These are the only 10 ham radio apps that are still on my phone after 16 years on the air. I tried a bunch of them over the years, and most got deleted within a week — these are the ones that survived. I've split them into three groups based on what I'm actually doing: the ones I'd install the first day I got my license, the ones that earn their place once I'm working HF, and the two I only reach for when I'm sitting in a park doing a Parks on the Air activation. If you're brand new, you don't need all ten today — start with the first group, and come back for the rest whenever you're ready. Here's exactly what's on my phone, what each one does, and the honest catch on the ones that have one.
I'm about to spend a year doing a Parks on the Air activation every week from the RV. Subscribe so you don't miss it.
GROUP 1 — Day one (any license class)
- HamStudy — get licensed (free on Android, $3.99 iOS, Icom-sponsored)
- RepeaterBook — biggest free repeater directory in the world, works with no signal
- EchoLink — make real contacts with no radio yet
- DVSwitch Mobile — explore digital modes without buying mode-specific gear (Android)
- APRSdroid — location + short messages over radio, no cell service needed (Android)
GROUP 2 — Once you're on HF
- AMRT Ham Radio Toolkit — callsign lookups, band limits, antenna math, grid square
- HF Propagation — what band to try before you waste time calling CQ
- HamAlert — get pinged the moment a station you want shows up
GROUP 3 — Out activating (POTA / SOTA)
- POTA on the GO — live spots + spot yourself when you have a signal
- SOTAMAT — spot yourself with no cell signal at all, using your HF radio
Timestamps:
0:48 How I organize these (carry / HF / field)
1:37 HamStudy
2:12 RepeaterBook
3:05 EchoLink
4:02 DVSwitch Mobile
5:12 APRSdroid
6:54 AMRT Ham Radio Toolkit
7:19 HF Propagation
7:55 HamAlert
9:36 POTA on the GO
10:18 SOTAMAT
11:18 Summary
11:57 The apps don't make the contact — you do
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