NAVTEX Pad vs Packet Commander
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.
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 review sentiment: Packet Commander at 100% against NAVTEX Pad's 27%. Packet Commander also leads on price (Free vs $2.99) and rating (4.9 vs 1.9). NAVTEX Pad's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 18.2). On ads 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
Packet Commander is free to download; NAVTEX Pad costs $2.99 up front. Packet Commander sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per year. NAVTEX Pad asks for nothing beyond the download.
Packet Commander holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 1.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 12 and 48 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 27% of NAVTEX Pad's written reviews are positive against 100% of Packet Commander's.
NAVTEX Pad ships an update every 17 months, Packet Commander every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | NAVTEX Pad | Packet Commander |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 1.9 (12 ratings) | 4.9 (48 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 27.3% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 12 | 48 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 17 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Free with in-app purchases — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 — better | 18.2 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 3 MB | 10 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Black Cat Systems | Island Magic Co. |
Customer experience
NAVTEX Pad
Packet Commander
In-app purchases
NAVTEX Pad
No in-app purchases
Packet Commander
- Yearly Subscription$8.991 Year
- One-Time Purchase$24.99








