SmartSDR™ for iOS - Software user guide
1. About the App
SmartSDR™ for iOS lets you operate your FlexRadio from an iPhone or iPad. It connects to the radio over your network: at home over Wi-Fi, or from anywhere in the world over the Internet with FlexRadio’s SmartLink. No Mac or PC is needed.
The app looks and works much like FlexRadio’s SmartSDR for Windows: the same panadapter and waterfall, slices, slice flags and menus. Things that need a mouse on a PC are done with touch here: drag a slice to tune, pinch to zoom, touch and hold to add a slice.
The app is made by an independent developer, not by FlexRadio.
1.1. What you can do
Operate in every mode. Phone with the device’s microphone, a headset or AirPods; CW with the CWX keyer and a CW keyboard; digital modes such as FT8 and JS8 right inside the app.
Use the modes. FT8, FT8-Improved, JS8, Speech, FT8 Skimmer, CW, HF-Fax, SSTV, APRS and WSPR are built in. See the Modes part of this manual.
Use the tools. A logbook, DX Cluster, POTA and PSK Reporter spots, the band plan, macros, controllers such as MIDI controllers and Flic buttons, and the control of Genius amplifiers, tuners and other shack devices. See the Tools part of this manual.
See more on the waterfall. Band limits, DX Cluster, POTA and FT8 spots and your memories can be shown right on the panadapter.
1.2. Local or remote
At home, the iPhone or iPad connects to the radio over your Wi-Fi. Away from home, it connects over the Internet with SmartLink, a service of FlexRadio. SmartLink needs no extra hardware or software. Setting everything up explains both.
1.3. Without a radio
The app comes with a demo radio, Demo AU-520. It lets you try the app and look around without a FlexRadio. See Trying the app without a radio.
1.4. When something doesn’t work
Start with Common Issues at the end of this manual. It lists the usual problems by symptom and what to check. If that doesn’t help, contact support from the app: see How to contact support.
2. The manual
This manual shows how to connect the app to your FlexRadio and how to use it on the iPhone and the iPad.
It is in five parts:
General — setting up, the radio screen, the View menu, the settings and tuning.
Tools — one chapter per tool in the Tools tab.
Modes — one chapter per mode in the Modes tab.
Attachment — the mapping editor for controllers, macros and keyboard shortcuts.
Common Issues — what to check when something doesn’t work.
The manual names every button and setting as it appears on the screen, in bold. Most pictures show the iPad. The iPhone shows the same screens, with fewer controls in a row; each chapter says what is different on the iPhone.
2.1. SmartSDR for Windows
The app follows FlexRadio’s SmartSDR for Windows. Words such as slice, panadapter, TNF, DAX or profile mean the same here. Where a function works just as in SmartSDR for Windows, this manual doesn’t explain it again. FlexRadio’s own manuals explain these functions in detail:
http://www.flexradio.com/support/downloads
You don’t need to know SmartSDR for Windows to use the app, but its manual helps with the radio’s own settings.
2.2. Opening and printing the manual
The app opens this manual from the Settings tab: Show Manual at the top, or Manual under Information & Support. You can also open it in any web browser:
https://go-to.me/smartsdr-manual
To print it or save it as a PDF file, tap here.
The manual is updated from time to time, together with the app.
2.3. Videos
Several HAM radio bloggers have made videos about the app. You find them at the bottom of the app’s website: https://ham-radio-apps.com
3. Requirements
3.1. The radio
You need a FlexRadio Signature Series radio: FLEX-6300, 6400, 6400M, 6500, 6600, 6600M, 6700, 6700R, 8400, 8400M, 8600, 8600M, or an Aurora radio.
The radio is connected to your network by a network cable, the same way as for SmartSDR for Windows. See Setting everything up.
Without a radio you can still try the app with its demo radio: see Trying the app without a radio.
3.2. The iPhone or iPad
iOS 18 or later. The newest iOS version is always best.
FT8-Improved, JS8, Speech, WSPR and Speech Macros need iOS 26 or later. On an older iOS version their tiles are not shown. The older FT8 mode works on every supported iOS version.
Wi-Fi in the same network as the radio. Away from home, any Internet connection (Wi-Fi or mobile data) for SmartLink.
No special memory or hardware is needed.
The app runs on iPhone and iPad. Almost everything works the same on both. S.A.T. is only on the iPad, because its screens need the room.
One purchase covers all your devices: with the same Apple ID, the app runs on all of them, with any number of FlexRadios.
3.3. SmartSDR+ features
With firmware version 4, FlexRadio introduced SmartSDR+, a licence for extra features. FlexRadio explains the licences, their features and how to buy them. A licence can also be bought without a Windows PC.
A SmartSDR+ licence belongs to the radio, not to a program. When your radio is licensed for a feature, the app can use it too. The app shows your radio’s licence under Radio → License (see Settings).
New SmartSDR+ features still have to be built into the app. This is free of charge, but a feature may not be in the app at once when FlexRadio releases it. Some come later with an update, and some may never come when they don’t suit the iPhone and iPad. Features in FlexRadio’s Early Access change often and are usually not added.
These SmartSDR+ features are in the app now:
NR, NB and ANF with FlexRadio’s updated algorithms.
The advanced noise reduction and filters NRL, NRS, RNN, NRF, ANFL and ANFT. They are in the DSP button of the Tuning Panel (OPT in FM), when the radio has the licence.
Noise Floor Position (noise floor scaling) and, with firmware 4.3, Noise Floor Range in the Disp menu of the radio screen.
The fine settings of the noise reduction and notch filters (firmware 4.3): Advanced in the DSP button.
Configurable filter presets (firmware 4.2 and later): Radio → Filter Presets.
Auto AGC-T (firmware 4.3): Audio button of the Tuning Panel.
Diversity and ESC (Enhanced Signal Clarity): View → ESC.
CW Auto Tune, in the CW mode.
4. Setting everything up
Connect the app to your radio at home first. When that works, you can set up SmartLink for remote access.
4.1. The network
The upper part of the picture shows the local network at home:
The radio is connected to your router with a network cable. A network switch in between is fine.
The iPhone or iPad uses the Wi-Fi of the same router.
Other computers can be in the same network, by cable or Wi-Fi.
Important
Never connect the radio directly to a PC or Mac with a cable. It must be connected to the router (or a switch).
The lower part shows SmartLink: the iPhone or iPad connects over the Internet from somewhere else. See Remote access with SmartLink.
4.2. Quick start
Switch the radio on and wait until it is ready.
Start the app. The Panadapter tab shows
You are not currently connected.Tap that text, or Connect at the top right (Con on the iPhone).
The first time, iOS asks whether the app may use the microphone and find devices on your local network. Allow both: the app needs the microphone to connect, and the local network to find the radio.
The list of radios opens. Tap your radio.
The radio screen appears with the panadapter and the waterfall. The radio screen explains it.
Note
The app connects only when it may use the microphone, even if you only want to listen. If you denied it, iOS Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone → switch on SmartSDR.
4.3. The list of radios
The list shows every FlexRadio the app finds in your network, with its model, its IP address, its name and call.
The dot in front of a radio shows whether it is free or already used by another program, for example SmartSDR for Windows, a Maestro or the front panel of an M model.
1/2 in useafter the model: the radio takes two programs at once (MultiFlex) and one place is taken.ⓘ shows details about the radio: IP address, serial number, firmware version, status, the SmartLink ports and more. They help to find network problems.
Demo AU-520 at the end is the demo radio. See Trying the app without a radio.
With SmartLink switched on, the radios of your SmartLink account are listed too, marked SmartLink.
To close the list without connecting, tap next to it.
4.4. When another program uses the radio
When the radio is already used by another program, the app asks what to do. With firmware 3 or later the choices are:
CONNECT — connects as a second operating position, next to the other program (MultiFlex). Only offered when the radio has a free place.
Disconnect name — ends the other program’s connection. Then connect again.
Disconnect all — ends all other connections. Only offered when all places are taken.
Remote Control name — shares the slices of the other program instead of having your own.
Remote Modethen shows at the top of the radio screen, and some buttons are off (for example ANT, Disp and +TNF).Cancel — doesn’t connect.
With older firmware the app asks whether to use the radio by Remote Control or to Force disconnect the other program.
4.5. Disconnecting
Tap Disconnect at the top of the radio screen (Disc on the iPhone). With Ask before disconnect on in the settings, the app asks first.
4.6. Trying the app without a radio
The demo radio Demo AU-520 is a FlexRadio AU-520 in software, inside the app. Use it to try the app without a FlexRadio, for example before you buy a radio or to look around in the app.
Tap Connect (Con on the iPhone).
Tap Demo AU-520 at the end of the list.
Connect to it as to a real radio. It behaves like the real one, without a radio, a network or a setup:
It has one panadapter and one slice, on the 20 m band.
The 20 m band is busy: you hear SSB voices and CW, and see FT8 signals on the waterfall. The other bands have their noise and FT8 signals on their FT8 frequency. The FT8 signals can be seen, not heard.
Tune, change the mode and the filter, change the band: the demo radio follows, and what you set is kept, as with a real radio.
While the demo radio is connected, the modes show example content, so you can see how they look in use. None of it is sent anywhere, for example to PSK Reporter.
Nothing is transmitted. You can press PTT safely.
The Amp and Tun parts of the right menu show a demo PowerGenius XL amplifier and a demo Tuner Genius XL.
The demo radio has only one slice and one panadapter: +RX and a new panadapter don’t work with it.
If Demo AU-520 is missing from the list, switch on Show Demo Device in the app’s settings (Communication).
Hint
The demo radio also helps when something doesn’t work. If the demo radio works and your radio doesn’t, the app itself is fine: look at the connection to your radio.
4.7. Finding the radio another way
Normally the app finds the radio by itself. In some networks this doesn’t work, for example through a VPN or between two networks. Then change LAN mode in the extended settings: Settings tab → Show Extended settings… → Network.
Discover — the normal way: the radio announces itself in the network, and the app lists it.
Scan — the app checks every address of a network for a radio. Enter the network in Network, for example an address of it such as
192.168.1.0. Empty: the network of this device. Scanning takes a while.Fixed IP — the app connects to the address you enter in IP Address, for example
192.168.1.38. Several addresses are separated by commas.
For Fixed IP, give the radio a fixed address in your router, so it doesn’t change.
4.8. Remote access with SmartLink
SmartLink is a service of FlexRadio. With it, you can operate your radio over the Internet from anywhere, without a VPN or extra hardware.
4.8.1. Before you start
The local connection works (see above).
Your radio is registered for SmartLink, and your router lets SmartLink through. This is done once, for example with SmartSDR for Windows. The SmartLink Setup Guide explains it step by step: https://manuals.roskosch.de/smartlink-setup-guide.pdf
4.8.2. Switching SmartLink on
In the Settings tab, under Communication, switch on Enable SmartLink.
Tap Check SmartLink Status. The first time, the SmartLink login appears:
Enter the email address and password of your SmartLink account, the same as for SmartSDR for Windows, and log in. Type the email address in small letters.
The app connects to the SmartLink server and shows its progress. At the end it shows your account: name, email, call and whether the email address is confirmed. Tap Ok.
If this ends with an error, try once more. If it still fails, check your account with SmartSDR for Windows.
4.8.3. Connecting over SmartLink
Tap Connect as usual. While SmartLink is on, the app first checks the SmartLink connection
(Setting up SmartLink...), then shows the list of radios. Your radio appears with a blue SmartLink in front
of its model. Tap it.
The local radios are still listed. At home, use the local entry: SmartLink is meant for access from another network.
Hint
To test SmartLink at home, switch off Wi-Fi on the iPhone and use mobile data, or use the personal hotspot of another phone.
Problems with SmartLink: see Common Issues.
4.8.4. Several SmartLink accounts
With MultiFlex, a club station or a friend’s radio, you may have more than one SmartLink account. The app keeps every account you have logged in to.
SmartLink account in the settings shows the account in use. Tap it to choose another one from the list.
To remove an account from the list, swipe it to the left.
To add an account: tap Check SmartLink Status, then Logout. Tap Check SmartLink Status again and log in with the other account.
SmartLink account appears once you have logged in at least once.
4.9. Next steps
Before you start operating, look through the settings and enter your call, your locator and the other station data: see Settings.
5. The radio screen
The Panadapter tab is the radio screen. After connecting, it shows the panadapter with the slices above and the waterfall below, much like SmartSDR for Windows. From here you tune, change the mode and the filter, and open the radio’s menus.
5.1. The tabs
The tab bar holds the five parts of the app:
Panadapter — the radio screen, this chapter.
Modes — FT8, JS8, CW, SSTV and the other modes.
Tools — the Logbook, DX Cluster, controllers and the other tools.
Radio — the settings of the connected radio.
Settings — the app’s settings (⚙︎ on the iPad).
Modes and tools keep running when you switch tabs.
5.2. The top bar
From left to right:
Left menu (the left square) opens and closes the left menu. See The left menu.
The UTC clock (iPad only).
The speaker mutes and unmutes the receiver audio. Crossed out: muted.
Slice A (the active slice) opens the list of slices. See Slices and panadapters.
PAN 1 (the panadapter shown) opens the list of panadapters.
View opens the panels you can put on the radio screen: the Tuning Panel, PTT, CWX, macros and more. See The View menu.
Connect / Disconnect connects to the radio or ends the connection.
Radio controls (the right square) opens and closes the right menu. See The right menu.
While the radio transmits, the top bar turns red, and a red frame shows around the screen.
Remote Mode shows when you share the slices of another program (see Setting everything up).
5.3. The panadapter and the waterfall
The slice flag of each slice shows its antennas, filter width, TX (the transmit slice, red) and its letter, the mode, the frequency, the S-meter and the state of the speaker, lock, NB, NR, ANF, QSK and AGC. Tap the slice flag to open the Tuning Panel of the slice.
The coloured area around a slice is its filter. Tap the lower end of a slice or TNF marker to change the filter or the TNF.
The scale at the right shows the signal level in dBm. Drag it up or down to move the range.
The coloured ribbon at the bottom of the panadapter shows the band plan: the band limits and the segments, for example
All modes. The Band Plan tool chapter explains the colours.- and + at the bottom left of the waterfall zoom out and in, around the active slice.
When a slice is outside the visible part, a button such as
< BorA >appears at the edge. Tap it to bring that slice into view.Spots from the DX Cluster, POTA and FT8, and your memories, can be shown as labels on the panadapter. Tap a spot to tune to it. What is shown is set in the settings under Spots: Show on Waterfall.
How to tune, zoom and move the panadapter with your fingers: Tuning.
5.4. The left menu
Tap the left square at the top to open the left menu. Tap it again to close it. With Hide Menus automatically on in the settings, a tap on the panadapter closes it too.
Audio — where the audio goes, the microphone and the TNF switch. See Audio.
+RX — adds a slice in the middle of the panadapter.
+Split — adds a split slice for transmitting, 5 kHz above the active slice (1 kHz in CW). The button then reads -Split: tap it to remove the split slice again.
+TNF — adds a TNF (a notch filter) in the middle of the panadapter.
Band — chooses a band, also WWV, GEN and your transverters.
BW — chooses how wide the panadapter is, from Min to Max. Band shows the whole band, Segment the band plan segment you are in.
ANT — the panadapter’s receive antenna, the loops, RF Gain and the wideband noise blanker WNB.
Disp — the display settings of the panadapter and the waterfall: AVG, FPS, Fill Mode, Fill, Weighted Average, Color Gain, Black Level, Auto Black Level, Rate, the db Range, Noise Floor Position (with a SmartSDR+ licence) and Hide Waterfall. With firmware 4.3, Noise Floor Range sets how far (in dB) the noise floor may move before the panadapter is moved back to the Noise Floor Position.
DAXIQ — the DAX IQ channel of the panadapter. The app doesn’t use DAX IQ itself, but a program on a PC (for example CW Skimmer) can, without SmartSDR for Windows running.
MEM➧ — tunes to one of the radio’s memories. The list opens at the memory closest to the current frequency.
+MEM — stores the current frequency as a memory. The app asks for a name first.
Slices and Pans — the lists of slices and panadapters, as Slice A and PAN 1 in the top bar.
Log — opens the log window for a new QSO. See the Logbook chapter.
5.4.1. Audio
Audio in the left menu sets where the radio’s audio is played and where your voice comes from.
iPad Audio / iPhone Audio — on: you hear the radio on this device, and its microphone can be used for transmitting. Off: the radio plays its audio on its own Line Out and headphone sockets.
With iPad Audio / iPhone Audio on:
Audio Device — chooses the speaker or headset, for example the built-in speaker, AirPods or another Bluetooth headset.
Listen only mode — for headsets or speakers without a microphone, such as a HomePod. The app doesn’t use the microphone, and the PTT key is hidden. It plays at the media volume, which iOS keeps apart from the volume of the normal mode: if you hear nothing, press the volume-up button.
Default to Speaker (iPhone only) — plays the audio on the loudspeaker instead of the earpiece. Louder.
Allow Stereo — stereo audio, for example for the balance of two slices.
Speaker adjustment — makes the audio on this device louder or quieter.
Mic. adjustment — makes the microphone louder or quieter.
Mic. threshold — mutes quiet sounds around you, such as fans. Far left: off.
Local Audio Monitor — lets you hear your own voice while transmitting. Only useful with a headset.
Important
For a headset, switch off Default to Speaker and Allow Stereo.
The radio keeps playing when the screen locks, the iPad’s cover closes or you switch to another app. To stop it, mute the audio or disconnect.
With iPad Audio / iPhone Audio off:
Radio Line Out and Radio Headphone — the volume of the radio’s sockets, each with a switch to mute it.
Mute Front Panel Audio (M models only) — mutes the front panel’s speaker.
At the bottom, Enable TNF switches all TNFs on or off. New TNFs only work while it is on.
5.6. Slices and panadapters
Slice A in the top bar (and Slices in the left menu) lists your slices. Tap a slice to make it active. + adds a slice; Edit lets you remove one.
PAN 1 (and Pans in the left menu) lists the panadapters with their slices. The app shows one panadapter at a time: tap one to show it. + adds a panadapter; Edit lets you remove one.
5.7. The PTT key
View → PTT shows a large round PTT key on the radio screen. Hold it to transmit, let go to receive. With PTT toggle on in the settings, one tap switches transmit on and the next one off.
To move the key, drag it with two fingers. The app keeps its place.
The key is hidden while Listen only mode is on.
5.8. On the iPhone
The iPhone shows the same radio screen. The top bar has no room for Slice A, PAN 1 and the clock: use Slices and Pans in the left menu instead. Connect and Disconnect are short: Con and Disc. The menus open over the panadapter. On a small screen, opening one menu closes the other.
6. The View menu
View in the top bar of the radio screen opens a menu of panels you can put on the radio screen. A tick shows which ones are open. Choose an entry again to close its panel.
Tuning Panel — tune the active slice with a keypad and a wheel.
PTT — a large round PTT key.
CWX Panel — send CW.
Tune Stack — go back to frequencies you were on.
Macro Bar — your CW or voice macros as buttons.
Command Bar — your Command Bar buttons.
DTMF — DTMF tones and the 1750 Hz tone call.
Rit / Xit Panel — RIT and XIT.
ESC — Diversity and ESC (Enhanced Signal Clarity).
HomeKit — switch HomeKit devices, for example the power supply of the radio.
Log new QSO — opens the log window.
Before the app is connected, the menu only has HomeKit, so you can switch on the radio from the app.
6.1. The panels
Most entries open a small panel that floats over the radio screen:
Drag a panel by its title bar to move it. The app keeps its place.
Tap a panel to bring it to the front.
ⓧ in the title bar closes it.
The panels belong to the radio: they close when the app disconnects, and the ones you had open come back at the next connection, also after the app was closed.
6.2. Tuning Panel
The Tuning Panel tunes the active slice with a keypad, a tuning wheel and buttons for the slice. It also opens when you tap a slice flag. Tuning explains it.
6.3. PTT
Shows or hides the round PTT key. Hold it to transmit. Drag it with two fingers to move it. See The radio screen.
6.4. CWX Panel
The CWX panel sends CW with the radio’s keyer.
Speed sets the keyer speed in words per minute.
⚙︎ opens the keyer settings: pitch, break-in, side tone, the CW keyboard, ESM and more. They are the same as in the CW mode; its chapter explains them.
Type in the text field and tap Send (or Return) to send the line.
Live on (blue): every character is sent while you type. Send is not shown then.
Cancel stops sending. Tap it twice to also clear the list.
The list shows the lines you sent, newest on top. Grey letters are not sent yet. Tap a line to send it again.
With ESM (Enter Sends Message) on in the keyer settings, a DX: field appears for the other station’s call, and the Send button shows what comes next in the QSO.
The text field uses the app’s CW keyboard, chosen in the settings under CW: letters, a paddle or a straight key.
Your CW macros are sent from the Macro Bar, a controller or a keyboard, also while the CWX panel is closed.
6.5. Tune Stack
The Tune Stack remembers where you were. Each time you stay on a new frequency for about two seconds, it adds an entry with the frequency and the mode, newest on top. Each slice has its own stack.
Tap an entry to go back to it: the slice gets its frequency and mode again.
The arrows go up and down the list.
The star marks an entry as a favourite. The trash can removes it.
The button at the top left shows the slice (for example Slice A). Tap it to see your Favorites instead, from all slices. Tap again to go back.
Clear empties the stack of this slice. Tap it twice to empty all stacks.
6.6. Macro Bar
The Macro Bar shows your macros as buttons. Which macros depends on the mode of the slice, for example CW macros in CW and voice macros in SSB. Its title shows which ones. Tap a button to send the macro, Stop to stop it. When there are more buttons than fit, swipe the bar.
The macros are made in the Tools tab under Macros. See the Macros chapter.
6.7. Command Bar
The Command Bar shows the buttons of the Command Bar tool. A button can send commands to the radio, open an app or a website. See the Command Bar chapter.
6.8. DTMF
The DTMF panel sends DTMF tones, for example to control a repeater or an echolink node.
Hold a key (0 – 9, A – D, *, #): the radio transmits the tone while you hold it.
Hold 1750 for the 1750 Hz tone call that opens many repeaters in Europe.
The volume of the tones: DTMF gain (%) in the extended settings.
6.9. Rit / Xit Panel
The RIT / XIT panel shifts the receive (RIT) or the transmit frequency (XIT) of the transmit slice.
RIT and XIT switch the shift on and off (blue: on).
Turn the wheel to change the shift in steps of 10 Hz, or type a value in Hz and tap Return.
✕ sets the shift back to 0.
The wheel goes as far as Min/Max Rit/Xit value (Hz) in the settings (1500 Hz unless you change it).
6.10. ESC
The ESC panel controls Diversity and ESC (Enhanced Signal Clarity) of the active slice. It needs the radio’s
licence for these features. Without it, the app shows Your Radio is not licensed for this feature.
Div switches Diversity on and off, ESC the signal combining.
Phase and Gain set how the two receivers are combined: drag the sliders or the point in the circle.
+180° turns the phase by half a turn.
6.11. HomeKit
Shows the HomeKit devices you checked in the HomeKit devices tool, each with a switch. This also works before the app is connected. See the HomeKit chapter.
6.12. Log new QSO
Opens the log window for a new QSO, filled in with the frequency and mode. See the Logbook chapter.
6.13. On the iPhone
The iPhone has the same View menu and the same panels. They are made to fit the iPhone’s screen; move them where they cover the least of the waterfall. HomeKit opens as a sheet.
7. Settings
The app has two kinds of settings:
The Settings tab (⚙︎ on the iPad) holds the app’s own settings: your call and station, the connection, logging, spots, CW and more. They don’t depend on the radio.
The Radio tab holds the settings of the connected radio, as SmartSDR for Windows shows them. They are stored in the radio.
The audio settings (speaker, headset, microphone) are on the radio screen: left menu → Audio. See Audio.
7.1. App settings
Go through these settings once and enter your station data: several tools and modes use them. Every change is saved right away.
7.1.1. Help
Show Manual opens this manual.
7.1.2. Communication
Enable SmartLink — remote access over the Internet. See Remote access with SmartLink.
SmartLink account — the SmartLink account in use. Tap it to choose another one. Shown once you have logged in.
Check SmartLink Status — logs in to SmartLink and shows your account.
Show Demo Device — lists the demo radio Demo AU-520 with your radios. See Trying the app without a radio.
Disconnect on close — ends the connection to the radio when the app is closed.
Ask before disconnect — Disconnect asks first.
Prevent device sleep — the screen doesn’t turn off by itself while the app is open.
Show Extended settings… — network and troubleshooting settings. See Extended settings.
7.1.3. HAM Radio
Your Region — your IARU region, for the band plan on the waterfall, the Band Plan tool and the DX Cluster. There is a separate entry for the US band plan.
Your Call — your call. The Logbook, the modes and the DX Cluster use it.
Operator Call — the operator’s call, when it differs from the station’s call (for example at a club station).
Station name — a name for your station.
Grid (QTH Locator) — your locator, for example
JO31. Maps use it to show your station, distances and directions.
7.1.4. Logging Information
Your station data for the Logbook: Name, Country, City, State, County, CQ-Zone, ITU-Zone, My IOTA, My SIG, My SIG Info, My POTA Ref, My SOTA Ref, My WWFF Ref and TX Power. Each new QSO gets these values.
Important
For awards (for example with LoTW) these fields must be filled in correctly, or QSOs won’t be accepted or won’t match. You may leave most of them empty. If you use them, check how your country expects them: in the US, for example, State is the two-letter abbreviation and County is written out.
7.1.5. Call databases
Call databases: HamQTH and Call databases: QRZ.com take your Username and Password for these services. Call Lookup, the Logbook, the DX Cluster and the maps use them to look up calls. Test HamQTH / Test QRZ.com checks your login.
Note
You need an account with each service. For QRZ.com, the lookup also needs an XML Logbook Data subscription.
Hint
If the test fails although the password is right, the password may contain characters such as :, & or
?. The website accepts them, but the lookup service may not. Try a password without them.
7.1.6. UDP Broadcast
The app can send data over your network to programs on a Mac or PC:
UDP Broadcast: N1MM / Log4OM message — each new QSO, for N1MM, Log4OM and other logging programs.
UDP Broadcast: WSJT-X log message — each new QSO, for programs that take QSOs from WSJT-X.
UDP Broadcast: WSJT-X decode message — what the FT8 modes decode, for programs such as GridTracker.
For each, enter the IP Address of the computer and the Port the program listens on (often 2237), and switch on Enabled. Test sends a sample, so you can check it arrives. More in the Logbook chapter.
7.1.7. PSK Reporter
Propagate Spots — sends the stations the modes decode to PSK Reporter, so others can see what you hear.
Antenna Info — a short description of your antenna, sent with the spots.
Update Interval — how often the spots are sent.
7.1.8. Behavior
Hide Menus automatically — a tap on the panadapter closes the left and the right menu.
Keep Tuning wheel open — the Tuning Panel stays open when you tap the panadapter.
Activate Slice on TX — when you transmit, the transmit slice becomes the active slice.
PTT toggle — the round PTT key switches transmit on with one tap and off with the next, instead of transmitting only while you hold it.
PTT TX Off Delay — how long the radio stays on transmit after you let go of PTT (0 to 2 seconds).
Min/Max Rit/Xit value (Hz) — how far the RIT / XIT wheel goes.
CW Auto Tune Intermittent — how CW Auto Tune works; the same switch is in the CW mode’s settings.
Small tuning wheel — the Tuning Panel opens small, with only the wheel.
Reverse tuning — turns the direction of the tuning wheel around.
Only small Slice flag — smaller slice flags on the panadapter.
Change Slice with Panadapter — the slices move along when you drag the panadapter.
S-Meter Value — what the slice flag shows next to its S-meter: nothing (Normal), the S-value (Show S-Value) or the level in dBm (Show dBm Value).
Show TX Filter — shows the transmit filter of the transmit slice on the panadapter.
Auto Save Profiles — see Profiles.
7.1.9. General
Alternative Colors — lighter colours for the radio’s menus and buttons.
Dark mode — Auto (the default) follows the device; On and Off always use dark or light.
Logbook precision = Hz (not kHz) — the Logbook shows and takes frequencies in Hz.
7.1.10. iCloud
Enable iCloud — keeps the logbook and other data in iCloud Drive, for all your devices. iCloud Drive Status shows whether iCloud works.
7.1.11. Spots: Show on Waterfall
What the panadapter shows: Band Limits, Band Modes, Memories, DX-Cluster, FT8, POTA and FlexRadio Spots (spots that other programs send to the radio).
Spot Location — how far down the spots are drawn.
Spot Font size — the size of the spot labels.
Clear FlexRadio Spots — removes the FlexRadio spots from the panadapter.
7.1.12. CW
CW Keyboard — the keyboard for the CWX panel and the CW mode: letters, a paddle or a straight key.
CW Autospace and Autospace delay — adds a space by itself when you pause while typing.
7.1.13. Information & Support
Manual — opens this manual.
Website — the app’s website.
Contact Support — see How to contact support.
Rate the App — Write a Review opens the app’s App Store page.
More Apps — other apps by the same developer.
7.1.14. App information
App Version and Data Version — the versions of the app and of its data (band plans, DX Cluster servers, country lists and more).
Release History… — what changed in each version.
Check for Data Update — gets new data without a new app version.
Check for App Update — opens the App Store.
7.2. Extended settings
Show Extended settings… opens settings you rarely need.
7.2.1. Network
LAN mode — how the app finds the radio: Discover, Scan or Fixed IP. See Setting everything up. IP Address (Fixed IP) or Network (Scan) appear with them.
Disable IPv6 — the app uses only IPv4.
Net speed — Fast, Medium or Slow. How much data the radio sends. Slow helps on a slow or busy network.
Reduced DAX Bandwidth — less data for the audio streams.
Enforce Network MTU and Network MTU — smaller network packets, for example through a VPN.
Large Audio Buffer — a larger audio buffer: fewer dropouts on an uneven network, but a little more delay.
The app sets Reduced DAX Bandwidth and Enforce Network MTU by itself when it connects, to suit the radio’s firmware.
7.2.2. Miscellaneous
Shut down PGXL on disconnect — switches off a PowerGenius XL amplifier when the app disconnects.
DTMF gain (%) — the volume of the DTMF tones (View → DTMF).
Enable HomeKit — lets the app use your HomeKit devices. See the HomeKit chapter.
7.2.3. Troubleshooting
Reset all warnings — shows again the notes you closed with “Don’t show again”.
Reset Radio Client ID — the app connects to the radio as a new program. Helps when the panadapter doesn’t appear, no slice can be made or the radio behaves oddly. It disconnects first; then connect again.
Restore default settings — sets the app’s settings back to their defaults, after asking.
7.3. Radio settings
The Radio tab holds the settings of the connected radio. Its title shows the model, for example
FLEX-6600 Settings. Before connecting it says Please connect to the radio to view the radio settings.
Most entries work as in SmartSDR for Windows:
Information — the radio’s model, serial number, versions, region and more.
General — Nickname, Callsign, the front panel Display and Backlight (M models), Remote on enabled, MultiFlex enabled and Clear all ATU Memories. With firmware 4.3, an empty Nickname removes the radio’s nickname.
GPS — position and time of the GPS, when the radio has one.
License — the radio’s licence: SmartSDR+, SmartSDR+ Early Access and every feature the radio reports, each with Yes or No. Refresh reads it again.
Transmit — ACC TX, RCA TX 1 to 3 with their delays, TX Delay (ms), Timeout (min), TX Inhibit, Max Power (%), Hardware ALC, Show TX in Waterfall and Tune Mode.
