DBHamPlot vs Shortwave Guide
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
DBHamPlot
Calculate distance and bearing between two locations using Maidenhead grid squares. This tool is designed for amateur radio operators to easily determine proximity and direction to other hams, featuring an interactive map for pinpointing locations and identifying grid areas.
- Compute distance and bearing
- Maidenhead location input
- Map display with annotations
- Identify six-digit grid areas
- Interactive map for location pinpointing
- User-added annotation removal
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Compute distance and bearing using Maidenhead location. This was originally intended for use by amateur radio operators who participate in microwave communications however it can be used by any ham in order to determine a distance and bearing to another radio amateur. This version specifically for the iPad provides map and controls all on one screen. The larger map area over both iPhone versions should prove helpful. You get a map of the source and target along with a pin annotation and an overlay identifying the six-digit grid area. If a user touches an empty location on the screen for one second a new annotation is added at that spot identifying the grid. Any user-added annotations are removed if a new source or target are entered. This feature is great because you can zoom in on a location, touch the screen, and get a 6 digit grid; this is especially handy when your microwave buddy pulls over to the side of the road to make a contact with you (or someone else) but he/she has no idea what their grid square is.
Shortwave Guide
This application displays a real-time schedule of shortwave radio broadcasts worldwide, sourced from the EiBi database. Users can rescan for updates, view specific frequencies, and update the entire broadcast schedule database.
- Worldwide shortwave broadcast schedule
- Real-time station listings
- Frequency viewing
- Database updates
- EiBi database integration
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The app shows a schedule of shortwave radio broadcasting. Information taken from EiBi database. When you run the application, you will see a list of radio stations, broadcasting currently worldwide. To update the scanning time in the menu, click "Rescan". To view all the selected radio frequency specifically, use a right button. When you first launch the app, or to update the schedule database, choose "Update Database".
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: DBHamPlot at Free against Shortwave Guide's $8.99. DBHamPlot also leads on iOS requirement (9.1 vs 15.6). Shortwave Guide's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 42 months) and device support (3 vs 1). On ads and in-app purchases 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
DBHamPlot is free to download; Shortwave Guide costs $8.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
DBHamPlot ships an update every 42 months, Shortwave Guide every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 8, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | DBHamPlot | Shortwave Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $8.99 |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | — | 20.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 42 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 9.1 — better | 15.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 12 MB | 26 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Thomas Sullivan | Vladyslav Haliuk |
Customer experience
DBHamPlot
Shortwave Guide
In-app purchases
DBHamPlot
No in-app purchases
Shortwave Guide
No in-app purchases









