Comparison

RS vs Satellite Tracker

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

RS

Control compatible transceivers, share voice and pictures, and view station locations on a map. Access received station information, send text messages, and manage call sign and repeater lists. Customize transceiver and application settings for a streamlined experience.

Highlights
  • Transceiver DR functions
  • Send and receive voice and pictures
  • Map repeater and station locations
  • Read and edit received station information
  • Send and receive text messages
  • Manage call sign and repeater lists
  • Import/Export data
Features
Read full description

Functional overview of the application DR functions You can use some transceiver’s DR functions. Share pictures Send and receive voice and pictures. Map See the location of repeater sites or other stations on a map using received position data, or your transceiver’s repeater list. Automatically set the transceiver’s “FROM” and “TO” fields by tapping a repeater site or a station on the map. Receive History In the DV mode, read and edit the received station’s information. Download additional information from an Internet database, such as QRZ.com or APRS.fi. Text messaging Send and receive text messages. Call Sign list Edit call signs and names used in the DR function. Also, you can add a call sign and a name in the Call Sign list. Repeater list See the detailed data entered in the Repeater list. Transceiver settings Change some of the transceiver’s function settings. Application settings Select application software settings. Import Import a Repeater list or a Call Sign list. Export Export a Repeater list, a Call Sign list, or Receive History. See the transceiver’s instruction manual for details. The instruction manual can be downloaded from the ICOM web site. Device requirements The RS-MS1I operating requirements are as follows: iOS16 or later Usable transceivers (As of May 2026) - ID-4100A/E + Bluetooth unit (UT-137) - ID-52A or ID-52E *1 - ID-52A PLUS or ID-52E PLUS *2 - ID-5200A or ID-5200E *3 - IC-705 *4 *1 Supported in RS-MS1I Ver.1.1.0 or later. *2 Supported in RS-MS1I Ver.1.3.0 or later. *3 Supported in RS-MS1I Ver.1.4.0 or later. *4 Supported in RS-MS1I Ver.1.2.0 or later. Preparation To use the RS-MS1I with a supported transceiver, you need an optional Bluetooth unit. See your transceiver’s instruction manual for details. Transceiver’s settings Set the following functions as shown below to use the RS-MS1I. [Function] > [CI-V] > [CI-V Transceive]: ON [Bluetooth Set] > [Data Device Set] > [Serial Port Function]: CI-V (Echo back OFF) Note: - The RS-MS1I may not work with all iPhones or iPads, even if they are one of the tested devices. This is because an application program on your device may conflict with the RS-MS1I. - The RS-MS1I may not be used, depending on the OS version, installed application, and so on. - Bluetooth LE is used for the connection with the transceiver, so there may be a time delay between the transceiver’s operation and the display on the iPhone or iPad. - When sending or receiving pictures using “FAST mode,” the headset audio will be temporarily interrupted because of the transceiver’s Bluetooth unit limitations. - You may need to connect to the Internet through a Wireless LAN, an LTE network or a 5G network for some functions. - The RS-MS1I supports only portrait orientation with the iPhone. It does not support Auto Rotate. However, landscape orientation and Auto Rotate are supported with the iPad.

About

Satellite Tracker

Track satellites, the Sun, and the Moon with rise/set times and visibility calculations. Visualize Earth with 3D globe or 2D map views and customize tracking options. Offers free basic functionality with optional subscriptions for expanded satellite access.

Highlights
  • Satellite, Sun, and Moon tracking
  • Rise/set times and visibility calculations
  • 3D globe and 2D map Earth views
  • Customizable tracking options
  • Free basic functionality
  • Optional satellite subscription plans
Features
Read full description

Satellite Tracker is the follow on to our award winning HamSat series of applications. Satellite Tracker merges all the features of the iPhone and iPad versions providing you a single application that seamlessly optimizes the screen to the device you’re running it on (check out the various iPhone and iPad screen shots). The application will calculate the rise/set times and associated azimuth and elevation for the selected satellite, Sun or Moon given either the user entered or network retrieved location. There are two modes for satellite rise/set calculations. The first is for those folks wanting to know all overflights for a given location (like Ham radio operators) while the second mode computes only those passes where the satellite would be visible to a ground observer. In the ground observer mode, the calculations not only take into account that the ground is dark but also that the satellite is in sunlight (it even takes into account if the satellite becomes lit or unlit during the pass) In addition, you can see the Earth rendered either as a 3D globe or a 2D map using photo realistic texture maps for the Earth model. The orientation of the map is easily changed by a simple rotation of the device from portrait (3D) to landscape (2D). In either orientation you can zoom in and out as well as pan using the touch screen. There are more than a dozen controls provided to allow you to customize how the application works to meet your specific needs (type of Earth texture used, location, type of overflight calculated…) Finally, the application is now free to download and provides full functionality for tracking, viewing and communicating with the International Space Station (what was the capability of the ISS family of paid apps). The following subscriptions are available for tracking and communicating with a larger set of satellites: -HamSat (Annual and Monthly): Provides access to the NORAD and AMSAT two line element sets which cover all amateur related satellites. -ProSat (Annual and Monthly): Provides access to thousands of satellites grouped into the following categories (from www.celestrak.com): -100 (or so) Brightest -Last 30 Day’s Launches (or so) -Amateur Ham Radio Satellites -CubeSats -Disaster Monitoring -Earth Resources -Education -Engineering -Geodetic -Geostationary -GOES -GPS Operational -Intelsat -Iridium -Molniya -NOAA -Orbcomm -Search & Rescue (SARSAT) -Space & Earth Science -Space Station -Weather To get a feel for the apps, please checkout the iPad quickstart video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiHCGxV0WM8) and associated user’s guide (http://www.vosworx.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/SatSeriesHD.pdf) or the iPhone quickstart video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuPccQI9oSg) and it’s user’s guide (http://www.vosworx.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/SatSeries.pdf). Please note that InApp payments will be charged to your AppleID account at the confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions automatically renews unless it is canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. You can manage and cancel your subscription by going to your account settings on the App Store after purchase. For more information, please visit our Terms of Service at http://www.vosworx.com/terms-of-service-for-app and our Privacy Policy at http://www.vosworx.com/privacy-policy-for-apps. Thanks to everyone who has sent in their questions/requests and keep them coming! -Craig (support@vosworx.com)