APD — the adaptive predistortion samplers, when the radio has APD.
CW — Keyer Type, Swap Paddles, CWL and CWX Sync.
Phone — Microphone Bias, Microphone Boost and Level Meter during Receive. With firmware 4.3 also PTT Override: a hardware PTT (footswitch on the RCA jack, ACC or the microphone jack) then transmits from the last used microphone input of the radio, even while DAX or this device’s microphone is the transmit source.
Receive — the frequency offset, the 10 MHz Source, Binaural Audio and Mute local Audio when remote.
Filter — the filter sharpness for Voice, CW and Digital, and Use Low Latency Digital Filters.
Filter Presets — the radio’s filter buttons, see Filter presets. Shown with firmware 4.2 or later and a SmartSDR+ licence for configurable filter presets.
Digital — RTTY Mark Default (Hz).
TX Band Settings — per band: RF Power (%), Tune Power (%), PTT Inhibit and the TX outputs.
MultiFlex — the programs connected to the radio. Set Local PTT gives this device the PTT.
Meters — every meter of the radio with its value, updated each second: voltages, temperatures, power, SWR and more.
Firmware Update — shows the firmware versions for the radio, downloads one and installs it. See Firmware Update.
Backup & Restore — saves and loads the radio’s configuration and memories, and installs a TURF file. See Backup & Restore.
7.3.1. Memories, TNF, Transverter and USB Cables
These are lists of what the radio stores. They all work the same:
+ at the top adds an entry (not for USB cables).
Tap an entry to edit it. Save keeps the changes, Cancel drops them.
Touch and hold an entry for a menu with all its actions.
On the iPhone, swipe left to Edit or Delete. Deleting always asks first.
Notes on the lists:
Memories — swipe right (iPhone) or Select in the menu tunes to a memory. On the iPad, tap a column title (Name, Group, Mode, Frequency) to sort by it.
TNF — all TNFs of the radio. Permanent TNFs stay when the radio is switched off.
Transverter — your transverters with their RF and IF frequencies. They then appear in Band of the left menu.
USB Cables — the USB cables connected to the radio (CAT, BIT, BCD, LDPA). A cable appears after it was connected once; it can’t be added by hand. Its settings are stored in the radio, so SmartSDR for Windows sees the same.
7.3.2. Filter presets
Since firmware 4.2 the radio stores six filter presets for each group of modes: SSB, CW, AM, Digital and RTTY. The app shows them as the filter buttons of a slice, as SmartSDR for Windows does. With older firmware the app uses its own filter lists. FM has fixed filters and no presets.
With the licence for configurable filter presets, Radio → Filter Presets changes them:
Choose the group at the top.
Change a preset’s Name (up to 4 characters, no spaces), Low (Hz) and High (Hz).
Tap Save in its row. The radio stores the preset, so SmartSDR for Windows shows the same.
A red line under a row says what doesn’t fit, for example High must be at least 50 Hz above Low; Save is off
until it is fixed. The app places a preset to suit the mode, as SmartSDR for Windows does: mirrored in LSB, around the
CW pitch in CW, toward the offset in the digital modes and around mark and shift in RTTY. Reset SSB… (or the group you chose) puts the group’s six presets back to the radio’s defaults,
after asking.
7.3.3. Firmware Update
Radio → Firmware Update updates the radio’s firmware, or puts an older version back on it.
At the top, Radio shows the model and Installed Version the firmware the radio has now. Below is the list of the firmware versions for this radio, newest first. On the iPad it has the columns Version, Firmware (the full version number), Downloaded and Installed. On the iPhone it has Version and Status, which says Installed or Downloaded. A version must be downloaded into the app before it can be installed.
Tap a version in the list.
Tap Download. A progress bar shows the download. Cancel stops it.
Tap Install. The app asks first: make sure the network connection to the radio is stable before you start. Tap Install again to start.
The app sends the firmware to the radio; the progress bar says
Installing – don't switch the radio off. Then the app disconnects, and the radio installs the firmware and restarts. Don’t switch the radio off until it has restarted. Then connect again.
The screen stays on while the app downloads or installs. Keep the app open until it is finished.
Remove deletes the downloaded version from the app. It asks first.
Refresh loads the list again.
Touch and hold a version for a menu: Download, or for a downloaded version Install and Remove Download.
Note
Install needs a local connection to the radio. It is off while you are connected over SmartLink.
For a radio model the app doesn’t know yet, the screen says Firmware updates for this radio model are not supported
yet: and the model, and shows no list.
Attention
Read the radio’s release notes before you install a new firmware, and don’t interrupt the install. If the radio doesn’t start properly afterwards, contact FlexRadio.
7.3.4. Backup & Restore
Radio → Backup & Restore has:
Backup Configuration… — saves your radio’s configuration (your profiles, memories, band and mode settings, TNFs, transverters and USB cables) to a file you choose.
Restore Configuration… — loads such a file back into the radio, after asking. The app stays connected and says
The configuration was sent. The radio is importing it now.Export Memories… / Import Memories… — the memories as a CSV file, the same format as SmartSDR for Windows.
Install TURF File… — a TURF file from FlexRadio or your dealer sets the region, that is the bands the radio may transmit on, after asking. Information shows the region.
While a file is sent or received, the screen shows the progress and Cancel.
Note
Restore, import and TURF need a local connection to the radio. Over SmartLink only Backup Configuration… and Export Memories… work.
7.3.5. Profiles
Global, Transmit and Microphone list the radio’s profiles. In Use marks the one in use. With firmware 4.3 there is also CW, for the radio’s CW settings.
Swipe right on a profile to Use it, swipe left to Delete it (asks first).
Touch and hold a profile for Use, Save Current Settings, Reset to Defaults (not Global) and Delete….
+ creates a Transmit, Microphone or CW profile with the radio’s default settings; for Global it saves the current settings under a new name.
How changes are saved depends on Auto Save Profiles in the app’s settings (Behavior):
On (the default): every change goes into the active profile at once. The profile always has your newest settings.
Off: the profiles stay as they are while you change settings. Changes are stored only when you Save the profile. Selecting a profile again, even the one in use, brings back its saved settings.
Important
With Auto Save Profiles off, remember to Save. Otherwise your changes are lost the next time the profile is selected, for example when a mode such as FT8 switches profiles.
7.4. On the iPhone
The iPhone shows the same settings; the tab is called Settings. In the radio’s lists, swipe a row to the left or right for its actions.
8. Tuning
There are many ways to tune the active slice:
Drag the slice on the panadapter with your finger.
Tap twice on the panadapter or the waterfall: the active slice jumps there.
Type the frequency in the Tuning Panel, or turn its tuning wheel.
Tap a spot on the panadapter.
Use a controller, for example a MIDI controller, a CTR2 or a PowerMate (see the Controllers chapters).
Use a keyboard on the iPad (see Keyboard Shortcuts).
8.1. On the panadapter
Drag a slice left or right to tune it. The frequency snaps to the slice’s tuning step.
Tap twice anywhere on the panadapter or the waterfall: the active slice moves there. Tap twice on another slice to open its Tuning Panel.
Tap a slice to make it the active slice. Tap its slice flag to open the Tuning Panel.
Touch and hold an empty place: a menu offers Create Slice and Create TNF at that frequency, and SET FT8 TX / SET FT8 RX for the FT8 mode. When the radio has no free slice left, the menu doesn’t open.
8.2. Moving and zooming the panadapter
Drag the panadapter or the waterfall (not on a slice) left or right to see other frequencies. The slices stay where they are.
Pinch horizontally (two fingers apart or together) to make the panadapter wider or narrower.
Pinch vertically to change the dB range.
Drag the dB scale at the right edge up or down to move the dB range.
- and + at the bottom left of the waterfall zoom out and in around the active slice.
BW in the left menu chooses a width directly, Band in the same menu a band.
With Change Slice with Panadapter on in the settings, the slices move along when you drag the panadapter.
8.3. The Tuning Panel
Tap a slice flag, or choose View → Tuning Panel, to open the Tuning Panel of the active slice.
Drag the panel to another place if it covers what you want to see. With Keep Tuning wheel open off in the settings (the default), the panel closes when you tap the panadapter.
8.3.1. Typing a frequency
Type the digits, with a point if needed, and finish with MHz or kHz. There is no Enter key.
3.5MHz → 3.500 MHz7125kHz → 7.125 MHz
⇐ deletes the last digit, CLR clears the input. Tap a digit of the frequency display to change the frequency from that digit on.
With a keyboard on the iPad, type the digits and the point, then m for MHz, k or Return for kHz, c to
clear.
8.3.2. The tuning wheel
Turn the wheel at the bottom of the panel to tune. One mark is one tuning step. Reverse tuning in the settings turns the direction around.
The arrow above the wheel makes the panel small: then it shows only the wheel and the frequency. Tap it again for the whole panel. Small tuning wheel in the settings opens it small from the start.
8.4. Filters and TNFs
Tap the lower end of a slice’s filter. A small window opens where you change the filter’s Low and High edges. Delete Slice removes the slice.
Tap the lower end of a TNF marker to change its Frequency and Width, or make it Permanent. Delete TNF removes it.
Drag a TNF left or right to move it.
+TNF in the left menu adds a TNF in the middle of the panadapter. Touch and hold an empty place to add one at that frequency.
All TNFs are listed under Radio → TNF, where you can change or delete them.
TNFs only work while Enable TNF is on (left menu → Audio). When it is off, the app reminds you.
8.5. Spots and memories on the panadapter
Spots from the DX Cluster, POTA and FT8, and your memories, can be shown on the panadapter (settings: Spots: Show on Waterfall).
Tap a spot: the active slice tunes to it, and the spot’s call goes into the log window.
Tap a memory: the radio takes all its settings.
8.6. On the iPhone
Everything works the same on the iPhone. The Tuning Panel takes more of the screen: make it small with the arrow above the wheel, or close it when you don’t need it.
9. iPhone Duo
On the iPhone Duo, the app follows the display you use. Folded, it shows its iPhone screens on the outer display. Opened, it uses the large inner display: the radio screen gets more room, and the modes and tools use the whole width. You don’t have to set anything: the app changes its screens when you fold or unfold the Duo.
9.1. Folded and opened
Folded (outer display): the app looks and works as on any other iPhone, as described in this manual. The tabs are in a bar at the right side of the screen.
Opened (inner display): the radio screen is larger and shows more at once (see below). In landscape the tabs are in a bar at the right side, in portrait at the bottom of the screen. The bar is see-through: the panadapter, the waterfall and the lists of the modes and tools reach under it.
9.2. The radio screen on the opened Duo
The Panadapter tab shows the same radio screen as on the iPhone, with much more room: the panadapter and the waterfall are larger, and the left or the right menu fits next to them, as on the iPad.
The top bar is the same as on the iPhone: Slices and Pans are in the left menu, and Disconnect is short: Disc.
- and + are at the bottom left of the waterfall.
9.3. Modes and tools
On the opened Duo, the modes and tools use the whole width of the inner display. Their lists and texts reach under the see-through tab bar at the right side; buttons and text fields stay next to it.
9.4. Folding and unfolding
You can fold or unfold the Duo at any time, also while the app is connected:
The radio stays connected. A running mode or tool, and a transmission, go on.
The app shows the screen that fits the display you use now, with the radio’s current settings.
10. VoiceOver and Accessibility
The app works with the accessibility features of iOS: VoiceOver (the screen reader), Voice Control, Switch Control and Larger Text. You switch them on in the iOS Settings app under Accessibility. This chapter tells you what the app does with them.
10.1. The radio screen
The panadapter and the waterfall are drawn, so VoiceOver reads them as one element, Panadapter:
VoiceOver reads the active slice, its frequency and its mode, for example “Slice A, 14.074000 Megahertz, USB”.
Swipe up or down to tune the active slice by one tuning step. A locked slice doesn’t move.
The buttons are read with their names. A button that switches something on or off says “selected” and On or Off, for example the receive and transmit buttons. Some short names are spoken as words, for example ∆TX as “Delta TX”. A button that is dimmed can’t be used.
The buttons in the top bar are read with their names too, for example Speaker with On or Off, Radio controls and Left menu.
Buttons that do more on a touch and hold or a double tap have these as actions: swipe up or down to choose Options or Second Action, then double tap.
10.2. Transmitting
You can’t hold a key with VoiceOver or Switch Control, so the keys that are normally held work as switches:
PTT (also the large PTT key of the panels): a double tap switches transmit on, the next one off. VoiceOver reads Transmitting or Receiving as its value.
DTMF keys and 1750: a double tap sends the tone for a short moment.
The tuning buttons <<, <, > and >>: a double tap tunes once (one step, or 10 steps for << and >>), with no repeat.
The tuning wheels (Tuning, the RIT / ∆TX offset): swipe up or down to turn them one step. VoiceOver reads the frequency or the offset.
10.3. Spoken messages
With VoiceOver on, the app speaks short messages for things that are otherwise only shown in colour:
Connected and Disconnected when the connection to the radio changes.
Transmitting and Receiving when transmitting starts and stops (the red frame around the screen). Not in CW, where break-in switches with every character.
FT8-Improved: a station that calls you, with its message (for example “DL1ABC calls you: DL8MRE DL1ABC JO62”).
JS8: a complete message for you, or one that names your call.
HF-Fax: Weather fax received at the end of a fax. SSTV: SSTV picture received.
10.4. Lists and pictures
The lists of the modes and tools (FT8, JS8, the Logbook, DX Cluster, POTA, PSK Reporter, …) are read one row at a time, and the selected row says so. What a colour shows is read with the row: in FT8 Calls you, CQ, Worked before or Alert; in JS8 CQ or For you, and Unread for a conversation.
In the FT8 list, the action Call calls the station of the row (the same as a double tap without VoiceOver).
Received HF-Fax and SSTV pictures are described, for example “Weather fax picture” with the station.
10.5. Voice Control
Voice Control uses the same names as VoiceOver. Say “Show names” to see the name of every button on the screen, then say “Tap” and the name, for example “Tap PTT”.
10.6. Larger Text
With a larger text size (Display & Text Size → Larger Text in the iOS settings), lists, forms, the settings and the received text of the modes grow with it.
The radio screen and the button bars keep their size, so that everything still fits. With one of the larger accessibility text sizes, touch and hold a button in a bar to see its name enlarged in the middle of the screen (the Large Content Viewer). Lift your finger to close it.
1. Tools
The Tools tab holds the tools that add to the app: a logbook, spots from the DX Cluster, POTA and PSK Reporter, the band plan, controllers, macros and the control of external devices such as amplifiers, tuners and antennas.
Many tools also work without a radio, for example the Logbook, Call Lookup and the Band Plan. All tools work together with the app and your radio: a spot tunes the radio, a QSO goes into the log, a controller turns the VFO.
1.1. The tiles
Tap a tile to open its tool. The back button at the top left (or a swipe from the left edge) brings you back to the tiles.
Controllers and Macros are groups. Their tiles show small pictures of the tools inside. Tap a group to see its tools.
A green dot on a tile means the tool is running, for example the DX Cluster is connected or a controller is on. A group shows the dot when one of its tools runs.
To change the order, touch and hold a tile and move it to another place. The other tiles make room. The order is kept.
With a keyboard, ⌘T opens the Tools tab, and ⌘B opens the Logbook.
1.2. Tools keep running
A tool keeps working when you leave its screen or switch to another tab. The DX Cluster stays connected, Network Stats goes on measuring, and a controller stays active. So you can use the radio screen and a tool at the same time.
To stop a tool, open it again and switch it off there. The green dot on its tile shows which tools are running.
1.3. The top row of a tool
Most tools use the same buttons:
⚙︎ in the navigation bar opens the tool’s settings.
+ in the navigation bar adds something, for example a QSO or a device.
The funnel opens a filter. It is filled while the filter is on.
The trash can clears the list or the values.
The map shows the list on a map.
1.4. The tools
Band Plan — the band plan of your region.
DX-Cluster — DX spots from a DX Cluster server.
POTA — Parks on the Air activators that are on the air now.
PSK-Reporter — who hears you, and whom you hear.
Logbook — your QSOs, ADIF import and export, iCloud.
Network Stats — checks the network connection to your radio.
HomeKit devices — switches HomeKit accessories in your shack, for example a power outlet for the radio.
Call Lookup — details about a call sign.
Controllers — PowerMate, Flic, Pryme Buttons, MIDI Controller, CTR2 Controller, CTR2 Dial Controller and HaliKey MIDI.
Macros — CW Macros, Voice Macros, RTTY Macros, PSK Macros and Speech Macros (Speech Macros need iOS 26, like the Speech mode).
Genius Devices — the 4O3A Genius devices: PGXL amplifier, TGXL tuner, AGXL antenna switch and RGXL rotator.
Ultra Beam — controls an Ultra Beam antenna.
S.A.T. — the S.A.T. satellite tracker and rotator (iPad only).
Command Bar — buttons that send commands to the radio, open an app or a website.
Frequency List — your own list of frequencies and the EiBi shortwave schedule; tap twice to tune.
Recordings — records the receive audio, to listen to it again, export it or transmit it.
Metropwr — Metropwr power meters, antenna switches and rotator controllers.
Waveshare — Waveshare network devices: a serial CAT connection and relays.
Green Heron — the Green Heron RT-21 rotator controller.
The modes (FT8, JS8, CW, SSTV and more) are in the Modes tab.
1.5. On the iPhone
The iPhone shows the same tiles, with fewer in a row. S.A.T. is only on the iPad, because its screens need the room.
2. MIDI Controller
The MIDI Controller tool lets you use a DJ controller or another MIDI controller with your radio. Its knobs, wheels and sliders can tune the radio or set the volume, its buttons can switch the mode, the band or PTT, and its LEDs can show what the radio is doing.
These controllers are known to work: Numark DJ2GO2, Behringer CMD Micro, Behringer CMD PL-1 and Hercules DJControl Compact. Most other MIDI controllers work too. You can use several controllers at the same time.
2.1. Quick start
Connect the controller to your iPad or iPhone with a USB cable (see Connecting the controller).
Open Controllers in the Tools tab, then MIDI Controller.
Tap Add MIDI Controller. The new controller’s screen opens.
Choose your controller in Device and switch on Enabled. Status shows Connected.
If your controller is one of the known ones, tap Settings For… and choose it.
Tap Edit Mapping. A new controller starts with an empty mapping. Press a button or turn a knob on the controller, tap its row and choose a Radio Action. Do this for every control you want to use.
2.2. The list of controllers
The tool opens with the list of your MIDI controllers.
Each row shows the controller’s name, its device and its state, for example
ConnectedorOff.Tap a row to open the controller’s screen.
Swipe a row to the left and tap Remove to remove the controller and its mapping.
Add MIDI Controller adds a new controller and opens its screen.
2.3. The controller’s screen
All changes on this screen work at once. There is nothing to save.
2.3.1. The top
Name — a name for the list, for example
DJ2GO2 left. Empty: the list shows the device name.Enabled — switches the controller on and off. It stays on when you close the screen or restart the app.
Device — the MIDI device. A device that is not connected right now shows
(Offline).Find BLE Device — pairs a Bluetooth MIDI controller (see Connecting the controller). On the iPhone the button reads Find.
Status —
Connected,Waiting for …(the device is not there yet),Off, or an error.
2.3.2. Mapping
Edit Mapping opens the mapping editor: which knob or button does what. See The mapping editor.
Settings For… fills in the wheel, channel and LED settings of a known controller: Behringer CMD Micro, Behringer CMD PL-1, Hercules DJControl or Numark DJ2GO2. It doesn’t change the mapping.
2.3.3. Wheels
Many controllers have endless wheels (jog wheels). They send steps instead of a position. Tell the app which of your controls are such wheels:
Tap Add Wheel and turn the wheel. The wheel is added to the list, for example
CC 17. Add Wheel only works while the controller is connected. Swipe a wheel to the left to remove it.Wheel Values — how the wheel counts its steps. If a wheel goes the wrong way or jumps, try another setting.
Reverse Direction — turns the direction of all wheels around.
Steps per Action — more steps make the wheel slower: with
2, every second step tunes.
2.3.4. Channels and LEDs
Separate MIDI Channels — for controllers that use the same numbers on several channels, for example the two decks of the DJ2GO2. The codes in the mapping change with it.
LED On Value, LED Message and Send LED Messages 3 Times — how the app switches the controller’s LEDs. Settings For… sets them for the known controllers. Try others if the LEDs of your controller don’t light up.
Test LEDs lights all LEDs of the mapping for a moment.
2.3.5. MIDI Monitor
While the screen is open, the monitor shows what the controller sends, the newest line on top, for example
CC 6 = 1 Ch 1 · Code 6 · +1. Code is the number the mapping uses. For a wheel, the last number shows its
steps. Clear empties the monitor.
Use it to find out which control sends what, and whether a wheel needs other Wheel Values.
2.4. The mapping editor
Edit Mapping opens the mapping editor. Press a button or turn a knob on the controller: its row is highlighted, or added if it is new. Tap the row, choose a Radio Action and tap Save. The mapping is saved at once.
The editor is explained in its own chapter: Mapping Editor.
2.5. Connecting the controller
With a USB cable: connect the controller directly or with an adapter, for example USB-A to USB-C. The DJ2GO2 needs no extra power. Bigger controllers can need more power than the iPad or iPhone gives: then use a powered USB hub or an adapter with a power input.
With Bluetooth: a Bluetooth MIDI controller must be paired from the app.
Switch the controller on and keep it close to your device.
Tap Find BLE Device. A window lists the Bluetooth MIDI devices nearby.
Tap your controller. The window closes by itself once it is connected. If not, tap Close.
Choose the controller in Device.
2.6. Good to know
The controllers keep working when you leave the tool. Enabled decides whether a controller is used.
A controller that is enabled connects by itself when it is plugged in or switched on later.
If a wheel goes the wrong way, switch on Reverse Direction. If it jumps or only goes one way, try another Wheel Values setting and watch the MIDI Monitor.
A mapping you made with an older version of the app was taken over: you find it as the first controller in the list.
2.7. On the iPhone
The iPhone shows the same screens. There, Find BLE Device reads Find.
3. CTR2 Controller and CTR2 Dial Controller
The CTR2 Controller and CTR2 Dial Controller tools connect the CTR2-MIDI and CTR2-Dial controllers made by Lynn Hansen, KU7Q (https://ctr2.lynovation.com). With their knobs you tune the radio and set the volume, with their buttons you switch the mode, the band, PTT and more. A CW paddle connected to the controller keys the radio.
The controllers work with Bluetooth or with a USB cable. Both tools look and work the same; each has its own device and its own mapping, so you can use a CTR2-MIDI and a CTR2-Dial at the same time.
3.1. Quick start
Switch the controller on and keep it close to your device. For USB, plug it in.
Open Controllers in the Tools tab, then CTR2 Controller (or CTR2 Dial Controller).
For Bluetooth: tap Find BLE Device and tap your controller in the list (see Pairing with Bluetooth).
Choose the controller in Device and switch on Enabled. Status shows
Connected.Tap Edit Mapping and map the knobs and buttons you want to use (see The mapping). A new controller starts with an empty mapping.
3.2. The screen
All changes work at once. There is nothing to save.
Enabled — switches the controller on and off. It stays on when you close the screen or restart the app.
Device — the controller:
with Bluetooth:
CTR2_and a number, for exampleCTR2_7200. Each controller has its own number.with USB:
XIAO_ESP32S3for the CTR2-MIDI,STAMP-S3for the CTR2-Dial.
A controller that is not connected right now shows
(Offline).Find BLE Device — pairs a controller with Bluetooth. On the iPhone the button reads Find.
Edit Mapping — which knob or button does what. See The mapping.
Status —
Connected: …,Waiting for Controller...(the controller is not there yet),Not Connected(Enabled is off), or an error, for exampleNo CTR2 Device selected. If the controller can’t start when you switch on Enabled, a message says why.
3.3. Pairing with Bluetooth
Switch the controller on and keep it close to your device.
Tap Find BLE Device. A window lists the Bluetooth MIDI devices nearby.
Tap your controller (
CTR2_…). The window closes by itself once it is connected. If not, tap Close.Choose the controller in Device.
If the controller doesn’t connect, switch it off and on again and try once more. Once paired, the controller connects by itself whenever it is switched on and Enabled is on.
3.4. The mapping
A new controller starts with an empty mapping: it does nothing until you decide what each knob and button does. A mapping you already had from an earlier version of the app is kept.
Tap Edit Mapping. Press a button or turn a knob on the controller to find its row, tap the row and choose a
Radio Action, for example the frequency for the main knob, Adjust Main Volume for another knob, or
PTT Push for the PTT input. The editor is explained in its own chapter:
Mapping Editor.
Lynn’s website has more mappings for the different controller variants.
3.5. The CW paddle
A paddle connected to the CTR2-MIDI or CTR2-Dial keys the radio in CW through the app’s keyer. Map its two contacts
first: close each paddle contact while the mapping editor is open, and give the rows the radio actions
Trigger CW left Paddle and Trigger CW right Paddle.
Speed, keyer type and swapped paddles are set in the CW mode: tap ⚙︎ there.
3.6. Good to know
The controller keeps working when you leave the tool. Only Enabled stops it.
The CTR2-MIDI and the CTR2-Dial each need their own tool: CTR2-MIDI in CTR2 Controller, CTR2-Dial in CTR2 Dial Controller.
While the mapping editor is open, the controller doesn’t change anything on the radio: its knobs and buttons only find their rows.
Lynn’s website has the controller’s own manual.
3.7. On the iPhone
The iPhone shows the same screen. There, Find BLE Device reads Find.
4. Flic
The Flic tool connects Flic smart buttons (https://flic.io) to the app with Bluetooth. Give each click a radio action: PTT, tune, mute, a band change, a CW macro and more. Both the Flic 2 and the Flic Duo are supported, and you can use as many buttons as you like.
The app pairs the Flic itself. You don’t need the Flic app or a Flic account for it.
4.1. Quick start
Open Controllers in the Tools tab, then Flic.
Switch on Enabled. The first time, allow Bluetooth for the app. Status shows
Ready.Tap Add Flic Button. Hold your Flic for 7 seconds until it blinks. The app finds and adds it.
Tap Done, then tap the new button in the list.
Tap Single click, choose a Radio Action and tap Save.
4.2. The screen
Enabled — switches the tool on and off. It stays on when you close the screen or restart the app.
Status —
Ready,Starting...,Off, or an error, for exampleBluetooth switched off.Flic Buttons — your buttons. Each row shows the button’s name, whether it is a Flic 2 or a Flic Duo, and its state:
Connected— ready to use.Waiting (press it to wake it up)— the Flic sleeps or is out of reach. Press it once.Pairing lost: remove it and add it again— see Good to know.
Tap a button to set what its clicks do. See Mapping a button.
Swipe a button to the left and tap Remove to remove it and its mapping from the app.
Add Flic Button pairs a new Flic. It only works while Enabled is on.
4.3. Adding a Flic
Tap Add Flic Button, then hold your Flic for 7 seconds until it blinks. The window shows the steps:
Flic found, connecting..., Checking the Flic..., and at the end … was added. Tap Done.
If it doesn’t work, the window says why and what to do, for example:
No Flic was found, or it left pairing mode too early: hold it for 7 seconds until it blinks.
It was paired with this device before: remove it in the iOS Settings under Bluetooth (ⓘ, Forget This Device).
It is connected to another phone or tablet: remove it there, or switch off Bluetooth on that device.
Then tap Try Again. Cancel stops the search.
4.4. Mapping a button
Tap a button in the list. A new Flic starts with an empty mapping: it does nothing until you set its clicks. Its mapping shows one row per click:
Flic 2: Single click, Double click and Long press.
Flic Duo: the same for each of its two buttons (Button 1: and Button 2:), and the swipes: Swipe left, Swipe right, Swipe up and Swipe down.
Click the Flic: its row is highlighted. Tap a row to set it:
Radio Action — what the click does. Type in the search field to find an action quickly. Not assigned removes the action.
Slice — for actions that work on a slice: which slice, for example
Aor the active one.
Tap Save, or Cancel to leave it as it was.
Swipe a row to the left for Clear (no action) and Edit.
Delete Flic Button at the end removes the whole button, after you confirm it.
The mapping is saved at once. While it is open, the Flic only finds its rows and doesn’t change anything on the radio.
4.4.1. Which action for which click
On a Flic 2, Single click knows when you press and when you let go.
PTT Pushon Single click transmits as long as you hold the Flic down.Double click, Long press, the swipes and all clicks of a Flic Duo are a single event: they don’t tell when you let go. For PTT use
PTT togglethere: one click transmits, the next one stops.On a Flic 2, every press is also a single click, also the presses of a double click and of a long press. If you use Double click or Long press, it is best to leave Single click empty.
4.5. Good to know
The buttons keep working when you leave the tool. Only Enabled stops them.
Pairing lost: the Flic lost its pairing with this device, for example after a reset. Remove it in the list and add it again.Clicks that reach the app more than two seconds late (the Flic was out of reach) are ignored.
One Flic can also be used by other apps on the same device, for example the Flic app, but only by a few.
4.6. On the iPhone
The iPhone shows the same screen.
5. Pryme Buttons
The Pryme Buttons tool connects small Bluetooth PTT buttons to the app. Press the button to transmit, or give it another radio action, for example tune or a band change.
Supported are the Pryme buttons with -Z or -ZU in their name
(https://www.pryme.com/index.php?l=product_list&c=163)
and other Bluetooth Zello PTT buttons (https://amzn.to/4tZL073).
They appear in the app as PTT-Z. You can use several buttons at the same time.
5.1. Quick start
Open Controllers in the Tools tab, then Pryme Buttons.
Switch on Enable Pryme Buttons. The first time, allow Bluetooth for the app.
Wait a moment until your button appears in the list as
PTT-ZwithNot connected. If it doesn’t appear, press it once.Tap Add in its row. After a few seconds it shows
Connected.Tap Map, then Radio Action, choose
PTT Pushand tap Save.
5.2. The screen
Enable Pryme Buttons — switches the tool on and off. It stays on when you close the screen or restart the app.
Buttons — the buttons found nearby. Each row shows the button’s name, the end of its id, and its state:
Not connected,Connected, orSearching...for a button you added that isn’t found nearby right now.Add — use this button with the app. The app connects to it.
Map — choose what the button does. See Mapping a button.
Remove — stop using this button. It stays in the list while it is nearby, with Add again.
When you press a button, its row is highlighted. That way you can tell several buttons apart.
5.3. Mapping a button
Tap Map in the button’s row.
Radio Action — what the button does. Type in the search field to find an action quickly.
PTT Pushtransmits as long as you hold the button down. Not assigned removes the action.
Slice — for actions that work on a slice: which slice, for example
Aor the active one.
Tap Save, or Cancel to leave it as it was. A new button does nothing until you map it.
5.4. Good to know
Keep this screen open while you look for a new button: the app searches for new buttons while it is shown. Buttons you added connect by themselves, also when the screen is closed.
The buttons keep working when you leave the tool. Only Enable Pryme Buttons stops them.
Some buttons must be pressed once before they can be found.
5.5. On the iPhone
The iPhone shows the same screen.
6. PowerMate
The PowerMate tool connects the Griffin PowerMate Bluetooth, a large aluminium knob, to the app. Turn it to tune, press it to transmit. Its light shows when the radio transmits.
The PowerMate has one wheel, one button (you press the wheel) and one light. Only the Bluetooth PowerMate works, not the USB one.
Note
The PowerMate is no longer made. You may still find one second-hand.
