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 both AllStarLink and EchoLink, 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 both AllStarLink and EchoLink from a single app with a unified experience.

Windows and Android are launching in May 2026. iOS, macOS, and Linux are coming. One $24.99 license covers every platform you own, forever. Buy it once on Windows, sign in on Android, 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.

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
• •Scanner Mode -- auto-cycle your favorites, stop when activity is detected, just like a real scanner
• •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 10-day retention
• •Keyed Nodes Indicator -- see which nodes are actively transmitting before you connect
• •And more, with new Pro features added regularly

What's Coming Next

QSO One is a living platform. The roadmap includes additional mode support beyond AllStarLink and EchoLink:

• •Morse code (CW) integration
• •Additional digital modes
• •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.

Join the Waitlist

QSO One is launching in May 2026. If you're a licensed amateur radio operator who wants modern software that works on your actual devices and gives you access to both AllStarLink and EchoLink without the hardware tax, this is the app you've been waiting for.

Join the waitlist at qso1.net and we'll notify you the moment it's available.

73 de KD8JKK