HamWaves vs Ham Shack
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
HamWaves
This app guides aspiring amateur radio operators in the US through the licensing process. It covers exam study, taking the test, getting on the air, and understanding radio equipment and operations. It's designed for new and prospective Technician level operators.
- FCC license process navigation
- Exam study and testing information
- Getting on-the-air guidance
- Radio equipment selection
- Technician level band-plan
- Online and in-person event resources
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HamWaves will de-mystify the process of getting started in amateur radio in the United States. HamWaves explains each step in the process of getting your license and provides full information on studying and taking your license exam. HamWaves has more than 30 topics for prospective and new Technician level amateur radio operators. Topics include: - Navigating through the FCC license process. - How to study for your exam. - Options and tips for taking the exam. - Getting on-the-air. - Types of on-air activities you can participate in. - Online resources for hams. - Clubs and groups. - Live on-the-air events. - Live in-person events. - Emergency Communications. - Choosing radio equipment. - Radio Programming. - Proper online etiquette. - Learning phonetics. - Using Allstar and EchoLink for remote communications. - Technician level band-plan with frequencies and types of operations allowed. - Several other reference categories to help you. This app is a must-have for all new and prospective hams. It was written by the president of a large amateur radio club with over a decade of experience helping new hams. Best of all, it's free and will be updated regularly as information changes or new topics are suggested.
Ham Shack
This app combines amateur radio programming with real-time propagation data. Listen to news, podcasts, and educational content from the ham radio community. Access a dashboard with solar flux, sunspot numbers, and HF/VHF band conditions.
- Stream Ham Shack Radio live
- View currently playing program
- Check solar and geomagnetic conditions
- Review HF band openings
- Simple dark interface
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Ham Shack brings amateur radio programming and propagation information together in one convenient app. Listen to Ham Shack Radio wherever you go, featuring amateur radio news, podcasts, educational programs, interviews, and original content from the ham radio community. The built-in propagation dashboard provides an easy-to-read overview of current radio conditions, including: • Solar flux • Sunspot numbers • Kp index • GOES X-ray activity • Estimated HF band conditions • VHF propagation information Whether you are at home in the shack, operating portable, or traveling to your next hamfest, Ham Shack helps you stay connected to amateur radio. Features: • Stream Ham Shack Radio live • View the currently playing program • Quickly reconnect to the audio stream • Check current solar and geomagnetic conditions • Review estimated openings for popular HF bands • Simple, dark interface designed for quick viewing Propagation information is intended as a general operating guide. Actual band conditions can vary by location, antenna system, time of day, season, and local interference. Ham Shack Radio is part of HamShackTV — Live, Learn, Transmit. Welcome to the shack.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is iOS requirement: HamWaves at 16.1 against Ham Shack's 26.5. On price, rating, ratings volume and ads 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.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for HamWaves against 5.0 for Ham Shack. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively.
| Parameter | HamWaves | Ham Shack |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (2 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 2 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | — | Weekly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 16.1 — better | 26.5 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 4 MB | 17 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Brian MILBURN | Josh Marler |
Customer experience
HamWaves
Ham Shack
In-app purchases
HamWaves
No in-app purchases
Ham Shack
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is HamWaves free?
Is Ham Shack free?
Which has better reviews, HamWaves or Ham Shack?
Do HamWaves or Ham Shack have ads?
Other comparisons