6.1. Quick start
Switch on Bluetooth on your device.
Open Controllers in the Tools tab, then PowerMate.
Switch on Enabled. The first time, allow Bluetooth for the app. Status shows
Connecting....Turn or press the PowerMate once. Status changes to
Connected.Tap Edit Mapping and decide what the wheel, the button and the light do (see The mapping). A new PowerMate starts with an empty mapping.
6.2. The screen
Enabled — switches the PowerMate on and off. It stays on when you close the screen or restart the app.
Edit Mapping — what the wheel, the button and the light do. See The mapping.
Status —
Connected,Connecting...(the app is looking for the PowerMate),Not Connected(Enabled is off), or an error, for exampleBluetooth switched off.
6.3. The mapping
A new PowerMate starts with an empty mapping: it does nothing until you map it. A mapping you already had from an earlier version of the app is kept.
Tap Edit Mapping. Turn or press the PowerMate to find its row, tap the row and choose a Radio Action and a Slice. A good start:
Wheel —
Slice Frequencyon the active slice: tunes.Button —
PTT toggle: one press transmits, the next one stops.Light (add it with + → Add LED) —
MOX: on while the radio transmits.
The editor is explained in its own chapter: Mapping Editor.
6.4. Good to know
The PowerMate keeps working when you leave the tool. Only Enabled stops it.
If Status stays at
Connecting..., turn or press the PowerMate to wake it up, and keep it close to your device.While the mapping editor is open, the PowerMate doesn’t change anything on the radio: it only finds its rows.
6.5. On the iPhone
The iPhone shows the same screen.
7. HaliKey MIDI
The HaliKey MIDI from Halibut Electronics connects a CW paddle and a PTT foot switch to your iPad or iPhone with USB. With the HaliKey MIDI tool, the paddle keys the radio in CW, and the foot switch switches the radio to transmit in the voice modes.
You can buy the HaliKey MIDI from Halibut Electronics: https://electronics.halibut.com/product/halikey/. How to connect a paddle or a foot switch to it is in the HaliKey documentation: https://electronics.halibut.com/docs/.
7.1. Quick start
Connect the HaliKey MIDI to your device with a USB cable, and the paddle or the foot switch to the HaliKey.
Open Controllers in the Tools tab, then HaliKey MIDI.
Choose the HaliKey in Device and switch on Enabled. Status shows
Connected.Set the radio to CW and use the paddle, or to a voice mode and press the foot switch.
7.2. The screen
All changes work at once. There is nothing to save.
Enabled — switches the HaliKey on and off. It stays on when you close the screen or restart the app.
Device — the HaliKey. A device that is not connected right now shows
(Offline).Status —
Connected: …,Waiting for Controller...(the HaliKey is not plugged in yet),Not Connected(Enabled is off), or an error, for exampleNo MIDI Device selected. If the HaliKey can’t start when you switch on Enabled, a message says why.
7.3. What it does
The HaliKey needs no mapping. What it does depends on the radio’s mode:
CW: the paddle sends dots and dashes through the app’s keyer. Speed, keyer type and swapped paddles are set in the CW mode: tap ⚙︎ there.
Voice modes (SSB, AM, FM): the foot switch is PTT. The radio transmits as long as you hold it down.
Other modes, for example the digital modes: the HaliKey does nothing.
7.4. Good to know
The HaliKey keeps working when you leave the tool. Only Enabled stops it.
If the HaliKey was not plugged in when the app started, it connects as soon as you plug it in.
7.5. On the iPhone
The iPhone shows the same screen.
8. HomeKit
With HomeKit, you can switch devices in your shack from the app: for example a power outlet for the radio, an amplifier or an antenna switch. Any HomeKit switch, light or outlet works.
Choose the devices once in the HomeKit devices tool. Then switch them on and off from the radio screen, with View → HomeKit. This also works before the app is connected to the radio, so you can switch the radio on from far away.
8.1. Quick start
Set up your devices in Apple’s Home app first.
Open HomeKit devices in the Tools tab.
Tap ⚙︎ and switch on Enable HomeKit. The first time, allow the app to use your Home data.
In Selected Home, choose the home with your shack devices.
Tap the devices you want to use from the app. They get a check mark.
On the radio screen, tap View → HomeKit and switch a device on or off.
8.2. The list of devices
The top shows the selected home and the number of its devices.
Disabled: Enable HomeKit is off.Search narrows the list down to the devices whose name contains the text.
The list shows the switches, lights and outlets of the selected home.
Tap a device to check it: a checked device appears in View → HomeKit on the radio screen. Tap it again to remove the check mark.
Pull the list down to refresh it, for example after you added a device in the Home app.
If HomeKit is off, or the home has no switches, lights or outlets, the screen says so. Tap Settings there.
8.3. Switching devices
On the radio screen, tap View → HomeKit. A window lists your checked devices, each with a switch.
Tap a switch to turn the device on or off.
While the app reads a device’s state, it shows a spinner.
No response: HomeKit can’t reach the device.The switches follow changes made somewhere else, for example in the Home app, while the window is open.
Done closes the window.
View → HomeKit also works when the app is not connected to a radio.
8.4. Settings
Tap ⚙︎ for the HomeKit settings.
Enable HomeKit — lets the app use HomeKit.
Selected Home — the home whose switches, lights and outlets are listed.
8.5. Good to know
You don’t need a connection to the radio for HomeKit, and no SmartLink: HomeKit works through Apple’s Home system. From outside your home, this needs a home hub (an Apple TV, a HomePod or an iPad at home).
Away from home, the first switch can take a moment, and a device’s state may show late at first.
If the app can’t use HomeKit, check in the iOS Settings app that it may use your Home data.
8.6. On the iPhone
The iPhone shows the same screens. The settings open as a sheet: tap Done to close them. View → HomeKit opens as a sheet too.
9. Command Bar
The Command Bar holds up to 20 buttons for things you do often: open a website, start another app or a Shortcut, or send a command straight to the radio. The buttons are shown in a bar on the radio screen. The keyboard of the iPad and the controllers can run them too.
9.1. Quick start
In the Tools tab, open Command Bar.
Tap the row 1. Enter
QRZin Name, choose Open Website in Type, and enterwww.qrz.comin URL. Tap Test to try it, then tap Save.On the radio screen, show the Command Bar:
tap View, then Command Bar.
Tap QRZ in the bar.
9.2. The screen
One line per button: its number and its name on the left, and in grey on the right what it does, for example
Open Website: www.qrz.com.
An empty button shows No name.
Tap a row to change the button. See Changing a button.
Swipe a row to the right and tap Run to run the button now.
Swipe a row to the left for Edit and Clear. Clear empties the button, after you confirm it.
Touch and hold a row for Run, Edit and Clear.
9.3. Changing a button
Name — the title of the button in the Command Bar. Without a name the button is not shown in the bar, but the keyboard and the controllers can still run it.
Type — what the button does: Start App, Open Website or Send CAT Command. None does nothing.
The field below depends on the type: App Name, URL or CAT Command Text. See below.
Test runs the button as it is now, before you save it.
Tap Save, or Cancel to leave the button as it was.
One button can do several things at once: separate them with |, for example www.qrz.com | dxsummit.fi.
9.3.1. Start App
Another app is started by its link, its URL scheme. Enter the scheme alone, for example music, or a full link.
The most useful link starts a Shortcut of the Shortcuts app:
shortcuts://run-shortcut?name=My%20Shortcut. Replace My%20Shortcut with the name of your Shortcut,
and write %20 for each space in it. A Shortcut can do a lot: switch on a smart plug, start a playlist,
send a message.
Many apps from the App Store have a URL scheme too. Their makers say which one. If the app can’t be started, a message tells you so.
9.3.2. Open Website
Enter the address, for example www.qrz.com. https:// is added for you. The website opens in your web browser.
9.3.3. Send CAT Command
The command goes straight to the radio, so it can do things that have no button in the app.
The radio must be connected. Several commands separated by | are sent 0.2 seconds apart.
Enter commands of the FlexRadio’s network interface (the SmartSDR API), for example slice tune 0 14.074.
They are described in the FlexRadio documentation.
9.4. The Command Bar on the radio screen
Tap View on the radio screen, then Command Bar, to show or hide it.
The bar floats over the radio screen. Drag its title bar to move it. The x in the title bar closes it. It shows a button for every button with a name, in the order of their numbers. Tap a button to run it. When not all buttons fit, swipe the bar sideways.
Other ways to run a button:
With the keyboard of the iPad: Option-Command-1 to Option-Command-9 run the buttons 1 to 9.
With a controller, for example a MIDI controller or a Flic button: give a button the radio action Command 1, Command 2, and so on, up to Command 10.
9.5. Good to know
The numbers matter: the keyboard and the controllers run a button by its number, whatever its name is.
Start App and Open Website work without a radio. Send CAT Command needs the connection.
A wrong CAT command can change settings of your radio. Try a new command with Test first.
9.6. On the iPhone
The iPhone shows the same list and the same screen to change a button.
10. Ultra Beam
The Ultra Beam tool controls an Ultra Beam antenna. The elements of an Ultra Beam are moved by motors, so the antenna can be tuned to any frequency from 40 m to 6 m. The tool sets the antenna’s frequency, band and direction, and it can make the antenna follow your radio.
You need the Ultra Beam RCU-06 control unit and the UltraBeam Remote Controller software on a Raspberry Pi. The app talks to that software over your network. No CAT cable between the radio and the control unit is needed, so the antenna follows whichever radio the app is connected to.
More about the antennas: https://go-to.me/ultrabeam
10.1. Quick start
Tap ⚙︎ and enter the IP address of the Raspberry Pi in Address.
Turn on Enabled. The top row changes to
Connected.Choose Follow TX in Automation, so the antenna follows your transmit frequency. Or leave it on Manual and tap a band button.
10.2. The screen
The top row shows the state of the connection:
Connected— the controller answers.Moving— the motors are moving the elements.Not connected— the controller doesn’t answer. Check the address in ⚙︎.Disabled— Enabled is off in ⚙︎.
The controls only work while the controller is connected.
10.2.1. Frequency
The large number is the frequency the antenna is tuned to, in MHz.
Retractedmeans the elements are pulled in.Tap the frequency to type a new one in MHz, for example
14.200.The arrows on the left and right move the frequency down or up by 5 kHz. While the elements are retracted, tap a band or type a frequency instead.
Tune to Current Frequency tunes the antenna to the radio’s transmit frequency, once.
10.2.2. Band
40, 30, 20, 17, 15, 12, 10 and 6 tune the antenna to the middle of that band. The current band is filled. A tap on the current band also works, for example to get back to the middle of the band.
10.2.3. Direction
Normal, 3/4 and Bi Dir. switch the antenna’s direction mode, the same modes the control unit offers. Bi Dir. makes the antenna work in both directions.
10.2.4. Retract
Retract pulls all elements in, for example before a storm.
10.3. Settings
Tap ⚙︎ for the Ultra Beam settings. Changes apply right away.
Address — the IP address or host name of the Raspberry Pi with the UltraBeam Remote Controller.
Enabled — connects to the controller. Turn it off when the antenna is not in use.
Automation — Manual: you set the frequency on this screen. Follow RX or Follow TX: the antenna follows the radio’s receive or transmit frequency by itself.
Open Controller Interface opens the controller’s web page in the browser. Use it to check the address.
10.4. Remote access
You can reach the controller from outside your home network:
In your router, forward a port to port 80 of the Raspberry Pi. Use another port than 80 on the outside, for example
20001.In Address, enter your public IP address or a DynDNS name, a colon and that port, for example
myhome.dyndns.org:20001.
With a VPN to your home network, the local address works too.
10.5. Good to know
With Follow RX or Follow TX, the antenna moves whenever the radio’s frequency changes, also when this screen is closed.
Tuning takes a moment, because the motors move the elements. The top row shows
Movingmeanwhile.The Ultra Beam can also get the frequency over a CAT cable through a Waveshare RS232 to ETH device, see the Waveshare chapter. You can use both at the same time.
For everything else about the antenna and the control unit, see the Ultra Beam manuals.
10.6. On the iPhone
The iPhone shows the same screen. ⚙︎ opens the settings as a full sheet; tap Done to close it.
11. Metropwr
The Metropwr tool controls network devices from Metropwr: the FX775 MK2 Power Meter, the antenna switches connected to it, and the RT1 Rotator Controller. Each device gets a small panel that floats over the screen, so you can watch your power and SWR or switch antennas while you work on the radio.
More about the devices: https://www.metropwr.com
Before you start, set up the devices as their manuals describe. Each device needs a LAN cable to your local network. The antenna switches are the exception: they don’t connect to the network themselves, but to a power meter. One power meter controls up to two antenna switches, connected one after the other.
11.1. Quick start
Tap + in the navigation bar.
Choose the Type and enter the IP Address of the device. The Port is filled in for you.
Tap Save.
Double-tap the device in the list. Its panel opens.
11.2. The screen
The screen lists your devices, one row each: Name, Type, Enabled and IP (address and port).
+ in the navigation bar adds a device. See Adding a device.
Tap a row to select it. Tap in the Enabled column to switch the device on or off.
Double-tap a row to open the device’s panel. This also switches the device on.
Touch and hold a row for Connect (opens the panel), Edit and Delete.
11.3. Adding a device
Tap + to add a device (New Device), or Edit to change one (Device Settings). Tap Save when you are done.
Type — FX775 MK2 Power Meter, FX775 MK2 Antenna Switch or RT1 Rotator Controller.
Name — the name in the list and on the panel. Left empty, the type is used.
IP Address — the address of the device. For an antenna switch, enter the address of the power meter it is connected to.
Port — filled in when you choose the type:
7120for the power meter and the antenna switch,7121for the RT1.Enabled — the app connects to the device. Enabled devices are connected when the app starts.
Auto open — opens the device’s panel when the app starts.
Below these, each type has its own settings. They are described with the panels.
11.4. The device panels
A panel floats over the screen. Drag it by its title bar to move it, and close it with the ✕ in its title bar.
Instead of the controls, a panel shows Not enabled when the device is switched off, Not connected while the
app can’t reach the device, or the error in red.
11.4.1. Power meter
Three meters: FWD (forward power, peak or average), REF (reflected power) and SWR. Tap the FWD meter to switch to the next power scale, from 10 W up to 6 kW.
CH1 and CH2 switch between the two channels of the power meter.
The black field shows the power, and on the right the SWR, the power in dBm or the reflected power. Tap the field to switch between them.
Mode switches between peak (
PeP) and average (Avg) power.The bottom line shows the impedance (R, Z, X), the frequency and the supply voltage.
In the device’s settings, section Power Meter:
Power Scale — the power scale, 10 Watt to 6 kW.
Display Mode — Peak-to-Peak or Average.
REF Display Mode — what the black field shows on the right: SWR, dBm or Reflected Power (W).
You can change these on the panel too. The next time the app starts, the values from the settings are back.
11.4.2. Antenna switch
The panel has one button per antenna. The selected antenna is highlighted. Tap a button to switch to that antenna. With two antenna switches, the second one has its own row of buttons.
In the device’s settings, sections Antenna Switch, Switch 1 and Switch 2:
Type — 1 Antenna Switch or 2 Antenna Switches.
Switch 1 — Antenna 1 to Antenna 4, the names of the first switch’s antennas. Switch 2 (with two switches) — Antenna 5 to Antenna 8. Only antennas with a name get a button.
Button Alignment — where the buttons sit in their row: Left, Centered, Filled (spread over the row) or Right.
11.4.3. RT1 rotator
The compass shows the direction of the antenna. Tap or drag on the compass to turn to a new direction.
The arrow buttons left and right of Stop turn the antenna 10° counterclockwise or clockwise. Stop stops it.
Type a direction in Degrees and tap Go.
Presets — your saved directions, for example
Home. Select one and tap Go, or double-tap it. Add saves a new one (the current direction is filled in), Edit changes the selected one, and the trash can deletes it.
In the device’s settings, section Rotator:
Azimuth offset (°) — corrects the direction the RT1 reports, in degrees.
11.5. Remote access
You can reach the devices from outside your home network:
In your router, open the port of each device:
7120for the power meter (and its antenna switches),7121for the RT1.In the device’s IP Address, enter your public IP address or a DynDNS name instead of the local address.
With a VPN to your home network, the local addresses and ports work as at home.
11.6. Good to know
Switch off (Enabled) a device you don’t use for a while. The app then doesn’t try to reach it.
Where the app shows the bearing to a station with Rotate to, for example in Call Lookup, a tap turns the antenna to that station while the RT1 is connected.
Closing a panel doesn’t switch the device off. Double-tap it in the list to open the panel again.
11.7. On the iPhone
The iPhone has the same list and the same panels. The list shows Name and Type; swipe it sideways for the other columns. The panels float over the screen; drag them aside or close them when you need the room.
12. Green Heron
The Green Heron tool controls the RT-21 rotator controller from Green Heron Engineering over your network. The rotator’s panel floats over the screen, so you can turn your antenna while you work on the radio.
You need an RT-21 with the LAN or WiFi option. Set it up as its manual describes. More about the RT-21: https://www.greenheronengineering.com
12.1. Quick start
Tap + in the navigation bar.
Enter a Name and the IP Address of the RT-21. Leave the Port at
6555unless you changed it in the RT-21’s setup.Tap Save.
Double-tap the rotator in the list. Its panel opens.
12.2. The screen
The screen lists your rotators, one row each: Name, Type, Enabled and IP (address and port).
+ in the navigation bar adds a rotator. See Adding a rotator.
Tap a row to select it. Tap in the Enabled column to switch the rotator on or off.
Double-tap a row to open the rotator’s panel. This also switches it on.
Touch and hold a row for Connect (opens the panel), Edit and Delete.
12.3. Adding a rotator
Tap + to add a rotator (New Device), or Edit to change one (Device Settings). Tap Save when you are done.
Type — RT-21 Rotator Controller.
Name — the name in the list and on the panel. Left empty, the type is used.
IP Address and Port — where the app finds the RT-21. The usual port is
6555.Enabled — the app connects to the rotator. Enabled rotators are connected when the app starts.
Auto open — opens the rotator’s panel when the app starts.
12.4. The rotator panel
The panel floats over the screen. Drag it by its title bar to move it, and close it with the ✕ in its title bar.
Instead of the controls, it shows Not enabled when the rotator is switched off, Not connected while the
app can’t reach the RT-21, or the error in red.
The compass shows the direction of the antenna. Tap or drag on the compass to turn to a new direction.
The arrow buttons left and right of Stop turn the antenna counterclockwise or clockwise until you tap Stop. The button of the direction it turns is highlighted.
Type a direction in Degrees and tap Go.
Presets — your saved directions, for example
Home. Select one and tap Go, or double-tap it. Add saves a new one (the current direction is filled in), Edit changes the selected one, and the trash can deletes it.
12.5. Remote access
You can reach the RT-21 from outside your home network:
In your router, open port
6555(or the port you set in the RT-21).In the rotator’s IP Address, enter your public IP address or a DynDNS name instead of the local address.
With a VPN to your home network, the local address and port work as at home.
12.6. Good to know
Where the app shows the bearing to a station with Rotate to, for example in Call Lookup, a tap turns the antenna to that station while the rotator is connected.
Closing the panel doesn’t switch the rotator off. Double-tap it in the list to open the panel again.
12.7. On the iPhone
The iPhone has the same list and the same panel. The list shows Name and Type; swipe it sideways for the other columns. The panel floats over the screen; drag it aside or close it when you need the room.
13. Waveshare
The Waveshare tool works with two kinds of small network devices from Waveshare:
The RS232 to ETH device gives an RS232 (serial) CAT connection over your network. The app sends your radio’s frequency and mode to it, so an antenna controller (for example the Ultra Beam RCU-06), an antenna tuner, a power amplifier or any other device with an RS232 CAT input follows your radio.
The Ethernet Relay device has eight relays and eight inputs. The relays can switch your radio or any other device, by hand or when you transmit. The inputs can key the radio (PTT) or show the state of something in the app.
Amazon links for the RS232 to ETH device: https://amzn.to/49ILUN5, or the PoE version https://amzn.to/4wo570o
Amazon link for the Ethernet Relay device: https://amzn.to/4dg1fWj
All variants of these devices work: with one or two Ethernet ports (the second one can connect further devices), and with or without Power over Ethernet (PoE). A PoE device can also get its power from a 7–36 V supply, like the others. You can buy them from Waveshare, or from online shops such as Amazon or eBay. Product pages:
RS232 to ETH: https://www.waveshare.com/product/rs232-485-422-to-poe-eth-b.htm
Ethernet Relay: https://www.waveshare.com/modbus-poe-eth-relay-b.htm
13.1. Quick start
Set up the device in its web page, see Setting up a Waveshare device.
In the app, tap + in the navigation bar.
Choose the Type, enter the IP Address of the device and leave the Port at
4196.Tap Save.
Double-tap the device in the list. Its panel opens.
13.2. Setting up a Waveshare device
The setup is the same for both kinds of device.
Connect the device to your local network with a LAN cable and power it on.
Open the device’s IP address in a web browser. It is often
x.x.x.254, wherex.x.xare the first three numbers of your local network, for example192.168.1.254. If you are not sure, look in your router’s list of devices, or on the Waveshare website.When the page asks for a password, leave it empty and tap the login button.
Change these settings:
Device IP — a fixed address outside the range your router hands out (DHCP).
Work Mode — TCP Client.
Device Port — keep
4196, unless you want to reach the device over the internet. Then give each device its own port.RS232 to ETH only: the Serial Settings the connected device needs, for example 9600 baud and its stop bits and parity.
Click Submit. The device can now be reached at its new address.
RS232 to ETH: connect it to your device with a normal RS232 cable. Depending on the connectors you may need a male-to-female or a female-to-female cable. A crossover cable is usually not needed.
Ethernet Relay: while you set it up, keep it where you can see it. Its blue LEDs show the state of the relays and inputs.
13.3. The screen
The screen lists your devices, one row each: Name, Type, Enabled and IP (address and port).
+ in the navigation bar adds a device. See Adding a device.
Tap a row to select it. Tap in the Enabled column to switch the device on or off.
Double-tap a row to open the device’s panel. This also switches the device on.
Touch and hold a row for Open, Edit and Delete.
13.4. Adding a device
Tap + to add a device (New Device), or Edit to change one (Device Settings). Tap Save when you are done.
Type — RS232 to ETH Device or ETH Relay Device.
Name — the name in the list and on the panel. Left empty, the type is used.
IP Address and Port — where the app finds the device. The usual port is
4196.Enabled — the app connects to the device. Enabled devices are connected when the app starts. Turn it off while a device is offline for a while.
Auto open — opens the device’s panel when the app starts.
Below these, each type has its own settings. They are described with the panels.
13.5. The device panels
A panel floats over the screen. Drag it by its title bar to move it, and close it with the ✕ in its title bar.
Instead of its content, a panel shows Not enabled when the device is switched off, Not connected while the
app can’t reach the device, or the error in red.
13.5.1. RS232 to ETH
The panel shows what the app sends to the device over CAT: VFO-A Frequency, VFO-B Frequency, Mode and
TX (On while you transmit). Without a connected radio it shows Radio Not connected.
In the device’s settings, section CAT:
Protocol — the CAT language the connected device understands: YAESU, Kenwood, FlexRadio or Elecraft. Kenwood is the most common.
Transceive — leave it off when the connected device asks for the frequency itself (polling). Turn it on when the app should send the frequency whenever it changes.
VFO A = TX VFO — on: VFO A carries your transmit frequency, VFO B the receive frequency. Off: the other way round. For tuners and antenna controllers, leave it on.
Note
For an Ultra Beam RCU-06 you can also use the Ultra Beam tool. A Waveshare device often gives the more reliable connection, but you can’t retract the elements or change the direction with it. You can use both at the same time.
13.5.2. Ethernet Relay
The upper row has a button for each relay with a name. A highlighted button means the relay is on. Tap it to switch the relay.
The lower row shows the inputs with a name. An input’s light is bright while the input is on.
In the device’s settings:
Buttons — Alignment: where the buttons sit in their row: Left, Centered, Filled (spread over the row) or Right.
Relays — tap Relay 1 to Relay 8 to set one up:
Name. Only relays with a name get a button.
Type: On / Off or Flash. A flash relay switches on for a moment only, for example to press a button on another device.
Trigger: None, On TX (on while you transmit) or On Connect (on while the app is connected to the radio).
Inputs — tap Input 1 to Input 8 to set one up:
Name.
Color of its light: Red, Green, Yellow or Blue. Black shows no light. The panel shows the inputs with a name or a color.
Trigger: None or PTT. With PTT, the radio transmits while the input is on, for example with a foot switch.
13.6. Remote access
You can reach the devices from outside your home network:
Give each device its own Device Port in its web page, and open that port in your router.
In the device’s IP Address, enter your public IP address or a DynDNS name instead of the local address, and its port in Port.
With a VPN to your home network, the local addresses and ports work as at home.
13.7. Good to know
The RS232 to ETH device only gets data while the app is connected to your radio.
Relays with On TX or On Connect switch by themselves, also while the panel is closed.
Closing a panel doesn’t switch the device off. Double-tap it in the list to open the panel again.
13.8. On the iPhone
The iPhone has the same list and the same panels. The list shows Name and Type; swipe it sideways for the other columns. The panels float over the screen; drag them aside or close them when you need the room.
14. S.A.T.
The S.A.T. tool works with the S.A.T. satellite controller from CSN Technologies. The S.A.T. turns your antennas (azimuth and elevation) to follow a satellite. The app tunes your radio to the satellite’s downlink and uplink and corrects the Doppler shift while the satellite passes.
The S.A.T. is a small box between your rotator and your network. It has a web page of its own. No CAT cable from the S.A.T. to the radio is needed: the app sets the radio’s frequencies.
More about the S.A.T.: http://csntechnologies.net/sat
Note
The S.A.T. tool is only on the iPad. Its screens are too large for the iPhone.
You need:
an S.A.T. device, set up as its manual describes (you can skip the part about a CAT cable to the radio),
a rotator for azimuth and elevation, for example a Yaesu G-5500, connected to the S.A.T.,
satellite antennas on that rotator, connected to your radio.
14.1. Quick start
Tap ⚙︎ and enter the IP address of the S.A.T. in Address. The S.A.T. shows it on its small screen.
Tap Enable. After a few seconds the status line at the bottom shows
No SAT selected.Tap Next passes and tap a satellite. The S.A.T. turns the antennas to it.
Tap a transponder in Transponders.
Turn on Enable Automatic Doppler Adjustment. The radio follows the satellite’s downlink and uplink.
14.2. The screen
14.2.1. The top row
Enable connects to the S.A.T. It is green with a checkmark while on.
The text field holds the satellite’s name. Type a name and tap Search to choose a satellite by name.
Next passes lists the satellites that pass over you next. See Next passes.
Stop stops the S.A.T. from following the satellite: the antennas stay where they are.
Rotator turns the antennas by hand. See Rotator.
Show S.A.T. opens the S.A.T.’s own web page in the browser:
14.2.2. Transponders
The transponders of the selected satellite, with their modes. Tap one to use it.
14.2.3. Radio control
Enable Automatic Doppler Adjustment — the app sets the radio’s receive and transmit frequency all the time, corrected for the Doppler shift. Selected Transponder shows the transponder in use.
RX: — the downlink: the transponder’s frequency, the Doppler shift in kHz, your own offset, and on the right the frequency the radio receives on.
TX: — the uplink, laid out the same way.
Your offset: < and > move it by 500 Hz; drag the wheel between them for small steps.
TX = RX, TX = - RX and Independent — how the TX offset follows the RX offset: the same, the opposite (most linear transponders), or not at all. With Independent you set the TX offset yourself.
Reset sets both offsets back to 0.
The status line at the bottom shows what the S.A.T. is doing, or an error in red.
14.3. Next passes
Next passes opens the list of the next passes over your location. Update asks the S.A.T. again; this can take up to a minute.
Each row shows the satellite, the start and end time of the pass (UTC), the highest and the current elevation (EL), and the azimuth at the start and end (AZ).
Green: the satellite is above the horizon now, the brighter the higher. Orange: the pass comes later.
Tap a row to choose that satellite. The S.A.T. turns the antennas to it, and its transponders appear.
14.4. Setting up the radio
Satellites receive and transmit on different frequencies, often on different bands (for example 2 m up and 70 cm down). Your radio must be able to receive on the downlink and transmit on the uplink at the same time.
You need two Slices: one to receive (the active Slice) and one to transmit (the TX Slice). The Doppler correction always goes to the active Slice for the downlink and to the TX Slice for the uplink. If you switch Slices, check that these are still the right ones.
When the downlink and uplink are on different bands, put the two Slices on two Panadapters, each on its band.
For 2 m and 70 cm you need transverters (except 2 m on the FLEX-6700). Name them
2mand70cm, and check that you can tune to these bands by hand.
Unless Don’t update Mode is on in ⚙︎, the app also sets the radio’s mode for the downlink and the uplink.
14.4.1. FT4 over a satellite
FT4 works with the S.A.T. tool and the app’s FT8 mode, also with the downlink and uplink on different bands and in different modes (for example 70 cm USB down and 2 m LSB up). Set up the radio as described above and check that the RX and TX frequencies are right. Then open FT8, set the band to Manual, choose FT4 and tap RX.
The Slices switch to DIGU / DIGL. The radio switches to the right Panadapter when it changes between receive and transmit. If the frequencies change in a wrong way, check that the transmit Slice still has the red TX flag and the other Slice is still the active one. One Slice can’t be both.
14.5. Rotator
Rotator opens the manual control of the rotator, for example to point the antennas before a pass or to use the S.A.T. as a plain rotator controller. Done closes it.
Azimuth and Elevation show the current directions. Tap one to choose what the compass and the Degrees field set.
Tap or drag on the compass to turn to a new direction.
The arrows turn the antennas up, down, left and right. Stop stops them.
Type a direction in Degrees and tap Go.
Ready and Park move the antennas to the ready and park positions stored in the S.A.T.
Presets — your saved positions, with azimuth and elevation. Add saves a new one, Edit changes the selected one, Delete removes it, and Go turns the antennas to it.
14.6. Logging a satellite QSO
When you choose a satellite, the three extra fields of the log entry become SAT Name, PROP Mode and SAT Mode,
and they are filled in: the satellite, SAT, and the satellite mode from the uplink and downlink bands (for example
VU for 2 m up and 70 cm down). The receive
and transmit frequencies of the entry follow the Doppler correction. This replaces the extra fields you had chosen
for the log entry; choose them again after your satellite contacts if you need them.
14.7. Settings
Tap ⚙︎ for the S.A.T. settings.
Address — the IP address of the S.A.T.
Don’t update Mode — the app leaves the radio’s mode alone and only sets the frequencies.
Update PL — sets the radio’s PL tone (CTCSS) for transponders that need one, and turns it off for the others.
14.8. Remote access
In your local network the S.A.T. works right away. From outside, you need a VPN to your home network: the S.A.T.’s own server can’t be reached safely by just opening a port. With the VPN, use the same address as at home.
14.9. Good to know
Stop at the top always stops the S.A.T. from moving the antennas.
If Next passes stays empty, the S.A.T. may follow too many satellites and run out of time. In the S.A.T.’s satellite list, keep only the satellites you are interested in.
With a controller (for example the CTR2), map SAT RX Offset and SAT TX Offset to a wheel to set the offsets.
15. Network Stats
Network Stats helps when the connection to your radio is not good: audio that drops out, a waterfall that stops, a radio that reacts slowly or disconnects. It measures your network once per second and tells you in plain words what it finds.
