hackrf_transfer(1)

📦
version 2026.01.3 · 3 versions
, in ubuntu resolute, ubuntu stonking

💖 hackrf_transfer — bestie edition 💖

okay so this is the hackrf_transfer(1) manual page, straight from the User Commands section, and I am so excited to walk you through it. grab a snack, we're doing SDR together 🫶

✨ NAME ✨

hackrf_transfer — file based transmit and receive sdr

like. it moves samples between files and the radio. that's the whole vibe. 🎀

🌸 DESCRIPTION 🌸

The HackRF project was started by Michael Ossmann and Jared Boone, and the goal was to build a software radio peripheral using Free Software and Free Hardware design. 💅

The way they did it? So careful. They only used electronic components that have published documentation (no NDAs, periodt 🚫📄) and they deliberately avoided software libraries that don't have open source licenses. iconic behavior honestly.

Jawbreaker is the first complete HackRF platform — a wideband software radio transceiver with a USB interface. 👑

And this application, right here? It lets the user receive data from RF and transmit data to RF. that's it. that's the main character energy. 🌈

🦋 SYNOPSIS 🦋

hackrf_transfer [OPTIONS]

💅 OPTIONS 💅

okay bestie this is the long part but every single one matters, no skipping 🙈

  • -h — this help. literally just shows you the help. the original literally writes it as "# this help" and I respect the brevity.
  • [-d serial_number] — Serial number of desired HackRF.
  • -r <filename> — Receive data into file (use - for stdout).
  • -t <filename> — Transmit data from file (use - for stdin).
  • -w — Receive data into file with WAV header and automatic name.
    • This is for SDR# compatibility and may not work with other software. ⚠️ so like, don't come for me if your other software is confused.
  • [-f set_freq_hz] — Set Freq in Hz [1MHz to 6000MHz supported, 0MHz to 7250MHz forceable].
  • [-i if_freq_hz] — Intermediate Frequency (IF) in Hz [2170MHz to 2740MHz supported, 2000MHz to 3000MHz forceable].
  • [-o lo_freq_hz] — Front-end Local Oscillator (LO) frequency in Hz [84MHz to 5400MHz].
  • [-m image_reject] — Image rejection filter selection, 0=bypass, 1=low pass, 2=high pass.
  • [-a set_amp] — RX/TX RF amplifier 1=Enable, 0=Disable.
  • [-p antenna_enable] — Antenna port power, 1=Enable, 0=Disable.
  • [-l gain_db] — RX LNA (IF) gain, 0-40dB, 8dB steps
  • [-g gain_db] — RX VGA (baseband) gain, 0-62dB, 2dB steps
  • [-x gain_db] — TX VGA (IF) gain, 0-47dB, 1dB steps
  • [-s sample_rate_hz] — Sample rate in Hz (2-20MHz supported, default 10MHz).
  • [-F force] — Force use of parameters outside supported ranges. 🫣 yes bestie this is the "I know better" flag, use it with intention.
  • [-n num_samples] — Number of samples to transfer (default is unlimited).
  • [-S buf_size] — Enable receive streaming with buffer size buf_size.
  • [-B] — Print buffer statistics during transfer
  • [-c amplitude] — CW signal source mode, amplitude 0-127 (DC value to DAC).
  • [-R] — Repeat TX mode (default is off)
  • [-C ppm] — Set Internal crystal clock error in ppm.
  • [-H] — Synchronize RX/TX to external trigger input.
  • [-b baseband_filter_bw_hz] — Set baseband filter bandwidth in Hz.
    • Possible values: 1.75/2.5/3.5/5/5.5/6/7/8/9/10/12/14/15/20/24/28MHz, default < sample_rate_hz.

🌟 SEE ALSO 🌟

Great Scott Gadgets HackRF web page: http://greatscottgadgets.com/hackrf/

Other hackrf programs:

hackrf_cpldjtag(1), hackrf_debug(1), hackrf_info(1), hackrf_spiflash(1)

go read those too, they're the friend group 💖

💜 AUTHOR 💜

This manual page was written by Maitland Bottoms for the Debian project (but may be used by others). slay. 🎀

Copyright (c) 2013 A. Maitland Bottoms <bottoms@debian.org>

This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.

This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details.

ngl the all-caps warranty part is not a vibe check you want to fail. it genuinely means no warranty, fr fr. 😭

and that's the whole page bestie!! this came from HACKRF, version 2013.07.1, dated 2013.07.1 — so like, vintage but still eating. go transmit something cute 💅✨🦋

📦 where this page comes from