K3iNetwork vs Carrier Wave
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
K3iNetwork
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K3iNetwork provides remote control of the Elecraft K3, K3S, KX3 or KX2 radios via a WiFi network and PC or Mac connected to the radio serial port. The user can control many functions of the K3, K3S, KX3 or KX2 radio using their iPhone. CW, RTTY and PSK31 QSOs are possible. The user can watch text from the radio VFO B window stream to their iPhone in the Terminal window, and send CW, RTTY, or PSK, as appropriate, in response. K3iNetwork has windows patterned after the Command Tester and Terminal windows of the Elecraft K3 Utility program. It provides similar functionality, and it can all be accomplished remotely using the iPhone. Once the user establishes communication with the K3, K3S, KX3 or KX2 via a WiFi network the iPhone is used to control the radio.
Carrier Wave
This application is a modern QSO logger for amateur radio operators, designed for fast and reliable contact logging from any location. It offers seamless syncing with popular services, real-time monitoring, and advanced features like AI-powered transcription.
- Fast command-driven logging
- Sync contacts to QRZ, POTA, Ham2K
- Real-time POTA and RBN monitoring
- POTA activation management
- AI-powered CW transcription
- iCloud sync
- Detailed statistics
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Carrier Wave is a fast, modern QSO logger for amateur radio operators. Log contacts from the field or the shack, sync to your favorite services, and track your progress - all from your iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch. KEY FEATURES - Fast command-driven logging with quick-entry shortcuts and keyboard accessory bar - Sync contacts to QRZ, Parks on the Air (POTA), and Ham2K LoFi - Real-time POTA and Reverse Beacon Network (RBN) spot monitoring with map view - POTA activation management with rove support, auto-spotting, and two-fer parks - CW recording and AI-powered transcription with karaoke-style playback - iCloud sync across all your devices - Automatic and manual database backups with iCloud Drive mirroring - ADIF import and export - Detailed statistics: bands, modes, DXCC entities, grids, states, parks - Social activity feed with friends list and on-air notifications - Apple Watch companion with live session updates and solar conditions - Landscape and iPad layouts with resizable sidebar panes - Accessibility: VoiceOver, Dynamic Type, and Reduce Motion support Carrier Wave is built for operators who want a fast, reliable logger that stays out of their way. Whether you are activating a park, chasing DX, or working a contest, it is designed to keep up with you.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Carrier Wave at weekly against K3iNetwork's every 7 months. K3iNetwork's advantage is price ($3.99 vs $4.99) and iOS requirement (17.2 vs 26.2). On 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
K3iNetwork costs $3.99 and Carrier Wave $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
K3iNetwork ships an update every 7 months, Carrier Wave weekly. Both last shipped on October 1, 2026.
| Parameter | K3iNetwork | Carrier Wave |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3.99 — better | $4.99 |
| Rating | — | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Number of ratings | — | 2 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | — | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.2 — better | 26.2 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 23 MB | 60 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Mike Downs, ks7d | James Vana |
In-app purchases
K3iNetwork
No in-app purchases
Carrier Wave
No in-app purchases