It also checks this device’s network when no radio is connected.
15.1. Quick start
Connect to your radio and open Network Stats. The measuring starts by itself.
Read the Hints at the top.
No problems found.means all is fine.Use the app as usual for a few minutes, or transmit, and watch the values.
To send the results to support, tap the share button.
15.2. The screen
15.2.1. The top row
Running forshows how long the stats have been measuring.Stoppedmeans they don’t measure.Start starts and stops measuring. It is green while the stats run.
The share button sends all values as a text report, for example by Mail or Messages, or copies it. Add it to a support request.
The trash can sets all values back to zero. Then you see whether a change you made helps.
15.2.2. Hints
The app looks at all values and explains what it finds:
A green check:
No problems found.A red sign: a real problem, for example the connection to the radio was lost, pings got no answer, or packets were lost.
An orange sign: something to look at, for example slow answers, ping times that vary a lot (jitter), or a radio in another subnet than this device.
A grey
i: good to know, for example a VPN is on, Low Data Mode is on, the device uses mobile data, or the internet doesn’t answer pings.
A radio at a public internet address (reached through the router at its site) is treated as a remote radio: no
subnet hint, and ping times count as slow only above 200 ms. Many routers don’t answer pings: when the pings to such
a radio get no answer but its packets arrive without loss, a grey i says the connection is fine.
15.2.3. Ping Times (last 2 minutes)
A chart of the ping times to the Radio and to the Internet, in milliseconds. Short spikes are normal. Many spikes, or a line that stays high, show a busy or weak network.
15.2.4. Radio
What the app knows about your radio:
Model, Serial Number, Firmware, Connection (LAN or SmartLink) and Connected Since.
Radio IP — the radio’s address in the network.
Connection Drops — how often the connection to the radio was lost while the stats ran. It should stay at 0.
15.2.5. Radio Ping
The app pings the radio once per second. This is only shown when the radio is connected over the network.
Now — the last ping time.
No answermeans the radio didn’t answer.Average and Min / Max — the ping times so far.
Jitter — how much the ping times change from one ping to the next. A high jitter makes audio stutter.
Lost — pings without an answer, for example
0 of 120 (0.0 %).
In a local network the radio answers within a few milliseconds.
With SmartLink, the radio is reached over the internet, so the times are longer. Up to about 200 ms still work.
Command Latency below shows how fast the radio answers a command (Now, Average, Min / Max). It should be close to the radio ping. Much longer times mean the radio itself is busy or slow: switching it off and on again often helps. It isn’t measured while you transmit.
15.2.6. Radio Streams
The data the radio sends and receives, one row per stream, and the Total:
RX Audio, Panadapter, Waterfall, DAX IQ and Meters.
Each row shows the packets received and how many were lost or broken. The numbers turn red when 1 % or more are lost.
On the right you see the data rate (kB/s) and how much data came in.
A few lost packets now and then are normal: the app covers them, and you won’t notice. Lost packets all the time point to a network problem.
Hint
Watch the streams while you transmit. If packets get lost only then, RF from your antenna disturbs the network (RFI). Ferrite chokes on the network cables, or another place for the network devices, help.
15.2.7. Internet Ping (1.1.1.1)
The same values as Radio Ping, for a server on the internet. The internet matters for SmartLink, Call Lookup, the DX Cluster and the other online tools. Up to about 50 ms is good.
Some networks block pings. Then all internet pings are lost, although the internet works.
15.2.8. This Device
Network — how this device is connected:
Wi-Fi,EthernetorMobile Data.VPN — a VPN can slow down or block the connection to the radio.
Low Data Mode — when it is on, the system may limit the data.
IPv4 and IPv6 — this device’s addresses.
Radio in This Subnet — whether the radio is in the same local network part (subnet) as this device. The app finds radios by itself only in the same subnet.
15.3. Stats keep running
The stats keep measuring when you leave the screen, so you can use the app as usual and look at the results later. The Network Stats tile shows a green dot while they run.
When you go back while the stats run, the app asks:
Keep Running — the stats go on measuring.
Stop — the stats stop.
Cancel — you stay on the screen.
Tap Start to stop the stats when you don’t need them any more.
15.4. Good to know
A radio far away in the network answers more slowly. In a local network, a network cable is faster and steadier than Wi-Fi, and 5 GHz Wi-Fi is better than 2.4 GHz.
Errors can also come from this device: for example while you switch to another app, or when it is very busy.
If the radio ping is much higher than the internet ping, look at your local network first: cables, Wi-Fi, switches.
More help: Common Issues.
15.5. On the iPhone
The iPhone shows the same sections, one below the other. Scroll down for the streams, the internet and this device.
16. Genius Devices
The Genius tool controls the network accessories from 4O3A: the Power Genius XL amplifier (PGXL), the Tuner Genius XL antenna tuner (TGXL), the Antenna Genius antenna switch (AGXL, V3 and V4) and the Rotator Genius rotator controller (RGXL).
The app talks to each device over your network. Each device gets its own small panel that floats over the screen, so you can watch your amplifier or turn your antenna while you work on the radio.
16.1. Quick start
Tap + in the navigation bar.
Tap Find Devices on the Network and tap your device in the list. Name, type, address and port are filled in for you.
Tap Save.
Tap the device in the list. The app connects, and the device’s panel opens.
16.2. The screen
The screen lists your devices. The top row shows how many there are.
+ in the navigation bar adds a device. See Adding a device.
Each row shows the device’s name, its type, its address and port, and its options (Auto open, and where its panel opens, for example On Panadapter).
The dot before each device shows whether it is reachable: green when its address answers a ping, red when it doesn’t answer, grey while it isn’t checked yet. A green link symbol instead of the dot means the device’s panel is open, so the app is connected to it.
Tap a row to connect to the device and open its panel.
Touch and hold a row for Open, Edit and Delete. You can also swipe a row to the left for Delete and Edit.
16.3. Adding a device
Tap + to add a device, or Edit to change one. Tap Save when you are done.
Name — the name in the list and on the panel.
Type — Power Genius, Tuner Genius, Rotator Genius, Antenna Genius V3 or Antenna Genius V4.
Is 3-Antenna Device (Tuner Genius only) — turn it on for the 3-antenna (SO2R) version of the tuner.
16.3.1. Network
IP Address and Port — where the app finds the device. Choosing a type fills in its usual port.
Remote access code — only needed when the device is not in your local network. See Remote access.
Find Devices on the Network lists the Genius devices the app finds in your local network. Tap one to take over its address, type, name and port.
16.3.2. Panel
Auto open — opens the panel by itself: when the app starts if Open on Panadapter is on, otherwise the first time you open this tool.
Open on Panadapter — shows the panel on the Panadapter instead of this tool’s screen. The app switches to the Panadapter when the panel opens.
Important
Your router may give a device a new IP address after a while. The app then can’t find it any more. In your router, give each Genius device a fixed address. This is often called static lease or always use the same IP address.
16.4. The device panels
A panel floats over the screen. Drag it by its title bar to move it; the app remembers where it was. A tap brings a panel to the front. Close it with the ✕ in its title bar; this also ends the connection to the device. Panels stay open when you switch to another tab.
Every panel has ⚙︎ in its title bar, left of the ✕, for the device’s settings, see Device settings. A panel that shows Offline has lost its connection.
16.4.1. Power Genius XL
The top line shows the state: Standby, Operate (green), or TX A / TX B (red) while transmitting.
An alarm appears in red, with Reset to clear it. Short notes in orange: APC (power control), Foldback and Unkey.
Power and SWR show while you transmit. Current always shows the amplifier’s current.
One row per input, A and B:
PTT turns red while this input transmits.
Band — the band, green when known. With the band source MANUAL, tap it to choose the band.
Bias — the bias class (AB or AAB, a T means tracking). Blue is automatic, orange is manual, green is set by the radio. Tap it to switch to the next bias.
Source — where the amplifier gets the band from. Tap it to choose: AUTO, FLEX, TCI, CI-V, CAT, BCD, P2B, RF SENSE or MANUAL. With FLEX it shows the radio’s name.
The bottom line shows the temperatures, the supply voltages and Operate. Tap Operate to switch between operate (green) and standby.
The 3-antenna PGXL has input A only, plus a button for each of its three antennas. The selected antenna is green.
16.4.2. Tuner Genius XL
The top line shows the state: Standby, Operate, Tuning or TX A / TX B.
Below it, an error in red and the tuner’s message (green when it has tuned).
Power and SWR show while you transmit.
One row per input, A and B:
A / B — the filled one is the active input. Tap the other one to make it active.
PTT turns red while this input transmits.
Band, Source and MHz — the band, where the tuner gets it from, and the frequency.
Ant — the antenna of a linked Antenna Genius (only shown when one is linked).
OPR / BYP — tap it to switch this input between operate (green) and bypass (orange).
Tune starts tuning. It is red while the tuner tunes.
Bypass puts the whole tuner in bypass (orange while on).
Operate switches between operate (green) and standby.
The 3-antenna TGXL has input A only, plus the buttons ANT 1 to ANT 3.
16.4.3. Antenna Genius
One row per antenna: the button for port A on the left, the antenna’s name in the middle, the button for port B on the right. The antenna of port A is green, the one of port B blue, as on the device.
Tap a number to switch that port to the antenna.
The Antenna Genius V4 shows more:
At the top, one row per port: the Band (with the band source MANUAL, tap it to choose the band), the band source, and TX in red while the port transmits. When a port is blocked, the reason appears in orange.
A tap on a number sets the port’s receive antenna, and the device picks the transmit antenna. While the port transmits, a tap sets the transmit antenna. On a port without a band, tapping the selected antenna again switches it off.
A port’s button is hidden when the antenna isn’t set up for the port’s band, and greyed out when the port can’t use it now (not enabled for receive, or for transmit while the port transmits, the in-band setting doesn’t fit, or the port is blocked).
Touch and hold a number for Transmit Antenna to choose the transmit antenna yourself. A button then shows RX or TX next to the number when the port receives and transmits on different antennas.
Outputs — the outputs in use. Tap one to switch it on (green) or off. Red means it is on for transmit.
The V4 8x1 model has no port B.
16.4.4. Rotator Genius
The top line shows Ready, or Turning and the target while the rotator turns.
The two buttons choose rotator 1 or 2. Each shows its name and direction.
Tap or drag on the compass to turn to that direction. Below it you see the rotation limits. A direction outside the limits is refused, with a message in red.
CCW and CW turn the rotator (Down and Up for an elevation rotator). Stop stops it.
Type a direction in Degrees and tap Go.
Presets opens the list of saved directions. + saves the current direction. Tap Go to turn to a preset, tap the preset to edit it, or swipe it to the left for Delete. A preset can turn rotator 1, rotator 2, both to the same direction, or both to their own directions.
16.5. Device settings
Tap ⚙︎ on a panel for the device’s own settings. They are stored on the device: change them, then tap Save. Cancel leaves them as they were.
16.5.1. All devices
Name — the name of the device.
Remote access code — the code the device asks for when you connect from outside your network (Power Genius XL, Tuner Genius XL, Antenna Genius V4). Enter the same code in the device list, see Remote access.
16.5.2. Power Genius XL
Fan mode, MEffa and Display brightness.
CAT A / CAT B — the band from the radio over a serial cable: Radio, Baud, Format, and the CI-V address (hex) for Icom radios.
TCI A / TCI B — the band over TCI: IP address, Port and TRX. Needs firmware 3.9.5 or newer.
Antennas (3-antenna PGXL) — the name and the bands of each antenna.
16.5.3. Tuner Genius XL
Display brightness, Tune method, and per input Bypass and Tune with PTT.
Genius Integration — links the tuner with a Power Genius XL and an Antenna Genius.
Band settings A / B — per band: the Antenna, a Bypass range, and Min. SWR (below this SWR the tuner doesn’t tune).
CAT, TCI and LAN per input — where the tuner gets the band from.
16.5.4. Antenna Genius
Antennas — tap an antenna for its name and the bands it may be used on (V4: separately for TX, RX and In-band).
V4 only: Band check, In-band port, the Band source of each port, Stack (two devices as 16x2) and the Outputs.
Reboot Device restarts the Antenna Genius, after asking.
16.5.5. Rotator Genius
The settings belong to the rotator selected on the panel: its Name, Limit CCW (°), Limit CW (°), Offset (°), and the Calibration.
16.5.6. Band data from the radio
The Power Genius XL, Tuner Genius XL and Antenna Genius can get the band from your FlexRadio. For this, pair them with the radio in the sections FlexRadio A and FlexRadio B:
Connect to the radio you want to pair with, and to the device in your local network.
Tap ⚙︎ on the device’s panel.
Tap Pair with Radio in FlexRadio A (and FlexRadio B if you use both inputs), then Save.
Unpair removes the pairing. Active, TX antenna, Antenna and PTT are set per input. The devices can also get the band over CAT, TCI or LAN, or by RF SENSE.
16.6. Remote access
You can reach your Genius devices from outside your home network:
In your router, open one TCP port per device:
Device
Port
Power Genius XL
9008
Tuner Genius XL
9010
Antenna Genius
9007
Rotator Genius
9006
Add the device a second time to the list, with your public IP address or a DynDNS name instead of the local address.
For the Power Genius XL and Tuner Genius XL, set a Remote access code in the device’s settings (⚙︎ on its panel), and enter the same code in this second entry.
You then have two entries per device: one for home, one for remote access. With a VPN to your home network, the normal entry works too.
16.7. Good to know
Find Devices on the Network only finds devices in the same local network.
Each device can have one panel open. A second tap on the device brings its panel to the front. Two devices of the same type can be open at the same time.
When a device refuses the remote access code, the app tells you. Check the code in both places.
Where the app shows the bearing to a station with Rotate to, for example in Call Lookup, a tap turns the antenna to that station while the Rotator Genius is connected.
Keep the firmware of your devices up to date with the 4O3A utility.
16.8. On the iPhone
The iPhone has the same list and the same panels. The panels float over the screen; drag them aside or close them when you need the room.
17. Band Plan
The band plan says which part of a band is meant for which modes: CW, digital modes, phone, beacons and so on, and how wide a signal may be there. The IARU sets it, and it differs from region to region.
The Band Plan tool shows the band plan of your region, band by band. It also has special band plans, for example for the QO-100 satellite or the shortwave broadcast bands. Tap a segment and the radio tunes to it. The app can also show the band limits and the segments on the waterfall.
17.1. Quick start
Tap ⚙︎ and check Your Region, for example Europe, Africa, Middle East, Northern Asia. The USA and Canada have their own entries.
Tap a band to unfold it. The band you are on is unfolded already.
Tap a segment. The radio tunes to it and the app shows the radio screen.
17.2. The screen
Unfold All opens all bands. When a band is open, the button reads Fold All and closes them all.
Band Plans chooses the band plans you see. See Band plans.
⚙︎ at the top right opens the settings. See Settings.
17.2.1. The list
Each band has its own section with its name and range, for example 20 Meter and 14.000 - 14.350 MHz.
A special band plan, for example Sat QO-100, is one section of its own. Tap a band to unfold or fold it.
Each row is one segment of the band:
The colored bar on the left: the kind of segment, in the same colors as on the waterfall, for example green for CW, blue for digital modes, yellow for FT8, FT4 and WSPR, red for all modes and grey for beacons.
The range, for example
14.070 - 14.099 MHz, and Max BW: the widest signal allowed there.Below: the modes for this segment.
The band and the segment the radio is on are shown in color, with a small radio wave symbol at the band. The app follows the radio: when you change the band, the new band unfolds by itself.
17.2.2. Tuning
Tap a segment to tune to it. The radio tunes into the segment and takes a fitting mode: CW in a CW segment, FM in an FM segment, USB or LSB where all modes are allowed. Then the app shows the radio screen. Touch and hold a segment for Tune.
Without a radio you can still read the band plan. The list then says
Connect to your radio to tune to a segment.
17.3. Band plans
Band Plans in the top row lists the band plans. Tap one to show or hide it. A checkmark means it is shown:
General — the amateur radio bands of your region.
Sat QO-100 — the narrow band transponder of the QO-100 satellite.
Broadcast — the shortwave broadcast bands, for listening.
The same choice decides what the waterfall shows. It is also in the settings, under Visible Band Plans.
17.4. Settings
Tap ⚙︎ to open the Band Plan settings.
Your Region — your IARU region. The band plan of this region is loaded. This is the same setting as Your Region in the app’s settings.
Show band limits on Waterfall — shows where a band starts and ends on the waterfall.
Show modes on Waterfall — shows the segments as colored lines on the waterfall.
Visible Band Plans — the band plans shown in the list and on the waterfall, the same as Band Plans in the top row. Tap a row to switch it on or off.
The same switches for the waterfall are also in the app’s settings under Spots (Band Limits and Band Modes).
17.5. Good to know
The band plan is a recommendation. Your licence and your country’s rules say what you may really do.
The band plan comes with the app’s data and is updated with it.
With no band plan chosen, the list is empty: choose one with Band Plans.
17.6. On the iPhone
The iPhone shows the same list. The settings open as a full screen: tap Done to close them.
18. Frequency List
The Frequency List is your own list of frequencies: stations you like to listen to, nets, repeaters, beacons or the shortwave broadcast stations of the EiBi schedule. Tap an entry twice, and the radio tunes to it.
18.1. Quick start
Open Frequency List in the Tools tab.
Tune the radio to a frequency you want to keep. Tap + at the top right: frequency and mode are filled in already. Enter a Name and tap Save.
Tap the entry twice to tune the radio to it later. The app then shows the radio screen.
For the shortwave broadcast stations: tap … and choose Download EiBi Schedule.
18.2. Memories and the Frequency List
The radio’s memories are kept in the radio and follow its limits; they are there whenever you use that radio.
The Frequency List is kept in the app, not in the radio, and is synced through iCloud with your other devices, so one list works with all your radios. An entry holds the frequency, the mode, a name, a comment and tags. Settings that belong to one radio, such as a CTCSS tone or a repeater offset, are not part of it.
18.3. The screen
18.3.1. The top row
The number of entries in the list, and how many of them are on the air right now (
on air).Search shows only the entries that contain the text. The x clears the search.
My List / Built-in chooses the list. See Two lists: yours and the built-in one.
On Air (the antenna button) shows only the entries that are on the air now. See On the air and near your frequency.
Near (the target button) shows only the entries near the frequency of the radio.
The funnel opens the Filter. It is filled while the filter is on. Touch and hold it to switch the filter on or off without opening it.
… has the tools for the list. See The … menu.
On Air and Near are filled while they are on. At the top right:
+ adds an entry to your list (not shown for the built-in list). See Adding and changing entries.
⚙︎ opens the settings, with the EiBi schedule. See EiBi shortwave schedule.
18.3.2. The list
One row per entry: Name, Freq (in MHz), Mode, Time and Days (the broadcast times of EiBi entries, in UTC), Tags, Comment and Date (when the entry was added or last changed). Mode is empty for an entry without a mode. The list is wider than the screen: swipe left and right to see all columns.
Tap a column title to sort by that column. Tap it again to reverse the order.
Tap twice on an entry to tune the radio to its frequency and mode. The radio must be connected. Then the app shows the radio screen.
Touch and hold an entry for a menu: Tune, and Edit and Delete in your own list, or Add to My List in the built-in list.
18.4. Two lists: yours and the built-in one
My List is your own list: you add, change and delete its entries.
Built-in is a list of commonly used frequencies that comes with the app and is updated with the app’s data updates. It can’t be changed, but you can search, filter and tune it like your own list. Touch and hold an entry and choose Add to My List to copy it into your list, where you can change it.
Note
Do you have frequencies that may be useful for others? Send them to the developer by e-mail, in any format. They may become part of the built-in list.
18.5. Adding and changing entries
Tap + at the top right to add an entry, or touch and hold an entry of your list and choose Edit. When the radio is connected, a new entry starts with its frequency and mode.
Name — the name of the station or channel.
Frequency (MHz) — for example
14.074or6.070. A comma works as well as a dot.Mode — the mode the radio is set to when you tune to the entry. None keeps the radio’s mode.
Comment — any text.
Tags — words to group and filter the entries, separated by commas, for example
Net, Weekend.
Tap Save, or Cancel to leave the entry as it was.
To delete an entry, touch and hold it and choose Delete. To delete many, see The … menu.
18.6. Filter
Tap the funnel to choose which entries the list shows:
Filter on switches the filter on and off. Changing a value switches it on.
Mode — only entries with this mode, or All.
Range — only entries in this frequency range, or All.
Tags — one or more tags, separated by commas. Entries with any of these tags are shown.
Reset Filter clears all values.
Touch and hold the funnel to switch the filter on or off without opening it.
18.7. On the air and near your frequency
Entries from the EiBi schedule carry their broadcast times (UTC) and days, shown in the Time and Days columns. An entry that is on the air right now has a green background, and the top row shows how many are on the air. Tap On Air (the antenna button) to show only those.
While the radio is connected, entries near the frequency of the radio have a blue background: within 0.5 kHz in CW, 1.5 kHz in SSB and RTTY, 3 kHz in AM and FM, 50 kHz in wide FM. Tap Near (the target button) to show only those, for example to find out which station you are listening to.
The frequency and the mode are those of the active slice.
18.8. EiBi shortwave schedule
The EiBi list (http://www.eibispace.de) holds the schedules of the shortwave broadcast stations. It is updated twice a year: the summer season (A) starts on the last Sunday of March, the winter season (B) on the last Sunday of October.
Choose Download EiBi Schedule in the … menu, or tap it in the settings at ⚙︎, to load the current season
into your list. The entries get the tag EiBi, the ITU country (for example ITU:CHN) and the language (for
example Language:E) as tags, so you can filter by them.
Import EiBi File… in the … menu reads an EiBi CSV file you downloaded yourself.
Tap ⚙︎ at the top right for the Frequency List Settings:
Current season — for example
B26for the winter season 2026 / 2027.In my list — how many EiBi entries your list has.
Replace old EiBi entries — on (the default): a download or an EiBi file import replaces the EiBi entries of your list, so the old season is gone; your other entries stay. Off: the new entries are added to the ones you have.
Download EiBi Schedule — the same as in the … menu.
18.10. Import formats
The best format is the one the app writes with Export Shown Entries…: a plain text file, separated by semicolons, with a header line. The app reads other lists too, as long as they have a header line with these column names. The fields may be separated by commas, semicolons or tabs; the app finds out which.
Header |
Value |
|---|---|
|
The frequency in Hz |
|
The mode |
|
The name |
|
The comment |
|
The tags |
Missing columns get default values; other columns are left out. Most frequency lists can be read this way, also
Icom memory files (.mem).
A file with other column names: change the header line in a text editor first.
A file with the frequency in kHz or MHz: change it to Hz first.
XML or JSON files: convert them to CSV first, for example with one of the converters on the web.
An import adds the entries to your list. To replace your list, delete the old entries first with Delete Shown Entries….
18.11. Good to know
Tuning needs the radio connected; the list itself works without it.
A search or a filter never deletes anything: the hidden entries are still in your list. But Change Shown Entries… and Delete Shown Entries… work on exactly the entries you see.
Delete and Delete Shown Entries… can’t be undone. Export your list first if you are not sure.
18.12. On the iPhone
The iPhone shows the same screen. Search gets its own line, together with On Air, Near, the funnel and …. Swipe the list left and right to see all columns.
19. Call Lookup
Call Lookup tells you more about a call sign: the country, zones, distance and bearing, and whether you have worked the station before. With an account at QRZ.com or HamQTH you also get the name, the address, the exact location and often a photo.
The same results also open from other places: the log window, the Logbook, the DX Cluster, PSK Reporter, the modes and the maps. There they show in a sheet; tap Done to close it.
19.1. Quick start
Type a call sign in Call sign. The country, zones and your QSOs with this station appear at once.
Tap QRZ.com or HamQTH for the station’s details. This needs an account (see Accounts).
Without an account, tap Website to see the station’s page on QRZ.com.
19.2. The screen
19.2.1. The top row
Call sign — type the call here. The results change while you type. The x clears the call and the results.
19.2.2. The results
The title says where the results come from, for example Results for DL8MRE (based on QRZ.com):
based on Country level— from the call’s prefix only. The country is right, but the position is the middle of the country.based on internal database— the app knows this station from its own list of active stations, often with its locator.based on QRZ.comorbased on HamQTH— after a lookup at that service.
You see:
Name, when it is known.
Country, DXCC, Continent, CQ-Zone and ITU-Zone.
Grid Locator and State, when they are known.
Distance from your station in km and miles.
Bearing (SP) and Bearing (LP) — the direction to turn your beam to: short path and long path. Rotate to turns your rotator there. It works when the app controls a rotator.
Position — where the station is. Show on Map shows it on a map with a line from your station.
Distance and bearing need your own locator: Grid (QTH Locator) in the app’s settings.
19.2.3. Lookup
HamQTH and QRZ.com look the call up at that service. The results above are updated, and more details appear below: for example address, QSL information, e-mail, a link to the station’s web page (Open opens it) and the station’s photo.
Website opens the station’s page on QRZ.com in your browser. It needs no account.
19.2.4. QSO before
Your QSOs with this station from the Logbook: date, band and mode. None means you haven’t worked it yet.
19.3. Accounts
QRZ.com and HamQTH need a user name and password. Enter them in the app’s settings:
Call databases: HamQTH and Call databases: QRZ.com.
Test HamQTH and Test QRZ.com there check your account. An account at HamQTH is free.
19.4. Good to know
The country comes from the call’s prefix, also for calls like
PJ5/SP9FIH: here the country ofPJ5.An invalid call shows
No results forand the call, and nothing is looked up.The internal list of stations is updated with the app now and then. A lookup at QRZ.com or HamQTH is always current.
The tool keeps the last call while the app runs.
19.5. On the iPhone
The iPhone shows the same results, one below the other. Rotate to and Show on Map are below their values. Scroll down for the lookup details and your QSOs.
20. DX-Cluster
A DX cluster is a network where radio amateurs report the stations they hear: the call, the frequency and a short comment. Such a report is called a spot. The DX-Cluster tool shows these spots in a list. Tap twice on a spot and the radio tunes to it.
The app knows several DX clusters, for example DX Summit or the Reverse Beacon Network. You can also add your own cluster node, or a CW Skimmer on your own computer. The spots can also be shown on the waterfall.
20.1. Quick start
Check that your call is in the app’s settings under HAM Radio (Your Call). Most clusters ask for it.
Open DX-Cluster and tap Connect. The first spots appear after a few seconds.
Tap twice on a spot. The radio tunes to its frequency and shows the radio screen.
Touch and hold a spot for more: look up the call, show it on a map, or see all its details.
20.2. The screen
20.2.1. The top row
On the left you see the name of the cluster and, below it, what the tool is doing (
Connecting...,Receiving..., an error) and the number of spots.Search shows only the spots that contain your text. See Search.
Connect connects to the cluster and disconnects again. It is green while connected.
The funnel opens the filter. It is filled while the filter hides spots. Touch and hold it to switch the filter on or off without opening it. See Filter.
The trash can clears the list. New spots keep coming in.
The map button shows all spots of the list on a map. See Map.
⚙︎ at the top right opens the settings. See Settings.
20.2.2. The list
The newest spots are at the top. Green rows came in with the last update.
DX Call, Country and Grid: the station that was heard.
CQ and ITU: its zones.
Freq and Band: where it was heard.
Spotter: who heard it. Comment: the spotter’s comment, for example the mode or the signal.
Time: when it was heard (UTC).
The list is wider than the screen: swipe left and right to see all columns. Tap a column title (DX Call, Country, CQ, ITU, Freq, Band or Time) to sort by it. Tap it again to reverse the order.
20.3. Using a spot
Tap twice on a spot to tune to it. The radio takes the frequency, and a fitting mode from the band plan (CW, FM, or USB / LSB where all modes are allowed). The call goes into the log entry, and the app shows the radio screen.
Touch and hold a spot for a menu:
Tune — the same as tapping twice.
Look up — looks up the call.
Look up Spotter — looks up the spotter.
Show on Map — shows the station and the spotter on a map.
Details — everything about the spot: the station (country, zones, DXCC, continent, position), the spot (frequency, band, mode, time, comment) and the spotter. The same actions are at the bottom.
20.4. Search
Type in Search to see only some spots. The text is looked for in the call, the spotter and the comment. Upper and lower case don’t matter. Examples:
JA— all spots with JA in the call, the spotter or the commentFT8— all spots with FT8 in the commentVK, ZL— spots that match one of the terms (separate them with commas)cq=14oritu=28— stations in this CQ or ITU zone.spottercq=14andspotteritu=28look at the spotter’s zone.
The ✕ in the field clears it. The search is cleared when the app starts again.
20.5. Filter
The funnel opens the filter. Unlike the search, the filter is kept. Touch and hold the funnel to switch the filter on or off without opening it.
Enable Filters switches the whole filter on and off. Your entries are kept.
General: Bands and Modes open a list. Tick what you want to see. All at the top ticks everything, None removes all ticks, so you can tick just a few. Nothing ticked shows everything, as All does. Comments shows only spots with one of these words in the comment.
DX Station: the station that was heard. CQ-Zones, ITU-Zones and Prefixes take several entries, separated by commas, for example
14, 15, 16orDL, OE, HB9. Countries opens a list of all countries with a search field.Spotter: the same for the spotter. For example,
DL, ON, PAin Prefixes shows only spots from spotters whose call starts with DL, ON or PA.An entry starting with
-hides matching spots instead. For example,-K, -Win Prefixes hides calls that start with K or W.Reset All Filters clears all entries.
Changes work right away. Tap Done to close the filter.
20.6. Map
The map button shows all spots of the list on a map:
Red pins are the stations, green pins the spotters. A green line joins each spotter and the station it heard.
The house is your own station. It needs Grid (QTH Locator) in the app’s settings under HAM Radio.
Tap a pin to see its details, the distance and the direction from your station, and Look Up Call.
The buttons at the top left: show all pins again, globe view on and off, satellite pictures on and off.
On this map a station is often placed in the middle of its country, because only the call is known. Show on Map of a single spot looks up the exact places of the station and the spotter on QRZ.com or HamQTH. It needs your login for one of them in the app’s settings (Call Lookup).
20.7. Settings
Tap ⚙︎ to open the DX-Cluster settings.
20.7.1. General
Auto Start when App starts — connects to the cluster by itself when the app starts.
Show Spots on Waterfall — shows the spots on the waterfall. This is the same switch as DX-Cluster in the app’s settings under Spots.
Max. Spot age — removes older spots from the list: 10 Min., 1 Hour, 1 Day or All.
Update interval (Sec.) — how often the list is updated, from 10 to 99 seconds.
20.7.2. Server
Server — the cluster to use. A new choice clears the list. Tap Connect to connect to it.
Add Server — adds your own server and selects it. Fill in its fields:
Title — the name shown in the list.
Address / IP — the address of the cluster node, or of the computer that runs CW Skimmer.
Port — the port of the server.
Type — Telnet for a DX cluster node, Skimmer for a CW Skimmer, Web or Web API for a web server.
Initial Command — text that is sent right after connecting.
{CALL}is replaced by your call,\nstarts a new line. Most nodes ask for your call first, so start with{CALL}. For example,{CALL}\nsh/dx 50logs in and then asks for the last 50 spots.
Delete Server — deletes your own server. It is only there when one of your own servers is selected.
All changes are saved right away.
20.8. Good to know
The connection stays when you leave the screen or switch to another tab. Only Connect ends it.
