Locator DX vs SimpleFT8

Locator DX is the essential tool for amateur radio operators to calculate distances and bearings between Maidenhead grid locators anywhere in the world. KEY FEATURES Distance Calculator Calculate precise distances between any two Maidenhead locators in 4 or 6 character format. Results displayed in both kilometers and miles with accurate great circle calculations. Azimuth and Bearing Get exact azimuth bearing and back azimuth for antenna pointing. Perfect for VHF/UHF operations, satellite tracking, and DX hunting. Interactive World Maps Visualize your connections on beautiful interactive maps with three display modes: - Standard road map - Satellite imagery - Hybrid view with labels See your QTH and DX station marked with custom icons, connected by a path line showing the exact route. GPS Auto-Location Instantly determine your current Maidenhead grid locator using GPS. Perfect for portable operations, Field Day, SOTA activations, and rover contests. Calculation History Automatically saves your last 20 calculations with timestamps. Quickly review past contacts, distances, and bearings. Swipe to delete individual entries or clear all at once. Support for All Locator Formats Works with both 4-character like JO70 and 6-character like JO70ab Maidenhead locators for maximum precision. PERFECT FOR - VHF/UHF operators planning antenna direction - Contest participants logging grid squares - Satellite operators tracking passes - DX hunters finding new contacts - Field Day and portable operations - SOTA and POTA activations - Learning about Maidenhead locator system FEATURES AT A GLANCE Worldwide coverage - calculate any two points on Earth Accurate great circle distance calculations Precise azimuth and back azimuth Real-time GPS location to grid conversion Beautiful interactive maps with satellite view Automatic calculation history Works completely offline except maps Clean, intuitive interface Optimized for both iPhone and iPad Portrait and landscape support No ads, no tracking, no accounts required PRIVACY FOCUSED Your privacy matters. Locator DX: - Never collects or transmits your data - Stores history only on your device - Uses GPS only when you tap the location button - No analytics or tracking - No third-party services Whether you are at home planning your next DX contact, operating portable in the field, or competing in a VHF contest, Locator DX gives you the calculations you need quickly and accurately. 73 de Locator DX

SimpleFT8 is a native macOS and iOS app for FT8 and FT4, the weak-signal digital modes used by amateur radio operators worldwide. WHAT IS FT8? FT8 is a structured digital mode for ham radio. Stations alternate transmitting and receiving in synchronized 15-second slots, exchanging compact messages over a narrow audio bandwidth. The mode decodes successfully at signal levels well below the noise floor — operators routinely make contacts on a watt or two of power with stations on the other side of the planet. SimpleFT8 puts a real digital station in your pocket. Decode signals using your device's microphone or a USB audio interface and send replies in the next slot. The manual station and local logbook work without an account. WHAT YOU GET • Live decode table per 15-second FT8 or 7.5-second FT4 slot • Slot-aligned transmitter with a structured QSO composer (CQ / reply / report / RR73 / 73) • Tap any decode to start a QSO — the state machine handles the rest of the handshake • Built-in waterfall display with tap-to-set TX frequency • Local QSO logbook with search, editing, ADIF import/export, and complete native backup/restore • Map of stations you've decoded with their Maidenhead grids SIMPLEFT8 FREE Free includes unlimited FT8/FT4 receive, waterfall and decode history; microphone and USB audio; manual CQ, reply and complete QSO exchanges; all TX safety controls; local logging and full portable ADIF import/export; and the basic community map. SIMPLEFT8 PRO — ONE-TIME LIFETIME UNLOCK Pro adds automatic replies, custom-message looping, advanced export scopes, direct QRZ Logbook transfer, and private iCloud log sync. On macOS, Pro also adds Icom CI-V CAT/PTT and VFO control over a serial connection, System Audio capture, and autonomous band hopping. CAT/PTT rig control and band hopping are not available on iPhone or iPad. No subscription. Customers who bought SimpleFT8 before it became Free receive Pro automatically. PSK REPORTER + PRESENCE (OPT-IN) If you turn it on in Settings: • Decode reports forwarded to PSK Reporter so you contribute to the global propagation map (rate-limited server-side) • See who heard you in the last 15 minutes, plotted on the map • See other SimpleFT8 operators currently online, on the same map Both toggles are off by default. QRZ transfer and private iCloud log sync are also separately configured and off by default. WHAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT • Native Swift/SwiftUI — no Electron, no Qt port. Looks and feels like a Mac/iOS app should. • Pro System Audio capture on macOS via ScreenCaptureKit — decode straight from SDR software, WebSDR, or any audio your machine is playing, without a virtual cable. • Random caller selection rather than first-come — every station in a pile-up has an equal shot at being picked. • Opinionated QSO state machine handles slot parity, role alternation, and protocol step transitions so you don't have to fight the radio. PRIVACY The app is foreground-only on iOS — the mic stops when the app goes to background. macOS keeps audio I/O alive (long FT8 sessions are the norm). Optional community and logbook integrations are clearly opt-in. No analytics, no tracking, no ads, and no subscription. Built by a ham operator for ham operators. 73 de PD3BAL.