Comparison

RS vs SDR

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

Head to head
About

RS

Control your IC-M510 VHF Marine Transceiver remotely via WLAN. Manage audio, channels, squelch, transmit power, and scanning functions. Supports intercom mode.

Highlights
  • Remote audio transmission and reception
  • Channel selection
  • Squelch level adjustment
  • Transmit power control
  • Scan function control
  • Dualwatch/Tri-Watch control
  • Intercom mode communication
Features
Read full description

The RS-M500 is an application that allows your iOS device to remotely use some functions of the IC-M510 VHF Marine Transceiver through a WLAN. Functional overview of the application - Transmitting and receiving audio - Changing the operating channel - Adjusting the squelch level - Selecting the transmit power - The Scan function ON/OFF - Dualwatch or Tri-Watch ON/OFF - Talking in the Intercom mode Device requirements - iOS version 12 or later, iPadOS version 13 or later Compatible transceivers - IC-M510 [NOTE] This application is not designed for emergency DSC communications. As a result there is no DSC operation within or possible with this app. Please only download this app if you acknowledge and agree regarding this point.

About

SDR

Control your Icom radio remotely from your iPhone. View spectrum scope, waterfall, and access all radio controls over Wi-Fi or the internet. Supports various Icom models and includes features for ham radio operators.

Highlights
  • Spectrum scope and waterfall display
  • Full radio control
  • Remote operation over Wi-Fi/internet
  • FT8-Improved and JS8 modes
  • CW decoder and keyer
  • Speech transcription and translation
  • Logbook with ADIF import/export
Features
Read full description

Your Icom radio on your iPhone: at home over Wi-Fi or from anywhere over the internet. Made by a ham, for hams, with personal support included. SDR-Control Mobile shows the spectrum scope and waterfall of your Icom radio with all its controls. No extra hardware or software needed. WORKS WITH ■ IC-705 (Wi-Fi) ■ IC-7610, IC-7760, IC-9700, IC-7300 MK2 and the IC-R8600 receiver (radio on your network by cable) The app connects over the network only. The older IC-7300 (without MK2) has no network connection and can't be used. OPERATE ■ Spectrum scope and waterfall with band plan, DX Cluster and FT8 spots ■ Two VFOs, filters, preamp, attenuator, NB, NR, notch, AGC and more ■ Compact floating panels: tuning, PTT, CW, memories, macros, Command Bar, DTMF, RIT / ∆TX, D-Star ■ Your iPhone as microphone and speaker; the radio keeps playing in the background ■ Ready for iPhone Duo: the iPhone screens when folded, the large radio screen when open MODES ■ FT8-Improved with AutoAnswer and AutoCQ, plus the classic FT8 ■ JS8 keyboard chat ■ CW with decoder, keyer and CW keyboard ■ Speech: incoming voice transcribed and translated, your typed text sent as speech ■ SSTV, HF-Fax, APRS, WSPR and D-Star FT8-Improved, JS8, Speech and WSPR need iOS 26. TOOLS ■ Logbook with ADIF import and export, shared via iCloud with SmartSDR, FT-Control, TS-Control and K4-Control, on iPhone, iPad and Mac ■ DX Cluster, POTA, PSK Reporter, Call Lookup, Band Plan, Network Stats, Memories, Scanning ■ Controllers: MIDI, CTR2, HaliKey, Pryme, Flic ■ 4O3A Genius devices and Ultra Beam antennas MADE BY A HAM Made by Marcus, DL8MRE, who has been developing apps for Apple devices since 2009 and uses this app every day in his own shack, where all supported radios are on the desk. Personal online support and a detailed manual are included. Updates with new modes and features are free: no subscription, no in-app purchases. WHAT YOU NEED ■ One of the radios above, connected to your network ■ An iPhone with iOS 18 or later ■ For use over the internet: access to your home network from outside (see the manual) Manual: https://go-to.me/sdrcontrol-mobile-manual More apps: https://ham-radio-apps.com SDR-Control is developed independently and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Icom.

Screenshots

RS4 screens
SDR4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: RS at Free against SDR's $44.99. RS also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.6). SDR's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 2.2) and review sentiment (84% vs 43%). On ads and in-app purchases 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

RS is free to download; SDR costs $44.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SDR holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SDR has 67 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 43% of RS's written reviews are positive against 84% of SDR's.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
RS versus SDR: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRSSDR
PriceFree — better$44.99
Rating2.2 (5 ratings)4.6 (67 ratings) — better
Positive reviews42.9% of reviews84.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings567 — better
Update frequency—Every 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS12.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size45 MB55 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperICOM INCORPORATEDMarcus Roskosch

Customer experience

RS

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive42.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative57.1%

SDR

All ratings67 ratings
Positive89.6%
Neutral0.0%
Negative10.4%
Written reviews70 reviews
Positive84.3%
Neutral5.7%
Negative10.0%

Bugs and requests

RS

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

SDR

Reported bugs

12 issues
  • Dialogs do not scale with larger text setting
  • Frequency display overlaps buttons
  • FT8 decoding issues (lower signal levels than WSJTX)
  • App crashes and leaves radio in transmit
  • Logbook export not functional after update
Show 7 more
  • Function button for horizontal scrolling not fully displayed
  • FT8 decode is useless and unreliable
  • Messed up radio, requiring reset
  • RX audio unusable outside home network (prior to 1.5.1)
  • Struggles with audio RX packets on remote cellular networks
  • Cannot work over mobile data with certain carriers (EE)
  • FT8 alerts sound but don't display

Requested features

14 requests
  • Develop for IC-7800
  • CarPlay support
  • Apple Watch add-on
  • Windows version
  • JS8call support
Show 9 more
  • More digital modes
  • Display memory bank names
  • Initiate memory scan from app
  • WSPR implementation
  • Tool for WSPR
  • More FT8/FT4 features (e.g., setting transmit frequency directly in FT8 view)
  • Send image to unit
  • KISS TNC support
  • Control digital modes (reflectors, etc.)

In-app purchases

None

RS

No in-app purchases

None

SDR

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is RS free?
RS is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is SDR free?
SDR costs $44.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, RS or SDR?
SDR is rated higher. RS averages 2.2 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while SDR averages 4.6 from 67 ratings.
Do RS or SDR have ads?
Neither RS nor SDR shows ads.

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