From 49bb6bb62ee3ba816021a2ee13917f2de1817ea6 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: mossmann Date: Fri, 7 Nov 2014 18:04:41 -0800 Subject: [PATCH] rx sensitivity --- FAQ.md | 14 +++++++++++++- 1 file changed, 13 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-) diff --git a/FAQ.md b/FAQ.md index 42da42d..e086641 100644 --- a/FAQ.md +++ b/FAQ.md @@ -156,4 +156,16 @@ How could the HackRF One design be changed to make it full-duplex? ### A: The HackRF One hardware design is actually full-duplex (at lower sample rates) from the USB connection through the ADC/DAC. The RF section is the only part of the design that cannot support full-duplex operation. The easiest way to make HackRF One full-duplex would be to create an add-on board that duplicates the RF section and also provides an external power input (from a wall wart, for example) for the additional power required. This would also require software effort; the firmware, CPLD, libhackrf, and other host software would all need work to support full-duplex operation. -If you were to try to redesign the RF section on HackRF One to support full-duplex, the main thing to focus on would be the MAX2837 (intermediate frequency transceiver). This part is half-duplex, so you would either need two of them or you would have to redesign the RF section to use something other than the MAX2837, likely resulting in a radically different design. If you used two MAX2837s you might be able to use one RFFC5071 instead of two RFFC5072s. \ No newline at end of file +If you were to try to redesign the RF section on HackRF One to support full-duplex, the main thing to focus on would be the MAX2837 (intermediate frequency transceiver). This part is half-duplex, so you would either need two of them or you would have to redesign the RF section to use something other than the MAX2837, likely resulting in a radically different design. If you used two MAX2837s you might be able to use one RFFC5071 instead of two RFFC5072s. + +## What is the receive sensitivity of HackRF? + +### Q: + +What is the minimum signal power level that can be detected by HackRF? + +### A: + +This isn't a question that can be answered for a general purpose SDR platform such as HackRF. Any answer would be very specific to a particular application. For example, an answerable question might be: What is the minimum power level in dBm of modulation M at frequency F that can be detected by HackRF One with software S under configuration C at a bit error rate of no more than E%? Changing any of those variables (M, F, S, C, or E) would change the answer to the question. Even a seemingly minor software update might result in a significantly different answer. To learn the exact answer for a specific application, you would have to measure it yourself. + +HackRF's concrete specifications include operating frequency range, maximum sample rate, and dynamic range in bits. These specifications can be used to roughly determine the suitability of HackRF for a given application. Testing is required to finely measure performance in an application. Performance can typically be enhanced significantly by selecting an appropriate antenna, external amplifier, and/or external filter for the application. \ No newline at end of file