# SimpleSSTV — Encode and decode SSTV signals > Encode, decode, and transmit Slow-Scan Television (SSTV) signals for ham radio. (iPhone/iPad app by Jeroen Rombouts.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplesstv/id6756872709 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Jeroen Rombouts](https://appshunter.io/developer/1863358112) - Category: Utilities, Photo & Video - Price: Free with in-app purchases (on sale, was $0.99) - Rating: 3.70/5 from 3 App Store ratings · 12 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 17.6 · 5 MB - Languages: German (Germany), Arabic, American English, French (France), Dutch, Polish, Brazilian Portuguese, European Spanish, Turkish, Chinese (Simplified, China) - Released: 2026-01-07 - Data updated: 2026-08-14 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplesstv/id6756872709/reviews.md ## What is SimpleSSTV? SimpleSSTV is a native iOS app for encoding, decoding, and live-transmitting slow-scan television (SSTV) signals — the method ham radio operators use to share images over audio frequencies. Slow-scan television converts images to audio tones. Each pixel's brightness becomes a specific frequency between 1500-2300 Hz. Sync pulses at 1200 Hz mark line boundaries. The result is an audio signal you can transmit over any voice-capable radio, or record for later playback. SSTV has been used by amateur radio operators since the 1950s. It's still actively used today on HF bands, VHF repeaters, and for receiving images from the International Space Station. ENCODING (Image → Audio) • Load any image from your photo library, camera, or Files • Automatic resize and crop to SSTV resolution • 14 supported modes covering all major SSTV formats • Real-time encoding with progress visualization • Play audio directly through speakers for VOX-triggered transmission • Export to WAV or M4A for later use • Optional FSK ID and CW ID (Morse code) callsign transmission • Test pattern generator for signal testing DECODING (Audio → Image) • Load WAV, M4A, or MP3 audio files containing SSTV signals • Live microphone capture for real-time SSTV reception • Automatic mode detection via VIS code identification • Precision audio trimming with dual-view waveform editor • Re-decode saved images with different mode, sync offset, or slant correction • Handles real-world signal imperfections: timing drift, noise, sample rate variations • Optional decode watermark stamps mode, timestamp, and callsign on received images • Waterfall spectrogram display shows signal frequency over time Note: It's super important to get a clean audio signal into the decoder. There's a new help section in settings with audio setup advice, USB adapter recommendations, and decode troubleshooting. LIVE CAMERA MODE • Real-time camera feed with front/back camera switching • Three trigger modes: Continuous, Motion-triggered, or Periodic interval SUPPORTED MODES (14 total) • Martin M1 (114s), Martin M2 (58s) • Scottie S1 (110s), Scottie S2 (71s), Scottie DX (269s) • Robot 36 (36s), Robot 72 (72s • PD50, PD90, PD120, PD160, PD180, PD240, PD290 ISS SSTV EVENTS • Get notified when the International Space Station transmits SSTV images • Automatic alerts before and during events, with frequency, mode, and callsign info • Info card on the decode tab with event details and countdown FAQ & SETUP TIPS • Practical advice on audio setup and USB adapters • Decode quality troubleshooting • Quick reference for all 14 SSTV modes IMAGE LIBRARY • Automatic saving of encoded and decoded images • Grid view with full preview, metadata, and sharing • Re-decode any saved image with different settings • Filter by encoded or decoded 10 LANGUAGES Available in Arabic, Chinese (Simplified), Dutch, English, French, German, Polish, Portuguese (BR), Spanish, and Turkish — with full right-to-left support. PRIVACY No accounts, no analytics, no tracking. Your images and audio stay on your device. Buy once, use forever. We do not use, sell or share your data for advertising or marketing purposes. Be aware: Encoded images are audio signals, meaning anyone receiving the audio can decode them! REQUIREMENTS • iOS 18 or later • Camera access for live mode • Microphone access for live decode This simple, no nonsense utility was built by a ham radio operator for ham radio operators. 