Support
We try to keep SkyWave simple, but propagation isn’t, and devices aren’t either. If something is off, the fastest path is usually below.
Contact us
Send a message and it’ll land in our intake. Bug? Feature idea? Press inquiry? All welcome.
We read every message and reply within a few business days.
Or ask the community
Many questions get faster (and broader) answers from other operators. SkyWave’s working-operator group on groups.io is where members compare what the app recommended against what the bands actually did, plan around contests and Field Day, and shape what gets built next. Release notes go out there too.
Troubleshooting
The Go screen says it can’t load conditions
- Check connectivity. SkyWave needs a network connection to refresh data. The first launch and after a long offline gap both need a live connection.
- Pull to refresh. Drag the Go screen down. If the screen looks stuck on old data, a manual pull resolves it.
- Try again in a minute. The upstream data sources occasionally slow down or rate-limit. SkyWave caches the last good payload and recovers when the source comes back.
My location isn’t being used
- Did you grant the permission? SkyWave only uses location when you allow it. Open your device’s Settings → SkyWave and confirm location access is set to While Using.
- You can skip location entirely. Go to Add Location in SkyWave and enter a 4-character or 6-character Maidenhead grid square (e.g.
FN42orFN42aa). The app uses your grid the same way it would use a coarse fix.
The recommended band looks wrong
SkyWave’s recommendations are estimates derived from public space-weather data. They are best read as “this band is worth trying first,” not “this band will work.” If your local conditions disagree, trust your radio. If the disagreement is consistent, write us with the date, time, your grid, and what you were hearing; that helps us tune.
Conditions seem stale
If the last fetch is more than an hour old, SkyWave shows a banner above the hero with the timestamp. Pulling to refresh forces a new fetch. If that fails, there is most likely an upstream outage; the app recovers automatically when the source comes back.
My iOS / Android home screen widget hasn’t updated
The widget updates when the app is opened and on each subsequent refresh. If a widget is showing old data, opening the app once pulls a fresh snapshot.
How do I delete my data?
There is no account, so there is nothing to delete server-side. To remove all local data, delete the app from your device. Re-installing returns SkyWave to a fresh state.
FAQ
What does SkyWave actually do?
It tells you which HF (high frequency) bands are worth trying right now from your Maidenhead grid square. The headline is one band; the rest of the screen explains why.
Who is SkyWave for?
Amateur radio operators of any class, including new hams, portable operators, and contesters. SkyWave assumes you understand transmit privileges, band plans, and station limits.
What devices does it run on?
Currently iOS and Android. There is no web or desktop client.
Does SkyWave decode FT8 / FT4 / CW?
No. SkyWave is a propagation companion, not a decoder. It does not touch your device’s audio.
Does it log QSOs?
No. SkyWave does not log contacts. Use your existing logger.
Is there an account?
No. SkyWave does not use accounts and does not sync between devices.
How does SkyWave use my location?
SkyWave converts your coarse position into a Maidenhead grid square to pick the right region for band recommendations. Your precise coordinates are not transmitted off your device. You can enter a grid manually and skip location entirely. Full details are in the Privacy Policy.
Does SkyWave guarantee a contact?
No. Recommendations are estimates. Conditions change minute to minute, and they don’t know your antenna, your noise floor, or what the other end is doing. Trust your radio first.
How often does the data refresh?
The app fetches when you open it and refreshes on demand via pull-to-refresh.
Is there a paid tier?
This release of SkyWave is free to use. We may add paid features in a future release; if we do, the changes will be clearly described inside the app and on this site.
How do I report a bug or request a feature?
Use the contact form above and pick Bug report or Feature request as the category. Include the device, the OS version, the SkyWave version, and what you were doing when the bug appeared (or a clear description of the feature you’d like).