APRS-FI on iPhone16

[Bob Hewitt]

I have used APRS for many years via my Kenwood TMD? while on 2m FM Mobile.  I also submit WX data at regular intervals.  I have been looking at the possibility of using my iPhone 16 when out and about and I seem to already have an App on it.  Whether it was a purchased App I am no longer sure. - it might also just be a link to a website.

There is an App for purchase on the App Store called simply aprs-fi at £6.99 with In-App purchases.  Will this App allow beaconing and is it a subscription.  The developer is GainIO.

[Heikki Hannikainen]

On Tue, 30 Dec 2025, Bob Hewitt wrote:

> I have been looking at the possibility of using my iPhone 16 when out
> and about and I seem to already have an App on it.  Whether it was a
> purchased App I am no longer sure. - it might also just be a link to a
> website. There is an App for purchase on the App Store called simply
> aprs-fi at £6.99 with In-App purchases.  Will this App allow beaconing
> and is it a subscription.  The developer is GainIO.

It is possible to create a button on the iPhone to open up the aprs.fi web
site, but the web site doesn't really work too well on a mobile device.
That's probably what you previously have, if the app store doesn't
indicate you've already bought the app.

The aprs.fi app in the App Store is the one I have developed, it's the
official aprs.fi app; GainIO is my company.

With the base purchase price it does allow beaconing to aprs.fi, and with
an attached BLE KISS TNC or BLE KISS compatible radio it can also transmit
and receive directly to RF.

Some additional features of this app are available through an in-app
subscription (£6.49/year). All basic features that are currently available
in the app, and some functions which are added later on, will naturally
stay available without additional payment.

In-app subscriptions provide a sustainable business model. They ensure
continuous interest in developing and maintaining the application and its
backend service even after all APRS-using iPhone and iPad owners have
already purchased the app.

Features currently included in the Extra Features subscription are:

* Text messaging
* Beaconing to APRS-IS
* "Soundcard" DSP modem / TNC
* Long time ranges on map and graph views
* Up to 10 station profiles in Beacon

There's a fairly broad user guide to the app, in-app payments are
documented here:

https://ios-guide.aprs.fi/#_in_app_payments

Before purchasing an app it's a good idea to read the application
description text fully, read the reviews other users have written, and
also check the version history of the app. There are a few abandoned apps
out there which are not being maintained.

https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/aprs-fi/id922155038

- Hessu