The Modern Ham Radio App That Should Have Existed Years Ago

Ask any ham radio operator what software they use to get on AllStarLink or EchoLink and you'll hear one of two things: the name of an app that only works on one platform, or a resigned sigh followed by "I just use the hardware."

That's not a niche complaint. It's a gap that has existed in the ham radio software ecosystem for years, and until now nobody has filled it.

The State of Ham Radio VoIP Software in 2026

AllStarLink and EchoLink are two of the most active ham radio networks in the world. AllStarLink alone has over 39,000 registered nodes and regularly sees more than 10,000 online simultaneously, a number that has grown fivefold in just four years. EchoLink has been connecting hams globally for over two decades with thousands of active stations and reflectors.

And yet the software landscape looks like this:

• •IAXRpt was the last Windows AllStarLink client. Abandoned in 2019. Doesn't work properly anymore.
• •Transceive is a solid AllStarLink client but it's Mac only at $19.99 with no EchoLink support.
• •RepeaterPhone is iOS only at $7.99, supports WT Mode only with no Node Mode, no EchoLink, and no desktop.
• •DVSwitch Mobile is Android only, complex to configure, and the free version is limited.
• •The EchoLink app is functional but looks and feels like it was designed for Windows XP with no AllStarLink support.
• •SharkRF M1KE is an excellent hardware device at around $500 but it's not software.
• •Building your own Raspberry Pi node runs $130 and up plus a weekend of Linux configuration.

Notice what's missing? A single modern app that works on Windows and Android (and soon iOS, macOS, and Linux), supports AllStarLink, EchoLink, IAX Direct, DMR, System Fusion, and M17, looks like it was built in this decade, and doesn't require you to own hardware or know what a sysop is.

That's QSO One.

One App, Every Network, Every Platform

QSO One is a cross-platform ham radio VoIP client built from the ground up with a modern Material Design interface. It connects to AllStarLink, EchoLink, IAX Direct, DMR, System Fusion, and M17 from a single app with a unified experience.

Windows and Android are available now. iOS, macOS, and Linux are coming. QSO One is free. All you need is an account with your callsign. Sign in on any device and it just works.

AllStarLink: Full Node Mode Without the Hardware

QSO One supports both Web Transceiver Mode and full Node Mode on AllStarLink.

Web Transceiver Mode connects you to the network using your AllStarLink portal credentials. It works on any internet connection and requires no setup beyond logging in.

Node Mode is where QSO One separates itself from every other software client. In Node Mode, QSO One registers as an actual AllStarLink node on the network. You get the full capability of a hardware node including:

• •Full DTMF control
• •The ability to link and unlink nodes
• •Access to nodes that only accept node-to-node connections

All of this without spending $130 on a Raspberry Pi or $500 on a SharkRF M1KE. The same features at a fraction of the cost with no soldering, no Linux, and no configuration headaches beyond a simple router setting.

For hams who have been putting off getting on AllStarLink because of the hardware barrier, QSO One removes it entirely.

EchoLink: Finally, a Modern Client

EchoLink has been running on the same basic client software for years. It works, but it's not exactly inspiring to look at or use in 2026.

QSO One brings EchoLink into the modern era with:

• •Clean station browser with sidebar filtering by node type and location
• •Favorites and search
• •Direct and proxy connection support
• •The same polished Material Design interface as the AllStarLink side

If a station you want isn't on AllStarLink, there's a good chance it's on EchoLink, and now you don't need a separate app to get there.

DMR: Two Networks, No Hotspot

DMR has always meant buying a radio and, for most people, a hotspot just to get on the network from home. QSO One does it in software.

Connect to BrandMeister, the world's largest DMR network, or to TGIF, and receive and transmit right from your phone or desktop. Your credentials for both stay saved, so switching networks is a tap rather than a reconfiguration.

Talkgroups work the way they should. Switch talkgroups in the app and QSO One subscribes you on the fly, browse a searchable catalog, and watch a live "last heard" feed so you can see who's active before you key up. PTT is the same as every other network in QSO One -- on-screen, spacebar, or Bluetooth.

No hotspot, no radio, no extra hardware. Just DMR, in software, wherever you are.

M17: Open Digital Voice, Built In

M17 is the digital voice mode built by and for amateur radio -- fully open source, with no proprietary vocoder and no central database. Your callsign is your ID, and there's no separate registration to deal with.

QSO One connects you straight to the M17 network. Pick any reflector and module right in the app, browse the reflector directory with search and favorites, and receive and transmit entirely in software. Voice runs on open Codec 2, so there's no proprietary codec or licensing standing between you and the network.

For a mode whose whole point is openness, it deserves a client that just works. QSO One is that client.

Pro Features for the Serious Operator

Beyond the core connectivity, QSO One Pro adds features that serious ham radio operators have wanted for years:

• •Net Finder -- browse active and upcoming nets across AllStarLink, one-click connect
• •QSO Logging -- automatic contact logging with ADIF export for QRZ, LoTW, and any other logging system
• •Callsign Lookup -- tap any callsign to instantly see the operator's name, license class, and location
• •Audio Recording -- record incoming audio with automatic timestamps and flexible retention (7, 15, or 30 days) and starred recordings kept forever
• •And more, with new Pro features added regularly

What's Coming Next

QSO One is a living platform. Beyond the networks it connects today, AllStarLink, EchoLink, IAX Direct, DMR, System Fusion, and M17, the roadmap keeps growing:

• •Morse code (CW) integration
• •More digital modes and networks as the community asks for them
• •Radio linking so you can bridge your physical transceiver directly to the network

The ham radio world has a lot of modes and a lot of networks. QSO One's goal is to bring them together in one place with an interface worthy of 2026.

Get QSO One

QSO One is here. If you're a licensed amateur radio operator who wants modern software that works on your actual devices and gives you access to AllStarLink, EchoLink, IAX Direct, DMR, System Fusion, and M17 without the hardware tax, this is the app you've been waiting for.

Download it free at qso1.net. Sign up with your callsign and get on the air.

73 de KD8JKK