Mayhem Firmware: More Features for Your HackRF and PortaPack Setup
If you've got a HackRF and a PortaPack, you probably already know the stock firmware leaves you wanting more. Maybe you've heard about Havoc, or you're wondering where the active development is happening now. Mayhem firmware is the answer—it's a fork of the Havoc firmware (which itself forked from the original PortaPack firmware) that adds extra features and fixes on top of what came before.
What It Does
Mayhem firmware is an alternative firmware for the HackRF with PortaPack add-on. The PortaPack is a hardware attachment that gives your HackRF a screen, navigation controls, and the ability to run standalone applications without needing a computer tethered to it. The firmware is what makes all of that work—it's the operating system that runs on the PortaPack hardware.
This particular fork builds on the lineage of PortaPack software: the original PortaPack firmware, then Havoc, and now Mayhem. Each fork in that chain has added capabilities and addressed issues from the previous version. Mayhem positions itself as the actively maintained option, aiming to constantly add new features, bugfixes, and documentation to make development easier for others who want to contribute.
Why It's Cool
It's a living project, not a dead fork. The README makes clear that this repository "aims to constantly add new features, bugfixes and generate documentation to make further development easier." That's a meaningful distinction if you've ever adopted a piece of hardware only to find the community has moved on. The project explicitly welcomes collaboration.
There's a real hardware ecosystem around it. The README highlights the H4M (Mayhem Edition) hardware, available in both complete and upgrade versions. This isn't just firmware floating in the void—there's a physical product line that's been developed alongside it, sold through OpenSourceSDRLab (with EU availability through Lab401). That kind of hardware-software pairing usually means better integration and more active testing.
Documentation and onboarding are taken seriously. The README links to multiple video resources: a HackRF Pro quick look, an H4M crash course, a getting started guide, and even a video titled "It's TOO Easy to Accidentally Do Illegal Stuff with This" (which is a refreshingly honest inclusion—RF experimentation has real legal considerations, and acknowledging that upfront is responsible).
The project is transparent about its supply chain. There's a prominent warning that if you've paid for Mayhem or any prepackaged versions, you're being scammed. The only legitimate source is the portapack-mayhem organization on GitHub. That kind of clarity matters when hardware-adjacent projects sometimes get resold by third parties at markup.
Multiple release channels and container support. The README shows badges for nightly releases, total GitHub downloads, and Docker Hub pulls. The Docker image (eried/portapack) suggests the build environment is containerized, which lowers the barrier for anyone wanting to compile the firmware themselves or contribute to development.
How to Try It
Getting started depends on whether you already have the hardware or need to acquire it.
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If you need hardware, the README points to the H4M Mayhem Edition. There's a complete version and an upgrade version, both available through OpenSourceSDRLab. EU customers can purchase via Lab401.
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If you already have a HackRF and PortaPack, head to the repository and check the releases page. There are nightly builds and stable releases available.
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For building from source or contributing, the Docker image (eried/portapack on Docker Hub) provides a consistent build environment. The project also maintains documentation on how to collaborate, linked from the README.
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Before you dive in, watch at least one of the linked videos. The "PortaPack H4M Crash Course" and "Getting Started Guide" will save you time if you're new to the platform.
The repository is at github.com/portapack-mayhem/mayhem-firmware. There's also a Discord community linked via badge if you want to ask questions or follow development.
Final Thoughts
Mayhem firmware is for people who own or are considering a HackRF with PortaPack and want the most actively developed firmware option. It's not for someone who wants a plug-and-play consumer device—this is RF experimentation hardware, and the README's inclusion of that "illegal stuff" video is a good reminder that you need to understand what you're doing. But if you're in that space, the combination of active development, a real hardware ecosystem, and containerized builds makes this a solid choice. The project's openness to collaboration and its emphasis on documentation suggest it'll keep improving.