HackRF Sweep Spectrum Analyzer for Windows

A few weeks ago the HackRF drivers and firmware were updated and one new feature added was hackrf_sweep. This new feature allows us to scan across the spectrum at up to 8 GHz per second, which means that a full 0 – 6 GHz scan can complete in under a second.

Previously only Linux software such as QSpectrumAnalyzer was compatible with hackrf_sweep, but now over on GitHub user pavsa has released a new Windows based Spectrum Analzyer which is compatible with hackrf_sweep.

We gave the software a test and it ran flawlessly with our HackRF. The features include:

  • Optimized for only one purpose – to use HackRF as a spectrum analyzer
  • All changes in settings restart hackrf_sweep automatically
  • Easy retuning
  • hackrf_sweep integrated as a shared library
  • Peak display
  • High resolution waterfall plot

Remember that to run the software you will need to have updated your HackRF to the latest firmware. The spectrum analyzer software is also Java based, so you’ll need to have the Java JRE for Windows x64 installed.

23 comments

    • Sérgio Damasco

      Ta de sacanagem né?
      O lance inteiro em inglês e você pedindo ajuda em português?
      Nem um esforcinho com o google translator você não foi capaz de fazer, chefe?
      Vai conseguir ajuda é nunca assim… Até fico surpreendido que um cara como você tenha um HackRF…

  1. TheBridgeman

    I am trying to setup this app before I get my HACKrf ONE device (replacing my RTL-SDR dongle). I have…
    Downloaded & unzipped the app file
    Added Java x64
    I do NOT add the HACKrf under Zadig as I don’t have the hardware yet.
    when I run “hackrf_sweep_spectrum_analyzer_windows.cmd” from Windows 10 CMD window it says it does “‘hackrf_sweep_spectrum_analyzer_windows.cmd’ is not recognized as an internal or external command,
    operable program or batch file.”, Will the install not run until I do the ZADIG step or have I missed some obvious step to getting HACKrf Sweep Analyzer to run?

  2. Broken Devicehunter

    Monitoring 2.4G wifi area, putting a phone (playing youtube video) next to antenna makes no difference, although so close to antenna signal should be MUCH stronger than any other far away device.
    Should the Y scale be logarithmic so its easier to see close by devices using the band?
    I you try to find a “jammer” etc. the spectrum is just not visual enough to help. Close or far away, looks just random.

  3. Brad

    Nice piece of software! One question — Is there a way to save the current settings so the next time I start the analyzer it knows what bandwidth, sample rate etc… to use?

  4. alberto

    Sorry I forgot…. will be also very nice to have Frequency reading, on the vertical cursor, at least with a 1 khz resolution (as Mhz98,236). This will help a lot to measure the deviation on the FM signal or to measure the bandwidth occupation od a signal. Thanks again for you job.

  5. alberto

    The Spectrum Analyze Software is excellent, I test it on Windows 10, thanks for let we use it. I’m a professional Spectrum Analyser user and I love the products. Very usefull the Spur Filter.
    The Amplitude scale of 130 dB of dinamic need to be “settable” from user.
    Also a Frequency span less than 1 Mhz will be much appreciated.
    I do not understand how to change the Waterfall speed.
    Any possibility to decode and recorder the spectrum selected ?
    many thanks again.
    alberto

  6. Probir Debnath

    Is there any description available to upgrade the firmware so that the spectrum analyzer software can work with windows

  7. Christian

    qspecrumamalyzer does not work with kackrf_sweep and Win 10 – 64bit. Crashes already at the start !! What to do??

  8. Dave Albert

    Has anyone tested it with a decent RF signal generator for how accurate the amplitude measurements are? How about the resolution bandwidth…how narrow a signal can it resolve?

  9. Elliott

    Doesn’t work – tried it on a Win 7 and Win 8.1 computer. Asks for Java 8 every time I try to start it, however I already have Java 8 installed.

    • Bertie

      If someone writes patches to the Airspy firmware (and library and tools) to add new functionality similar to the code changes to hackrf firmware (and library and host tools) which “enables a new firmware function – wideband spectrum monitoring by rapidly retuning the radio without requiring individual tuning requests from the host computer” ?

      The firmware and host tools for both devices are fully open source so, at least in theory, it is possible if someone wanted to do it, they could write new code. On paper the change sounds really simple (we all know it never is), chop out the USB delays, retune in the firmware in a repetitive loop.

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