Comparison

Optical Toolkit vs 5G Architect

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

Head to head
About

Optical Toolkit

Features
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The Optical Toolkit is a professional reference app for optical networking engineers — the calculators, quick conversions, reference data, and OTDR trace handling you reach for every day, in one place that works fully offline. WHY THIS APP EXISTS It came from personal need. As a working optical engineer I kept needing a quick OSNR check, a unit conversion, a standards value, or a fast look at a .sor trace — and kept reaching for scattered spreadsheets, PDFs, and laptop tools. So I built the toolkit I wanted in my own pocket, and I am sharing it free so every engineer, student, and enthusiast who works with fiber can take advantage of it. CALCULATORS — 47 TOOLS Link design: OSNR span design with FEC presets, EOL budget, nonlinear phase, Raman hybrid noise figure, GOSNR combining, rise-time budget, SBS/SRS thresholds, fiber mode and cutoff, extinction-ratio penalty, and Shannon capacity with modulation targets. DWDM: coherent rate and OSNR planning, guard-band planning with vendor rules, channel capacity by band, and ITU grid tools. Converters: dBm/mW, OSNR/SNR, wavelength/frequency, and more. Every input carries units, ranges, and engineering presets; results include pass/fail verdicts and margins. OTDR TRACES ON YOUR PHONE Open .sor trace files directly. The reader decodes fixed parameters, key events, and data points, draws the trace with color-coded event markers, and produces an analysis report: span length, total loss, ORL, event classification against thresholds, and recommendations. FULL REFERENCE LIBRARY 59 reference tables — fiber standards (G.652 through G.657) side by side, coherent scaling laws, guard-band thumb rules, a channel quick database, transceiver formats — plus a 394-term glossary, 427 alarm definitions with troubleshooting, 550 specification parameters, and a master search across everything. BUILT FOR THE FIELD Everything works offline — airplane mode included. No account, no tracking, no analytics. SOR files are parsed on the device and never uploaded. Light and dark themes, adjustable fonts and text size, and favorites to pin the tools you use daily. Made by MapYourTech for optical, DWDM, and DCI engineers, students, and NOC teams.

About

5G Architect

Features
Read full description

5G Architect is the ultimate RF engineering and telecommunications toolkit, designed specifically for network planners, telecom engineers, and students. Whether you are deploying terrestrial 5G NR networks or designing next-generation Direct-to-Cell (D2C) Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN), 5G Architect provides the exact mathematical models and interactive simulators you need. Leave the spreadsheets behind. Simulate complex link budgets, calculate subcarrier numerologies, and track LEO constellations in real-time, right from your device. CORE FEATURES Advanced Link Budget Calculator (Premium) • Calculate comprehensive RF link budgets for both Terrestrial (FR1/FR2) and NTN / Satellite domains. • Supports 3GPP 38.901 propagation models (UMa, UMi, RMa, Indoor). • Account for atmospheric gas loss, rain attenuation, clutter, and building entry loss (BEL). • Calculate EIRP, Receiver Sensitivity, Fade Margins, and Effective SINR based on dynamically selected Modulation and Coding Schemes (MCS). D2C Satellite Tracker & Simulator (Premium) • Real-time LEO/MEO satellite tracking using your device's location and live NORAD TLE ephemeris data. • Predict upcoming satellite passes and line-of-sight visibility for constellations like Starlink, AST SpaceMobile, and Lynk Global. • Instantly compute critical NTN metrics: Slant Range, UE Timing Advance (TA), and carrier Doppler Shift. Numerology & PRB Calculator (Free) • Instantly calculate Physical Resource Blocks (PRBs), subcarrier counts, and usable bandwidth. • Cross-reference Subcarrier Spacings (15, 30, 60, 120 kHz) with standard slot and symbol durations. • Export and share calculation results instantly with colleagues. Interactive RAN Visualizers (Premium) • RACH Sequence Visualizer: Understand Contention-Based (2-step & 4-step) and Contention-Free Random Access procedures. • SSB to RO Mapper: Visualize how Downlink Synchronization Signal Blocks map to Uplink RACH Occasions. • Cyclic Prefix & OFDM: Interactive demonstration of how Guard Intervals protect against multipath Inter-Symbol Interference (ISI). Comprehensive 5G Glossary (Free) • A fully searchable, offline database of over 100+ essential 5G and telecommunication terms. • Detailed explanations of 5G Core Architecture (SBA, AMF, SMF), Massive MIMO, Protocol Layers (RRC, MAC, PHY), and RF equations. Privacy & Performance First Your engineering data stays yours. 5G Architect performs complex Keplerian orbital propagation and RF math strictly on your local device. Location data used for satellite tracking is processed securely on-device and is never transmitted to our servers or third parties. WHO IS THIS APP FOR? • RF Planners and Optimization Engineers • Cell Tower Technicians and Field Deployers • Telecommunications Researchers and University Students • Wireless Tech Enthusiasts looking to understand the physics of 5G and Satellite networks. Download 5G Architect today and put the power of a professional telecommunications engineering suite in your pocket. (Note: Some advanced features, including the Link Budget Calculator and real-time Satellite Tracker, require a Premium unlock. A free preview mode is provided). Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Optical Toolkit4 screens
5G Architect4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Optical Toolkit at none against 5G Architect's 3. On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Ā· Rating Ā· Positive reviews Ā· Number of ratings Ā· Update frequency Ā· Ads Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Monetization Ā· Best chart rank Ā· Devices Ā· Requires iOS

CostPrice Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Ads Ā· Monetization

Both are free to download. 5G Architect sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Optical Toolkit asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard1 real difference Ā· 4 level
Optical Toolkit versus 5G Architect: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOptical Toolkit5G Architect
PriceFreeFree
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSanjay YadavCybaz Solutions LLC

In-app purchases

None

Optical Toolkit

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

5G Architect

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Access$5.991 Month
  • Yearly Access$39.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Unlock$89.99

Questions

Is Optical Toolkit free?
Optical Toolkit is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is 5G Architect free?
5G Architect is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Optical Toolkit or 5G Architect have ads?
Neither Optical Toolkit nor 5G Architect shows ads.

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