If a cluster asks for your call and the app has none, the top row shows an error. Enter Your Call in the app’s settings.
The Reverse Beacon Network (RBN) and CW Skimmers report what their receivers decode by themselves. They send many spots: use the filter.
The servers in the list come with the app’s data. You can’t change them, but you can add your own.
20.9. On the iPhone
The iPhone shows the same screen. Search gets its own line, together with the funnel, the trash can and the map button.
The list starts with DX Call, Freq, Time and Spotter, so these show without scrolling. Swipe the list left to see the other columns: Country, Band, Grid, CQ, ITU and Comment.
The settings open as a full screen: tap Done to close them.
21. POTA
Parks on the Air (POTA) is an award program: radio amateurs go to parks and nature reserves and make contacts from there. They are called activators. The POTA tool shows who is on the air from a park right now, with the data from https://pota.app.
Tap twice on a spot and the radio tunes to the activator. The park goes into your log entry, so the contact is logged with the park reference.
21.1. Quick start
Open POTA and tap Start. The spots appear after a few seconds and are updated by themselves.
Tap twice on a spot. The radio tunes to the activator and shows the radio screen. Your log entry is filled in with the call and the park.
Make the contact and log it.
21.2. The screen
21.2.1. The top row
On the left you see what the tool is doing (
Loading...,Waiting..., an error) and the number of spots.Search shows only spots whose call, park, park name or location contain your text, for example
K4,US-2012orDE-. The ✕ in the field clears it.Start loads the spots and keeps them up to date. It is green while running. Tap it again to stop.
The funnel opens the filter. It is filled while the filter is on. Touch and hold it to switch the filter on or off without opening it. See Filter.
The trash can clears the list until the next update.
The map button shows all spots of the list on a map. See Map.
⚙︎ at the top right opens the settings. See Settings.
21.2.2. The list
The newest spots are at the top.
Call: the activator.
Park: the park reference, for example
US-2012. Location: the state or region, for exampleUS-TN.Mode, Freq and Band: where the activator is.
Spotter: who reported it. Comment: the spotter’s comment.
Time: how long ago the spot came in.
The list is wider than the screen: swipe left and right to see all columns. Tap a column title (Call, Park, Location, Mode, Freq, Band or Time) to sort by it. Tap it again to reverse the order.
21.3. Using a spot
Tap twice on a spot to work the activator. The radio tunes to the spot. A CW spot switches the radio to CW; for a phone spot it takes USB, LSB or FM, as the band plan says. Your log entry gets the call, the mode, the park as comment (for example
POTA US-2012@US-TN) and the park in POTA Ref. Then the app shows the radio screen.FT8, FT4 and data spots are not tuned: tapping twice only fills in your log entry. See Good to know.
Touch and hold a spot for a menu:
Tune — the same as tapping twice. For FT8, FT4 and data spots it reads Fill in Log Entry.
Park on pota.app — opens the park’s page on pota.app.
Activator on pota.app — opens the activator’s page on pota.app.
Show on Map — shows the park on a map, with the distance and the direction from your station.
Details — everything about the spot: the activation (park name, location, grid, how many spots), the spot (frequency, mode, time, spotter, source, comment). The same actions are at the bottom.
21.4. Filter
The funnel opens the filter. Touch and hold it to switch the filter on or off without opening it.
Enable Filters switches the filter on and off.
Show only: Band shows one band only, Mode one kind of mode only (CW, Phone, FT4, FT8 or Data). All shows everything.
Changes work right away. Tap Done to close the filter.
21.5. Map
The map button shows all spots of the list on a map:
Each red pin is an activator in its park. The house is your own station. It needs Grid (QTH Locator) in the app’s settings under HAM Radio.
Tap a pin to see the park, the frequency, the mode and the time, the distance and the direction from your station, and Look Up Call.
The buttons at the top left: show all pins again, globe view on and off, satellite pictures on and off.
21.6. Settings
Tap ⚙︎ to open the POTA settings.
Show Spots on Panadapter — shows the activators on the waterfall. This is the same switch as POTA in the app’s settings under Spots.
Update interval (Sec.) — how often the spots are loaded again: every 20, 30, 60 or 120 seconds.
21.7. Good to know
The spots keep being updated when you leave the screen. Only Start stops it.
A new Start loads the list from scratch.
FT8, FT4 and data spots: the spotted frequency is not exactly where the activator is, so the radio is not tuned. Tapping twice fills in your log entry. Then open the FT8 mode on that band and look for the activator’s call there. FT8 spots are not shown on the waterfall.
Spots without a position (for example a park without coordinates) are left out on the map.
21.8. On the iPhone
The iPhone shows the same screen. Search gets its own line, together with the funnel, the trash can and the map button. Swipe the list left and right to see all columns. The settings open as a full screen: tap Done to close them.
22. PSK Reporter
PSK Reporter (https://pskreporter.info) collects reception reports from stations all over the world. Receivers that decode digital modes like FT8, FT4 or JS8 report every call they hear.
The PSK Reporter tool asks PSK Reporter who heard your signal, and how well. Send a CQ or make a contact, then search for your call: you see right away where your signal arrives. It works for any other call too.
The app can also send your own reports to PSK Reporter. See Sending your own reports.
22.1. Quick start
Send something on a digital mode, for example a few CQ calls in FT8.
Open PSK Reporter. Choose Who heard and type your call.
Tap Search. The list shows every station that heard you, with the signal and the distance.
Tap the map button to see them on a map.
22.2. The screen
22.2.1. The top rows
On the left you see the number of reports, or a message from PSK Reporter.
The funnel opens the filter. It is filled while a filter is set. See Filter.
The map button shows the reports on a map. See Map.
⚙︎ at the top right opens the settings. See Settings.
Below that you choose what to search for:
Who heard — the stations that heard a call. Type your own call to see who heard you.
Heard by — the stations one receiver heard. Type the call of that receiver (the spotter).
The call field — the call to search for.
Search asks PSK Reporter. Pressing Return in the call field does the same.
PSK Reporter answers once. To see new reports, tap Search again (not more often than every 5 minutes).
22.2.2. The list
What the list shows depends on the search:
Who heard: Time, Spotter (who heard the call), Country, Freq, Band, Mode, SNR (the signal in dB) and Distance (from your station to the spotter).
Heard by: the same, with Call (the station that was heard) instead of Spotter.
Without a call: Call and Spotter, each with its Country, and no distance.
Time shows how long ago the report came in. The newest reports are at the top.
The list is wider than the screen: swipe left and right to see all columns. Tap a column title to sort by it. Tap it again to reverse the order.
Tap a report to see its details: the heard station and the spotter, each with country, region, locator, distance and direction, and the spotter’s antenna and software.
Touch and hold a report for a menu: Details, and Look up for the calls in the row.
22.3. Searching without a call
Leave the call field empty to see all reports. PSK Reporter has a great many of them, so you first have to set a Band or a Mode in the filter. Then Search can be tapped.
22.4. Filter
The funnel opens the filter.
Band — only reports on one band.
Mode — only reports in one mode, for example FT8 or CW.
Time — only reports from the last 10 minutes up to the last 24 hours.
All shows everything. Tap Done to close the filter. When you changed Band, Mode or Time, the app searches again as soon as you close it.
22.5. Map
The map button shows the reports of the list on a map:
Red pins are the stations that were heard, green pins the stations that heard them (the spotters). A green line joins each spotter with the station it heard.
With Who heard, the call you searched for is in the middle, with lines to everybody who heard it. With Heard by, the spotter you searched for is in the middle, with lines to every station it heard.
The house is your own station. It needs Grid (QTH Locator) in the app’s settings under HAM Radio.
Tap a pin to see the country, the locator, the report (frequency, mode, signal and time), the distance and the direction from your station, and Look Up Call.
The buttons at the top left: show all pins again, globe view on and off, satellite pictures on and off.
Reports without a locator are left out on the map.
22.6. Settings
Tap ⚙︎ to open the PSK Reporter settings.
22.6.1. Reports
Distance in miles (not km) — shows the distances in miles.
22.6.2. Submission
Send spots to PSK Reporter — sends the stations you decode to PSK Reporter. See below.
Antenna — your antenna, for example
Dipole. It is sent with your reports and shown to others.
22.7. Sending your own reports
PSK Reporter lives from the many stations that send their reports. With Send spots to PSK Reporter on, the app sends the stations you decode in FT8, FT4 and JS8. Nothing else needs to be set up. Your call and your locator come from the app’s settings.
The same switch is in the app’s settings under PSK Reporter, as Propagate Spots. There you also find Update Interval: how often the app sends its reports (every 5, 10 or 15 minutes).
22.8. Good to know
It can take up to 15 minutes until a report shows up: receivers send their reports every few minutes, and PSK Reporter updates its data every 5 minutes.
PSK Reporter refuses the same search within 5 minutes. The top row then says
Too many identical requests within 5 minutes. Wait a little and search again.Nothing found.means nobody reported the call in that time. Check the call, or set Time to a longer time.For the distances, set Grid (QTH Locator) in the app’s settings.
22.9. On the iPhone
The iPhone shows the same screen. Who heard and Heard by get their own line above the call field. Swipe the list left and right to see all columns. The settings open as a full screen: tap Done to close them.
23. CW Macros
CW macros are texts you send often in CW, for example your CQ call, a report or the end of a QSO. You type them once, and then send each one with a single tap.
Placeholders like {CALL} or {MYCALL} are filled in when the macro is sent, so one macro works for every QSO.
You have 12 macros.
23.1. Quick start
In the Tools tab, open Macros, then CW Macros.
Tap the row 1. Enter
CQin Name andCQ CQ CQ DE {MYCALL} {MYCALL} Kin Text. Tap Save.Open the CW mode. Your macro is the button CQ below the red bar. Tap it to send it.
23.2. The screen
One row per macro: its number, its name and the start of its text. An empty macro shows No name.
Tap a row to change the macro. See Changing a macro.
Swipe a row to the left for Edit and Clear. Clear empties the macro, after you confirm it.
Touch and hold a row for the same two actions.
23.3. Changing a macro
Name — the title of the macro’s button. Keep it short, for example
CQor73. A macro without a name gets no button.Text — what is sent. It can be several lines long.
Tap Save, or Cancel to leave the macro as it was.
23.3.1. Writing the text
Placeholders are filled in when the macro is sent. The most useful ones:
{MYCALL}— your own call.{CALL}— the call of the station you work: in the CW mode the call in DX, elsewhere the call in the log entry.{NR}— your report or contest number.{LOG}— logs the QSO.
All placeholders are listed in Macros.
Prosigns: put
^in front of the letters, for example^BKor^SK. The letters are sent as one sign, without a gap.The text is always sent in capital letters.
Example QSO:
Name |
Text |
|---|---|
CQ |
|
Answer |
|
Contest |
|
73 |
|
23.4. Sending a macro
The same macros are used everywhere in the app:
In the CW mode: the buttons below the red bar.
In the Macro Bar on the radio screen, while the radio is in CW.
With the keyboard of the iPad: Option-1 to Option-9 send the macros 1 to 9, Option-X stops.
With a controller, for example a MIDI controller or a Flic button: give a button the radio action Macro 1, Macro 2, and so on.
How to open the Macro Bar: Macros.
23.5. RTTY and PSK macros
RTTY Macros and PSK Macros (Tools > Macros) work the same way, with the same placeholders. Their macros show
below the red bar of the RTTY and the PSK mode, and in the Macro Bar while that mode receives or sends.
Prosigns with ^ are for CW only.
23.6. Good to know
Only macros with a name get a button.
{LOG}logs the QSO at the moment the macro is sent. Put it into the macro that ends the QSO.Outside the CW mode,
{CALL}and{NR}come from the log entry. Check that the call there is the station you work.
23.7. On the iPhone
The iPhone shows the same list and the same screen to change a macro.
24. Voice Macros
Voice macros are short recordings of your own voice, for example your CQ call or your name and QTH. You record them once with the microphone of your iPad or iPhone, or with a headset. Then you send them in SSB, AM or FM with a single tap, as often as you like. You have 12 voice macros.
24.1. Quick start
In the Tools tab, open Macros, then Voice Macros.
Tap the row 1. Enter
CQin Name.Tap Record, say your CQ call, then tap Stop.
Tap Play to listen to it. Tap Save.
Set the radio to SSB. Swipe the row to the right and tap Send.
24.2. The screen
One row per macro: its number, its name, and the length of its recording, for example 6.2 s.
A macro without a recording shows No recording. A wave sign at the end of the row shows the macro that is
playing; it is red while the macro is sent.
Tap a row to record or change the macro. See Recording a macro.
Swipe a row to the right and tap Send to send the macro.
Swipe a row to the left for Edit and Clear. Clear deletes the name and the recording, after you confirm it.
Touch and hold a row for Send, Play on speaker, Edit and Clear.
While a macro is recorded, played or sent, a row at the top shows it, for example
Sending Macro 1 · 2 s. Stop ends it.⚙︎ in the navigation bar: the levels. See Settings.
24.3. Recording a macro
The screen works like a tape recorder. At the top is a level meter, and below it the state of the macro,
for example No recording, 4.8 s recorded or Recording · 2.3 s. ON AIR means the macro is being sent.
Record starts recording. The button changes to Stop: tap it when you have finished speaking. A new recording replaces the old one.
Play plays the macro on your device. Nothing is sent.
Send sends the macro over the air. Tap it again (Stop) to stop sending.
Clear deletes the recording.
Name — the title of the macro’s button. A macro you record without a name is called
Macro 1,Macro 2and so on.Levels & Delay — tap it to show the levels, the same as in Settings. You can set them here while you try the macro.
Tap Save to keep the name. Cancel gives the macro its old name back.
A recording is saved as soon as you tap Stop, and Clear deletes it at once: Cancel doesn’t undo them. Record, Play and Send need the connection to your radio.
24.4. Sending a macro
Set the radio to SSB, AM or FM. Then send a macro:
from the list: swipe it to the right and tap Send,
from the Macro Bar on the radio screen: it shows the voice macros while the radio is in a voice mode,
with the keyboard of the iPad: Option-1 to Option-9 send the macros 1 to 9, Option-X stops,
with a controller, for example a MIDI controller or a Flic button: give a button the radio action Macro 1, Macro 2, and so on.
How to open the Macro Bar: Macros.
The app switches the radio to transmit, sends the recording, and switches back to receive at its end.
The radio’s microphone must be the iPad or iPhone: in the radio’s transmit controls, tap the microphone button and choose iPad or iPhone. Otherwise the app tells you so and sends nothing. While the macro is sent, DAX is switched off for a moment.
24.6. Settings
Tap ⚙︎ in the navigation bar for the Voice Macro Settings:
The changes work at once. 0 on a slider means Off.
Recording gain — the level of the microphone while you record. Watch the level meter: when you speak, the bar should reach the yellow part, but not the red one.
Speaker gain — how loud a macro plays on your device.
TX gain — the level sent to the radio. Set it once while you watch the radio’s ALC, as for your normal microphone.
TX delay — a short pause after the radio has switched to transmit, before the macro starts, in milliseconds, for example
200 ms. Raise it if the first word is cut off.
24.7. Good to know
For the best sound, record with a headset in a quiet place, and find the right balance between Recording gain and TX gain.
Only macros with a name get a button in the Macro Bar.
Closing the screen of a macro stops it, if it is still playing or being sent.
A voice macro made as Text to speech in an older version of the app is played on your device only. To send a typed text with a computer voice, use the Speech mode and its Speech Macros.
24.8. On the iPhone
The iPhone shows the same list and the same screens. The settings open as a sheet: Done closes them. Option keys need a keyboard connected to the iPhone.
25. Recordings
Recordings keeps the receive audio of your radio, for example a pile-up, a net or a weak station, to listen to it again, to save it as a file or to transmit it.
25.1. Quick start
Open Recordings in the Tools tab.
Tap Record. The screen shows
Recordingand the running time.Tap Stop when you have what you want. The recording is in the list.
Tap the recording to listen to it.
25.2. The screen
Record at the top starts a recording of the receive audio. The button changes to Stop: tap it to end the recording. While it records, the time is shown next to the button, for example
Recording · 1:35. The recording goes on when you leave the screen or switch to another tab; the green dot on the Recordings tile shows it.Below it, the recordings, the newest first. Each shows its title (the date and time it was started, for example
2026-11-02 14:05:12), its length and date, and below them the frequencies of your slices (RX) and the transmit frequency (TX) at the time.While a recording plays or is sent, a row at the top shows it, for example
Playing 2026-11-02 14:05:12, with its progress and a Stop button.
25.3. Using a recording
Tap a recording to play it on the speaker of your iPad or iPhone. Tap it again to stop.
Swipe right on a recording to transmit it.
Swipe left for Rename and Delete.
Touch and hold a recording for all actions:
Play on speaker — plays it on your device. Nothing is sent.
Transmit — sends the recording on the air. The app switches the radio to transmit, sends it, and switches back to receive at its end, as it does for voice macros.
As for the voice macros, the radio’s microphone must be the iPad or iPhone: in the radio’s transmit controls, tap the microphone button and choose iPad or iPhone. Otherwise the app tells you so and sends nothing. While the recording is sent, DAX is switched off for a moment.
Export… — saves the recording as a WAV file: the Files dialog opens, choose a folder, for example in iCloud Drive, and tap Save.
Rename — gives the recording another title.
Delete — deletes the recording, after you confirm it.
Recording and transmitting need the connection to your radio; the screen says so when it is missing. Playing on the speaker works without it.
25.4. Settings
Tap ⚙︎ at the top right for the Recordings Settings:
Speaker gain — how loud a recording plays on your device.
TX gain — the level sent to the radio. Set it once while you watch the radio’s ALC.
0 means Off. The voice macros use the same two levels: a change here changes them there too.
25.5. Good to know
Before you transmit a recording, check that your licence allows it: many countries don’t allow sending what other stations or broadcast stations said.
Recordings stay on this device. Export a recording to keep it somewhere else.
25.6. On the iPhone
The iPhone shows the same screen. The settings open as a full screen: tap Done to close them.
26. Speech Macros
Speech macros are texts that the Speech mode speaks and sends over the air with a computer voice, for example your CQ call or the end of a QSO. Nothing is recorded: you type the text, and the app’s voice speaks it. You have 12 Speech macros.
Placeholders like {MYCALL} are filled in when the macro is sent, so one macro works for every QSO.
The Speech mode needs iOS 26.
26.1. Quick start
In the Tools tab, open Macros, then Speech Macros.
Tap the row 1. Enter
CQin Name andCQ, CQ, CQ, this is {MYCALL} calling and listening.in Text. Tap Save.Open the Speech mode and tap TX. Your macro is the button CQ below the red bar. Tap it to send it.
26.2. The screen
One row per macro: its number, its name and the start of its text. An empty macro shows No name.
Tap a row to change the macro.
Swipe a row to the left for Edit and Clear. Clear empties the macro, after you confirm it.
Touch and hold a row for the same two actions.
26.3. Changing a macro
Name — the title of the macro’s button. Keep it short, for example
CQor73. A macro without a name gets no button.Text — what the voice says. It can be several lines long.
Tap Save, or Cancel to leave the macro as it was.
The screen looks like the one of the CW macros.
26.4. Writing for the voice
The voice reads the text as it is written, so how you write changes what is heard:
Put commas between spelled letters and numbers:
Delta, Lima, 8. Without them they run together.End a sentence with a full stop. The voice then goes down at the end, as a speaker does.
{MYCALLSPELL}and{CALLSPELL}spell a call with the phonetic alphabet:Delta,Limaand so on.{MYCALL}and{CALL}give the call as it is written.Write the macro in the language spoken on the air. Speech macros are never translated, even when Translate is set in the Speech mode.
The voice, its speed and its pitch are set in the settings of the Speech mode.
All placeholders are listed in Macros.
Example QSO:
Name |
Text |
|---|---|
CQ |
|
Report |
|
73 |
|
26.5. Sending a macro
Speech macros are only sent while TX is on in the Speech mode:
In the Speech mode: the buttons below the red bar.
In the Macro Bar on the radio screen: while TX is on in the Speech mode, it shows the Speech macros instead of the voice macros. Its title is Speech Macros then.
With the keyboard of the iPad: Option-1 to Option-9 send the macros 1 to 9, Option-X stops.
With a controller, for example a MIDI controller or a Flic button: the radio actions Macro 1, Macro 2, and so on.
How to open the Macro Bar: Macros.
The macro is spoken with the voice and the transmit settings of the Speech mode, as text you send there yourself.
26.6. Good to know
Only macros with a name get a button.
{LOG}logs the QSO at the moment the macro is sent. Put it into the macro that ends the QSO.Speech macros are not the same as voice macros: a voice macro is a recording of your own voice.
26.7. On the iPhone
The iPhone shows the same list and the same screen to change a macro.
27. Logbook
The Logbook keeps your QSOs. It is made for quick, everyday logging: log a contact in a few taps, look it up later, and exchange your log with other logging programs as an ADIF file.
The Logbook works without a radio, too. With iCloud, the same log is on all your devices and in all apps of this family (SmartSDR, SDR-Control and HAM-Control, on the Mac and on iOS).
Other parts of the app use the Logbook: FT8, JS8, CW and SSTV open the log window for the station you worked, and calls you have worked before are marked in their lists.
27.1. Quick start
Tap + at the top. The log window opens, already filled in with the radio’s frequency and mode.
Type the call of the station in Call. The window shows its country, distance and bearing, and whether you have worked it before.
Check the reports (RST TX, RST RX) and add a Comment if you like.
Tap Save. The QSO is in your log.
Tap a QSO in the list to see or change all its details.
27.2. The screen
27.2.1. The top row
The name of the log in use, for example
iCloud, and below it the number of QSOs in the list.Filter onmeans a filter hides some QSOs.Search shows only the QSOs that contain the text in their call, name, country, locator, band, frequency or comment. The x clears the search.
The funnel opens the Filter. It is filled while the filter is on. Touch and hold it to switch the filter on or off without opening it.
The map shows the QSOs of the list on a map. See Map.
… has more: export and share your log as an ADIF file, import an ADIF file, and Clear Log. See ADIF import and export.
In the navigation bar:
+ opens the log window for a new QSO. See Logging a QSO.
⚙︎ opens the Settings.
27.2.2. The list
One row per QSO: Date, Time, Call, Freq, Band, Mode, the reports Sent and Rcvd, Country, Name and Comment.
Tap the title Date, Call, Freq, Band, Mode or Country to sort by that column. Tap it again to reverse the order.
Tap a QSO to open its details. See Changing a QSO.
Touch and hold a QSO for a menu: Details, Look up (the call, see the Call Lookup chapter) and Delete.
27.3. Logging a QSO
The log window opens from many places:
+ in the Logbook.
The Log button on the radio screen.
The log buttons in the modes, for example FT8, JS8, CW and SSTV. They fill in the call of the station you worked.
A controller button mapped to the log window.
With a keyboard, ⌘L opens the log window and ⌘B opens the Logbook.
When you tune to a spot in the DX Cluster or POTA tool, its call is put into the log window, ready for when you open it.
On the iPad the log window floats over the app. Drag its title bar to move it. It stays open while you switch tabs, so you can tune the radio or watch a mode while you log.
27.3.1. The fields
Call — the call of the station. Next to it you see its country, distance and bearing (short path / long path), the name when it is known, and
Worked before(red) orNot worked before(green).🔍 next to Call looks the call up and shows all details. See the Call Lookup chapter.
RST TX and RST RX — the report you sent and the report you received. For SSB, AM and FM the app fills in
59, for CW, RTTY and PSK599.QRG TX and QRG RX — your transmit and receive frequency.
Enter them in MHz.
A few shortcuts:
20m(or another band) gives a typical frequency of that band,14200kmeans 14200 kHz,14.2Mmeans 14.2 MHz.Mode — for example
USBorCW. One letter is enough:UbecomesUSB,LLSB,CCW,FFM,AAM,SSSBandFTFT8. 🔍 next to it shows all modes to choose from. When a mode such as FT8 fills in the window, it showsMode: FT8instead of the field.QSO Date, Time on and Time off — date, start and end of the QSO, in UTC. You can type a date as
20261013or2026-10-13and a time as1412or14:12:30.Comment — any text.
27.3.3. Locking fields
The lock next to a field keeps its value: Clear and Save don’t empty it, and the radio and the modes don’t
change it. This is useful for values that stay the same for many QSOs, for example the same frequency in a pile-up,
a fixed report or a comment such as SOTA.
27.3.4. Custom fields
With Custom Fields in the Settings, up to three more fields appear in the log window. Choose on the left what each field holds: Locator, CQ-Zone, ITU-Zone, State, IOTA, SOTA Ref, SIG, SIG Info, WWFF Ref, POTA Ref, Prop Mode, SAT Name, SAT Mode, Class or ARRL Sect.
Custom fields are made for activities such as POTA, SOTA or satellite QSOs. Lock them, and your park or summit reference goes into every QSO.
27.4. Changing a QSO
Tap a QSO in the list to see all its fields:
The fields are grouped in Worked, Report, When (UTC), RX/TX, Location, Contest and Own Information. Change what you like and tap Save. Cancel leaves the QSO as it was; when you have changed something, it asks first.
On the iPad, fields that belong together are side by side: RST Sent and RST Received, TX Frequency and TX Band, RX Frequency and RX Band, Mode and Sub Mode. On the iPhone they are below each other.
Lookup, right of Call, shows the call’s details. See the Call Lookup chapter.
Update from: QRZ.com and HamQTH fill in name, QTH, country, locator, zones and more from that service. You need an account there (see Call databases). Nothing is saved before you tap Save.
Send UDP, in the same row, sends the QSO to your other logging program. See Sending QSOs to other programs.
Date, Time On and Time Off have buttons after the field: Today at the date; −10 s, +10 s and Now at the times; = Time On at Time Off copies the start time. Where there is not enough room, for example on the iPhone, the buttons are in a menu behind the clock button next to the field.
TX Band and RX Band are pop-ups. = RX copies the RX frequency and band to TX, = TX the other way.
Country opens a list of all countries with a search field. The country you choose also sets DXCC, the continent and the zones.
The map button next to Locator shows the station on a map.
27.5. Filter
Tap the funnel to choose which QSOs the list shows:
Enable Filters switches the filter on and off. Your choices are kept while it is off.
Bands, Modes and Countries open a list to tick. With nothing ticked, all QSOs are shown. All and None at the top tick or clear everything.
Comments, Contest ID, CQ-Zones, ITU-Zones and Prefixes: type one or more entries, separated by commas. Only QSOs that match are shown. An entry that starts with
-hides the matching QSOs instead, for example-DLin Prefixes.Date filter shows only the QSOs of the last 24 hours, days or years, or of a Date range you choose.
Reset All Filters clears all entries.
The filter can also count for the “worked before” marks (see Settings). Export and share ask whether you want all QSOs or only the filtered ones.
27.6. Map
The map button shows the QSOs of the list on a map, each with a line from your own station. With more than 300 QSOs the map shows the grid squares you worked instead: the stronger the red, the more QSOs. Tap a square to see its QSOs.
Use the filter or the search first to see, for example, only the QSOs of one band.
27.7. Log files and iCloud
Your log is either the iCloud log or a local log file. Choose it in ⚙︎ under Log File.
iCloud is synced with your other devices and with the other apps of this family (SmartSDR, SDR-Control, HAM-Control) on the Mac and on iOS. iCloud and iCloud Drive must be on in your device’s settings, and Enable iCloud in the app’s settings.
Local Log Files stay on this device. Tap + to make a new one, for example one log per contest or per activation. Tap a log to use it. Swipe left to delete one.
The log in use has a checkmark, and its name is shown in the Logbook’s top row.
27.8. ADIF import and export
ADIF (.adi) is the file format all logging programs understand. Tap … in the top row:
Export ADIF File… opens the Files dialog: choose a folder, for example in iCloud Drive or on your device, and tap Save. The app suggests the date and time as the file name.
Share ADIF File makes the file and sends it somewhere else, for example as a Mail attachment, with AirDrop or to the Files app.
Import ADIF File… opens the Files dialog: choose an
.adifile wherever it is. The app asks whether to Append its QSOs to your log or to Replace your log with them. When your log is empty, it offers Load.Clear Log deletes all QSOs of the log in use. It asks first.
When a filter or a search is on, export and share ask whether you want All QSOs or only the Filtered QSOs. The QSOs are written in the order of the list.
Hint
Export your log now and then as a backup.
27.9. Sending QSOs to other programs
The app can send every new QSO over your network to a logging program on a Mac or PC, for example N1MM, Log4OM or a program that understands WSJT-X. Set it up in the app’s settings:
UDP Broadcast: N1MM / Log4OM message — for N1MM, Log4OM and many other PC logging programs.
UDP Broadcast: WSJT-X log message — for every program that takes QSOs from WSJT-X.
For each, enter the IP Address of the computer the program runs on, and the Port the program listens on (often 2237). Switch on Enabled. Test sends a sample QSO, so you can check it arrives.
From then on, each saved QSO is sent. When you change a QSO and tap Save, it is sent again, so the other program gets the updated data. To send an older QSO, open it and tap Send UDP.
27.10. Call databases
For Update from QRZ.com and Update from HamQTH you need an account at that service. Enter your user name and password in the app’s settings:
Call databases: HamQTH and Call databases: QRZ.com.
27.11. Settings
Tap ⚙︎ for the Logbook settings:
27.11.1. Log File
Logbook — the log in use. See Log files and iCloud.
27.11.2. General
Operator Call — your call, saved with each QSO as operator. It is the same setting as Operator Call in the app’s settings.
Close Log Window after Save — the same as the pin in the log window.
Custom Fields — how many custom fields the log window shows, or Off. See Custom fields.
27.11.3. Mark as “worked before”
Calls you have worked before are marked, for example in the log window and in the lists of the modes.
Only on filtered Log entries — only the QSOs the filter shows count.
Only on same Band — only QSOs on the band you are on now count.
27.11.4. Contest
Enable Contest Mode — saves the Contest ID with each QSO. With Generate RST, your exchange is put into RST TX.
Contest ID — the contest’s name, for example
CQ-WW-SSB.Generate RST — makes the exchange you send. It is saved as the sent exchange. The report you received (without
59or599) is saved as the received exchange.Use fixed RST Text — uses the Fixed Text as your exchange instead of a serial number, for example your zone or state.
Fixed Text — the fixed exchange.
RST Prefix, Serial, Digits and RST Suffix — a serial number instead: for example the prefix
599, serial1and 3 digits give599001. Serial goes up by one with each saved QSO.
27.12. Good to know
Each QSO is saved with your own data from the app’s settings (Logging Information, your locator and call), and with band, country and zones found from the frequency and the call.
When the log window opens, QSO Date, Time on and Time off are set to now. Modes such as FT8 fill in the real times of the QSO instead.
Delete and Clear Log can’t be undone. Export your log first if you are not sure.
The iCloud log is shared by all apps of this family. A local log file is only in this app on this device.
A filter or a search never deletes anything: the hidden QSOs are still in your log.
27.13. On the iPhone
The iPhone shows the same log in a shorter form:
Each row shows the call, date and time, then band, mode, frequency and reports, then name and country.
Search, the funnel, the map and … are in a second row.
Sorting is in … under Sort: choose the column in Sort by and the direction with Ascending.
Swipe a QSO to the left for Delete and Edit.
The log window opens as a sheet over the screen. Swipe it down or tap Close to close it. On the large iPhones (for example the Pro Max models) it floats over the app, as on the iPad.
