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Comment by toomuchtodo | Hacker News Reader

Would a quality software defined radio (HackRF) and a directional antenna be sufficient?

Given the leaps and bounds of development in this area recently, I wouldn't call HackRF a go-to device anymore (compared to the more recent devices) but yes- any of them totally would be able to pick this up.

I've been planning on buying HackRF in the coming months so I'm wondering what better devices are there. Do you recommend another SDR device instead?

If you don't need transmit capability, the SDRplay RSP1A has phenomenal receive performance for the price. If you do need to generate signals (and you understand your legal obligations), the Red Pitaya, LimeSDR and bladeRF are worthy alternatives to the HackRF.

The Red Pitaya is a particularly compelling alternative from a hardware hacker's perspective, because it does double duty as an extremely versatile measurement and data acquisition device.

The HackRF is a solid, if slightly dated SDR platform. There are plenty of better SDRs out there, but none of them are as ubiquitous and well documented/supported, particularly in the hobbyist space. And none of the better specs of other SDRs matter that much unless you need them, and you'd probably know if you do.

If you're just getting into SDR, I would just get a $20 RTL-SDR, and then move on to something like the HackRF or BladeRF later.

What's considered "go to" now?

LimeSDR, BladeRF, AirSpy... The first two are capable of emulating base stations - quite incredible. AirSpy is RX only but has incredible bandwidth and a very clean signal

Wow this is pretty cool

https://www.crowdsupply.com/lime-micro/limesdr

FYI they make a Mini Lime SDR for even cheaper! https://www.crowdsupply.com/lime-micro/limesdr-mini

been lusting after one of the little guys for some time now.

Yeah, but the Mini has half the sample rate AND half the channels. That's a quarter of the capability for half the price.

I'm also kind of salty that they dropped the MicroUSB variant of the full-size model. The Mini makes sense to have it a "stick" format, the full one does not. The full one having an A connector on it has been nonsense from day one.

I still will probably end up buying one because they're still the best bang for the buck.

Directional stuff can be tricky.

Just use a rubberducky antenna (a stick - heck, just a piece of wire), and measure relative intensities in a few points on the map. That will give you an idea where the epicenter is.

Then walk through that area while keeping an eye on the intensity. I betcha you will bump right into the culprit.

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