73! ## Key features - Encode images to SSTV audio - Decode SSTV audio to images - Live camera feed with trigger modes - Support for 14 SSTV modes - AI-generated QSL calling cards - ISS SSTV event notifications - Audio setup and troubleshooting tips ## Pricing and in-app purchases Base price: Free. **One-time purchases** | Purchase | Price | Type | | --- | --- | --- | | Listening Station Mode | $1.99 | one-time | | SimpleSSTV Pro | $3.99 | one-time | | Remove or change encoder watermark | $2.99 | one-time | | 10 AI Card Credits | $1.99 | one-time | | 30 AI Card Credits | $3.99 | one-time | | 120 AI Card Credits | $8.99 | one-time | ## Recent user reviews (10 of 12) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplesstv/id6756872709/reviews.md ### 5/5 — Ham gone cold turkey *2026-07-22* I am a former ham radio operator. I can use this on MURS on my property as a webcam that doesn’t need the internet! This is so cool! **Developer response:** Thanks for the review, happy to hear you're enjoyong the live feed option! I initially added it to get a (slow) webcam feed over $5 toy walkie talkies. 73! ### 5/5 — Very good!!! *2026-07-08* It’s just a very good app without ads and the functions are great!!!!!! Please leave it exactly like this!!! **Developer response:** Thank you for the review! I promise only to fix bugs I find, not inject ads ;) Good luck on the airwaves, 73! ### 1/5 — I really tried to use it *2026-05-15* Today I tried two different SSTV apps on my iPhone 13. One was SimpleSSTV. I truly tried to give it an honest trial. In fact, since I never did see and instructions, I can’t be positive that I was using it correctly. I went to the basement for quietude. I turned up the speaker on my computer and played numerous different YouTube recordings of SSTV sounds. I pressed the button to start listening. I tried to select the correct encoding method. And I ended up with 16 six second captures for one played sound file. Sometimes a window would appear saying that not nearly enough of some units were captured and decode had failed. Once, out of ten or so sound files from various sources I was able to force the recording of the sound file and decode it afterwards, but never could I decode it while playing. I’d be happy to try again if I receive some kind of instructions. I deleted the app, but I’m willing to redownload it. Jeroen, the developer, provided a very helpful response. To him I say, yes, I absolutely would be willing to try again in a month. **Developer response:** Thanks for leaving a review even though you clearly had a frustrating time decoding images. Acoustic coupling (playing audio into a phone mic) isn't ideal: Apples noise canceling for phone calls is top notch but it messes with data transfer sometimes, and room acoustics create aliasing errors. That said A) I am aware of deeper issues with the decoder that make it perform badly, which I will hopefully fix soon in the V1.1 release and B) your concerns lead me to design a FAQ section with getting started tips, so thanks for that. Maybe give it another shot in a month when the fix lands. And a 4$ usb audio adaptor helps a LOT. ### 5/5 — 好软件 *2026-05-13* 软件不错，挺实用，已内购支持，爱来自中国 **Developer response:** 非常感谢您的支持，对我意义重大！希望中文本地化对您有帮助，虽然目前是 AI 翻译的。如有任何问题或功能建议，欢迎随时联系我。73！ ### 5/5 — Very well made *2026-05-11* Very mell made app. Not the best decoding software for poor quality audio but really good and well simple for decent quality **Developer response:** Thanks for taking the time to leave a review. The effectiveness of the decoder on source material with noise or fading isn't great, it loses sync too easily. I'm aware of this, and hope to improve it in new releases. Stay tuned! ### 5/5 — amazing *2026-04-13* Best ios sstv decoder and encoder yet. **Developer response:** Thanks, that means a lot to me! 73 de Jeroen, PD3BAL ### 4/5 — Pretty great! *2026-02-28* While this is a bit rudimentary, it’s very great for a free app! I’d personally love to see other modes added such as BW/8 or some others, but with that aside I’m fine for what this is. **Developer response:** That's very good feedback, thanks. I'll do some research on other existing modes and add them in a future release. Getting the decoder user experience just right is... well, a journey, so if you have feedback on how that's working for you let me know! And stay tuned for the 0.9 release that's going live next week, it should fix some crashes and add a FAQ section in the settings menu for improving rx and tx quality. ### 1/5 — Not working *2026-02-27* When I try decoding an image it never shows the image and says no decodes in the library **Developer response:** Thanks for the feedback, acoustic coupling (holding an iPhone mic up to a radio) is notoriously finicky. A cheap 5$ usb audio dongle to connect your device to your radio with a jack cable will probably do wonders for the rx quality ### 5/5 — Very nice THS *2026-02-14* After the update, some problems have been fixed, and the effect is very good. Thanks to the author's contribution spirit! **Developer response:** Thanks for the kind words. Whenever you have any issues, or ideas for future feature development, don't hesitate to reach out via the support page! ### 1/5 — It doesn’t work！ 它没用！ *2026-02-12* First，I'm from china. I listened a SSTV in this App.but I can’t see the picture.so WHY?