RS vs Packet Commander
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
RS
Control and adjust settings for the ICOM Wideband Handy Receiver IC-R30 remotely. View receiver settings directly from your iPhone or iPad. Requires iOS 9.0 or later and a compatible receiver.
- Remote operation of IC-R30 receiver
- Change receiver settings
- Check receiver settings
- iPhone and iPad compatibility
- Bluetooth LE connectivity
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"RS-R30I" is a remote control application for the ICOM Wideband Handy Receiver "IC-R30." You can operate and change the receiver’s settings using an iPhone or iPad, and you can also check its settings. Device requirements: iOS version 9.0 or later for 64 bit CPU models. Supported receiver: Icom IC-R30 Refer to the instruction manual for details. NOTE: - The RS-R30I does not guarantee compatibility with all iPhones and iPads. It may not work, depending on its OS version, installed applications, and so on. - Confirm the IC-R30's Serial port function is set to"CI-V (Echo Back OFF)" ( [MENU] > Bluetooth Set > Data Device Set > Serialport Function ) - Bluetooth LE is used to connect with the IC-R30 and it is a slow data transfer. So there may be a time delay between the receiver’s operation and the display on the data device. In addition, depending on the receiver environment, it may not be able to operate properly. - Bluetooth may be disconnected in the following cases: · The screen of the device is locked. · The application is running in the background mode. · Wi-Fi is enabled. · Connecting or removing a Bluetooth headset.
Packet Commander
This app provides a classic terminal experience for packet radio communication on mobile devices. It offers powerful terminal features, smart connection management, and real-time over-the-air traffic monitoring. It's designed for amateur radio operators to connect with nodes, BBS, and decode traffic.
- Full-screen terminal for packet nodes and BBS
- Classic color themes and adjustable layout
- YAPP protocol support for file transfers
- Location-aware digipeater routing
- Seamless iCloud sync
- Over-the-air traffic decoding
- Auto-discovery of TNCs
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Packet Commander brings a classic terminal experience for packet radio to your iPhone or iPad. Try it free. The download includes 5 full connection sessions so you can explore the features and confirm compatibility before purchasing. After that, a purchase is required to continue connecting. Note: An amateur radio license is required to operate on the air. Powerful Terminal • Full-screen terminal for interacting with packet nodes and BBS over amateur radio • Classic color themes inspired by iconic computers • Adjustable fonts and layout for readability and screen efficiency • YAPP protocol support for file transfers • Dictation-ready for composing messages hands-free • Smart filename selection — double tap to highlight and copy Smarter Packet Connections • Location-aware digipeater routing: automatically recalls the last-used path at each location • Seamless iCloud sync for nodes and digipeaters across all your devices • Compatible with popular packet node software including BPQ32, URONode, and others Over-the-Air Monitor Connect to your radio and decode over-the-air traffic in real time. AX.25 frames are decoded and presented in an easy-to-read format. • Filter traffic to display exactly what you’re looking for • Search by address or content • Export the log to a file for later analysis Works with the Gear You Love • Auto-discovery of Bluetooth and TCP TNCs, including Dire Wolf on DigiPi • Automatic frequency set/restore on supported radios • Built-in, high-performance 1200 baud AFSK software modem • Optimized for VHF/UHF packet at both 1200 and 9600 baud Compatible with the Following Radios and TNCs: Radios with Built-in TNCs (Auto-sets and restores frequency on those radios) · BTECH UV-PRO, UV-50PRO · VERO VR-N76, VR-N7600 · RADIODITY GA-5WB, DB50-B · Kenwood TH-D74*, TH-D75* · PicoAPRS V4 *Requires B.B. Link Bluetooth adapter Portable KISS TNCs · Mobilinkd TNC3, TNC4 · LiNK500 TNC · DigiPi · Dire Wolf Software TNC Audio Interfaces (Using built-in software modem) · Digirig Lite · Digirig VOX PTT Cable · AIOC (All-In-One Cable) Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Packet Commander at 100% against RS's 19%. Packet Commander also leads on rating (4.9 vs 2.8) and ratings volume (48 vs 5). RS's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 18.2). On price, ads and device support 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
Both are free to download. Packet Commander sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per year. RS asks for nothing beyond the download.
Packet Commander holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 2.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Packet Commander has 48 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 19% of RS's written reviews are positive against 100% of Packet Commander's.
| Parameter | RS | Packet Commander |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.8 (5 ratings) | 4.9 (48 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 18.8% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 5 | 48 — better |
| Update frequency | — | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 — better | 18.2 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 12 MB | 10 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | ICOM INCORPORATED | Island Magic Co. |
Customer experience
RS
Packet Commander
In-app purchases
RS
No in-app purchases
Packet Commander
- Yearly Subscription$8.991 Year
- One-Time Purchase$24.99








