NAVTEX Pad vs ClearNode
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
NAVTEX Pad
Decode NAVTEX and RTTY marine weather transmissions on your iOS device. View safety messages and weather reports without a dedicated receiver. Save and transfer decoded text for later use.
- Decodes NAVTEX transmissions
- Decodes RTTY (BAUDOT & ASCII)
- Saves received text
- Transfers text to computer
- Displays NAVTEX schedules
- No dedicated receiver needed
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NAVTEX Pad lets you view NAVTEX and Radio Teletype (RTTY) marine weather transmissions on your iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad. Just set it near a radio (or for better quality decoding, connect a cable from the radio's audio output jack to the microphone jack), tune in a NAVTEX frequency (usually 518 kHz), and watch the transmissions. NAVTEX weather and marine safety messages are transmitted from dozens of sites around the world. Now you can display these messages without buying a dedicated NAVTEX receiver. Both BAUDOT and ASCII RTTY can also be decoded. The shift and baud can can be selected from the standard values. You can also save your received text to view later, or transfer to your computer via iTunes. Schedules of upcoming NAVTEX transmissions are available within the app, so you'll never miss one. Visit the support page for step by step instructions for using the app: http://www.blackcatsystems.com/ipad/iPad_NAVTEX_Pad_FAQ.html Buy your copy of NAVTEX pad today, and never be without up to date marine weather information again.
ClearNode
This app provides remote control and management for ClearNode devices, enabling users to configure settings, connect to nodes, and control integrated radio functions. It also allows for audio stream playback and monitoring of multiple devices.
- Configure AllStar, Echolink, and DMR credentials
- Control radio parameters (frequency, CTCSS, volume)
- Connect/disconnect from remote nodes
- Catalog and search active node lists
- Monitor and control multiple devices
- Play delayed audio streams
- Power down or reboot device
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The ClearNode App allows you to: - Set up your ClearNode with your AllStar, Echolink and DMR credentials and settings - Configure important parameters for Asterisk and USB Audio - Connect and disconnect your ClearNode device from remote nodes and servers - Keep a catalog of the nodes you have connected to - Search the AllStar, Echolink and DMR active node lists - Control the integrated radio: Tx/Rx frequency, CTCSS codes, Squelch, Volume, Emphasis, High Pass and Low Pass, bandwidth - Power down or reboot your ClearNode Device - Play a delayed stream (~20 sec) of the audio traffic on your ClearNode (Tx and Rx), also play the stream to your public Broadcastify account - The ClearNode App detects and displays your ClearNode's current IP Addresses - If you have multiple ClearNode devices you can monitor and control them all from a single ClearNode Mobile App This application is a support/remote control utility for ClearNode devices built by Gerry Filby/W6WNG.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: ClearNode at 100% against NAVTEX Pad's 27%. ClearNode also leads on price (Free vs $2.99) and rating (4.8 vs 1.9). NAVTEX Pad's advantage is iOS requirement (9.0 vs 26.0). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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
ClearNode is free to download; NAVTEX Pad costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
ClearNode holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 1.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 12 and 32 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 27% of NAVTEX Pad's written reviews are positive against 100% of ClearNode's.
NAVTEX Pad ships an update every 17 months, ClearNode every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | NAVTEX Pad | ClearNode |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 1.9 (12 ratings) | 4.8 (32 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 27.3% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 12 | 32 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 17 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 3 MB | 7 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Black Cat Systems | Gerry Filby |
Customer experience
NAVTEX Pad
ClearNode
In-app purchases
NAVTEX Pad
No in-app purchases
ClearNode
No in-app purchases








