Comparison

DBHam vs FT8 Hero Remote

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

DBHam

Calculate the distance and bearing between two locations using the Maidenhead grid system. Originally designed for amateur radio operators, it helps determine proximity and direction to other radio enthusiasts.

Highlights
  • Calculate distance
  • Calculate bearing
  • Maidenhead grid system
  • Amateur radio focused
  • Location annotation
Features
Read full description

Compute distance and bearing using Maidenhead location. This was originally intended for use by amateur radio operators who participate in microwave communications however it can be used by any ham in order to determine a distance and bearing to another radio amateur. If you want to see maps of the source and target with annotations and overlays as well as be able to touch the map to determine the grid at a particular point, then take a look at our App: DBHamPlus.

About

FT8 Hero Remote

Control your FT8 radio station remotely from your iPhone or iPad. See decoded stations, manage calls, and log contacts from anywhere, ensuring your radio stays safely in your shack. Requires a paired desktop application.

Highlights
  • Remote radio operation
  • Live decoded station display
  • Initiate CQ calls
  • Respond to CQ calls
  • Band and mode selection
  • Log QSO confirmation
  • Live waterfall display
Features
Read full description

FT8 Hero Remote is the iPhone and iPad remote for the FT8 Hero desktop app. Operate your own FT8 station from anywhere while the radio stays in the shack. The FT8 Hero desktop app runs beside WSJT-X on the shack computer and relays what the radio hears. This app shows it to you live: every decoded station, who is calling CQ, who is calling you, the band, the mode, the period clock — and takes back what you tap. • Tap a CQ to answer it. WSJT-X arms the transmitter and Auto Seq runs the contact. • CALL CQ presses WSJT-X's own Tx 6. STOP TX is never refused. • Band Activity and Rx Frequency lists, exactly as WSJT-X shows them. • Change band and mode, select any of the six messages, Monitor, Decode, Tune. • Confirm WSJT-X's Log QSO dialog from wherever you are. Contacts go to your QSL World logbook and, with a key, to QRZ Logbook. • A live picture of the waterfall. • Safety built in: a dropped connection halts the transmitter, only one operator at a time, and nothing keys the radio without a paired device. Pair once by scanning the QR code the desktop app shows. No account, no port forwarding, no dynamic DNS: the shack dials out, the phone dials in, and they meet at the relay. Requires the free FT8 Hero desktop app for Mac, Windows or Linux from ft8hero.com, running beside WSJT-X 2.5 or later (or JTDX). Five contacts are free; after that a licence from ft8hero.com keeps the station on the air.

Screenshots

DBHam1 screens
FT8 Hero Remote4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: FT8 Hero Remote at 5.0 against DBHam's 2.7. FT8 Hero Remote also leads on update cadence (daily vs every 29 months). DBHam's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and ratings volume (3 vs 1). On price, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

FT8 Hero Remote holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

DBHam ships an update every 29 months, FT8 Hero Remote daily. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
DBHam versus FT8 Hero Remote: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDBHamFT8 Hero Remote
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.7 (3 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews40.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings3 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 29 monthsDaily — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS10.3 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperThomas SullivaniDream Interactive

In-app purchases

None

DBHam

No in-app purchases

None

FT8 Hero Remote

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is DBHam free?
DBHam is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is FT8 Hero Remote free?
FT8 Hero Remote is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, DBHam or FT8 Hero Remote?
FT8 Hero Remote is rated higher. DBHam averages 2.7 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while FT8 Hero Remote averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do DBHam or FT8 Hero Remote have ads?
Neither DBHam nor FT8 Hero Remote shows ads.
Which is updated more often, DBHam or FT8 Hero Remote?
DBHam ships an update every 29 months, and FT8 Hero Remote daily. Most recently, DBHam was updated on November 6, 2026 and FT8 Hero Remote on October 31, 2026.

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