Maidenhead Converter vs Packet Commander
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Latitude/Longitude to Maidenhead conversion
- Maidenhead to Latitude/Longitude conversion
- Real-time location tracking
- Map visualization
- Input coordinates for conversion
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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
Packet Commander
This app provides a classic terminal experience for packet radio communication on mobile devices. It offers powerful terminal features, smart connection management, and real-time over-the-air traffic monitoring. It's designed for amateur radio operators to connect with nodes, BBS, and decode traffic.
- Full-screen terminal for packet nodes and BBS
- Classic color themes and adjustable layout
- YAPP protocol support for file transfers
- Location-aware digipeater routing
- Seamless iCloud sync
- Over-the-air traffic decoding
- Auto-discovery of TNCs
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Packet Commander brings a classic terminal experience for packet radio to your iPhone or iPad. Try it free. The download includes 5 full connection sessions so you can explore the features and confirm compatibility before purchasing. After that, a purchase is required to continue connecting. Note: An amateur radio license is required to operate on the air. Powerful Terminal • Full-screen terminal for interacting with packet nodes and BBS over amateur radio • Classic color themes inspired by iconic computers • Adjustable fonts and layout for readability and screen efficiency • YAPP protocol support for file transfers • Dictation-ready for composing messages hands-free • Smart filename selection — double tap to highlight and copy Smarter Packet Connections • Location-aware digipeater routing: automatically recalls the last-used path at each location • Seamless iCloud sync for nodes and digipeaters across all your devices • Compatible with popular packet node software including BPQ32, URONode, and others Over-the-Air Monitor Connect to your radio and decode over-the-air traffic in real time. AX.25 frames are decoded and presented in an easy-to-read format. • Filter traffic to display exactly what you’re looking for • Search by address or content • Export the log to a file for later analysis Works with the Gear You Love • Auto-discovery of Bluetooth and TCP TNCs, including Dire Wolf on DigiPi • Automatic frequency set/restore on supported radios • Built-in, high-performance 1200 baud AFSK software modem • Optimized for VHF/UHF packet at both 1200 and 9600 baud Compatible with the Following Radios and TNCs: Radios with Built-in TNCs (Auto-sets and restores frequency on those radios) · BTECH UV-PRO, UV-50PRO · VERO VR-N76, VR-N7600 · RADIODITY GA-5WB, DB50-B · Kenwood TH-D74*, TH-D75* · PicoAPRS V4 *Requires B.B. Link Bluetooth adapter Portable KISS TNCs · Mobilinkd TNC3, TNC4 · LiNK500 TNC · DigiPi · Dire Wolf Software TNC Audio Interfaces (Using built-in software modem) · Digirig Lite · Digirig VOX PTT Cable · AIOC (All-In-One Cable) Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Packet Commander at every 2 months against Maidenhead Converter's every 7 months. Packet Commander also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 86%) and ratings volume (44 vs 12). Maidenhead Converter's advantage is iOS requirement (9.0 vs 18.2). On price, rating, 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
Both are free to download. Maidenhead Converter sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Packet Commander sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Maidenhead Converter against 4.9 for Packet Commander. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 12 and 44 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 86% of Maidenhead Converter's written reviews are positive against 100% of Packet Commander's.
Maidenhead Converter ships an update every 7 months, Packet Commander every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Maidenhead Converter | Packet Commander |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (12 ratings) | 4.9 (44 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 86.2% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 12 | 44 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 — better | 18.2 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 15 MB | 10 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Donald Hays | Island Magic Co. |
Customer experience
Maidenhead Converter
Packet Commander
In-app purchases
Maidenhead Converter
- Ad Disabler$1.99
Packet Commander
- Yearly Subscription$8.991 Year
- One-Time Purchase$24.99
Questions
Is Maidenhead Converter free?
Is Packet Commander free?
Which has better reviews, Maidenhead Converter or Packet Commander?
Do Maidenhead Converter or Packet Commander have ads?
Which is updated more often, Maidenhead Converter or Packet Commander?
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