Ham Radio Exam Extra vs RST Decoder
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Ham Radio Exam Extra
Prepare for your Extra Class FCC Amateur Radio License exam. Review official question pools, take topic-specific quizzes, and simulate the actual exam. Track your progress and find local exam sessions.
- Review official question pools
- Take topic-specific quizzes
- Simulate full license exams
- Track user performance
- Find local exam sessions
- Follow ham radio news
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"Ham Radio Exam - Extra" will help the user pass his/her examination for a Extra Class FCC Amateur Radio License. Ham Radio Exam allows the user to review the correct answers to the official pool of questions that will appear on their Extra license exam. The user can also take quizzes of each topic that will be on the exam as well as take simulated examinations that exactly mimic the license exam that the user will take. The users performance is stored so that the user can track their progress as they continue their preparations. Ham Radio Exam even allows the user to find an examination session near them and to follow ham radio news.
RST Decoder
This application decodes Morse code from your microphone, acting as a practice tool to verify your keying accuracy. It offers advanced features like BPF and FFT decoders with automatic frequency and gain control, allowing for fine-tuning of reception parameters.
- Microphone Morse code decoding
- Morse practice and keying check
- BPF and FFT decoder options
- Auto Frequency Detector (AFD)
- Auto Gain Control (AGC)
- Real-time CW signal display
- Input signal recording/playback
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This is an App that decodes Morse code input from the microphone. It is a Morse practice App that you can use to check if you are keying the correct code. Signals with good S/N can be decoded correctly, but signals with bad S/N cannot be decoded correctly. Also, the performance will be degraded for extremely slow or fast signals. Usually about 5 to 10 characters are required for speed synchronization of Morse Code. Adjust the input signal so that the peak value changes from level 6 to level 7. Make fine adjustments to each parameter according to the reception status. [Additional Functions] -In addition to the decoder using BPF, a new decoder using FFT has been added so that it can be switched according to the usage. -AFD (Auto Frequency Detector) function has been added to the decoder using BPF, and BPF can be set automatically by pressing the AFD button. -The decoder using FFT automatically follows the strongest signal in the band by AFD (Auto Frequency Detector) and AGC (Auto Gain Control). You can also hold the AFD / AGC parameters by pressing the Lock button. * There will be a time lag of about 1 to 2 seconds for AFD tracking. [Control parameters] 1. Audio Input Level 2.BPF ON/OFF 3.BPF of Center Frequency 4.BPF of Band Width 5.CW Speed Control ON/OFF 6.CW Speed Control Low, Mid1, Mid2 or High 7.Delete All Decoded Text 8.Realtime CW Signal Display 9.Input signal recording / playback function *Japanese/KANA text is not supported. [Note] Since the signal after BPF is output to the audio output, it can also be used as an AF-CW filter. [URL of this App working example video] https://youtu.be/Pwp7W4m-m34
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Ham Radio Exam Extra at none against RST Decoder's shown. Ham Radio Exam Extra also leads on review sentiment (89% vs 67%) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). RST Decoder's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 12 months). On price and in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
RST Decoder holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ham Radio Exam Extra has 58 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 89% of Ham Radio Exam Extra's written reviews are positive against 67% of RST Decoder's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Ham Radio Exam Extra ships an update every 12 months, RST Decoder every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on June 11, 2026 and September 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Ham Radio Exam Extra | RST Decoder |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (58 ratings) | 5.0 (7 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 88.6% of reviews — better | 66.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 58 — better | 7 |
| Update frequency | Every 12 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Ad-supported |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 52 MB | 6 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Roy Watson | koji kamogawa |
Customer experience
Ham Radio Exam Extra
RST Decoder
In-app purchases
Ham Radio Exam Extra
No in-app purchases
RST Decoder
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Ham Radio Exam Extra free?
Is RST Decoder free?
Which has better reviews, Ham Radio Exam Extra or RST Decoder?
Do Ham Radio Exam Extra or RST Decoder have ads?
Which is updated more often, Ham Radio Exam Extra or RST Decoder?
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