SimpleFT8 vs Club Log

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.

The companion app for Club Log, the logbook and DXCC award service used by 100,000 amateur radio operators worldwide. Sign in with your existing Club Log account to carry your logbook, award progress, and DX-chasing tools in your pocket. YOUR DX DASHBOARD Start with DX Dash: a single at-a-glance view of your recent QSOs, activity heatmap, per-band DXCC progress, and highlights from your log. NEED CHECK Instantly answer the question every DXer asks: “Do I need this one?” Look up any callsign, prefix, or DXCC entity and see worked, confirmed, and verified status across bands and modes. Filter by your enabled bands. AWARD PROGRESS • DXCC Charts: entity-by-entity progress with QSL status breakdown • CQ Zones: WAZ zone progress with an interactive zone map • Grid Squares: Maidenhead locator coverage across bands and modes • Leagues: DXCC league tables and band breakdowns • Most Wanted: the global Club Log Most Wanted list, with per-entity band/mode analysis LIVE ON THE AIR • Live Bands: unique to the app, see which bands are open right now from real QSOs, spots and skimmer feeds, with a band × continent activity heatmap - all filtered through your own log to help you find new DXCCs and slots to work • Livestreams: watch live DXpedition streams and follow QSOs on the map as they happen • Live Alerts: built on real-time notifications, with an alert history, expedition watches, and a pinned watchlist in one place YOUR LOGBOOK Browse, search, and filter your Club Log QSOs. Log new contacts from your phone and sync them to Club Log if you're away from your normal logging computer. Inspect reciprocal log matches, explore QSO timelines, and review OQRS request status. Upload and download ADIF files directly on your device. PROPAGATION & RESEARCH Propagation charts correlate solar flux with real activity evidence from Club Log’s logs. The Propagation Wizard overlays VOACAP predictions on your route. Prefixes gives you an offline DXCC reference. DXpeditions lists active and recent expeditions. Call Tester resolves callsigns, locators, and sun position. A daily Club Log DX Report and an annual DX Calendar are provided so you can keep track of what activity is on the bands. The DX Calendar includes a feed of upcoming DX, delivered in partnership with the team at DX-World.net with their generous support. BUILT FOR DXERS WORLDWIDE • Customizable tab bar: pin your four most-used tools • Multiple callsigns: switch between all logs on your account • 20+ interface languages: ham-radio terms (QSO, DXCC, CW, etc.) stay in standard English • Face ID / Touch ID lock for your session • iPhone and iPad layouts including full mobile-first versions of the Expedition Charts, light and dark modes • Translated into 22 international languages Requires a free Club Log account at clublog.org. Terms of Use: Use of this app and its associated subscription service is subject to the End User License Agreement (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/