Comparison

TropoDX vs BLE Buddy

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

Head to head
About

TropoDX

Features
Read full description

TropoDX is the ultimate real-time tropospheric propagation monitoring tool for amateur radio operators worldwide. FEATURES: - Real-time Tropospheric Index (0-100 scale) based on atmospheric conditions - 5-day propagation forecast with hourly updates - Regional propagation maps for Europe, North America (East/West), Asia, and Australia/Pacific - Push notifications for excellent DX conditions (Index 80+) - Advanced atmospheric parameters: K-Index, Refractivity, Temperature-Dew Point spread - Location-based weather data from anywhere in the world - Detailed DX distance estimates based on current conditions - Historical data tracking (last 48 readings) - Support for both Metric and Imperial units - Works on iPhone and iPad with landscape support PERFECT FOR: - VHF DXers (2m, 6m bands) - UHF DXers (70cm band) - Contest operators - EME operators checking for optimal conditions - Anyone interested in VHF/UHF propagation UNDERSTANDING THE INDEX: - 0-40: Poor - Normal conditions, local contacts only - 40-55: Fair - Slightly enhanced propagation - 55-70: Good - DX possible, 200-500 km range - 70-85: Very Good - Strong DX, 500-1000 km range - 85-100: Excellent - Extreme conditions, 1000+ km possible! The app calculates tropospheric conditions using atmospheric pressure, temperature, humidity, dew point, and refractivity to predict VHF/UHF radio wave propagation. When high-pressure systems create temperature inversions, radio signals can travel much farther than normal - and TropoDX helps you catch those moments! DATA SOURCES: - Real-time weather data from OpenWeatherMap - Regional propagation maps from DX Info Centre - Scientific calculations based on radio refractivity formulas Whether you're chasing grid squares, working DX contests, or just curious about propagation, TropoDX gives you the information you need to maximize your VHF/UHF operating. 73 and happy DXing!

About

BLE Buddy

Explore nearby Bluetooth Low Energy devices and view their metadata. This tool is designed for educational and development purposes, allowing you to inspect device states and communicate directly with compatible BLE devices.

Highlights
  • Discover nearby BLE devices
  • Display enumerable device metadata
  • View device state
  • Establish terminal connection
  • Communicate directly with BLE devices
Features
Read full description

Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) explorer. Discovers nearby bluetooth devices and displays any enumerable metadata. Designed for educational and development purposes. BLE Buddy is able to display device state and lets you browse the (often hidden) metadata published by common devices, such as location trackers, health and fitness devices, wireless headphones, and much more. For devices that support it, a terminal connection can be established to communicate directly with the BLE device.

Screenshots

TropoDX3 screens
BLE Buddy4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: TropoDX at $1.99 against BLE Buddy's $2.99. On update cadence, 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

TropoDX costs $1.99 and BLE Buddy $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

TropoDX ships an update every 6 weeks, BLE Buddy every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 11, 2026 and September 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
TropoDX versus BLE Buddy: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTropoDXBLE Buddy
Price$1.99 — better$2.99
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Paid
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS17.6 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB1 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperMartin KueraRichard Stokes

In-app purchases

None

TropoDX

No in-app purchases

None

BLE Buddy

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is TropoDX free?
TropoDX costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is BLE Buddy free?
BLE Buddy costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do TropoDX or BLE Buddy have ads?
Neither TropoDX nor BLE Buddy shows ads.
Which is updated more often, TropoDX or BLE Buddy?
TropoDX ships an update every 6 weeks, and BLE Buddy every 2 months. Most recently, TropoDX was updated on September 11, 2026 and BLE Buddy on September 7, 2026.

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