It is very sturdy and has a double-elbow joint for convenience along with a removable 'base'. It's matched to the HackRF Blue and is a great antenna to get started with.
Antenna + Acrylic Case Combo ($26)
If you need the antenna as well as the acrylic case, get this combo for a discount.
Expansion Header Pack ($13)
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Clock-in/clock-out SMA headers + clock cable, the original headers, and some extra headers, as well as some interface cables. We will use female headers for the key headers on the final version instead of the male headers pictured, this is to maintain compatibility with add-on shields etc. All required soldering is done by us.
Mega Combo Pack ($34)
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Acrylic case kit, clock-in/clock-out SMA headers + clock cable, the original and extra interface headers, a set of interface cables, and the telescopic antenna. All required soldering is done by us.
Mega Combo with RF Shielding ($40)
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Acrylic case kit, clock-in/clock-out SMA headers + clock cable, the original and extra interface headers, a set of interface cables, the telescopic antenna, and RF shielding. If you don't know whether you need the RF shielding or not, you probably don't need it, just get the cheaper combo instead. All required soldering is done by us.
Shipping and Delivery
Shipping is $8 to $14 depending on your location (see table here). Shipping for additional boards is $3-$5 each. Registered express airmail is used for shipping, and delivery times range from 5-14 days. Packages will be marked as computer peripheral trade samples with a minimum value, feel free to let us know if you want something different. Any taxes or duties imposed by the recipient's country are of course the responsibility of the recipient.
We expect to ship sometime in March, however we may be able to ship in late January and will do our absolute best to make that happen. If shipping does not occur in January there's a total shutdown in China during February (the whole month) when everything gets put on hold. Watch the updates on this campaign to see what's happening with manufacturing etc, we will be posting regular updates.
Shipping of perks will occur in the same order that contributions are received.
Hackerspaces to Receive a free HackRF
SDR is the spark that will ignite the next generation of RF communications technology. SDR does to the RF spectrum what sound cards did to the audio spectrum, and we got MP3 etc out of that, which is the only reason we now have YouTube, podcasts, iTunes, etc. Who knows what people will think of for the RF spectrum, anything could happen and it's very exciting. People in disadvantaged regions of the world have just as much to contribute in terms of innovation and technological development but have less access to technology. If they aren't able to work with software defined radio, it won't only be them who miss out, but everyone who stands to benefit from the development of radio communication technology. In order to increase access to SDR technology, a number of hackerspaces will receive one free HackRF (or more) at the end of the Indiegogo campaign. We have a list of 26 (and counting) hackerspaces based on how many members they have, how cheap the fees are, and how needy the community is.
We will most likely need to increase this list (assuming we sell all the perks), so please see the background information and requirements here and suggest a hackerspace that you are a member of, or that you know about, we need your help.
Here's a cool stop-motion map showing which hackerspaces we are targeting so far.
No Sweatshop Conditions Allowed
All members of our team have spent plenty of time in Chinese factories and are acutely aware of the conditions faced by factory staff. There's not a lot of point in helping out one community if it comes at the cost of slave labor in another. We are using factories and suppliers that treat their staff well. All staff involved in the production of the HackRF Blue and accessories earn a proper living wage and do not work extended or fatiguing hours. We will be there on the factory floor
every step of the way to make sure.
FAQ
Q: I want the $200 hackrf blue – BUT I also want the $40 combo. Do I need to contribute twice? Or can I somehow do this in a single order?
A: You can add the $40 to your contribution for the HackRF Blue perk, or you can contribute twice, both are acceptable.
Q: What happens if I forget to add the shipping fee to my perk?
A: You can add this later as an additional contribution (please use the same email address as your perk) or pay it directly through Paypal (contact us).
Q: I’m signed up for the HackRFBlue + mega combo pack + shipping. However, I’d like to change to get the mega combo with shielding… Is there a way that I can do this?
A: Simply add the price difference between the perks you initially requested, and the perks you want, then email hackrfblue@gmail.com with the details of what you have done, along with your shipping address.
Q: When is shipping? I can't find any information on the campaign page.
A: Scroll back up, and read again. Pay extra special attention to the section titled "Shipping and Delivery" ;-)
