Finally got my HackRF One from overseas and I'm seeing significantly worse RX performance compared to my RTL-SDR V3. Using GQRX on both devices, the RTL-SDR shows much cleaner signals and better SNR across VHF/UHF bands. Has anyone else experienced this? I've tried adjusting gain settings and sample rates but the HackRF seems to have a much higher noise floor. For the price difference (~$300 vs $30), I expected better receive performance even accounting for the TX capability.

The HackRF was really designed as a learning platform and TX/RX development tool, not necessarily for optimal receive performance. The RTL-SDR V3 has excellent filtering and a lower noise figure for RX-only applications. For VHF/UHF scanning, stick with your RTL-SDR.

I had the same disappointment with my HackRF clone from AliExpress. Turns out the issue was partly driver-related - try the latest hackrf tools and make sure you have proper calibration. Also check your antenna setup - the HackRF is more sensitive to impedance mismatches than the RTL-SDR.

Consider looking at the Airspy R2 or SDRplay RSP1A if you want better RX performance in that price range. The HackRF shines for learning about RF and doing TX experiments, but it's definitely not the best scanner replacement. I use mine mainly for GNU Radio development work.