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Added link to antenna modification video.

Jared Boone
2013-06-27 12:02:34 -07:00
parent 01d2a651e5
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Jawbreaker.md

@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ HackRF Jawbreaker is the beta test hardware platform for the HackRF project.
Jawbreaker has an SMA antenna connector but also includes a built-in PCB antenna intended for operation near 900 MHz. It isn't a very good antenna. Seriously. A paperclip stuck into the SMA connector would probably be better. You can free your Jawbreaker to operate with better antennas by cutting the PCB trace to the PCB antenna with a knife. This enables the SMA connector to be used without interference from the PCB antenna.
A video that demonstrates the antenna modification is on YouTube: [HackRF Antenna Modification](http://youtu.be/B2gwgNoqMxI)
The trace to be cut is between the two solder pads inside a box labeled R44 in the [assembly diagram](https://github.com/mossmann/hackrf/blob/master/doc/hardware/jawbreaker-assembly.pdf?raw=true). There is an arrow pointing to it printed on the board.
Due to a manufacturing error, there is solder on R44. R44 may appear as a single solder blob. If you have a soldering iron and solder wick/braid, use a soldering iron and fine solder wick to remove as much solder as you can from the two R44 pads. Then, use a pen knife to gently cut away the area between the two R44 pads. Make multiple, gentle cuts, instead of one or two forceful cuts. As you cut, you'll break through the black solder mask, then the copper trace between the pads, and stop when you reach fiberglass. Remove the copper trace completely, so just the two R44 pads remain. Use a multimeter or continuity tester to verify that the two R44 pads are no longer connected.