Comparison

SDR vs SmartMTR for FlexRadio

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

Head to head
About

SDR

Control your Icom transceiver remotely or locally from your iPhone. Operate in all modes, log QSOs, and utilize integrated digital modes like FT8/FT4 and SSTV. No extra hardware is needed for global access.

Highlights
  • Remote transceiver operation
  • All mode control
  • Auto logging logbook
  • Integrated FT8/FT4 tool
  • Integrated SSTV receiver
  • Integrated CW decoder and keyer
  • DX-Cluster integration
Currently charting
Read full description

Software Defined Radio Client for Icom Transceivers and your iPhone SDR-Control Mobile is a full featured iPhone App to operate your Icom Transceiver at home or from around the world without additional Hard- or Software. Important: This App requires one of the following Icom Transceivers: IC-705, IC-7610, IC-9700, IC-7760 or the IC-R8600 Receiver or the new IC-7300 MK2 FACTS AND FEATURES: ■ Native iOS 26 app, backward compatible to iOS 17 ■ Compatible with any iPhone ■ Complete operation of your Icom Transceiver in all modes ■ Use the App local or to remote access of your Transceiver from any place without additional Hard- or Software ■ Logbook with auto logging, ADIF Im-/Export ■ UDP Log submission when using external logging software ■ Integrated full featured FT8 / FT4 Tool ■ Integrated SSTV receiver (NEW) ■ Integrated CW Decoder ■ Integrated CW Keyer ■ DX-Cluster integration ■ Call sign lookup integrated ■ Displays Calls on Map with heading and distance information ■ And much more... WHAT YOU NEED: - An Icom IC-705, IC-7610, IC-9700 or IC-7760 Transceiver or IC-R8600 Receiver or the new IC-7300 MK2 - The Transceiver needs to be connected to your Network (WiFi or LAN) - No USB cable needed or supported - An iPhone that runs at least iOS 17 Find out more here: https://ham-radio-apps.com Read the Manual: http://go-to.me/sdrcontrol-mobile-manual

About

SmartMTR for FlexRadio

Transform your iOS device into a precise S-meter and control panel for FlexRadio transceivers. Monitor signal levels, adjust DSP filters, and control radio functions with intuitive gestures. Includes a demo mode for exploration.

Highlights
  • Precision S-meter with arc-band indicator
  • Dual-slice display for simultaneous monitoring
  • TX meters for RF Power, SWR, and Compression
  • Intuitive swipe gestures for radio control
  • Comprehensive DSP filter adjustments
  • Demo mode for exploration
Features
Read full description

Turn your iPhone or iPad into a precision S-meter and control panel for your FlexRadio 6000 or 8000 series transceiver. SmartMTR connects to your radio over the local network and displays real-time signal levels on a sweeping arc indicator with smooth ballistic animation. Monitor two slices at once, control your radio with intuitive swipe gestures, and fine-tune DSP filters — all from your iOS device. PRECISION S-METER - Arc-band indicator with realistic ballistics — fast attack, slow decay - Dual-slice display: Slice A and Slice B shown simultaneously - S1 to S9+60 dB scale with accurate dBm readout - Signal extremes tracking with adjustable time window - 30-second signal history chart TX METERS - RF Power gauge (120W or 600W scale) - SWR meter - Compression meter - Mic level meter RADIO CONTROL - Tune frequency with swipe gestures — MHz, kHz, and Hz - Switch modes: CW, LSB, USB, AM, FM, NFM - Select RX and TX antennas - Adjust RX filter width - Band stacking with per-slice memory DSP FILTERS - Squelch and volume control - AGC mode and threshold - Noise blankers: NB, WNB - Noise reduction: NR, NRL, NRS, NRF, RNN - Notch filters: ANF, ANFL, ANFT WORKS WITH - FlexRadio 6000 or 8000 series Requires a FlexRadio transceiver on the same local network. Try the built-in demo mode to explore the app without a radio. Terms of Use: https://smartmtr.net/terms.html Privacy Policy: https://smartmtr.net/privacy-policy.html

Screenshots

SDR4 screens
SmartMTR for FlexRadio4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: SmartMTR for FlexRadio at Free against SDR's $44.99. SmartMTR for FlexRadio also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 84%) and device support (3 vs 1). SDR's advantage is rating (4.5 vs 4.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). On ads 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

SmartMTR for FlexRadio is free to download; SDR costs $44.99 up front. SmartMTR for FlexRadio sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $2.99 per month. SDR asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SDR holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SDR has 64 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 84% of SDR's written reviews are positive against 100% of SmartMTR for FlexRadio's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SDR ships an update every 2 weeks, SmartMTR for FlexRadio every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard10 real differences · 1 level
SDR versus SmartMTR for FlexRadio: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSDRSmartMTR for FlexRadio
Price$44.99Free — better
Rating4.5 (64 ratings) — better4.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews84.1% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings64 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 5 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank#114 — better—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS17.6 — better26.2
Further details — not scored
Size47 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMarcus RoskoschDariusz Socha

Customer experience

SDR

All ratings64 ratings
Positive89.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative10.9%
Written reviews69 reviews
Positive84.1%
Neutral5.8%
Negative10.1%

SmartMTR for FlexRadio

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and 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.)

SmartMTR for FlexRadio

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

SDR

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

SmartMTR for FlexRadio

Subscriptions1
  • SmartMTR7 Days trial$2.991 Month

Questions

Is SDR free?
SDR costs $44.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is SmartMTR for FlexRadio free?
SmartMTR for FlexRadio is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, SDR or SmartMTR for FlexRadio?
SDR is rated higher. SDR averages 4.5 out of 5 from 64 ratings, while SmartMTR for FlexRadio averages 4.0 from 1 ratings.
Do SDR or SmartMTR for FlexRadio have ads?
Neither SDR nor SmartMTR for FlexRadio shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SDR or SmartMTR for FlexRadio?
SDR ships an update every 2 weeks, and SmartMTR for FlexRadio every 5 weeks. Most recently, SDR was updated on October 20, 2026 and SmartMTR for FlexRadio on October 1, 2026.

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