HAMSignal vs AllStar Node Control
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
HAMSignal
This app provides real-time solar weather data and forecasts specifically for amateur radio operators. It alerts users to improving band conditions, offers propagation tools, and includes a QSO logbook with solar data. Designed to help operators maximize their on-air time.
- Real-time K-index, SFI, and A-index updates
- Band opening push notifications
- 27-day solar forecast
- Grey zone and terminator overlay
- PSK Reporter live data
- QSO logbook with solar conditions
- Contest mode dashboard
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Know when a band opens from where you are. HAMSignal watches live NOAA solar data and tells you when HF conditions improve at your QTH — not just when a storm hits. Set your callsign and grid once, and your phone (or Apple Watch) buzzes when 10m, 15m, or 20m opens. BAND-OPENING ALERTS • Push notification when a band opens from your grid square, day or night • Based on live SFI, K-index, and A-index, with a day/night model per band • Especially useful on 10m for Technician licensees, and more valuable as Solar Cycle 25 declines and openings get rarer LIVE CONDITIONS • All HF bands rated open, fair, or closed for day and night at your location • SFI, K-index, A-index, X-ray flux, and solar wind from NOAA SWPC • 27-day NOAA forecast and historical trends • Grey line / terminator map with your local sunrise and sunset • Point-to-point path predictor with MUF/LUF and best band WHAT CAN I WORK RIGHT NOW? (US) • Pick your license class and see which bands are open AND legal for you, with exact frequencies, modes and power limits • Built for new Technicians: see that 10m is open and exactly where you can use SSB, CW and FT8 • Based on the current FCC rules, with the rule cited on each row AM I BEING HEARD? • See which stations received your signal in the last hour, by band and mode, with signal reports and distance • Uses public PSK Reporter reports for your callsign (FT8, FT4, WSPR, JS8, CW skimmers) OPERATE • DX cluster spots and PSK Reporter activity • POTA self-spotting that queues offline and sends when you get signal, plus an SMS fallback • POTA and SOTA park and summit lookup • Amateur satellite passes (ISS, SO-50, RS-44, IO-117, and more) with correct up/down frequencies • APRS stations near you and nearby repeaters • Offline QSO logbook with ADIF import POCKET TOOLS • Maidenhead converter, distance and bearing, UTC clock • Antenna length, coax loss, stub matching, Yagi designer, power/dB • Band plan, Q-codes, phonetics, Morse reference APPLE WATCH • Glanceable K-index, SFI, and best band • Complications for your watch face HAMSIGNAL PRO (one-time purchase, no subscription) • Unlimited band-opening alert rules (free includes one) • DX spot alerts and sked alerts • Contest Mode dashboard • ADIF and Cabrillo export, Field Day auto-export • DXCC and WAS award tracking Already bought HAMSignal? You have Pro automatically. Tap Restore in Settings if it doesn't show. No account. No ads. No subscription. Your log stays on your device. Requires iOS 17 or later. Apple Watch app requires watchOS 10 or later.
AllStar Node Control
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AllStar Node Control replaces heavyweight web apps and outdated mobile apps with a clean, modern approach to managing your local AllStar node. Save one-touch quick links, search the entire AllStar and EchoLink global directories, set up favorites, run node maintenance tasks and configure command macros. Node Control scans your local network for AllStarLink nodes and configures them automatically - just add your manager credentials and you're on the air! Your one time purchase helps support software made by a ham, for hams. No ads, no subscriptions, no surprises. Check out my other mobile apps for other great ham radio goodness. I also make the most capable mobile FT8/FT4 station anywhere. AllStar Node Control is not affiliated with or endorsed by AllStarLink, Inc.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: HAMSignal at Free against AllStar Node Control's $0.99. HAMSignal also leads on iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.5). AllStar Node Control's advantage is chart position (#177 vs unranked). 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
HAMSignal is free to download; AllStar Node Control costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
HAMSignal ships an update every 2 weeks, AllStar Node Control every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | HAMSignal | AllStar Node Control |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $0.99 |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks — better | Every 3 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Best chart rank | — | #177 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 — better | 26.5 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 10 MB | 2 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Stephen Thorn | JONATHAN MARK SCHULMAN |
In-app purchases
HAMSignal
No in-app purchases
AllStar Node Control
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is HAMSignal free?
Is AllStar Node Control free?
Do HAMSignal or AllStar Node Control have ads?
Which is updated more often, HAMSignal or AllStar Node Control?
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