Comparison

HamWaves Sidekick vs RepeaterSTART Premium

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

Head to head
About

HamWaves Sidekick

Features
Read full description

HamWaves Sidekick is an indispensable app for all amateur radio operators. We never seem to have access to user manuals when we need them. Even when we do, programming instructions are sometimes hard to understand. HamWaves Sidekick was written to solve this problem. Using a clean, gesture enabled interface, it provides clear, easy to follow step-by-step instructions to explain basic programming for dozens of popular handheld and mobile radios. Programming instructions are always available for offline use. It is extremely helpful for ARES and RACES groups that may need to add frequencies to a wide variety of radios on the fly. The app also provides one button access to the user manual for each radio. It will automatically download if it hasn't already been downloaded before. You can download only those manuals you are interested in or download them all. Once the manual is downloaded it will be available for offline use. The app covers dozens of popular handheld and mobile radios as well a few popular scanners. Included, are instructions for radios from Yaesu, Kenwood, Icom, Alinco, Anytone, Wouxun, Baofeng, BTECH, Quangdheng, TYT, TIDRadio, Radioddity and more. The app also includes helpful reference information such as frequency allocations, CTCSS/DCS tabes, Allstar commands, APRS reference for APRS capable radios, Packet radio commands, and much more. Links to user manuals are carefully researched to always provide the best quality manuals available for public distribution. Users are encouraged to visit our website and let us know of other radios they would like to see included in the app. We'll be happy to add them! Family Sharing is supported. Dark mode is supported.

About

RepeaterSTART Premium

This tool helps amateur radio operators find and program local repeaters. It displays repeaters on a map and in a sortable list, with offline functionality. The premium version adds advanced search and radio programming guides.

Highlights
  • Ham radio and GMRS repeater map
  • Offline map and list view
  • Search by country, peak, or IARU Locator
  • Look up ham locations by callsign
  • Step-by-step radio programming guides
  • Supports multiple popular radio models
  • Filter by GMRS or Ham repeaters
Features
Read full description

Repeater-START (Showing The Amateur Repeaters Tool) is a ham radio (and GMRS*) repeater map utilizing the repeaters at Hearham.com. This app lets you see nearby repeaters on a topo map, and on a list, sorted nearest first. Once updated, the app works online or offline. No cell service? power outage? - no problem! This premium version includes: * Search functionality to move map directly to any country or peak (internet required). * Search allows input of IARU Locator (maidenhead locator), even offline - move map to position and show nearby repeaters. * Look up location of other hams by callsign and move map directly to position (internet required). * Simple step by step instructions to program local repeaters on your radio. Anytone, Baofeng, Baofeng-mini, Retevis RT85/TYT UV88/Explorer QRZ-1, iCom, Quansheng, TIDRadio, Radioddity GD77/Baofeng 1801 DMR, Kenwood (TH-G71, TM-261, and TM-281) and Yaesu( VX-6, FT-4X, ft 25, ft-70, ft-65, ft-60, ft-2980) radios are supported with more coming soon... * GMRS and/or Ham (amateur radio) can be selected to show or hide, in the settings. (*GMRS repeaters list is available for Washington, Oregon, Idaho: https://hearham.com/GMRS) * Print out ability to print the step by step instructions to a networked printer. Missing repeater information? Don't panic - the database can be easily updated by adding the information at https://hearham.com/repeaters/add. Wrong information / unusable repeater? Add a comment to the repeater's page and an administrator will review and update the database as needed.

Screenshots

HamWaves Sidekick4 screens
RepeaterSTART Premium4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: HamWaves Sidekick at $7.99 against RepeaterSTART Premium's $9.99. On ads, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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

HamWaves Sidekick costs $7.99 and RepeaterSTART Premium $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
HamWaves Sidekick versus RepeaterSTART Premium: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHamWaves SidekickRepeaterSTART Premium
Price$7.99 — better$9.99
Rating—4.7 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—3 — better
Update frequency—Every 5 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Paid
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.116.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB32 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBrian MILBURNGreat Maps LLC

In-app purchases

None

HamWaves Sidekick

No in-app purchases

None

RepeaterSTART Premium

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is HamWaves Sidekick free?
HamWaves Sidekick costs $7.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is RepeaterSTART Premium free?
RepeaterSTART Premium costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do HamWaves Sidekick or RepeaterSTART Premium have ads?
Neither HamWaves Sidekick nor RepeaterSTART Premium shows ads.

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