Radio Reference vs HamWaves UV5R
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Radio Reference
This app provides quick access to useful information for radio communication. It offers phonetic spellings, the full phonetic alphabet, Morse code learning, and a lookup for common radio abbreviations and Q signals.
- Phonetic spelling lookup
- Phonetic alphabet reference
- Morse code learning
- Radio abbreviation lookup
- Q signal definitions
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Radio Reference is a handy app for information you might need while communicating over your radio. Need to spell something phonetically? Type your word or phrase to get the phonetic spelling. Or view the whole phonetic alphabet. Learn Morse Code. Heard a Q signal or other abbreviation you don't recognize? Look it up here. Let me know what other stuff you'd like to see in here.
HamWaves UV5R
This interactive field guide provides experienced amateur radio operators with essential information for their Baofeng UV-5R radio. It offers clear explanations of menus, controls, and programming, even without an internet connection.
- Interactive radio guide
- Menu item explanations
- On-the-fly programming
- Offline access
- Control and display identification
- FCC certifications
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As radio users, we never seem to have manuals available when we need them. HamWaves Radio Guides are published to fix this problem! Now you can have interactive guides for your specific radio written by experienced amateur radio operators who actually own and use them. Baofeng UV-5R are notorious for their poorly translated user manuals and difficulty in setting them up and programming channels. HamWaves Guides provide well organized sections and topics to help you operate your radio and add or change settings on the fly, when you most need assistance. No one carries their manuals with them, but you always have your iPhone! HamWaves Guides do not require internet access to operate (except for updates) so if you are a hiker, camper, four-wheeler or someone who sometimes gets out of service range, you will still have the information you need. Covered topics include: - Feature list - Specifications - FCC certifications - Front and side controls - Keypad identification including shortcut items - Display icon identification - Accessories and after-market details - Extensive menu item explanations so you will know what those arcane items actually do - Programming simplex and repeater frequencies on the fly - Other resources to help you be a better and more knowledgable radio operator
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: HamWaves UV5R at 5.0 against Radio Reference's 1.0. HamWaves UV5R also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 37 months). Radio Reference's advantage is price ($1.99 vs $3.99). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
Radio Reference costs $1.99 and HamWaves UV5R $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
HamWaves UV5R holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.
Radio Reference ships an update every 37 months, HamWaves UV5R every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 8, 2026.
| Parameter | Radio Reference | HamWaves UV5R |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.99 — better | $3.99 |
| Rating | 1.0 (1 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 37 months | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #192 — better | #197 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 — better | 16.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 0 MB | 6 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Koral Oztan Schemel | Brian MILBURN |
Customer experience
Radio Reference
HamWaves UV5R
In-app purchases
Radio Reference
No in-app purchases
HamWaves UV5R
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Radio Reference free?
Is HamWaves UV5R free?
Which has better reviews, Radio Reference or HamWaves UV5R?
Do Radio Reference or HamWaves UV5R have ads?
Which is updated more often, Radio Reference or HamWaves UV5R?
Which is more popular, Radio Reference or HamWaves UV5R?
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