PocketPacket vs B.B. Link Configurator
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
PocketPacket
This app serves as a comprehensive client for the Automatic Position Reporting System (APRS), enabling amateur radio operators to send and receive real-time data like position, status, and messages. It features a built-in TNC for direct radio communication and internet connectivity via the APRS-IS network.
- Full-featured APRS client
- Built-in software TNC
- 1200 baud AFSK modulation
- APRS-IS internet connectivity
- Map visualization of data
- Object and message lists
- Real-time weather reports
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PocketPacket is a full-featured APRS client with a built-in TNC. The "Automatic Position Reporting System" is a packet communication protocol used by amateur radio operators (hams) around the world, to report position, status, station capabilities, weather or other information in real time. Packets can also be used for broadcasting announcements or one-to-one messaging. PocketPacket incorporates a software-based TNC, allowing you to directly capture and visualize, or encode and transmit 1200 baud packets (AFSK modulation) using a VHF radio transceiver. With PocketPacket you can also get and send packets over the Internet, by selecting one of the available Tier 2 servers of the global APRS-IS network. Incoming data is presented on a map, as most packets define some object, with a specific symbol and location. By selecting a symbol, you can view the latest information sent for the corresponding object, as well as the raw packets that produced it. All available objects are also shown in a list, which allows you to search for the ones you are looking for. Messages and bulletins are shown in a separate set of screens, structured like an e-mail client. With PocketPacket you can follow the status of the APRS network, submit your station's info, monitor moving objects, get real time weather reports directly from local stations and more. PocketPacket is ideal for field work or the ham shack. 73 de SV9OAN
B.B. Link Configurator
Configure a Bluetooth adapter to connect your amateur radio to an iOS device. This enables data exchange with apps like RadioMail and aprs.fi using the radio's TNC as a packet modem.
- Configure B.B. Link Bluetooth adapter
- Pair with Kenwood TH-D74/TH-D75 radios
- Connect radio (Bluetooth Classic) to iOS (BLE)
- Utilize radio's TNC as packet modem
- Data exchange with amateur radio apps
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This app configures the B.B. Link Bluetooth adapter for pairing with a Kenwood TH-D74 or TH-D75 radio. The adapter facilitates a connection between the radio, which uses Bluetooth Classic, and an iOS device via BLE. This connection allows apps like RadioMail, Packet Commander and aprs.fi to utilize the radio's built-in TNC as a packet modem for data exchange over amateur radio.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: B.B. Link Configurator at Free against PocketPacket's $4.99. B.B. Link Configurator also leads on rating (4.6 vs 3.6) and update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 4 months). PocketPacket's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.6). 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
B.B. Link Configurator is free to download; PocketPacket costs $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
B.B. Link Configurator holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 13 and 8 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 51% of PocketPacket's written reviews are positive against 67% of B.B. Link Configurator's.
PocketPacket ships an update every 4 months, B.B. Link Configurator every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | PocketPacket | B.B. Link Configurator |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 3.6 (13 ratings) | 4.6 (8 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 51.0% of reviews | 66.7% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 13 — better | 8 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 5 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 16.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 19 MB | 3 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Koomasi | Island Magic Co. |
Customer experience
PocketPacket
B.B. Link Configurator
In-app purchases
PocketPacket
No in-app purchases
B.B. Link Configurator
No in-app purchases








