Update firmware

TLDR

The basic procedure:

1. Update your sdcard content.
2. Update firmware, choose one method:
   • Enter HackRF mode, flash with a usb cable.
   • Use hackrf.app website.
   • Copy firmware all in one tar package into sdcard, and offline update with Flash Utility app in portapack.

Note

• UNDER v2.0.0 or nightly n_240114, you can only update with hackrf mode with normal procedure
• When downgrading, please make sure sdcard content versions match.
• Mayhem firmware contains hackrf firmware. You DO NOT need to flash hackrf firmware.
• In theory, it is impossible to brick the device, since you can always try the DFU recovery procedure. However, the updating might become fiddly in certain conditions. So you probably need basic computer usage knowledge (running/installing software, read documents, knowing USB ports, adjust system settings, reading English, etc.) if you don't, you probably should ask your friends or someone who knows these to do for you.

Detailed guide

If you prefer watching a video guide, check this.

Firmware

Get the latest firmware from the page. Please check the FAQ.

HackRF/PortaPack itself via Flash Utility

Note

If you don't see the Flash Utility app, try using other methods to update to latest version.

The Flash Utility can also be used to program new firmware from a bin file stored on a MicroSD card.

Windows

1. Connect the device via USB
2. Switch to HackRF mode via the on-screen option (in the PortaPack)
3. Double click flash_portapack_mayhem.bat and follow the instructions
4. Reboot the device

Linux

Note

To Ubuntu and Mint user: Ubuntu based distro never maintains their repo for hackrf host (cli client) package. You’ll face a lot of weird problems if your hackrf is R9. To resolve these, please compile hackrf package yourself, or use other distro.

1. Connect the device via USB
2. Switch to HackRF mode via the on-screen option (in the PortaPack)
3. Upload the firmware with hackrf_spiflash -w new_firmware_file.bin (eg. portapack-h1_h2-mayhem.bin for mayhem firmware or hackrf_one_usb.bin for stock hackrf firmware)
4. Reboot the device

MacOS

HackRF CLI tools for MacOS available through MacPorts or Homebrew

1. If necessary, install the HackRF tools: brew install hackrf
2. Connect the device via USB
3. Switch to HackRF mode via the on-screen option (in the PortaPack)
4. Upload the firmware with hackrf_spiflash -w new_firmware_file.bin
5. Reboot the device

MicroSD card files

You need to provide a MicroSD with enough space (16GB is recommended, over 32GB will be omitted due the limits of the FAT32). This is necessary for certain functionality, like the world map, GPS simulator, external apps, and others.

Get the latest files from the page. You need to uncompress (using 7-zip) the files from mayhem_vX.Y.Z_COPY_TO_SDCARD.7z to a FAT32 formatted MicroSD card.

Note

How to put into sdcard?
Extract the root directory of the 7z archive into the root directory of your sdcard.

• Don't put the 7z archive file directly into your sdcard
• Don't extract into any sub-folder of sdcard
• Don't use unbranded sdcard.
  

External Apps

External apps (.ppma files in the APPS folder) will only function if their version matches the firmware version.

Troubleshooting

Please check this guide.