Comparison

Maidenhead Converter vs SDR

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

Head to head
About

Maidenhead Converter

Easily convert between latitude/longitude and Maidenhead Grid Locator System coordinates. Track your current location in both formats simultaneously and visualize them on a map. Ideal for amateur radio operators and anyone needing a concise way to express geographic positions.

Highlights
  • Latitude/Longitude to Maidenhead conversion
  • Maidenhead to Latitude/Longitude conversion
  • Real-time location tracking
  • Map visualization
  • Input coordinates for conversion
Features
Read full description

Maidenhead Converter is a simple tool that translates between latitude and longitude coordinates and Maidenhead Grid Locator System coordinates. If you're an amateur radio operator who communicates locations in the Maidenhead Locator System, or just someone who wants a shorthand way of expressing latitude and longitude, this tool will be useful to you. - Track your current location in both latitude and longitude coordinates as well as Maidenhead Locator System coordinates at the same time - Enter a latitude and longitude coordinate to see its Maidenhead Locator System equivalent, or vice versa - View locations and a Maidenhead grid on a built-in map

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
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

Screenshots

Maidenhead Converter2 screens
SDR4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Maidenhead Converter at Free against SDR's $44.99. Maidenhead Converter also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.6) and device support (3 vs 1). SDR's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 7 months). On review sentiment and 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

Maidenhead Converter is free to download; SDR costs $44.99 up front. Maidenhead Converter sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. SDR asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Maidenhead Converter holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SDR has 67 ratings behind it against 13, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 86% of Maidenhead Converter's written reviews are positive against 84% of SDR's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Maidenhead Converter ships an update every 7 months, SDR every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
Maidenhead Converter versus SDR: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMaidenhead ConverterSDR
PriceFree — better$44.99
Rating4.8 (13 ratings) — better4.6 (67 ratings)
Positive reviews86.2% of reviews — better84.3% of reviews
Number of ratings1367 — better
Update frequencyEvery 7 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS9.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size15 MB55 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDonald HaysMarcus Roskosch

Customer experience

Maidenhead Converter

All ratings12 ratings
Positive91.7%
Neutral8.3%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews29 reviews
Positive86.2%
Neutral10.3%
Negative3.4%

SDR

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

Bugs and requests

Maidenhead Converter

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

1 purchases

Maidenhead Converter

One-time1
  • Ad Disabler$1.99
None

SDR

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Maidenhead Converter free?
Maidenhead Converter is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SDR free?
SDR costs $44.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Maidenhead Converter or SDR?
Maidenhead Converter is rated higher. Maidenhead Converter averages 4.8 out of 5 from 13 ratings, while SDR averages 4.6 from 67 ratings.
Do Maidenhead Converter or SDR have ads?
Neither Maidenhead Converter nor SDR shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Maidenhead Converter or SDR?
Maidenhead Converter ships an update every 7 months, and SDR every 2 weeks. Most recently, Maidenhead Converter was updated on October 23, 2026 and SDR on October 25, 2026.

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