1. Modes
The Modes tab holds the operating modes of the app: digital modes such as FT8, JS8, RTTY and PSK, CW, pictures with SSTV and HF-Fax, and more. Each mode has its own chapter in this manual.
1.1. Using the tiles
Tap a tile to open its mode. The back button at the top left brings you back to the tiles.
A green dot on a tile means the mode is running: its RX is on.
To move a tile, touch and hold it, then drag it to its new place. The other tiles make room. The app keeps the new order.
With a keyboard on the iPad, ⌘M opens the Modes tab, and ⌘8 opens FT8 while the radio is connected.
1.2. Modes keep running
A mode keeps receiving, and sending, when you leave its screen or switch to another tab. You can look at the waterfall or write a log entry while FT8 goes on. Only the mode’s RX button stops it.
The green dots show which modes are still running. Stop the ones you don’t need: a running mode keeps using the radio.
The Modes tab can always be opened. Without a connection to the radio, a mode asks you to connect first.
1.3. The modes
Mode |
What it does |
|---|---|
FT8 |
FT8 and FT4 contacts with weak signals. The older version, for every device. |
FT8-Improved |
FT8, FT4 and FT2, with automatic answering and CQ calls. Needs iOS 26. |
JS8 |
Chat by typing, also with very weak signals. Needs iOS 26. |
Speech |
Turns speech into text, translates it, and speaks your typed text. Needs iOS 26. |
CW |
Reads Morse code and sends your typed text. |
RTTY |
Reads radioteletype and sends your typed text. |
PSK |
Reads all PSK31, PSK63 and PSK125 stations at once and sends your typed text. |
HF-Fax |
Receives weather charts (weather fax). |
SSTV |
Receives and sends pictures (Slow-Scan TV). |
APRS |
Receives and sends APRS packets: positions, messages and status. |
WSPR |
Receives and sends WSPR beacons to check the propagation. Needs iOS 26. |
SmartSDR also has the FT8 Skimmer: it watches FT8 or FT4 on up to four bands at the same time.
FT8-Improved, JS8, Speech and WSPR need iOS 26 or later. On an older device their tiles are not shown. The older FT8 mode works on every device.
1.4. On the iPhone
The iPhone shows the modes in smaller tiles.
2. FT8
FT8 lets you work stations in FT8 and FT4, the modes made popular by WSJT-X. You need no cables, no audio interface and no CAT setup: the app does everything.
This is the older FT8 mode. It runs on every device. On iOS 26 or later the Modes tab also has FT8-Improved, the newer version: it adds FT2 and works on its own with Auto Answer and Auto CQ. Use FT8-Improved when your device has iOS 26, and this FT8 mode on older devices. Use only one of them at a time.
FT8 sends short messages in fixed time slots of 15 seconds (FT4: 7.5 seconds). A contact (QSO) is a few messages back and forth: calls, locators and signal reports. The app does most of it for you.
2.1. Quick start
In the app’s settings, check Your Call, Operator Call and Grid (QTH Locator) under HAM Radio.
Tap the band, for example 20m (14074 kHz), and choose FT8 next to it.
Tap RX. After 15 seconds the first messages appear.
Double-tap a green row: a station calling CQ.
Wait. The app answers, sends the reports and logs the QSO when it is finished.
2.2. A few FT8 basics
A station (K1CQ) calls CQ. You (DC1ME) answer. You send each other signal reports and finish the QSO:
Other station |
You |
Meaning |
|---|---|---|
|
K1CQ calls CQ from locator EN61. |
|
|
You answer with your locator. |
|
|
K1CQ gives you a report: -11 dB. |
|
|
You confirm (R) and give your report. |
|
|
K1CQ confirms and says goodbye. The QSO is complete. |
Some stations end with RRR and 73 instead of RR73. When you call CQ yourself, it works the same way
with the roles swapped.
CQ DX means the station only wants long-distance contacts, CQ JA only Japan, and so on.
A message takes about 13 seconds. Slots start at second 0 and 30 (Even) or 15 and 45 (Odd). The two stations of a QSO always send in opposite slots.
To learn more, read Gary Hinson ZL2IFB’s FT8 guide: https://www.g4ifb.com.
2.3. The screen
The blue bar with the list of received messages is at the top, the red bar with your QSO below it. Until you tap RX, the screen only shows a hint.
2.3.1. The blue bar
RX starts and stops listening. It also tunes the radio to the band and sets its mode and filter for FT8. Tap it twice to set them again if you changed something by mistake.
FT8 uses a slice with DAX channel 1. If there is none, the app makes a panadapter and a slice for it.
20m (14074 kHz) is the band. Tap it to choose another band. Manual leaves the radio where it is: tune it yourself, for example to a DXpedition.
FT8 / FT4 chooses the mode. A change clears the lists.
Auto lets the app choose the next message by itself and carry the QSO on. Off: you choose each message yourself. See Sending.
The funnel opens the filter. It is filled while the filter is on. See Filter.
The trash can clears the red list and your QSO fields. Double-tap it to clear the blue list too.
The map shows the stations of the list on a map. See Map.
Below the bar, a thin line shows how far the current slot has run: green in an even slot, blue in an odd slot, red while you send.
2.3.2. The list
Each row shows the time (UTC), the signal (dB), the time difference (DT), the audio frequency (Freq), the Message and the country of the station. The time is green for an even slot and blue for an odd slot.
Green rows are stations calling CQ.
Red rows are messages to you.
Grey rows are stations you have worked on this band before (with Mark worked before in ⚙︎).
Tap a row to take over the station’s call, report, frequency and slot. Double-tap a row to start the QSO right away: the app also switches TX on. Touch and hold a row for more: Lookup Call … looks up a call, Show on Map … shows the stations of this message on a map.
2.3.3. The red bar
TX sends in your next slot. Blue: waiting to send. Red: sending. Grey: listening only. Grey with red letters: paused, for example while the log window is open. Double-tap TX to start sending at once, in the slot that is running now.
Even / Odd is your slot. It is set for you when you tap a station. You only need it when you call CQ.
RX: and TX: are your audio frequencies in Hz, usually between 100 and 2900. Tapping a station sets them.
… opens a menu for the two frequencies: RX → TX copies the RX frequency to TX, RX ← TX the other way. TX = RX (with a checkmark): TX always follows RX. Keep it on when you answer stations. Switch it off when you call CQ, so that you stay on your own frequency.
DX: is the call of the station you work, Rep: the signal report you send. Tapping a station fills them in.
CQ switches between answering and calling CQ. Blue: you call CQ. See Calling CQ.
The message button shows what you send next, for example
2: K1CQ DC1ME JO12. Tap it to choose another message. See Sending.Log opens the log window, already filled in for the station in DX:.
Below the red bar you see your QSO: your messages in yellow (TX instead of the dB value), messages to you
in red, and other messages on your frequency. The app also writes short notes there, for example
QSO finished or Max. retries exceeded.
Tap or double-tap a row there to work a station that called you while you were busy.
You can also set the audio frequencies from the waterfall: touch and hold the waterfall where you want to be, then choose SET FT8 TX or SET FT8 RX.
2.4. Sending
With Auto on, the app reads each message to you and chooses the right answer for the next slot:
your locator, the report, R plus the report, RR73 or 73. You only start the QSO.
With Auto off, you choose each message yourself with the message button:
No. |
Message |
When |
|---|---|---|
1 |
|
Nothing to send while you answer stations / your CQ when you call CQ. |
2 |
|
Your answer with your locator. |
3 |
|
Your report. |
4 |
|
You confirm and give your report. |
5 |
|
You confirm and say goodbye. |
6 |
|
You confirm. |
7 |
|
You say goodbye. |
9 |
{Individual} |
Your own short text. Choosing it asks for the text (Individual Message). |
An FT8 message has room for about 13 characters of free text.
A message is sent again in each of your slots until the other station answers. After Max. TX retries
(in ⚙︎) the app stops and writes Max. retries exceeded.
If the station you call answers somebody else, the app pauses (answered somebody else, pausing...).
It goes on when the station calls CQ again or answers you.
2.5. Calling CQ
Find a free frequency and set your TX: frequency there. Switch TX = RX off in the … menu.
Choose your slot with Even / Odd.
Tap CQ. The app calls CQ in each of your slots.
When a station answers, the app works it (with Auto on), logs the QSO and calls CQ again.
After 3 calls without an answer during a QSO, the app gives up (No further response) and calls CQ again.
Tap CQ again to stop calling CQ.
2.6. Logging
When a QSO is finished, the app logs it. With Enable Auto Logging (no log window) on in ⚙︎, it is saved to the logbook at once. With it off, the log window opens, already filled in: check it and save it. While the log window is open, the app doesn’t send. When you call CQ, it goes on after you close the window.
Log opens the log window at any time, for example for a QSO the app couldn’t finish.
2.7. Filter
The funnel opens the filter. It shows fewer rows in the blue list:
Enable Filters switches the filter on and off. Reset clears the filters.
Only show calling CQ — only CQ calls.
Hide duplicates — only the newest row of each station.
Hide worked before — no stations you have worked on this band before.
Hide Calls/Prefixes — calls that start with one of these texts are hidden, for example
DL, G0KLM.Only show containing — only messages that contain one of these texts, for example
CQ DX, JA.Hide Countries — tap Select and tick the countries to hide.
Separate several entries with commas. The list changes at once. Stations hidden by Hide Calls/Prefixes, Hide Countries or Hide worked before are not answered, even when they call you.
2.8. Map
The map button in the blue bar shows the stations of the blue list on a map, each with a line from your location. It follows the list in every slot. With the filter on, it shows only the filtered stations.
Tap a pin to see the country, the signal and the locator, the distance and the direction. Look Up Call there looks the station up. The buttons at the top left show all stations, switch to the globe view and to satellite pictures.
2.9. Settings
Tap ⚙︎ for the FT8 settings:
Mark worked before — shows stations you have worked on this band before in grey.
Show FT8 Spots on Waterfall — shows the stations calling CQ on the waterfall.
Short message (no Grid) — your CQ goes out without your locator, and when you answer a CQ, you send the report at once instead of your locator. This makes the QSO one slot shorter.
Enable Auto Logging (no log window) — saves each finished QSO to the logbook without showing the log window.
Beep on answer — a beep when a station answers you. Test plays it.
Max. TX retries — how often the app sends the same message before it gives up.
Operator Call-Sign — the call FT8 sends. It is the same as Operator Call in the app’s settings.
Copyright - please read — FT8 and FT4 were made by Joe Taylor, K1JT, and the WSJT Development Group. This button shows their copyright notice.
2.10. Good to know
FT8 keeps running when you switch to another tab. Only RX stops it.
Check the time on your device: it must be exact to the second. DT should be close to 0.
Without Your Call and Grid (QTH Locator) in the settings, the app asks for them when you tap RX.
DXpeditions (Fox and Hound): choose Manual as band, switch TX = RX off, and listen on the DXpedition’s frequency. Send on the frequency they ask for. Multi-answer messages may not be logged automatically; then tap Log.
Long or special calls (with
/or more than 6 characters) are sent in short form, as WSJT-X does. The locator may be left out then, because the message has no room for it.Stations you hear are reported to PSK Reporter when Propagate Spots is on in the app’s settings (PSK Reporter). With UDP Broadcast: WSJT-X decode message on, the app sends what it decodes to programs such as GridTracker.
2.11. On the iPhone
The iPhone has less room, so a few things are in other places:
Options in the navigation bar opens FT8 Options: the mode (FT8 / FT4), Auto Sequence (the Auto button), the audio frequencies RX (Hz), TX = RX and TX (Hz), and the QSO fields His Call (DX:) and His dB (Rep:). Done closes it. That’s why the red bar has no … button and no RX:, TX:, DX: and Rep: fields on the iPhone.
The list has no DT column and no country.
⚙︎ opens the settings as a sheet. Done closes it.
3. FT8 Skimmer
The FT8 Skimmer listens to FT8 or FT4 on up to four bands at the same time. It shows how busy each band is and which countries and continents you hear. It can also ring an alarm when a station you are looking for shows up: a call, a country, a zone, or simply a station that is not in your logbook yet.
Use it while you wait for good conditions or for a rare station. The skimmer only listens. To work a station, stop it and open FT8 or FT8-Improved.
How many bands you can watch depends on your radio: four on most radios, two on smaller ones such as the FLEX-6400 or FLEX-8400. The skimmer needs radio firmware 2.5 or newer.
3.1. Quick start
For each monitor, tap the band, for example 20m (14074 kHz), choose FT8 or FT4, and switch the monitor on.
Tap RX. The app makes one panadapter and one slice for each band.
Wait a minute. The statistics of each band fill up.
Tap Alarms to be told when a station you want shows up.
Important
RX takes over your radio’s panadapters and slices: it closes all panadapters except the first one and all slices, then makes its own. After RX off, only the first panadapter is left. Set up your slices again then.
3.2. The screen
The blue bar is at the top, one section for each band (monitor) below it.
3.2.1. The blue bar
RX starts and stops the skimmer, for all bands that are switched on.
Alarms opens the alarms for all bands. It is blue while these alarms are on. See Alarms.
While RX is on, the status shows how many bands are on, for example
2 of 4 bands on.The trash can clears the statistics of all bands.
3.2.2. The monitors
The title of each section shows the monitor and its panadapter, for example Monitor 1 · Pan 1.
20m (14074 kHz) is the band. Tap it to choose another band.
FT8 / FT4 chooses the mode.
The switch turns this monitor on and off.
While RX is on, a line shows how far the current slot has run: green in an even slot, blue in an odd slot.
QSOs — how many stations you heard during the monitor duration (see Settings), and how many messages in the last two slots (
/ Phase). For example25 / 5 Minutes 9 / Phase.Top countries and Top continents — what you hear most, with the number of stations.
Alarms — what raised an alarm on this band, in red.
–means no alarm.Alarms (button) opens the alarms for this band only. It is blue while they are on.
Pan shows the panadapter of this band on the Panadapter tab, so you can watch the band on the waterfall.
Stations lists the stations heard on this band:
Each row shows the call, the country, the signal in dB and, in red, the alarms the station raised. Tap a row to look up the call. Done closes the list.
3.3. Alarms
Alarms in the blue bar sets the alarms for all bands. Alarms in a monitor sets alarms for that band only. Both work together.
Enabled switches these alarms on and off.
Any activity — an alarm for every station heard.
Not in Log — an alarm for every station that is not in your logbook.
Calls / Prefixes — calls that start with one of these texts, for example
VK, ZL, JA1ABC.ITU-Zones and CQ-Zones — zone numbers, for example
14, 15.Countries and Continents — tap to tick them in a list. The search field helps to find a country, None clears the list.
Separate several entries with commas. Done closes the alarms; changes count at once.
When a station matches, the monitor shows the reason in red, for example Call:JA1ABC, Country:Japan,
Not Logged:VK2XYZ or Activity. With Beep on alarm on, the app beeps after each slot as long as
an alarm is there.
3.4. Settings
Tap ⚙︎ for the FT8 Skimmer settings:
Monitor duration — the statistics of each band cover this many minutes: 1, 5, 10, 30 or 60. Stations heard earlier are dropped.
Monitor only CQ calls — counts only stations calling CQ.
Beep on alarm — beeps when an alarm is raised.
3.5. Good to know
The skimmer keeps running when you switch to another tab. Only RX stops it.
To let it run for a long time, switch Disconnect on close off and Prevent device sleep on in the app’s settings.
The skimmer switches Reduced DAX Bandwidth on (in the app’s settings under Show Extended settings…), so that the audio of several bands fits through the network.
Stop other modes that use the radio, such as FT8, before you tap RX: the skimmer needs the panadapters and slices for itself.
When the connection to the radio is lost, the skimmer stops and its statistics are cleared.
If the radio can’t open a panadapter or a slice for every band (for example because it has no more free), the skimmer says so after 10 seconds and watches only the bands it got.
3.6. On the iPhone
The iPhone shows the same screen. In each monitor, the band has its own row above FT8 / FT4 and the switch. ⚙︎ opens the settings as a sheet; Done closes it.
4. FT8-Improved
FT8-Improved lets you work stations in FT8, FT4 and FT2, the modes made popular by WSJT-X. You need no cables, no audio interface and no CAT setup: the app does everything. FT8-Improved needs iOS 26. The older FT8 mode stays available for older devices.
FT8 sends short messages in fixed time slots of 15 seconds. A contact (QSO) is a few messages back and forth: calls, locators and signal reports. The app does most of it for you.
4.1. Quick start
Tap ⚙︎ and check Operator Call-sign and Operator Grid Locator.
Choose the band, for example 20m (14.074 MHz), and the mode FT8.
Tap RX. After 15 seconds the first messages appear.
Double-tap a green row: a station calling CQ.
Wait. The app answers, sends the reports and logs the QSO when it is finished.
4.2. A few FT8 basics
A station (K1CQ) calls CQ. You (DC1ME) answer. You send each other signal reports and finish the QSO:
Other station |
You |
Meaning |
|---|---|---|
|
K1CQ calls CQ from locator EN61. |
|
|
You answer with your locator. |
|
|
K1CQ gives you a report: -11 dB. |
|
|
You confirm (R) and give your report. |
|
|
K1CQ confirms and says goodbye. The QSO is complete. |
Some stations end with RRR and 73 instead of RR73. When you call CQ yourself, it works the same way
with the roles swapped.
CQ DX means the station only wants long-distance contacts, CQ JA only Japan, and so on.
A message takes about 13 seconds. Slots start at second 0 and 30 (even) or 15 and 45 (odd). The two stations of a QSO always send in opposite slots.
To learn more, read Gary Hinson ZL2IFB’s FT8 guide: https://www.g4ifb.com.
4.3. The screen
The blue bar with the list of received messages is at the top, the red bar with your QSO below it.
4.3.1. The blue bar
RX starts and stops listening. It also sets the radio’s mode and filter for FT8. Tap it twice to set them again if you changed something by mistake.
20m (14.074 MHz) is the band. Tap it to choose another band. Manual lets you tune to any frequency, for example for a DXpedition.
FT8 is the mode: FT8, FT4 or FT2.
ANS / CQ chooses whether you answer stations (ANS) or call CQ yourself (CQ).
Auto Answer / Auto CQ switches automatic operation on and off. See Automatic operation.
The funnel opens the filter. Touch and hold it to switch the filter on or off. See Filter.
The trash can clears the red list and your QSO fields. Double-tap it to clear the blue list too. This also stops Auto Answer and starts again with a clean list.
Stations shows all stations on a map or as a list. See Stations.
4.3.2. The list
Green rows are stations calling CQ.
Red rows are messages to you.
Grey rows are stations you have worked before (with Mark Worked Before in ⚙︎).
Tap a row to take over the station’s call, report, frequency and slot. Double-tap a row to start the QSO right away. A double-tap also sets ANS or CQ for you.
4.3.3. The red bar
TX sends in the next slot. Blue: waiting to send. Red: sending. Grey: listening only.
Odd / Even is your slot. It is set for you when you tap a station. You only need it when you call CQ.
RX and TX are your audio frequencies in Hz.
= RX: when it is on (blue), TX follows RX. Keep it on when you answer stations. Switch it off when you call CQ, so that you stay on your own frequency.
DX is the station you work. During a QSO it reads QSO with. ? looks up the call.
Report is the signal report you send.
The message on the right is what you send next. The app chooses it for you.
Below the red bar you see your QSO: your messages in yellow (TX), messages to you in red, and other messages on your frequency. Tap or double-tap a row there to work a station that called you while you were busy.
4.4. Automatic operation
With Auto Answer or Auto CQ off, you choose the station: tap a row, then TX. The app finishes the QSO and logs it.
With Auto Answer on, the app picks a station calling CQ and answers it. With Auto CQ on, the app calls CQ and works everyone who answers. After each QSO it starts the next one. If a station does not answer, it moves on.
A running QSO is never interrupted. Stations who call meanwhile stay in the red list.
Auto Answer never answers the same station twice in a session. Use the filter Hide Worked Before to skip stations from earlier sessions too.
4.5. Stations
Stations shows everyone you hear on a map:
A red line shows the QSO you are in.
The pin button chooses what you are looking for: stations not in your log, new grids, new countries (DXCC), states or zones. Matching stations get red pins.
Tap a pin to work that station (with Auto Answer and Auto CQ off).
Filtered applies your filter to the map. Without it you see all band activity.
Show List shows the same stations as a list:
A red ✕ means “not in your log yet”: the call, the grid, the country (DXCC), the state or the zone. Answered marks stations that called you during your last QSO. If such a station still has a red ✕, you may want to call it back.
✕ at the top left closes the map or list.
4.6. Filter
The funnel opens the filter. It shows fewer rows in the blue list. To switch the filter on or off without opening it, touch and hold the funnel; it is filled while the filter is on.
Switch the filter on with Filter Enabled. The list changes at once, so just try the options: Only Show CQ, Hide Duplicate lines, Hide Worked Before, text to show or hide, and calls, continents, zones or countries.
Only Show CQ and Only Show Containing only change the receive list: Auto CQ still answers a station that replies to your CQ. The other filters also apply to answering: a station from a hidden country is never answered automatically. A station with an alert is shown and answered whatever the filter says.
4.7. Settings
Tap ⚙︎ for the FT8 settings:
Mark Worked Before — shows stations you have worked before in grey.
Show Spots on Waterfall — shows the stations on the waterfall.
Enable Beep — a beep when a station calls you and the QSO starts. Test plays it.
Auto Sequence — the app answers messages to you by itself and carries the QSO on. Off: you tap each step.
Reply with 73 on RR73 — sends a 73 after the other station’s RR73. Not needed,
RR73already ends the QSO.Max TX Retries / Max Auto Answer Retries — how often the app calls before it gives up and moves on.
Lead (ms) — leave it at 0. Your device’s clock is set automatically. Only for special cases such as satellites. Keep it between -500 and +1200 ms.
Include grid in CQ — sends your locator with CQ.
CQ Modifier (optional) — adds for example
POTA,DXorTESTto your CQ. The preview shows your CQ.Individual Message (Message 9, Answer mode) — your own short text, the last message you can choose in a QSO.
Operator Call-sign / Operator Grid Locator — your call and locator.
4.8. Good to know
FT2 is faster than FT8, but needs stronger signals and good timing. It has no odd or even slots, so DT means little there. FT2 always ends with a 73.
FT4 and FT2 are less used than FT8. Most QSOs happen in FT8.
The dB value shows how well a message was decoded. It is not the same as in other FT8 programs.
DXpeditions (Fox and Hound): choose Manual as band, switch = RX off, and listen on the DXpedition’s frequency. Send on the frequency they ask for. Multi-answer messages may not be logged automatically; then log the QSO yourself.
QSOs are logged automatically when they are complete. There is no separate Log button.
FT8 keeps running when you switch to another tab. Only RX stops it.
4.9. On the iPhone
The iPhone has less room, so a few things are in other places:
AA is Auto Answer, the map button is Stations.
The mode, Odd / Even (TX Slot), the RX and TX frequencies and TX = RX are in ⚙︎ under Mode and Frequencies (Hz).
The filter is opened with Filter at the top of ⚙︎.
5. JS8
JS8 lets you chat with other stations by typing, like text messages over the radio. It works with very weak signals, where you could not hear a voice or CW any more.
JS8 sends in fixed time slots. At the normal speed a slot is 15 seconds long. Everything heard in a slot appears in the list at the end of that slot. Your own text goes out at the start of the next slot. A longer text needs several slots, so it arrives piece by piece.
5.1. Quick start
Tap ⚙︎ and enter your Operator Call-sign and Operator Grid Locator.
Tap RX. The app starts listening. The first messages appear after one or two slots.
Watch the list. Red rows are meant for you, green rows are CQ calls.
Tap a row to answer that station. The app moves your transmit frequency (TX) to the station and puts its call in To.
Type your text in Message to send and tap Send. It goes out at the start of the next slot.
5.2. The screen
The screen has three parts: the blue bar with the list of messages, the red bar with what you have sent, and the row for your message at the bottom.
5.2.1. The blue bar
RX starts and stops listening. JS8 keeps listening when you switch to another tab.
20m shows the band. Tap it to choose another band. The radio tunes to the JS8 frequency of that band. The lists are cleared, your chats are kept.
Normal shows the speed. See Speeds.
Filter shows only some stations. See Filter.
Messages switches the list between Messages, Activity and Chats. A dot means there is an unread chat.
The trash can clears the lists. Tap it twice to also clear the sent list and To.
5.2.2. The red bar
TX sends a heartbeat when nothing is waiting. While a message is waiting or being sent, TX stops it. A red frame around TX means the app may send on its own (automatic replies or heartbeats are on).
The number next to TX is your audio frequency in Hz. You listen and send on the same frequency. Tap a row in the list to move it to that station.
@ chooses a group, for example
@HBor@JS8NET.To is the station or group you write to. Leave it empty to write to everyone.
? looks up the call in To.
Log opens the logbook, already filled in for the station in To.
Below the red bar you see what you have sent. A row ends with … while parts of it
are still waiting.
5.2.3. The bottom row
HB sends a heartbeat: your call and locator, so others see you are on the air.
CQ calls CQ.
Free text chooses what you send: normal text or a JS8 command. See Sending.
Type your text in Message to send and tap Send.
5.2.4. On the iPhone
The iPhone has less room, so a few things are in other places:
Mode (the speed) and Filter are in ⚙︎ under Receive. A funnel in the blue bar shows when a filter is on.
There are no HB and CQ buttons. TX sends a heartbeat, and CQ is in the Free text list.
5.3. Messages, Activity and Chats
Messages in the blue bar switches between three lists.
5.3.1. Messages
Everything the app has heard, with time (UTC), signal (dB), time difference (DT), audio frequency (Freq), Call, Country and Message.
Green rows are CQ calls.
Red rows are meant for you: sent to your call or to one of your groups, or your call is in the text.
Tap a row to answer: your TX frequency moves to that station, its call goes into To, and the logbook entry is started.
A long message needs several slots. Its row grows while the parts come in, and ends with …
until the message is complete.
5.3.2. Activity
One row per station. Age shows when you heard the station last, Frames how much you heard from it. Stations you heard often and recently are the ones you can work. A station is removed after one hour of silence. Tap a row to answer, as in Messages.
5.3.3. Chats
Your conversations, one row per station or group, the newest first.
New shows how many messages you have not read yet. Such rows are yellow.
→in front of a message means you sent it.A dot on the Chats button means there is something new.
Tap a row to open the conversation:
Your messages are on the right, the other station’s on the left.
Under each message: the time, and for received messages the signal and the audio frequency.
A message that is still coming in shows
receiving….incompletemeans its end never arrived.Type in Message to … and tap Send to write to this station.
MSG leaves your text as a stored message at that station, for someone else to pick up later.
The trash can deletes the whole conversation, after you confirm it.
Done closes the conversation.
Conversations are kept on your device, also after a band change or a restart. Heartbeats and CQ calls are not kept as conversations.
5.4. Sending
Type your text in Message to send and tap Send (or press Return).
With To empty, everyone can read your text.
With a call or a group in To, your text is addressed to that station or group.
A long text is split into parts automatically. Each part needs one slot.
Free text sends what you type. Tap Free text to choose a JS8 command instead. Every JS8 station understands these commands, and many answer them automatically:
Command |
What it does |
|---|---|
CQ |
Calls CQ. |
SNR? / SNR |
Asks how you are heard / gives the station its report: the measured one when the message field is left empty,
or the one you type, for example |
GRID? / GRID |
Asks for the locator / sends yours (from ⚙︎, or type another one). |
STATUS? / INFO? |
Asks for the station’s status or info line. |
INFO |
Sends your info line (from ⚙︎, or type another one). |
HEARING? |
Asks which stations the station hears. |
MSG / MSG TO: |
Leaves a message at the station for someone else. With MSG TO: type the call first. |
QUERY MSGS / QUERY |
Asks if a message is waiting for you / picks it up by its number, for example |
QSL? / QSL / RR |
Asks for or gives a confirmation. |
FB, HW CPY?, AGN? |
“Fine business”, “How do you copy?”, “Please send again”. |
YES / NO |
Answers a question. |
73, SK, DIT DIT |
Ends the contact. |
After Send the list goes back to Free text.
5.5. Heartbeat, CQ and automatic replies
HB sends a heartbeat: your call and locator in one slot. It shows others that you are on the air. Stations that hear you may answer with your signal report.
CQ asks for a contact.
With Automatic Replies on (in ⚙︎), the app answers questions to you by itself:
SNR?, GRID?, STATUS?, INFO?, HEARING?, AGN? and QUERY MSGS.
Questions to everybody (@ALLCALL) are never answered.
Note
With automatic replies or the automatic heartbeat on, your station can transmit on its own. TX has a red frame then. Set Idle Timeout in ⚙︎: when you do nothing for that time, the app switches these off by itself.
5.6. Filter
The Filter field shows only some rows in Messages and Activity. Nothing is lost: the app still receives everything and keeps your conversations. The Chats list is not filtered.
Separate the terms with commas. Upper and lower case don’t matter. Examples:
DL*— only calls that start with DL (*stands for any text)-MM0VIK— everything except MM0VIKDL*, G*, -G0KLM— German and British stations, but not G0KLM
The filter is kept until you clear it. On the iPhone it is in ⚙︎ under Receive.
5.7. Speeds
JS8 has five speeds. Both stations must use the same one. Normal is used most, so start there. Slower speeds work with weaker signals, faster speeds need stronger signals.
Speed |
Slot |
Width |
Down to |
Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Slow |
30 s |
25 Hz |
−28 dB |
very weak signals, low power |
Normal |
15 s |
50 Hz |
−24 dB |
everyday use |
Fast |
10 s |
80 Hz |
−22 dB |
good signals, quicker chats |
JS8 40 |
6 s |
160 Hz |
−20 dB |
strong signals |
JS8 60 |
4 s |
250 Hz |
−18 dB |
very strong signals, almost live chat |
5.8. Settings
Tap ⚙︎ to open the JS8 settings.
5.8.1. Receive (iPhone only)
5.8.2. Operator
Operator Call-sign — your call. Without it you cannot send.
Operator Grid Locator — your locator. The first four characters are sent.
5.8.3. Transmit
Include Grid in Heartbeat and CQ — sends your locator with heartbeats and CQ calls.
Automatic Heartbeat — sends a heartbeat regularly, by itself.
Heartbeat Interval — the time between automatic heartbeats.
Idle Timeout — after this time without any action from you, automatic replies and automatic heartbeats switch off. Off keeps them on.
5.8.4. Groups
My Groups — your groups, for example
@JS8NET. Messages to them are shown as meant for you.@ALLCALLalways reaches you.Automatic Replies — answers questions to you by itself (see above).
Acknowledge Messages — sends
ACKwhen someone leaves a message for you.Acknowledge Heartbeats — answers heartbeats with the signal report. Needs Automatic Replies.
Status — your answer to STATUS?. Empty: no answer.
Info — your answer to INFO?, for example radio, power and antenna.
5.8.5. Conversations
Keep History — how long your conversations are kept.
5.8.6. Waterfall
Show Spots on Waterfall — shows the stations you heard on the waterfall.
5.8.7. Decoder
Lead (ms) — corrects a clock that is early or late. Take the DT other stations report, multiply by 1000 and change the sign: a DT of
+0.2becomes-200.
5.9. Good to know
JS8 keeps listening and sending when you switch to another tab. Only RX stops it.
The first slot after RX is not decoded, because it is not complete.
A band change clears Messages and Activity. Your Chats are kept.
The trash can never deletes a conversation and never stops a message that is already waiting.
