BeaconAid-HF [iPhone]

Calling All Radio Amateurs and Shortwave Listeners!

Use BeaconAid-HF -- while listening to your receiver -- to decipher the global NCDXF/IARU HF beacon network and determine actual, real-time band openings. Even if you don't understand Morse code identifiers of the 18 beacon stations, with the help of your receiver, BeaconAid-HF will show you where in the world the 20, 17, 15, 12, or 10 meter bands are really -- not theoretically -- open within three minutes. Or, use the "By Beacon" view while listening to your receiver to find out if one or more bands are open to a desired DX destination.

BeaconAid-HF also gives you ready access to reports from automated official monitor stations around the world. You'll see which monitor is closest to your current location, and then observe its reports without leaving the program.

Current solar-terrestrial conditions (solar flux, A-index, and K-index) are retrieved from NOAA and displayed on several screens. Additional propagation conditions for the beacon bands are displayed on the main screens.

BeaconAid-HF updates its data sources -- beacon operational status and monitor station lineup -- automatically behind the scenes. No need to download an upgraded version to get the latest beacon and monitor network data.

You can also use BeaconAid-HF offline or out of reach of Location Services. Choose manual entry of your current grid square.

If you currently use the beacon network in your ham radio or SWL activities, BeaconAid-HF will make the job a lot easier. If you are new to the network, BeaconAid-HF will unlock the world of HF propagation to you. You'll discover that just because a band sounds dead doesn't mean that it is.