First Steps
Identify your device
Many different versions of the PortaPack are available. Your should first identify the correct version, as this can affect how to install the firmware or the device initial start-up. It is recommended to read the wiki page PortaPack-Versions.
The H2/H2+ are slightly improved versions. But the people, who making these copies, never published the circuit diagrams or code, hence breaking the license terms.
The outer difference are the controls and the screen size, the inner differences are the codec and processor chip. The H2/H2+ has extra circuitry to manage the battery charging and powering on/off. In this wiki page is a brief description about the details. A more technical comparison can be found at Differences-Between-H1-and-H2-models.
Up to date information
There is a Discord server “HackRF PortaPack Mayhem”. This has all the current talk and information.
If you see any outdated, wrong or not understandable information in this wiki pages, fee free to contribute.
Power on/off
The original H1 boots instantly, when you plug a power supply into the USB port. To turn it off, just unplug it. Similar to the issues with some USB cables while upgrading the firmware, the quality of the USB cable might affect the performance.
To power on/off the H2, you need to hold the middle button (knob or push button) for a few seconds. See more details at Powering-the-PortaPack.
For most H2+ models, click the knob to power on. Double-click the knob to power off.
Extra functionality (H2/H2+)
Charging
Charge the internal LiPo battery via the USB. There is a LED indicator that turns off, when the charging is done (it might flicker). On some models (H2+) there are 4 LEDs below the knob that represent the battery charging state in 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%. When charging, one will flash dependent on the current charge state of the battery. See more details at Powering-the-PortaPack.
Battery life
An internal battery from 1000 to 2500 mAh should last for several hours of use, depending on the used apps. The standby consumption is very low, around 52 µA, so you do not need to worry about having to remove/disconnect the battery during normal use.