[…]in a message: a part of it was not received.[?]: a part arrived, but its text was broken. Ask the station to send again (AGN?).DT should be close to 0. If it is not, check the time on your device, or use Lead (ms).
Stations you hear are reported to PSK Reporter when PSK Reporter is on in the app’s settings.
6. Speech
Speech turns what you hear into text on the screen, and can translate it into your language. It also works the other way round: you type, and the app speaks your text over the air. Speech needs iOS 26.
Everything runs on your device with Apple’s speech and translation models. A language is downloaded the first time you use it, then it works without internet.
6.1. Quick start
Tune to a voice signal (SSB or FM) and tap RX.
Choose the language spoken on the air in Language, for example en-US. The text appears.
To read it in your own language, choose it in Translate.
To answer, type a sentence in the bottom line and tap Add. Tap TX, then Send.
6.2. The screen
The blue bar with the received text is at the top. Below it the red bar, your macros, the text to send, and the line where you type.
6.2.1. The blue bar
RX starts and stops listening.
Language is the language spoken on the air.
Translate is the language you want to read. None shows the text as it was heard. A language marked
(download)is downloaded the first time you use it.The status shows what Speech is doing:
IDLE— RX is off.PREP— getting ready for the language.DLand a percentage — the language is being downloaded (only once).LISTEN— listening and writing.N/A— this language is not available on your device.ERR— something went wrong.
A red line under the bar tells you why.
The trash can clears the received text. Tap it twice to clear the text to send too.
6.2.2. The received text
The grey part at the top is what Speech hears right now. It may still change. When a sentence is finished, it moves down into the white part, translated if Translate is set.
Note
Speech knows everyday language, not radio language. Calls come out as words, CQ as
seek you, 73 as a number, and the phonetic alphabet as names. Plain sentences work well.
6.2.3. The red bar
TX allows Speech to send. Its frame is red then. Nothing goes out until you tap Send. While Speech sends, the whole button is red: tap it to stop.
Automatic is the voice. Automatic picks the best voice installed for Language. Tap it to choose another one.
Test plays a sample with this voice on your device. Nothing is sent.
Resend sends your last text again, for example when the other station asks you to repeat.
Send speaks the text to send and sends it. It needs TX on.
Below the red bar are your Speech macros, for example CQ or 73. Tap one to send it. You set them up in the Speech Macros tool. Macros are never translated: write them in the language on the air.
6.3. Sending
The white area below the macros holds the text to send. You can change it like any text: correct a word, delete a line, or type straight into it. After sending it is emptied.
Type a sentence in the bottom line and tap Add (or press Return). It moves up into the text to send. With Translate set, you type in your own language: Add translates the sentence into the language on the air.
Return in the bottom line does the next step:
a sentence typed: adds it,
the line empty: sends the text,
both empty: sends the last text again.
Tap Add twice to add a sentence and send it at once.
6.3.1. Writing for the other station
The voice reads punctuation, so how you write changes what is heard:
Put commas between spelled letters:
Delta, Bravo, 6. Without them the letters run together.End a sentence with a full stop. The voice then goes down at the end, as a speaker does.
Write short sentences, one per line. Add does this for you, and Speech pauses between the lines.
Note
With Translate on, check the text before you send it. A translator does not know names:
the town Essen went out in English as food.
6.4. Settings
Tap ⚙︎ for the Speech settings:
6.4.1. Transmit Voice
Voice — the voice that speaks your text, as in the red bar. The line below shows which voice Automatic uses.
Rate — how fast the voice speaks. Slower is easier to understand through noise.
Pitch — how high the voice is.
Only installed voices are listed. You add more in the iOS Settings app under Accessibility →
Spoken Content → Voices. A Premium or Enhanced voice sounds much better on the air.
6.4.2. Transmit Audio
Processor — prepares the voice for the radio, like a radio’s speech processor: it keeps only 300 Hz to 2.7 kHz and makes quiet parts louder. Leave it on.
Compression — how much quiet parts are brought up. More carries further through noise; too much makes breaths and pauses loud too.
Gain — the level sent to the radio. Set it once with Send Test while you watch the radio’s ALC.
Play (Sample) — plays a sample on your device, as it will sound on the air. Nothing is sent.
Sentence pause (ms) — a pause between the lines of your text, so the other station hears where a sentence ends.
Lead (ms) / Tail (ms) — silence before and after your text, so the first and the last word are not cut off.
Send Test — sends a short test with your call. It needs TX on.
6.5. Good to know
Speech keeps listening when you switch to another tab. Only RX stops it.
Sending works with RX off too.
FM works best. On SSB tune exactly, especially for weak signals. A lower Rate helps in both.
iOS keeps only a few languages ready at the same time. Speech handles this for you: languages you have not used for a while are released and come back when you choose them again.
6.6. On the iPhone
The iPhone has less room, so a few things are in other places:
The blue bar shows Language and Translate without their names.
Voice and Test are not in the red bar. Choose the voice in ⚙︎, and use Play there to hear it.
7. CW
CW lets you read Morse code on the screen and send it by typing. The app decodes what you hear and keys the radio’s own keyer with your text.
7.1. Quick start
Tune to a CW signal and tap RX. The decoded text appears in the white area.
Tap a call in the text, for example
OH2XYZ. It goes into DX.Type your text in Text to send and tap Send, or tap one of your macros, for example Answer.
When the QSO is done, tap Log.
7.2. The screen
The blue bar with the received text is at the top, the red bar with what you send below it.
7.2.1. The blue bar
RX starts and stops the decoder.
AT switches the radio’s CW auto tune on and off. It is only there when your radio has the auto tune feature.
Pitch: Radio is the tone the decoder listens for. Radio follows the radio’s CW pitch. Tap it to choose a fixed pitch from 300 to 1000 Hz instead.
Spot plays a tone at the decoder’s pitch on your device, never over the air. Tune the radio until the station sounds like this tone (zero beat). The tone stops after 10 seconds.
Auto is the speed the decoder expects. Auto finds the speed by itself. If you know the station’s speed, choose it (5 to 50 WPM): the first letters are then read right too.
DECODE 24 WPM shows that the decoder reads CW, and the speed it found. IDLE means nothing is decoded.
The trash can clears the received text. Tap it twice to clear your sent lines too.
7.2.2. The received text
Every word that looks like a call is underlined. Tap it to put it into DX.
The decoder needs a few letters to find the speed, so the first letters of a signal may be missing or wrong. A letter the decoder is not sure about is left out.
7.2.3. The red bar
Live sends every letter as you type it. See Sending.
Text to send is where you type.
Send sends the text. It is not there with Live on.
DX is the station you work. Tap a call in the received text, or type it.
? looks up the call in DX.
Log opens the log entry, filled in with the call in DX and the mode CW.
Cancel stops sending at once. Tap it twice to also clear the DX call: with ESM, the next Return sends the CQ text again.
Below the red bar are your CW macros, for example CQ, Answer and 73. Tap one to send it.
You set them up in the CW Macros tool. Placeholders like {CALL} are filled in for you.
Below the macros you see what you have sent, the newest line on top.
7.3. Sending
With Live off, you send line by line: type the text and tap Send or press Return. The line appears in the sent list.
To send a prosign, put ^ in front of it, for example ^BK or ^SK: the letters are sent as one sign,
without a gap. This works with Live off only.
With Live on, every letter is sent as you type it. You cannot take a letter back once it is typed. A space is added by itself when you pause (CW Autospace in ⚙︎).
7.3.1. The sent list
Text the radio has not keyed yet is grey. It turns black letter by letter, at the radio’s speed. The radio does not report what it keys, so this is an estimate.
Tap a line to send it again.
Cancel stops sending. The rest of the line stays grey: it was not sent.
7.4. ESM (Enter Sends Message)
ESM is for contests and fast QSOs, like in N1MM. Switch it on in ⚙︎ under ESM. It works with Live off.
With ESM on, Return (or Send) with an empty text field sends the next step of the QSO:
No call in DX: the CQ text.
A call in DX: the Exchange text.
Then the TU text. DX is cleared for the next QSO. The default TU text also logs the QSO.
Send shows what comes next: CQ, Exch or TU.
The texts can use the macro placeholders, for example {MYCALL} (your call), {CALL} (the call in DX),
{NR} (your report or contest number) and {LOG} (logs the QSO). The defaults are CQ TEST {MYCALL},
{CALL} 5NN {NR} and TU {MYCALL}{LOG}.
7.5. Keyer settings
Tap ⚙︎ for the keyer settings. They are the radio’s own settings, so they differ from radio to radio.
Speed — the keyer speed in WPM.
Pitch — the CW tone in Hz.
Break-In — On switches the radio back to receive between your words. Break-in delay sets how long it waits. Full QSK lets you hear between the letters.
CW on Lower Sideband (CWL) — receives CW on the lower sideband.
Side tone / Volume — the radio’s side tone, so you hear what you send.
Keyer type and Swap paddles — for a paddle connected to the radio.
Show keyer characters in the decoder — shows what you send in the received text too.
CW Keyboard — the keyboard for Text to send: the normal iOS keyboard, a CW keyboard with the letters and signs used in CW (QWERTY or QWERTZ), or buttons to key by hand (Keyer and Paddle, Keyer and Straight Key).
CWX at the keyer speed (CWX Sync) — on: what you send goes out at Speed; off: at the radio’s own CWX speed. The same setting is in Radio Settings.
CW Autospace — adds a space when you pause in Live.
CW Auto Tune Intermittent — off: AT tunes to the signal once. On: AT switches the radio’s auto tune on, and it keeps tuning to the signal from time to time until you switch it off. Only with the auto tune feature.
ESM — see ESM (Enter Sends Message).
7.6. Good to know
CW keeps decoding when you switch to another tab. Only RX stops it.
The decoder reads one signal at the pitch. Use a narrow CW filter on the radio when the band is busy.
The decoder is a little behind the signal, about half a second at normal speeds and up to two seconds when the speed changes or is slow.
Spot only plays on your device. It never goes over the air.
7.7. On the iPhone
The iPhone shows the same buttons. The blue and the red bar take two rows each.
8. RTTY
RTTY lets you read radioteletype on the screen and send it by typing. The app decodes the tones the radio receives and sends its own tones (AFSK), as most RTTY programs do.
The slice is set to the radio’s RTTY mode, and the audio goes through DAX.
8.1. Quick start
Tap Frequency and choose a band, for example 20 m. The radio is tuned and set up for RTTY.
Tap RX. Tune the radio until the tuning display shows a cross; the text appears in the white area.
Tap a call in the text. It goes into DX.
Type your text and tap Send, or tap one of your RTTY macros. When everything is sent, the radio goes back to receive.
When the QSO is done, tap Log.
8.2. The screen
The blue bar is at the top, the received text with the tuning display below it, and the red bar with what you send at the bottom.
8.2.1. The blue bar
RX starts and stops the decoder.
Frequency lists the RTTY parts of the amateur bands and some RTTY weather stations of the German weather service (DWD). Choosing one tunes the radio and sets the speed and shift that station uses.
45.45 / 170 is the speed (baud) and the shift (Hz). Amateur RTTY uses 45.45 / 170; weather stations often 50 / 450.
Rev swaps the two tones, for a station sending “upside down”.
AFC follows a station that is a little off tune (up to 100 Hz; the range is in the settings).
DECODE 18 dB +12 Hz shows that text comes in, how strong the signal is above the noise, and how far the AFC moved. IDLE means nothing is decoded.
The trash can clears the received text. Tap it twice to clear your sent lines too.
8.2.2. The tuning display
The dark square shows the two tones of the station: a flat ellipse for one tone, an upright one for the other. When you are in tune, they form a cross in the middle. Slanted or round shapes mean you are off tune or the shift is wrong. On the iPad the display is beside the received text; on the iPhone it is small, in the top right corner of the text.
The wheel directly under the display tunes the radio, 5 Hz a step (Wheel Step in the settings), so you can tune while watching the display.
While you send, the display shows your own signal in orange. It is the signal the app makes, so it always looks right: it shows that something is being sent, not how the radio sends it.
8.2.3. The received text
Every word that looks like a call is underlined. Tap it to put it into DX.
8.2.4. The red bar
TX switches sending on. While there is nothing to send, the app sends idle characters, so the other station stays in sync. Tap TX again to stop after the rest of your text.
Live sends every letter as you type it (and switches TX on). Return starts a new line.
Send sends the line you typed, with a new line before and after it. Then the radio goes back to receive by itself. It is not there with Live on.
DX is the station you work. Tap a call in the received text, or type it.
? looks up the call in DX.
Log opens the log entry, filled in with the call in DX and the mode RTTY.
Cancel stops sending at once. Tap it twice to clear DX too.
Below the red bar are your RTTY macros (Tools > Macros > RTTY Macros) and your sent lines, the newest on top. Text that is not sent yet is grey. Tap a line to send it again. The RTTY macros also work from the Macro Bar while RTTY is on.
8.3. Settings
Tap ⚙︎ for the RTTY settings.
Speed, Shift, Mark Tone (Hz), Reverse: the signal. 2125 Hz is the standard mark tone.
Stop Bits: what the app sends (1.5 is the standard).
Unshift on Space: after a space, letters come again. Most stations use it; switch it off if numbers turn into letters after a space.
Wheel Step: how far one step of the tuning wheel moves the radio: 5, 10 or 20 Hz.
AFC, AFC Range: see The blue bar.
Squelch: below this signal to noise ratio nothing is printed, so noise doesn’t print random letters.
Level: the level of the tones sent to the radio. Keep the radio’s ALC low. RTTY sends at full power all the time: a lower power setting is kind to your radio.
8.4. Good to know
RTTY keeps receiving, and sending, when you switch to another tab. Only RX stops it.
8.5. On the iPhone
The iPhone shows the same buttons. The blue and the red bar take two rows each, and the tuning display is smaller.
9. PSK
PSK lets you read and send PSK31, PSK63 and PSK125. The app decodes every PSK station in the receiver’s passband at the same time, shows them in a list, and decodes the one you pick in the main text. It sends on that station’s frequency, with the radio in USB data mode.
The slice is set to DIGU, and the audio goes through DAX.
9.1. Quick start
Tap Frequency and choose a band, for example 20 m. The radio is tuned to the PSK frequency in USB data mode.
Tap RX. PSK stations show as narrow traces in the waterfall.
Tap a trace. Its text appears below. Or tap Stations (the list icon) and tap a station.
Tap a call in the text to put it into DX, type your text and tap Send, or tap one of your PSK macros.
When the QSO is done, tap Log.
9.2. The screen
The blue bar is at the top, the waterfall below it, then the received text, and the red bar with what you send at the bottom.
9.2.1. The blue bar
RX starts and stops receiving.
Frequency lists the PSK frequencies of the amateur bands and tunes the radio there.
PSK31 is the speed: PSK31, PSK63 or PSK125. Most stations use PSK31.
AFC keeps the decoder on a station that drifts.
Stations (the list icon) shows all stations the app finds in place of the text, with their frequency, call, signal to noise ratio, IMD and their last text. Tap one to decode it in the main text; its call goes into DX.
DECODE 12 dB IMD −28 shows that the selected station is decoded, its signal to noise ratio and its IMD (how clean its signal is: −25 dB or lower is clean, higher values mean an overdriven transmitter). IDLE: nothing decoded.
The trash can clears the text and the station list. Tap it twice to clear your sent lines too. A station comes back into the list with its next text.
9.2.2. The waterfall
The waterfall shows the audio from 200 to 3000 Hz, the newest line at the top. Tap a trace to decode it: the app moves to the middle of the signal by itself. The red line shows the station you decode, the small white marks the stations of the list. The wheel under the waterfall moves the decoder 1 Hz a step (Wheel Step in the settings); the radio stays where it is. Your transmission goes out on the red line.
9.2.3. The received text
The text of the station you decode. Every word that looks like a call is underlined. Tap it to put it into DX.
With Stations on, the station list takes the place of the text:
9.2.4. The red bar
TX switches sending on. While there is nothing to send, the app sends idle, so the other station stays in sync. Tap TX again to stop after the rest of your text.
Live sends every letter as you type it (and switches TX on).
Send sends the line you typed. Then the radio goes back to receive by itself. It is not there with Live on.
DX is the station you work. Tap a call in the received text or in the station list, or type it.
? looks up the call in DX.
Log opens the log entry, filled in with the call in DX and the PSK speed as the mode.
Cancel stops sending at once. Tap it twice to clear DX too.
Below the red bar are your PSK macros (Tools > Macros > PSK Macros) and your sent lines, the newest on top. Text that is not sent yet is grey. Tap a line to send it again. The PSK macros also work from the Macro Bar while PSK receives or sends.
9.3. Settings
Tap ⚙︎ for the PSK settings.
Mode: PSK31, PSK63 or PSK125.
AFC, Squelch (text only above this signal quality, so noise doesn’t print), Wheel Step (1, 5 or 10 Hz).
Level: the level sent to the radio. Keep the ALC at zero: an overdriven PSK signal splatters over its neighbours.
9.4. Good to know
PSK keeps receiving, and sending, when you switch to another tab. Only RX stops it.
9.5. On the iPhone
The iPhone shows the same buttons. The blue and the red bar take two rows each.
10. HF-Fax
HF-Fax receives weather charts that weather services send on shortwave, for example the German weather service (DWD) or the UK Met Office. This is also called weather fax or WEFAX. HF-Fax only receives.
A chart is sent line by line and takes about 10 minutes. The stations send at fixed times; their schedules are on their websites.
10.1. Quick start
Tap Manual and choose a country, for example Germany. Then choose a station in Station, for example
7880 DDK3. The radio tunes to it.Tap RX.
Leave Auto on. When a chart starts, its start tone begins the picture by itself.
Watch the chart appear line by line. Tap the share button to save it.
10.2. The screen
10.2.1. The blue bar
RX starts and stops receiving. It sets the radio’s mode and filter for the fax.
Manual chooses the country. Manual leaves the radio where it is: tune it yourself.
Station chooses a station of that country: its frequency and call, for example
7880 DDK3. The radio tunes to it, and the fax settings are set for it.Auto waits for the start tone of a chart and starts a new picture by itself. The stop tone at the end finishes it.
Start starts a picture now, without waiting for the start tone. While a picture is drawn, it reads Pause: tap it to stop drawing for a moment.
The status shows what HF-Fax is doing:
IDLE— RX is off.WAIT— waiting for the start tone (Auto on).READY— ready, tap Start.RX— drawing a picture.PAUSE— paused.
The arrows switch between the whole width of the picture and its full size. At full size you can move the picture with your finger.
The share button saves the picture or sends it on, for example to Photos or Files.
The trash can clears the picture.
Below the picture you see the number of lines received and the fax settings in use.
10.3. Settings
Tap ⚙︎ for the HF-Fax settings:
10.3.1. Fax
Center Tone (Hz), Shift, IOC and Speed — how the station sends. Choosing a station sets them. Most weather fax stations use 1900 Hz, IOC 576 and 120 LPM.
10.3.2. Saving
Auto Save — saves every chart that ends with its stop tone to the Photos library. The share button in the bar saves a picture at any time.
10.3.3. Picture
Invert — swaps black and white.
Black level and Contrast — make a weak chart easier to read.
10.3.4. Correction
PPM — straightens a slanted picture. A slant comes from a small clock difference between the station and your device.
Phase — moves the picture sideways, for example to bring a margin from the middle to the edge.
Reset PPM and Phase — sets both back to 0.
10.4. Good to know
HF-Fax keeps receiving when you switch to another tab. Only RX stops it.
Tune exactly: the app tunes 1.9 kHz below the station’s frequency, so the fax tones are in the middle of the filter. If you tune by hand, do the same.
A slanted chart is normal at first. Straighten it once with PPM; the value is kept.
If a chart doesn’t start, tap Start at the beginning of a chart, then move it into place with Phase.
10.5. On the iPhone
The iPhone shows the same buttons. The blue bar takes two rows.
11. SSTV
SSTV (slow-scan television) sends still pictures over the radio. You can receive pictures, save them, and send your own pictures, for example with your call written on them.
A picture takes from a few seconds to a few minutes, depending on the SSTV mode. Every picture starts with a short code (the VIS code) that names its mode, so the app finds the right mode by itself.
11.1. Quick start
Tap Manual and choose a frequency, for example
14.230 Calling. The radio tunes to it.Tap RX. Leave the mode on Auto.
When a picture starts, it appears line by line from the top. The status shows
PIC.Tap the save button to keep the picture.
To send a picture: tap Load and choose a picture. Choose the mode in the red bar, for example Martin M1, and tap TX.
11.2. The screen
The blue bar with the picture is at the top, the red bar for sending at the bottom.
11.2.1. The blue bar
RX starts and stops receiving. The app starts waiting for a picture right away. SSTV keeps receiving when you switch to another tab.
Manual chooses a frequency from the list: the common SSTV frequencies on HF (LSB on 80 m and 40 m, USB above) and on 2 m (FM). The radio tunes to it and sets the mode. Manual leaves the radio where it is: tune it yourself.
Auto is the mode of the pictures you receive. Auto reads the mode from the start of each picture and then shows it, for example
Auto · M1. Choose one mode to receive a picture whose start you missed, for example when you tuned in late.Start clears the picture and waits for the next one. With RX off, it also turns RX on. While the app waits or receives, the button reads Stop: tap it to stop. The picture stays.
The status shows what SSTV is doing:
IDLE— RX is off.RDY— ready, but not waiting for a picture. Tap Start.VIS— waiting for the next picture.PIC— receiving a picture.FSKID— reading the call the station sends after its picture.DONE— the picture is complete.
The speech bubble puts your own text on the picture. See Your text on the picture.
The save button saves the picture or sends it on, for example to Photos or Files. The picture is saved as PNG, with your text on it.
The trash can clears the picture. If the app is waiting for a picture, it goes on waiting.
Below these buttons:
PPM straightens a slanted picture. A slant comes from a small clock difference between the station and your device.
Phase moves the picture sideways, for example to bring an edge from the middle to the side.
Reset sets PPM and Phase back to 0.
PPM, Phase and Reset work on a complete picture, received or loaded. While a picture comes in, they are greyed out.
A thin line above the picture shows how far the picture is: green while receiving, red while sending.
The line at the bottom of the screen tells you what the app is doing, for example Waiting for VIS
or Receiving Martin M1.
11.2.2. The red bar
TX sends the picture you see, once. Tap it again to stop. It turns off by itself at the end.
Martin M1 is the mode for sending. See SSTV modes.
My ID is your call. It is sent as a short data burst (FSK ID) after the picture, so the other station’s app can show who sent it. At first it shows your Operator Call from the app’s settings; a call you type stays. Leave it empty to send no ID.
His ID shows the call that the other station sent after its picture. The app fills it in.
Log opens the logbook, already filled in with the call in His ID and the mode SSTV.
Load chooses a picture from your Photos library. The app stops waiting for pictures, so the loaded picture stays on the screen. Tap Start to receive again.
11.3. Receiving
A normal SSB filter (2.4 kHz or wider) is enough. The tones of SSTV are between 1100 and 2300 Hz.
After a picture, the app waits for the next one by itself.
A slanted picture is normal. When it is complete, move PPM until the edges are straight. Move Phase if the picture is shifted sideways.
If a picture starts in the middle (you tuned in late), choose its mode instead of Auto.
The International Space Station (ISS) sometimes sends SSTV pictures on 145.800 MHz (FM). Choose Manual and tune the radio yourself.
11.4. Sending
Tap Load and choose a picture. Or send a picture you received.
Put your text on it, if you like: see Your text on the picture.
Choose the mode in the red bar. Ask the other station which mode it prefers.
Check My ID.
Tap TX.
The app fits the picture into the size of the mode. If the picture has another shape, white borders fill the rest.
Hint
Martin M1 and Scottie S1 are used most and give good quality. Martin M4 is much quicker, but the quality is low. The ISS sends Robot 36 (sometimes PD-120).
11.4.1. SSTV modes
The app receives and sends all these modes.
Mode |
Size |
|---|---|
Martin M1, Martin M2 |
320 × 256 |
Martin M3, Martin M4 |
320 × 128 |
Scottie S1, Scottie S2, Scottie DX |
320 × 256 |
Robot 72, Robot 36 |
320 × 240 |
Robot 24 |
160 × 120 |
Robot 24 B/W |
320 × 240 |
Robot 12 B/W, Robot 8 B/W |
320 × 120 |
PD-50, PD-90 |
320 × 256 |
PD-120, PD-180, PD-240 |
640 × 496 |
PD-160 |
512 × 400 |
PD-290 |
800 × 616 |
Pasokon P3, Pasokon P5, Pasokon P7 |
640 × 496 |
Wraase SC-2 120, Wraase SC-2 180 |
320 × 256 |
11.5. Your text on the picture
Tap the speech bubble to put a text on the picture, for example your call and a greeting.
Text — the text. It can contain variables, for example
{MYCALL}(your call) or{CALL}(the call in the logbook entry). The app fills them in. See the chapter Macro Variables.Previous — your last texts. Choose one to use it again. The trash can deletes the list.
Text Size, Position, Padding — how big the text is, in which corner (or the center), and how far from the edge.
Text Color and Background Color — the colors of the text and of the box behind it.
Sample — shows how the text looks.
Apply puts the text on the picture. Close closes without a change.
The text is part of the picture you send and save. A new picture (received or loaded) starts without the text: load the picture first, then add the text.
11.6. Settings
Tap ⚙︎ for the SSTV settings.
Auto Save — saves every received picture (PNG) to the Photos library, also while you are on another tab. The first time, iOS asks for permission. The save button in the bar saves a picture at any time.
11.7. Good to know
SSTV keeps receiving when you switch to another tab. Only RX stops it.
Stop keeps the picture, the trash can clears it, Start clears it and waits for the next one.
TX also sends a picture you received, for example to send it back to the station.
11.8. On the iPhone
The iPhone has less room:
The blue bar takes two rows. Start and the buttons for the picture are in the second row.
The mode buttons show the short name of the mode, for example M1.
My ID, His ID and Log are in a second row of the red bar.
The settings fill the screen. Tap Done to close them.
12. APRS
This tool allows you to receive and send APRS packets.
12.1. What is APRS?
APRS stands for Automatic Packet Reporting System. It is a digital communication protocol used by amateur radio operators to exchange real-time information such as:
Position reports (GPS locations)
Short messages
Status updates
Weather data
Telemetry
Object information (such as repeaters, events, or hazards)
Unlike traditional voice QSOs, APRS packets are sent automatically and can be received by any station listening on the APRS frequency. Many APRS stations are connected to the APRS-IS (Internet System), allowing global exchange of messages and positions through gateways (iGates).
Tip
APRS is not just about position tracking. It is a versatile system that supports tactical communication, situational awareness, and even integration with email or SMS services in certain regions.
Before using the APRS tool, check your APRS Call in the settings of this tool (⚙︎). It starts as your call
with -9. See APRS Settings further below for details.
To use this APRS tool:
Tune your radio to the correct APRS frequency for your region.
Set the mode according to the regional standard (usually FM).
Select a wide filter so the full APRS signal can be decoded.
Common APRS frequencies by region:
North America: 144.390 MHz (FM)
Europe: 144.800 MHz (FM)
Oceania (Australia, New Zealand): 145.175 MHz (FM)
Japan: 144.660 MHz (FM)
South America: 145.570 MHz (FM)
Note
APRS operates on narrowband FM, but always use a wide enough filter so the full packet (1200 baud AFSK) can be received.
Once you tap RX in the top left corner, the tool starts receiving APRS packets and shows them in a list, with the newest packet at the top. While the app sends, the button turns red and reads TX.
12.2. The RX Packet List
The RX Packet List shows all received APRS packets in a table.
Time – When the packet was received.
RX by – The call sign of the station that relayed or transmitted the packet to you. A
*after it means a digipeater repeated the packet.From – The originating call sign of the packet.
To – The destination call sign. Only filled for certain packet types (e.g., messages).
Type – The type of APRS packet: Position, Message, Status, Weather, Object, Item, Query, Capabilities, Telemetry, User Defined or Unknown.
Info – A brief summary of the packet contents.
Tap any entry to view more detailed information about that packet. If the packet has a position, Show Map shows it on a map. Close closes the details.
12.2.1. Filtering and Grouping
As the list grows large, you can:
Group the list with Grouping: Show All, By Sender, By Source, By Destination or By Type. Each group starts with its name and the number of packets.
Filter packets by entering search terms in Filter. The filter searches the calls, the packet type and the packet text.
Examples:
Entering
DL8MRE-7,DL8MRE-8shows all packets containing either call sign.Entering
-Statusshows all packets except Status messages.Using
*matches everything.
Hint
You can combine filters with commas and use - to exclude. For example: DL,-Telemetry shows
the packets with DL in them, except telemetry.
Tapping the trash can clears the list. Additionally, packets are removed automatically after a time you choose (see APRS Settings).
12.2.2. Mapping
Tapping the map button displays all packets containing positions on a map. This can show fixed locations or moving stations/routes. The target button shows all stations, Close closes the map.
12.3. Transmitting APRS Packets
This tool allows you to transmit APRS Messages, Positions, and Status reports.
Important
Set your radio squelch correctly before transmitting. - Squelch should remain closed when no signal is present. - It should open immediately when a signal is received. APRS waits with sending while another packet is on the channel, preventing collisions.
12.3.1. Messages
Tapping Messages opens the APRS Messages view.
Use Messages or Bulletins at the top to switch between messages and bulletins.
Use Received or Sent to switch between inbox and outbox.
Clear deletes all messages of the list you see, after you confirm it.
Close closes the view.
To compose a new message, go to Sent and tap New. Tap a message in a list to open it.
Choose the type of message at the top:
Normal – Standard text message to another station.
EMail – Send an email (if supported in your region).
SMS – Send a text message to a mobile phone (if supported).
WinLink – Send a message via the WinLink system.
Important
APRS messages are sent in plain text, unencrypted. Anyone monitoring APRS can read them. If you include email addresses or phone numbers, they will be public.
Note
Not all regions support EMail, SMS, or WinLink services. Check local availability.
The buttons at the top:
Send – Sends the message.
Acknowledge / Reject – Confirms or rejects a received message.
Answer – Starts a reply to a received message.
Delete – Deletes the message from the list.
Cancel – Closes the message without sending.
Message limitations:
Maximum length: 67 characters.
Each message has an auto-incrementing identifier number.
Acknowledgments (ACKs) may or may not be sent by the receiving station.
Tip
If your message is not acknowledged, open the message in Sent and tap Send again to retransmit.
Example: A received message displayed on a Kenwood TH-D74:
12.3.2. WinLink Messages
In addition to Normal, Email, and SMS, you can send and receive WinLink messages.
Choose WinLink as the type, then the command in Command: Login, List, Read, Reply, Write, Forward, Delete, Info, Individual, Logout.
12.3.2.1. WinLink Login Procedure
Before sending WinLink messages, you must log in:
Send any WinLink command (e.g., List).
WinLink will respond with a login challenge such as: Login [593]: Here 593 refers to the 5th, 9th, and 3rd characters of your WinLink password.
You must respond with those three password characters, plus three random characters, in random order. Example: Password = secretpassword, challenge [593] → response contains e, s, c plus three random characters.
Important
Never send your full password. Only the challenge/response mechanism is used.
This tool can handle the login challenge automatically if you enter your WinLink password in the APRS Settings.
After successful login, you will receive a Welcome message and can proceed with other commands.
Note
Responses from WinLink may take time. Be patient, and retransmit messages manually if needed.
12.3.3. Sending Positions
Tap Position to transmit your location. The button works while RX is on.
Coordinates – Your latitude and longitude. Use Current Location fills them in from your device.
