PSKer vs HamBand
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
PSKer
This application functions as a PSK31 receiver and transmitter for amateur radio enthusiasts. It offers features like automatic frequency locking, configurable macros for quick messaging, and a real-time sonogram with zoom.
- PSK31 send/receive
- Universal app
- Configurable macros
- Automatic frequency locking
- Realtime sonogram w/zoom
- Mic/line-in receive, speaker/line-out transmit
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PSKer is a PSK31 receiver and transmitter. Features: * PSK31 send/receive * Universal app * Landscape mode on the iPad, Portrait mode on the iPhone/iPad * Configurable macros for common messages (CQ, ...) * Automatic frequency locking * Realtime sonogram w/zoom view * Support for mic and line-in receive, and speaker-out/line-out transmission. Note the desktop version is free and can be downloaded at http://ke7sch.net/psker/PSKer.zip You can run the iOS version on your desktop too if you like.
HamBand
This app provides amateur radio operators with real-time HF band condition assessments using live solar weather data. It offers band ratings, a greyline visualizer, and trend charts to help predict propagation. An Apple Watch companion app is also available for quick access to information.
- Real-time HF band condition ratings
- Greyline visualizer for propagation
- 7-day trend charts for solar data
- Live Solar Flux Index and K-Index
- Apple Watch companion app and complication
- No subscriptions, accounts, or ads
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HamBand - HF Band Conditions HamBand gives amateur radio operators instant, real-time HF band condition assessments based on live solar weather data from NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center. Whether you're heading out for a Parks on the Air (POTA) activation, setting up for Field Day, or just checking conditions from the shack, HamBand tells you what the bands are doing right now - no account, no setup, no clutter. Band Conditions Get instant Good, Fair, or Poor ratings for the five primary HF bands - 10m, 15m, 20m, 40m, and 80m - based on real solar physics. Ratings are calculated from the Solar Flux Index (SFI) and K-Index using band-specific propagation thresholds. Greyline Visualizer Watch the day/night terminator move across a live world map in real time. When your QTH sits on the greyline, low-band DX on 160m, 80m, and 40m lights up — so instead of guessing when that sweet spot rolls through, you can see it coming. 7-Day Trend Charts Track how solar conditions have evolved over the past week with interactive K-Index and SFI trend charts. Spot incoming geomagnetic storms before they kill your signal. Live Solar Data See the current Solar Flux Index, K-Index, and last updated time at a glance. Tap either metric for a plain-English explanation of what it means for your operating. Apple Watch Companion Check band conditions right from your wrist. The Apple Watch app and complication keep key solar indices and band ratings accessible without touching your phone - perfect when both hands are on the antenna. Pull to Refresh Always fetching fresh data directly from NOAA. No subscriptions, no accounts, no ads. HamBand is built by KD3CLW, a licensed amateur radio operator in western Pennsylvania. 73 de KD3CLW
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: HamBand at Free against PSKer's $2.99. HamBand also leads on rating (5.0 vs 1.8) and update cadence (every 10 days vs every 31 months). PSKer's advantage is ratings volume (22 vs 2) and iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model 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
HamBand is free to download; PSKer costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
HamBand holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PSKer has 22 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.
PSKer ships an update every 31 months, HamBand every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | PSKer | HamBand |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 1.8 (22 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 55.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 22 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 31 months | Every 10 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1 MB | 2 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Mark Oskin | TAYLOR JOHN TRANSUE |
Customer experience
PSKer
HamBand
In-app purchases
PSKer
No in-app purchases
HamBand
No in-app purchases