Screenshots

RS4 screens
Satellite Tracker4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Satellite Tracker at 3.4 against RS's 1.9. Satellite Tracker also leads on review sentiment (44% vs 16%) and update cadence (every 3 months vs every 8 months). RS's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and ratings volume (75 vs 13). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Satellite Tracker sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month. RS asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Satellite Tracker holds the better App Store score, 3.4 against 1.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: RS has 75 ratings behind it against 13, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 16% of RS's written reviews are positive against 44% of Satellite Tracker's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

RS ships an update every 8 months, Satellite Tracker every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and August 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
RS versus Satellite Tracker: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRSSatellite Tracker
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.9 (75 ratings)3.4 (13 ratings) — better
Positive reviews15.6% of reviews44.4% of reviews — better
Number of ratings75 — better13
Update frequencyEvery 8 monthsEvery 3 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.015.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size34 MB23 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperICOM INCORPORATEDCraig Vosburgh

Customer experience

RS

All ratings74 ratings
Positive18.9%
Neutral8.1%
Negative73.0%
Written reviews64 reviews
Positive15.6%
Neutral6.3%
Negative78.1%

Satellite Tracker

All ratings13 ratings
Positive61.5%
Neutral7.7%
Negative30.8%
Written reviews18 reviews
Positive44.4%
Neutral11.1%
Negative44.4%

Bugs and requests

RS

Reported bugs

29 issues
  • App crashes when using map function
  • App crashes on map screen
  • App closes when opening map
  • Not staying connected to the app
  • Connection unsuccessful error message
Show 24 more
  • Bluetooth pairing not working
  • Connects and immediately disconnects
  • Does not download full repeater list
  • Bluetooth connection fails
  • App crashes when selecting a picture to send
  • Photo import force closes app
  • App bombing out when trying to add a photo
  • Attempting to transfer photos crashes every time
  • Cannot get app to pair
  • App sees radio but won't connect
  • App won't connect
  • Cannot connect app to iPhone
  • ID-52A not pairing
  • App instantly sees device but fails to connect
  • Bluetooth connection does not happen
  • App crashes trying to share photo
  • App picture send capability is INOP
  • App force closes / crashes on photo import
  • Cannot get it to connect on either device
  • App doesn't work with ICOM ID-5100
  • App doesn't work with 4100 on iOS 15
  • App doesn't work with iPhone 6s+
  • Bluetooth connection does not happen after lengthy labours
  • App has not been updated in almost a year

Requested features

12 requests
  • Add support for ID-5100
  • Add support for ID-51A Plus 2
  • Add support for ID-50
  • Add support for IC-705
  • Improve repeater list
Show 7 more
  • Import repeater lists via Files/OneDrive/Dropbox
  • Serial port support via USB
  • Add support for ID-4100A with BT module
  • Add support for IC-2820
  • Update for iOS 15
  • Update for iOS 16
  • Update for iOS 18

Satellite Tracker

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

RS

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

Satellite Tracker

Subscriptions4
  • Amateur Satellites Monthly$1.491 Month
  • All Satellites Monthly$1.991 Month
  • Amateur Satellites Annual$8.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • All Satellites Annual$11.991 Year

Questions

Is RS free?
RS is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Satellite Tracker free?
Satellite Tracker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, RS or Satellite Tracker?
Satellite Tracker is rated higher. RS averages 1.9 out of 5 from 75 ratings, while Satellite Tracker averages 3.4 from 13 ratings.
Do RS or Satellite Tracker have ads?
Neither RS nor Satellite Tracker shows ads.
Which is updated more often, RS or Satellite Tracker?
RS ships an update every 8 months, and Satellite Tracker every 3 months. Most recently, RS was updated on September 22, 2026 and Satellite Tracker on August 21, 2026.

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