This howto explains how to get GNU Radio up und running with a live distro (no installing, compiling, fiddling with OS stuff etc.!)

• Basic computer knowledge
• A rad1o with HKRF-OLD as default application.

• Get the latest version of GNU Radio Live DVD.
• Burn the .iso on a DVD or install it to USB stick and make it bootable (eg. with Ubuntu Startup Disk Creator)
• Boot your computer from the DVD or the USB stick (this will take some time…)
• Connect your rad1o (which must be turned on!) to your computer (be sure to use the left USB port of rad1o)
• Open a terminal (Ctrl-Alt-T)
• hackrf_info should show that rad1o was detected (some text like “Found HackRF board” is displayed)
• You can also use all GNU Radio command line tools like hackrf_transfer
• Start GNU Radio Companion (GRC icon on the left of the screen)

• A working GNU Radio with all of it's tools!

Credits to Michael Ossmann (the “Great Scott” ) for providing the info (source).