This howto explains how to get GNU Radio up und running without installing, compiling, fiddling with OS stuff etc.!

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

• Get the latest version of Pentoo Linux from http://pentoo.ch/download/. You have the choice between “default” and “hardened” versions. For our purpose (just playing with GNU Radio) “default” is recommended.
• Burn the .iso on a DVD or install it to USB stick and make it bootable (eg. with UNetbootin)
• Boot your computer from the DVD or the USB stick (this will take some time… you can save some time by selecting the no verify option)
• When the shell prompt is displayed, connect your rad1o (which must be turned on!) to your computer (be sure to use the left USB port of rad1o)
• hackrf_info should show that rad1o was detected (some text like “Found HackRF board” is displayed)
• Now you can use all GNU Radio command line tools like hackrf_transfer
• If you want to use graphical tools like GNU Radio Companion (grc) or osmocom_fft:
  • startx to start the desktop environment
  • Start GNU Radio Companion (Applications ⇒ Development ⇒ GRC)#

Make sure that python2 and the following modules are installed.

• lxml
• cheetah

On archlinux:
sudo pacman -S python2 python2-lxml python2-cheetah

Subsequently you are ready to install and run GNU Radio.

GNU Radio on archlinux:
sudo pacman -S gnuradio gnuradio-companion

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

• In the latest Pentoo release (3.8) there seems to be a problem with Gtk: When running osmocom_fft some strange “Gtk-CRITICAL” errors show up.

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