QRV

Name: QRV
Author: K2CAT

The Ham Radio Multitool

Live spots, band conditions, callsign lookup, and essential tools for amateur radio operators—all in one app. Available on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch.

QRV running on Mac, iPad, iPhone, and Apple Watch

By an operator. For operators.

I've been operating since 2024 as K2CAT, and in 2025, I decided to make the app that I always wanted. It's designed to be intuitive and quick, with an emphasis on getting your info and getting out.

Features

Live Spots

Real-time PSK Reporter data showing who's on the air and where signals are being heard.

Custom Notifications

Get notified when bands are active or when that elusive DXCC is spotted. Customize the sensitivity and get your next award.

Band Conditions

Solar data and propagation forecasts to know when conditions are favorable.

Callsign Lookup

Instant lookups via QRZ and HamQTH. See operator details, QSL info, and more.

Band Plans

Comprehensive band plans for US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Widgets

Home screen and lock screen widgets for band conditions at a glance. (iPhone, iPad & Apple Watch)

Mac-Native

Sidebar navigation, keyboard shortcuts, and multi-column layouts — built for the desktop.

Reference

See Prosigns, Q-Codes, and DXCC prefixes at a glance.

Calculators

Plan your power needs and calculate antenna lengths.

DXpeditions

Browse active and upcoming DXpeditions with live band activity overlay. Find your next new one.

POTA Spots

Live Parks on the Air activations with band and mode filtering. POTA spots are cross-referenced in live spots too.

Apple Watch

Band conditions and solar data on your wrist. Complications for your watch face keep you informed at a glance.

Free vs. Premium

Free

Band conditions
Band plans & references
Calculators & tools
Callsign lookup
QRZ Logbook integration
POTA spots

Premium

Live spots with filtering
Home & lock screen widgets (iPhone & iPad)
Custom band and DXCC activity notifications
Apple Watch app & complications

Premium helps cover server costs for real-time data. Reference tools stay free.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is QRV?

QRV is an app for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch that serves as a comprehensive multitool for amateur radio operators. It provides live PSK Reporter spots, real-time band conditions, POTA spots, callsign lookups, band plans, and essential reference materials.

Is QRV free to use?

Yes, QRV offers a free tier that includes band conditions, band plans, references, calculators, and callsign lookup. Premium features like live spots, widgets, and custom notifications require a subscription to help cover server infrastructure costs.

What countries are supported for band plans?

QRV includes comprehensive band plans for the United States (FCC), United Kingdom (Ofcom), Canada (ISED), Australia, and New Zealand.

What is PSK Reporter integration?

QRV aggregates real-time data from PSK Reporter to show you live spots — who's on the air and where signals are being heard around the world. This helps you understand current propagation conditions.

Is QRV available on Mac?

Yes, QRV is available as a native macOS app on the Mac App Store. The Mac version features sidebar navigation, keyboard shortcuts, and multi-column layouts designed for the desktop experience.

Is QRV available on Apple Watch?

Yes, QRV includes an Apple Watch app with band conditions, solar data, and watch face complications so you can check propagation at a glance. The Watch app is included with a QRV Premium subscription.

QRV