About HamGenie
HamGenie is a companion app for amateur radio operators using the NCDXF/IARU International Beacon Project.
It shows which beacon is transmitting now, which beacon is next, and the remaining time before the next transmission. It also helps you explore beacon locations, bearings and great-circle paths from your own station.
Getting started
When you open HamGenie, the app automatically shows:
- The current UTC time
- The beacon transmitting now
- The next beacon
- The countdown to the next transmission
- The selected amateur radio band
The beacon schedule runs continuously in UTC.
Selecting a band
Use the band selector to choose one of the supported HF beacon frequencies:
- 20 metres — 14.100 MHz
- 17 metres — 18.110 MHz
- 15 metres — 21.150 MHz
- 12 metres — 24.930 MHz
- 10 metres — 28.200 MHz
The current beacon timing remains synchronised across all supported bands.
Setting your callsign and locator
Open Settings and enter:
- Your amateur radio callsign
- Your Maidenhead locator
Your locator is used to place your station on the map and calculate bearings to each beacon.
Check that the locator is entered in a valid format, such as:
IO90OU
Using the map
The map shows:
- Your station location
- The selected beacon
- The great-circle path between the two locations
- Short-path bearing
- Long-path bearing
Bearings are intended as a practical guide for directional antennas.
Understanding the beacon schedule
Each beacon transmits for 10 seconds in a repeating sequence.
HamGenie displays the current beacon and the next beacon automatically. The countdown updates in real time.
For the most accurate results, make sure your device date and time are set automatically.
Troubleshooting
The beacon timing looks wrong
Check that your device is using automatic date and time settings.
A device clock that is several seconds out may cause the displayed beacon timing to appear incorrect.
My locator is not accepted
Check that it is a valid Maidenhead locator and that it contains the correct letters and numbers.
Example:
IO90OU
The map does not show my station correctly
Return to Settings, check your locator and save it again.
The app does not update
Close and reopen HamGenie. Also check that you are using the latest version from the App Store.
System Requirements
HamGenie is designed for supported versions of iOS.
An internet connection may be required for some features. For the best experience, keep your device’s date and time set automatically.
Version
Current release:
Version 1.0
Privacy
HamGenie does not require a user account.
Further details are available in the Privacy Policy.
Contact support
For support, questions or feedback, please use the Contact page.