RF Link Calc vs DoD Systems Engineering
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
RF Link Calc
This tool helps radio engineers calculate RF link characteristics, including wireless internet links. It computes maximum distance, required transmitter power, or gain margin by inputting various parameters. It also calculates EIRP, ERP, and field strength in multiple units.
- RF link modeling
- Wireless internet link calculations
- Maximum distance computation
- Transmitter power calculation
- Gain margin calculation
- EIRP/ERP calculator
- Field strength calculator
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RFLinkCalc is a numerical calculation tool for radio engineers. It models the characteristics of an RF link, including Wireless Internet (WiFi) links. You can compute the maximum distance, required transmitter power level, or gain margin. You enter in all of the following values (except what you are trying to calculate) and RFLinkCalc does the rest! Frequency in MHz Transmitter Power in dBm Transmitter Antenna Gain in dBi Transmitter Cable Loss in dB Distance in miles or kilometers Receiver Sensitivity in dBm Receiver Antenna Gain in dBi Receiver Cable Loss in dB Gain Margin in dB The Free Space Loss and Received Signal values are also calculated. The EIRP/ERP Calculator computes the EIRP (Effective Isotropic Radiated Power) and ERP (Effective Radiated Power) in both watts and dBm from the transmitter power and antenna gain. The field strength in dBuV/m is also computed for distances of 3 and 10 meters. The Field Strength Calculator converts between the following units: V/m (volts per meter) dBuV/m (dB relative to one microvolt per meter) dBuA/m (dB relative to one microamo per meter) pT (pico Tesla) dBpT (dB relative to one pico tesla) Tesla Gauss A/m (amperes per meter) mW/cm² (milliwatts per square centimeter) W/m² (watts per square meter)
DoD Systems Engineering
This app serves as a pocket reference for the Department of Defense Systems Engineering Technical Review process. It offers definitions for nearly 250 acronyms, details on Technology Readiness Levels, and in-depth information on review phases and technical processes.
- Acronym lookup (250+ definitions)
- Technology Readiness Level definitions
- Review information by phase
- Phase details (Materiel Solutions Analysis to Operations & Support)
- Technical and technical management processes
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This app provides a handy pocket reference for engineers and logisticians involved in the very complex Department of Defense Systems Engineering Technical Review process. Features include: *Acronym lookup - nearly 250 acronyms defined! *Technology Readiness Level definitions *In-depth review information sorted by phases *In-depth phase information, from Materiel Solutions Analysis through Operations and Support *Comprehensive Information on technical and technical management processes All ThinChip Software apps are now available free of charge.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: DoD Systems Engineering at Free against RF Link Calc's $2.99. DoD Systems Engineering also leads on rating (3.8 vs 2.3) and review sentiment (50% vs 20%). RF Link Calc's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 26.0). On ratings volume, 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
DoD Systems Engineering is free to download; RF Link Calc costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
DoD Systems Engineering holds the better App Store score, 3.8 against 2.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 4 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 20% of RF Link Calc's written reviews are positive against 50% of DoD Systems Engineering's.
RF Link Calc ships an update every 40 months, DoD Systems Engineering every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on August 12, 2026 and June 5, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | RF Link Calc | DoD Systems Engineering |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 2.3 (3 ratings) | 3.8 (4 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 20.0% of reviews | 50.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 3 | 4 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 40 months | Every 5 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 4 MB | 10 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Black Cat Systems | Russell Shannon |
Customer experience
RF Link Calc
DoD Systems Engineering
In-app purchases
RF Link Calc
No in-app purchases
DoD Systems Engineering
No in-app purchases