这玩意根本没用！ **Developer response:** Thanks a lot for trying out the app, and thank you for taking the time to write a review. They help me figure out what works and what doesn't for other people! The 0.4 version had a bug in the audio interface for phone versions other than the devices I had for testing. Upgrading to the new version, especially 0.7, should help increase decode quality and alleviate crashes. Good luck decoding images :) If it keeps crashing, don't hesitate to write another review, or reach out to me via the support page. I will see if there is anything I can do to fix your issue. ## Frequently asked questions about SimpleSSTV ### What is SimpleSSTV? SimpleSSTV is a utility app designed for encoding and decoding Slow-Scan Television (SSTV) signals, a method used by ham radio operators to transmit images over audio frequencies. It supports various SSTV modes and features like live camera transmission and AI-generated QSL cards. ### How does SimpleSSTV work? The app converts images into audio tones that can be transmitted over radio. Conversely, it can decode received SSTV audio signals back into images. It offers features for both encoding images to audio and decoding audio to images, with support for numerous SSTV modes. ### Can SimpleSSTV be used for live camera transmission? Yes, SimpleSSTV includes a live camera mode that allows for real-time transmission. You can choose between continuous, motion-triggered, or periodic interval trigger modes for your camera feed. ### Does SimpleSSTV notify users about ISS SSTV events? Yes, SimpleSSTV provides notifications for when the International Space Station transmits SSTV images. You will receive automatic alerts before and during these events, including frequency, mode, and callsign information. ### What SSTV modes does SimpleSSTV support? SimpleSSTV supports a total of 14 SSTV modes, including popular ones like Martin M1 and M2, Scottie S1, S2, and DX, and various Robot and PD modes. A quick reference for all supported modes is available within the app. ### Does SimpleSSTV have ads? No, SimpleSSTV does not contain advertisements. It is a free application that offers its full functionality without interruption from ads. ### What devices is SimpleSSTV compatible with? SimpleSSTV is available for Mac, iPhone, and iPad devices. It is designed to work across the Apple ecosystem. ### Where can I find help with audio setup for SimpleSSTV? The app includes a dedicated help section in its settings that provides practical advice on audio setup, recommendations for USB adapters, and troubleshooting tips for decoding issues. This section is designed to help users achieve clean audio signals. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 1.3.1 — 2026-07-15 Hellscriber preambles! Send your callsign as a hellscriber-encoded blast of audio before the SSTV transmission starts! ### 1.2.0 — 2026-05-21 Thanks to some bug reports that you have sent in, this upgrade has performance improvements that should bring you some joy: - A big speedup to the decoder, and better sync detection! - The decoder has a FAQ section to help you get the best possible results. - Polished up some UX quirks in the "reply" function for easier QSOs. And also, there is now a less confusing "Pro" IAP purchase giving you access to all future upgrades! If you purchased 'watermark removal' or 'listening mode' in the past, you are getting SimpleSSTV Pro for free. Thanks for supporting SimpleSSTV, the best iOS SSTV decoder out there! ### 1.0.4 — 2026-05-12 A milestone: we're out of beta with V1.0! This release brings - Bugfixes to the audio interface, - Robot36 and Robot72 mode fixes, - A 'listening station' mode that automatically saves to a chosen folder... - ... and a new "reply" flow for easier QSOs. ### 0.10 — 2026-04-14 - 7 New SSTV Modes - Performance Improvements - Bug Fixes ### 0.9.2 — 2026-03-17 Added ISS "notice" event type, to show ISS information that isn't an SSTV event such as news about radio outages, etc. ## More apps by Jeroen Rombouts - [HamChat: Morse Decoder](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hamchat-morse-decoder/id6759712691) - [SimpleFT8](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simpleft8/id6768739415) All apps by Jeroen Rombouts: https://appshunter.io/developer/1863358112 ## Related topics [sstv](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/sstv) · [sstv slow scan tv](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/sstv-slow-scan-tv) · [simple sstv](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/simple-sstv) · [sstv encoder](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/sstv-encoder) · [sstv decoder](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/sstv-decoder) --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-14.*