Symbol – The symbol others see for your station: type Table and Symbol, or choose one in Select.
Path – The digipeater path. Blank: the APRS Path of the settings is used.
Message – A short comment that goes with your position.
Send transmits the position, Close closes the view.
Example of a received position report:
12.3.4. Sending a Status Report
Tap Status to send a short status message: type it in Message and tap Send. The button works while RX is on.
Example of a received status message:
12.3.5. Automatic Transmission
Both the Position and the Status views can repeat what you have composed there, so your station keeps showing up on the network without you sending it again by hand. Each has an Automatic Transmission box with a Repeat every … min switch.
The switch stays disabled until there is something to send: a status needs its text, a position needs a valid latitude and longitude.
The position beacon and the status beacon are separate. Either, both or neither can run.
What goes out is rebuilt from the window each time, so it is always the current text and the current time, not a copy of the first transmission.
Important
The minimum interval is 2 minutes. A shorter figure is raised to it. Anything faster is antisocial on a shared channel — choose an interval that suits how fast your station actually moves.
Beacons also go out while you are on another screen or tab, as long as RX is on. They are skipped while a connected session is open, so they cannot steal airtime from a link. The interval is varied by about a tenth so that two stations which started together do not stay in lockstep for ever.
Tip
Closing the Position or Status view does not switch the repeat off. Turn the switch off when you no longer want to be beaconing.
12.4. Connected Mode
Besides APRS packets, which are broadcast to everyone and not acknowledged, this tool can open a connected AX.25 session: a real point-to-point link to a BBS, a node, or a WinLink RMS. Everything you type is delivered in order, and every frame is repeated until the other station acknowledges it.
Use the Connect button to open the APRS Connection view. The button is available once RX is on.
Important
Opening it is what makes you reachable. Your call sign is registered with the link layer for as long as the view is open, so other stations can also connect to you. Closing it ends that.
Two fields at the top set up the call:
To – The call sign of the station to connect to, including its SSID (e.g., DB0XYZ-1).
via – Optional digipeaters, first hop first, separated by commas.
Important
Connected mode needs real digipeater call signs in via. The WIDE1-1, WIDE2-1 aliases used in APRS Path are APRS flooding aliases; a connected session will never come up through them.
Both fields are remembered for the next session.
The status line below them shows where the session stands:
Listening as <call> (blue) – Ready, and reachable for incoming connections.
Calling <peer>… (orange) – The connection request has gone out and is repeated until it is answered or the retries run out.
Connected to <peer> (green) – The link is up. (incoming) means the other station called you.
Disconnecting (orange) – The link is being taken down.
N unacked appears beside it while frames are still waiting to be acknowledged, and a red TX marker shows whenever the session is transmitting.
The button on the right changes with the state: Connect to call the station, Cancel while the call is going out, and Disconnect to end a session. Clear empties the scrollback.
Type into the line at the bottom and press Return or Send. The input line is only active while the link is up. Sent lines, received text and status messages are shown in different colours, and any of it can be selected and copied.
Note
Beacons — automatic position and status transmissions — are suspended while a connection is open.
Tip
If a session stalls on a weak or digipeated path, lower Packet Length and Window in the APRS Settings. Both take effect on the next connection, not on one that is already open.
Close at the bottom closes the view. While a link is open, it asks first whether to Disconnect. Once the link is down, the app stops listening, so other stations can’t connect to you any more.
12.5. APRS Settings
Tap ⚙︎ at the top to open the APRS settings.
12.5.1. General
APRS Call – Your call sign with SSID (e.g.,
DL8MRE-7). It starts as your call with-9.APRS Mode – 1200 Baud (e.g. for VHF/UHF) or 300 Baud (for HF). It can only be changed while RX is off.
APRS Path – The digipeater path for your packets: Direct, Wide1-1, Wide1-1, Wide2-1, Wide1-1, Wide2-2, TCPIP or Custom. Common default: Wide1-1, Wide2-1. Custom shows the field Custom Path: type your own path, for example
ARISSfor the digipeater on the ISS or a satellite’s call sign; several hops separated by commas, for exampleWIDE1-1,ARISS.
12.5.2. List
Remove Reports after (min) – How long positions, status reports and all other packets stay in the list, in minutes.
Remove All after (hours) – How long messages and queries stay in the list, in hours.
0 keeps the packets until you clear the list.
12.5.3. Symbol
Table and Symbol – The symbol for your position reports, as APRS codes.
Select – Choose the symbol from a list. Its name is shown below.
Note
Select only offers the standard / symbol table. For other tables, type the codes in
Table and Symbol.
12.5.4. Connection
Packet Length – Largest number of bytes sent in one frame of a connected session (1 to 2048, default 256).
Retries – How often an unacknowledged frame is repeated before the link is given up (1 to 15, default 10).
Ack Timeout (s) – How long to wait for an acknowledgment before repeating a frame (1 to 15 seconds, default 5).
Window – How many frames may be outstanding at once (1 to 7, default 4).
Note
These four settings apply to the next connection, not to one that is already open.
12.5.5. WinLink
Password – Your WinLink password, for the automatic challenge/response login.
12.5.6. Messages
Auto Acknowledgment – If enabled, incoming APRS messages are acknowledged automatically.
Tip
Using Auto Acknowledgment ensures better reliability, but you can also acknowledge a message yourself: open it in Received and tap Acknowledge.
12.6. On the iPhone
The iPhone has less room:
There is no Grouping: the list always shows all packets.
The settings and the views for messages, position, status and connection fill the screen. Tap Done to close the settings.
13. WSPR
WSPR (say “whisper”) shows how far signals get on a band. Stations send short beacons with their call, locator and power. Every station that hears a beacon reports it to the website WSPRnet (https://wsprnet.org), so you can see who heard whom, and when. This helps you compare bands and times of day, or test an antenna.
WSPR works with very weak signals and low power, often less than one watt. A beacon starts at an even minute and takes almost two minutes (110 seconds). WSPR needs iOS 26.
13.1. Quick start
Check Operator Call and Grid (QTH Locator) in the app’s settings.
Tap 20m (14 MHz) and choose a band. The radio tunes to the WSPR frequency of that band.
Tap RX. At the end of each two-minute period, the stations heard appear in the list.
To send your own beacon as well: set Power (W) to the power of your radio and tap TX. The line at the bottom of the screen counts the seconds until your beacon goes out.
13.2. The screen
The blue bar with the stations you heard is at the top. Below it the red bar with your beacons.
13.2.1. The blue bar
RX starts and stops receiving. It sets the radio’s mode for WSPR.
20m (14 MHz) shows the band. Tap it to choose another band. The radio tunes to the WSPR frequency of that band. Manual leaves the radio where it is: tune it yourself.
The trash can clears the list of stations heard. Tap it twice to also clear the list of your beacons.
The map button shows the stations on a map. See The map.
The list shows one row for each beacon heard:
UTC — when the beacon was heard.
Pwr — the power the station reports, in dBm and watts.
Freq — the frequency of the beacon, in MHz.
Offset — the audio frequency of the beacon, in Hz.
Snr — how strong the beacon was, in dB. WSPR decodes down to about −28 dB.
Call, Grid and Country — the station, its locator and its country.
Distance — how far away the station is, in km and miles (from your Grid (QTH Locator)).
The list is wider than the screen: swipe it sideways to see Country and Distance.
A thin line above the list shows how far the current two-minute period is.
13.2.2. The red bar
TX switches your beacons on and off. A red frame around TX means your beacons are on and the app waits for the next one. While a beacon goes out, TX is red. The beacons are timed while receiving: turn on RX first. Turning RX off also switches TX off.
TX: is the audio frequency of your beacon, from 1400 to 1600 Hz. Choose a value between, for example
1450. 1500 Hz is used by many stations.Power (W) is the power your beacon reports, for example
30 dBm 1 W. It doesn’t change the radio’s power: set it to the power your radio really sends.Repeat every (min) is the time between your beacons, in minutes. It is an even number, at least 2.
Below the red bar you see your beacons: UTC, Pwr, Freq and Offset.
The line at the bottom of the screen shows the second of the current period and, with TX on, the seconds until your next beacon.
13.3. Sending
Check Operator Call and Grid (QTH Locator) in the app’s settings. Your beacon carries your call and the first four characters of your locator.
Tap RX.
Choose TX:, Power (W) and Repeat every (min).
Tap TX. The app sends a beacon every Repeat every (min) minutes, always at the start of an even minute. The line at the bottom of the screen counts the seconds until the next one.
To see who heard you, search for your call on https://wsprnet.org.
Note
WSPR is meant to be sent with little power. Many stations send in only one of five periods,
for example with Repeat every (min) set to 10. This leaves time to hear the others.
13.4. The map
Tap the map button to see the stations of the list on a map.
Your station is the red pin (Home), the stations you heard are blue, with a line from each to you.
The target button shows all stations.
The map button switches between the whole globe and the area of the stations.
The globe button switches between a satellite picture and a normal map.
Close closes the map.
13.5. Settings
Tap ⚙︎ for the WSPR settings.
Upload Spots to WSPRNet — sends the beacons you heard to WSPRnet every five minutes, with your Operator Call (or Your Call when it is empty) and Grid (QTH Locator). Each beacon is sent once. The line at the bottom of the screen shows for a while how many WSPRnet took, or why the upload failed, for example
WSPRnet upload failed: set your call sign and locator.
13.6. Good to know
WSPR keeps receiving, sending and uploading when you switch to another tab. Only RX stops it.
The time on your device must be exact, to about one second. WSPR depends on the even minutes.
The first period after RX is not complete, so it usually shows no stations.
Power (W) is only a number in your beacon. Set the radio’s power yourself.
Calls with a
/, for exampleDL1ABC/P, can’t be sent and are not shown.Your locator may have four or six characters. Only the first four are sent.
13.7. On the iPhone
The iPhone shows the same controls with shorter names:
The band button shows only the band, for example 20m.
The audio frequency field has no TX: in front of it.
Pwr: is the power, Rpt: the time between your beacons.
The map and the settings fill the screen. Tap Done to close the settings.
1. Mapping Editor
A mapping says what each control of a controller does: which knob changes the frequency, which button switches to transmit or sends a macro, and which LED shows that you transmit. The mapping editor is where you see and change it.
All controllers use the same editor:
MIDI Controller, CTR2 Controller and CTR2 Dial Controller: tap Edit Mapping in the tool.
PowerMate: tap Edit Mapping in the tool.
Flic: tap a button in the list. A Flic has a row per click instead of codes.
Pryme Buttons: tap Map. It shows only the screen of one mapping (see Changing a mapping).
Each controller tool’s chapter shows what is special for it. This chapter explains the editor itself.
1.1. Quick start
Connect the controller and switch it on in its tool. Tap Edit Mapping.
Press a button on the controller. Its row is highlighted. A button that has no row yet gets a new row Not assigned.
Tap the row, tap Radio Action and choose what the button does, for example
PTT Push. Tap Save.
1.2. The screen
The list has three parts: Wheels / Sliders, Buttons and LEDs. Each row is one line: the code of a control on the left and its radio action on the right. None means the part is empty.
Press a button or turn a knob on the controller: its row is highlighted, or a new row is added. While the editor is open, the controller doesn’t change anything on the radio.
Tap a row to change it. See Changing a mapping.
Swipe a row to the left for Delete and Edit. Delete asks first.
Touch and hold a row for the same two actions.
+ in the navigation bar adds a row by hand: Add Wheel / Slider, Add Button or Add LED.
At the end of the list:
Export Mapping… saves the mapping as a file. See Mapping files.
Import Mapping… loads a mapping file and replaces the whole mapping.
Delete All Mappings empties the list, after you confirm it. Use it to start from scratch.
Every change is saved at once. There is nothing to save when you leave.
1.3. Changing a mapping
Code — the number the controller sends for this control. You rarely need to type it: press the control instead, and the editor finds its row.
Radio Action — what the control does. The list only shows the actions that fit: a wheel can change the frequency or the volume, a button can switch something on and off or send a macro. Type in the search field to find an action quickly. Not assigned removes the action.
Slice — for actions that work on a slice: the slice A to H, the transmit slice (TX) or the active slice (ACTIVE). The list shows it in grey after the radio action, for example
Slice A.
Tap Save, or Cancel to leave the row as it was. A row saved without a radio action is removed.
All radio actions of the app are listed in Radio actions for controllers. Useful ones:
Macro 1, Macro 2, … send your macros, as the Macro Bar does. See Macros.
Command 1 to Command 10 run the buttons of the Command Bar.
1.4. Where a mapping comes from
A controller starts with an empty mapping: you decide what each control does. Mappings you made with an older version of the app are kept.
Settings For… in the MIDI Controller tool sets the wheel, channel and LED options for a known controller. It doesn’t change the mapping.
Every MIDI controller has its own mapping. Every Flic button has its own mapping too.
A ready mapping, for example from a friend, comes in as a mapping file.
1.5. Mapping files
A mapping file (.map) lets you keep a backup before you try something new, use a mapping on another device,
or share it with a friend.
Export Mapping… opens the Files dialog: choose a folder, for example in iCloud Drive or on your device, and tap Save. The app suggests the controller’s name as the file name, with
.mapat the end.Import Mapping… opens the Files dialog: choose a
.mapfile wherever it is. It replaces the whole mapping.
1.6. Good to know
Don’t know a control’s code? Press it while the editor is open: its row shows the code.
A mapping is kept when you update the app, and stays on this device. Export it to have a copy.
1.7. On the iPhone
The iPhone shows the same list and the same screens.
2. Radio actions for controllers
A controller (MIDI controller, CTR2, FlexControl, PowerMate, Flic and others) does what its mapping says: each knob, button or light gets a Radio Action. This chapter lists all radio actions of the app. How to assign them is described in the chapter of each controller.
The mapping editor itself is described in the chapter Mapping Editor.
Wheels / Sliders are knobs and faders. A knob that sends clicks (an encoder) changes a value step by step; a knob or fader that sends its position sets the value.
Buttons do something when pressed, or switch something on and off.
LEDs are lights on the controller that show a state of the radio.
Slice in the tables: for these actions the mapping can choose the slice: A to H, the transmit slice (TX) or the active slice (ACTIVE). The others work on the active slice or the whole radio.
2.1. Wheels and sliders
Radio Action |
What it does |
Slice |
|---|---|---|
Slice Frequency |
Tunes the slice, one tune step per click. |
yes |
Slice Reverse Frequency |
The same, the other way round. |
yes |
Zoom Slice |
Zooms the panadapter around the slice. |
yes |
Bandwidth |
The width of the slice’s filter. |
yes |
SAT RX Offset, SAT TX Offset |
The receive and transmit offset of the S.A.T. controller. |
yes |
Slice Volume |
The slice’s volume. |
yes |
Balance Slice |
The slice’s balance between left and right. |
yes |
Balance A/B |
The balance between slice A and slice B. |
|
AGC Threshold |
The slice’s AGC threshold. |
yes |
NB-Level, WNB-Level, NR-Level, ANF Level, APF value |
The level of the noise blanker, the wideband noise blanker, the noise reduction, the auto notch and the APF. |
yes |
RIT Frequency, XIT Frequency |
The RIT or XIT offset, 10 Hz per click. A knob that sends its position also works in steps from where the offset is, so after Clear it starts from 0. |
yes |
RF Power |
The transmit power. |
|
Mic gain |
The microphone level. |
|
CW speed, CW pitch |
The keyer speed and the CW pitch (10 Hz per click). |
|
Adjust Main Volume |
The app’s main volume (on the iPhone and iPad: Speaker adjustment in the audio settings). |
2.3. LEDs
Radio Action |
Lights up while … |
Slice |
|---|---|---|
TX On |
the radio transmits. |
yes |
MOX |
MOX is on. |
|
Tune |
the antenna tuner is tuning or has tuned; off when it should tune again. |
|
Slice Active |
the slice is the active slice. |
yes |
Slice Locked |
the slice is locked. |
yes |
Audio enabled |
the slice is not muted. |
yes |
APF |
the APF is on. |
yes |
RX Ant 1, RX Ant 2, RX XVTR |
the slice receives on this antenna. |
yes |
TX Ant 1, TX Ant 2, TX XVTA, TX XVTB |
the slice transmits on this antenna. |
yes |
ACC TX, RCA TX 1, RCA TX 2, RCA TX 3 |
this transmit output is on. |
3. Macros
Macros are texts or recordings you send often, ready to go with a single tap. The app has five kinds:
Macros |
What they are |
Where you send them |
|---|---|---|
CW Macros |
texts, sent in CW |
the CW mode, the Macro Bar in CW |
RTTY Macros |
texts, sent in RTTY |
the RTTY mode, the Macro Bar while RTTY runs |
PSK Macros |
texts, sent in PSK |
the PSK mode, the Macro Bar while PSK runs |
Voice Macros |
recordings of your own voice |
the Voice Macros tool, the Macro Bar in SSB, AM and FM |
Speech Macros |
texts, spoken by a computer voice |
the Speech mode, the Macro Bar while Speech transmits |
You set them up in the Tools tab under Macros. Each kind has its own chapter in this manual.
3.1. The Macro Bar
The Macro Bar floats over the radio screen and has a button for every macro with a name. When not all buttons fit, swipe the bar sideways.
Tap View on the radio screen, then Macro Bar, to show or hide it.
The bar follows the radio’s mode: in CW it shows your CW macros, in SSB, AM and FM your voice macros. Its title says which ones, for example CW Macros.
While TX is on in the Speech mode, the bar shows your Speech macros. While the RTTY or the PSK mode receives or sends, it shows your RTTY or PSK macros.
Tap a button to send its macro.
Stop stops the macro that is being sent.
Drag the title bar to move the bar. The x in the title bar closes it.
3.2. Keyboard and controllers
Keyboard (iPad with a keyboard): Option-1 to Option-9 send the macros 1 to 9 of the bar, Option-X stops.
Controllers: a button of a MIDI controller, a CTR2 or a Flic button can send a macro. Give it the radio action Macro 1, Macro 2, and so on.
Macros Stop stops a macro.
Like the bar, the keyboard and the controllers send the macro that fits the radio’s mode: Macro 1 is the first CW macro in CW and the first voice macro in SSB.
3.3. Placeholders
Placeholders in the text of a CW, RTTY, PSK or Speech macro are replaced when the macro is sent. Most values come
from the log entry: the log window of the QSO you are making (in the CW, RTTY and PSK modes, {CALL} is
the call in DX).
The others come from the app’s settings. Upper or lower case doesn’t matter.
Placeholder |
Replaced by |
|---|---|
|
your own call, from the app’s settings |
|
your own call, spelled with the phonetic alphabet (for Speech macros) |
|
your locator, from the app’s settings |
|
the call of the station you work, from the log entry |
|
the same call, spelled with the phonetic alphabet (for Speech macros) |
|
the report you give (RST sent), from the log entry |
|
the report you got (RST received), from the log entry |
|
your contest number: with Generate RST on in the Logbook settings the next serial number,
or the fixed text with Use fixed RST Text. Otherwise the report you give, as |
|
the comment of the log entry |
|
the receive frequency of the log entry |
|
the transmit frequency of the log entry |
|
the band of the receive or the transmit frequency |
|
the date of the log entry |
|
the time of the log entry |
|
the time now in UTC, for example |
|
the time now in UTC without the colon, for example |
|
the name and the version of the app |
|
nothing: it logs the QSO at the moment the macro is sent |
|
a new line |
Example: with OH2XYZ in the log entry, {CALL} DE {MYCALL} K is sent as OH2XYZ DE DL8MRE K.
4. Keyboard Shortcuts
With a keyboard connected to the iPad (or the iPhone), you can control the app with keyboard shortcuts.
To see them all in the app, press ⌘? (or ⌘⇧K). Press Escape to close the list.
4.1. Everywhere
These work on every tab:
Keys |
What they do |
|---|---|
⌘W |
Shows the Panadapter tab. |
⌘M |
Shows the Modes tab. |
⌘T |
Shows the Tools tab. |
⌘S |
Shows the Settings tab. |
⌘C |
Connects to the radio, or disconnects. |
⌘P |
Shows the radio screen (while connected). |
⌘8 |
Opens the FT8 mode (while connected). |
⌘B |
Opens the Logbook (while connected). |
⌘? or ⌘⇧K |
Shows the list of keyboard shortcuts. |
4.2. On the radio screen
These work while the radio screen is shown and the radio is connected:
Keys |
What they do |
|---|---|
⌥ , / ⌥ . |
Tunes the active slice one tuning step down / up. |
⌃⌥ , / ⌃⌥ . |
Tunes ten tuning steps down / up. |
⌥ [ / ⌥ ] |
Zooms the panadapter in / out. |
⌥ Space |
Switches transmit on and off (not in CW). |
⌥1 … ⌥9 |
Sends macro 1 to 9 (CW or voice macros, by the mode). |
⌥X |
Stops a running macro. |
⌘⌥1 … ⌘⌥9 |
Runs button 1 to 9 of the Command Bar. |
⌘L |
Opens the log window. |
While the Tuning Panel is open, you can also type a frequency: the digits and the point, then m for MHz,
k or Return for kHz, c to clear. See Tuning.
Common Issues
Start here when something doesn’t work. Find your problem below and go through the checks in order: the most likely cause comes first.
First steps
Many problems go away with these steps:
Update the app. The problem may already be fixed: Settings tab → Check for App Update.
Close the app and start it again. Swipe it away in the app switcher, then open it again.
Switch the radio off and on. Wait until it is ready, then connect again.
Check the network. Open Network Stats in the Tools tab: it tells you in plain words what it finds.
No connection to the radio
The radio is not in the list of radios, or the app doesn’t connect.
Local network access. The app may only find the radio when iOS lets it use the local network. iOS Settings → Privacy & Security → Local Network: switch on SmartSDR.
Microphone access. The app connects only when it may use the microphone, even for listening. If it says so when you tap Connect: iOS Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone → switch on SmartSDR.
The same network. The iPhone or iPad must be in the same network as the radio. A guest Wi-Fi gives you the Internet but not your radio. Wi-Fi extenders, mesh systems and two routers in a row can also keep the app from finding the radio.
The radio’s cable. The radio must be connected to the router (or a switch), never directly to a computer. If the app shows a note about a Link-Local IP Address, the radio got no address from the router: check its cable and the router.
Another program. Can SmartSDR for Windows or a Maestro connect? If not, the problem is the network or the radio: switch the radio off and on, and restart the router.
Low Data Mode. When iOS’s Low Data Mode is on, the app warns you. Switch it off for this Wi-Fi or for mobile data in iOS Settings.
VPN or a special network. Through a VPN, or between two networks, the radio can’t announce itself. Use LAN mode Fixed IP or Scan in the extended settings (see Setting everything up).
Fixed IP. With LAN mode Fixed IP, check that the address is still the radio’s. Better give the radio a fixed address in the router.
The radio appears but connecting doesn’t work
Another program uses the radio. The app asks what to do: connect next to it, disconnect it, or share its slices. See Setting everything up.
Reset Radio Client ID in the extended settings, then connect again. This helps when the radio remembers a broken connection of the app.
Switch the radio off and on.
SmartLink doesn’t work
First make sure the app works at home without SmartLink. Then:
Test from another network. SmartLink only works from outside your home network. At home, switch off Wi-Fi and use mobile data, or a phone’s hotspot.
Check the login. Settings tab → Check SmartLink Status. It must end without an error and show your account. If not, check your email address and password, or try with SmartSDR for Windows.
Check the radio’s SmartLink setup. In SmartSDR for Windows, the SmartLink test must be all green. If it isn’t, fix that first: the radio, the router or the Internet line.
The radio is listed but drops back, or there is no waterfall and no audio. The part of SmartLink that carries the waterfall and the audio doesn’t get through. In the list of radios, tap ⓘ of your radio and look at Remote TCP Port and Remote UDP Port. They must be the ports set up for SmartLink and forwarded in your router. A value of 0 or below means they are not set.
Use SmartLink’s manual mode. SmartLink’s Automatic setup (UPnP) often works for a while and then stops. Set up SmartLink in manual mode, with the ports forwarded in your router by hand.
Switch the radio off and on after changing SmartLink settings.
IPv6 and CGNAT. Some Internet lines (often mobile and cable providers) give your home no own public IPv4 address (CGNAT). SmartLink can’t reach the radio through such a line; ask your provider. If your provider uses IPv6, check that Disable IPv6 in the extended settings is off.
It worked before and stopped. Restart your router, wait until the Internet works again, then switch the radio off and on.
More help on SmartLink:
The waterfall stays empty
The app is connected, you may even tune, but there is no panadapter, no waterfall or no audio.
Reset Radio Client ID in the extended settings, connect again, and switch the radio off and on.
SmartLink at home. At home, connect to the local entry of your radio, not the SmartLink one.
Over SmartLink: see SmartLink doesn’t work, point 4.
Firewall, VPN, guest network. The panadapter, the waterfall and the audio need UDP data, not only TCP. A VPN, a firewall, a guest Wi-Fi or a bridge between two networks may let the connection through but not this data.
A very old firmware (version 1): switch off Reduced DAX Bandwidth and Enforce Network MTU in the extended settings.
No sound
The speaker at the top of the radio screen is not crossed out.
Left menu → Audio: iPad Audio / iPhone Audio is on. When it is off, the radio plays its audio on its own Line Out and headphone sockets.
The slice is not muted, and its volume is up: the speaker and Audio in the Tuning Panel.
The device’s volume (the buttons at its side) is up.
A headset or a Bluetooth device is connected, and the sound goes there. Check Audio Device in the Audio menu, or the Control Center.
Speaker adjustment in the Audio menu is not far left.
On the iPhone: Default to Speaker on (and Allow Stereo off) makes it louder.
Headsets and Bluetooth
Check that you hear audio without the headset, and that the headset works with other apps.
Switch off Default to Speaker and Allow Stereo in the Audio menu.
Choose the headset in Audio Device of the Audio menu, or in the Control Center.
Tap the speaker at the top of the radio screen twice (mute and unmute): this often brings the sound to the headset.
A headset without a microphone, or a HomePod: switch on Listen only mode.
Only mono: iOS plays a headset in mono while its microphone is in use, as in a phone call. Try Allow Stereo; otherwise there is no way around this.
Distorted or interrupted audio and waterfall
The radio sends a lot of data, and the device must handle it in time. Help it on both sides:
The network. Prefer 5 GHz Wi-Fi on a channel nobody else uses. Use good cables and switches between the radio and the router. On the road, use mobile data with good reception. Network Stats shows where the problem is.
Less data. Extended settings → Net speed Slow. Left menu → Disp: move FPS and Rate far down. If that helps, raise them again step by step.
Large Audio Buffer in the extended settings helps on an uneven network.
Bluetooth. Switch Bluetooth off to test. Remove paired devices you don’t use any more: iOS keeps looking for them.
Other work on the device. Close other apps. Switch off Background App Refresh and automatic downloads in iOS Settings while operating.
The DX Cluster. If audio drops out while the DX Cluster is connected, try another server or a longer update interval.
Transmit doesn’t work
No PTT key, no transmission, or no sound on the air in SSB.
Listen only mode (left menu → Audio) is off. While it is on, the PTT key is hidden and the app doesn’t transmit your voice.
The microphone input. In the right menu, the button above PROC must show iPad or iPhone for the device’s microphone. The app warns you when another input is chosen.
DAX is off for transmitting: in the right menu, P/CW, the DAX button must be grey. The app warns you when it is on.
The transmit slice. The slice you speak on must be the one with the red TX.
The mode. USB, LSB, AM or FM, not CW or a digital mode.
The microphone level. The level slider next to the microphone input in the right menu, Mic. adjustment in the Audio menu (at least in the middle), and Microphone Boost under Radio → Phone.
Mic. threshold in the Audio menu: far left (off) to test. Set too high, it mutes your voice.
VOX. With VOX, its level must be low enough to start transmitting.
Another microphone profile. Choose another profile (the profile button left of +ACC), then your own again. A microphone profile can only be used by one program at a time: not at the same time by a Maestro, the front panel of an M model or another SmartSDR.
It worked and stopped after connecting again. Choose another microphone input and then iPad / iPhone again.
The device’s microphone can’t be chosen
If the microphone input always jumps back from iPad / iPhone to MIC, choose another microphone profile (the button left of +ACC). See the note on profiles above.
Distorted transmit signal (for example in FT8)
Switch on Show TX in Waterfall under Radio → Transmit. Then you see the shape of your signal on the panadapter while transmitting.
Lower FPS and Rate in the Disp menu.
Check the network with Network Stats: dropouts on the way to the radio distort the signal.
Power or other settings change by themselves
This comes from the profiles. With Auto Save Profiles off (Settings tab → Behavior), changes are not stored in the profile until you Save it. When a mode such as FT8 selects a profile, its saved settings come back. Switch Auto Save Profiles on, or save the profile after changing it. See Settings.
CW
The CWX speed or delay isn’t used: switch on CWX Sync under Radio → CW.
A foot switch or a key on the radio works unreliably: this is a matter of the wiring at the radio. A 100 nF capacitor between each switch line and ground often helps.
A mode doesn’t decode
The mode’s RX is on, and the radio is on the right frequency and in the right mode for it.
You see signals in the mode’s waterfall or level display. If not, check the band and the antenna.
DAX channel in use. The modes receive through a DAX channel of the radio. When the mode reports that its channel is in use, another mode or a program on a PC uses it: stop the other one, or choose another DAX channel in the mode’s settings.
FT8, FT4, JS8 and WSPR need the device’s clock to be exact: iOS Settings → General → Date & Time → Set Automatically.
The mode is missing: FT8-Improved, JS8, Speech and WSPR need iOS 26.
Each mode’s chapter has more hints under Good to know.
Spots, maps and call lookups
No spots on the waterfall: switch them on in the settings under Spots: Show on Waterfall, and connect the DX Cluster or the POTA tool.
The DX Cluster reports an error at once: enter Your Call in the settings; most clusters ask for it.
Your station is missing on the maps: enter Grid (QTH Locator) in the settings.
Call lookups fail: check your login with Test HamQTH / Test QRZ.com. See Settings.
Controllers and Bluetooth devices
Bluetooth permission. PowerMate, Flic and other Bluetooth controllers need it: iOS Settings → Privacy & Security → Bluetooth → switch on SmartSDR.
Switched on in the tool. Each controller is switched on in its tool (Tools tab → Controllers). A green dot on the tile shows it is on.
MIDI controllers connected by USB must be listed in the MIDI Controller tool. Try another cable or adapter.
HomeKit: switch on Enable HomeKit in the extended settings, and allow HomeKit access in iOS Settings.
The chapter of each controller has more hints.
Crashes or freezes
Update the app and iOS.
Close the app and start it again; switch the radio off and on.
Note what you did just before: the screen, the mode or tool, the buttons. A problem that can be repeated can be fixed.
Contact support with these steps (see below).
How to contact support
In the app: Settings tab → Information & Support → Contact Support. A window offers:
Check for App Update — the problem may already be fixed in a newer version.
Open Manual — this manual, especially this chapter.
Contact support — opens a new email to support. It already contains the app’s version, the iOS version, the device and the radio model with its firmware. Describe your problem below it and send it.
Please write:
What you wanted to do, what you did, and what happened instead.
Whether it happens every time, and since when (for example since an update).
How you are connected: at home or over SmartLink, Wi-Fi or mobile data.
A screenshot or a screen recording, if it shows the problem.
Contact support doesn’t open an email: there is no working email account on the device. Set up an account in the Mail app (or your email app), check that it can send, then try again.