FAQ — HamOrbit Control Center

Is it really free?

Yes. The Free version is 100% free with no limitations, no expiration, no ads, no nag-screens. Forever. The Plus and Pro plans with advanced features (automatic LoTW upload, contest mode, CAT control…) are annual paid plans but they're coming later.

Why an annual subscription and not a one-time payment?

Plus and Pro plans include services with ongoing costs: cloud backup, cross-PC sync, external APIs. The annual subscription lets us cover them sustainably.

When will Plus and Pro be available?

We're working on them. Subscribe to the newsletter to get a single notification when sales open.

What if I buy and don't like it?

14 days, no questions asked, full refund for Plus and Pro. Email licenses@hamorbit.com with your callsign and approximate purchase date — we process in under 72 h. Full details on our Refunds policy page.

Is there any telemetry?

Zero telemetry. Your QSO log is stored locally in SQLite at %APPDATA%/HamOrbit. We send no data to our servers. The public APIs we use (propagation, DX cluster, satellite TLEs) are anonymous lookups.

Does it work offline?

Yes. Logbook, RF tools, analytics, QSL cards, world clocks and awards all work without internet. You only need a connection for live solar data, DX cluster, DMR feeds, and satellite TLE updates.

Does my data go to the cloud?

No, not in the Free version. Your log stays on your PC. Cloud backup is an optional feature of the Plus tier (end-to-end encrypted).

Can I import my log from HRD / Log4OM / N1MM?

Yes. All serious logbooks export standard ADIF. HamOrbit imports thousands of QSOs in seconds, preserving every field (DXCC, grids, QSL, LoTW, eQSL, comments).

What logbook formats does it support?

ADIF (import + export) and CSV (export). ADIF is the worldwide standard — it works with every serious logger out there.

Can I migrate my log from HamOrbit to another program?

Of course. Export to ADIF from HamOrbit and import into any other logger. Your data is always yours.

Does it work on Mac and Linux?

For now Windows 10/11 only. Native versions for Mac (Apple Silicon + Intel) and Linux (AppImage, Flatpak) are coming in future releases. If you want them sooner, subscribe to the newsletter and we'll let you know.

What are the system requirements?

Windows 10 (1809) or Windows 11, 4 GB of RAM minimum, 200 MB of free disk space. Recommended: 8 GB RAM and 1920×1080+ resolution.

Does it take long to install?

The installer weighs ~45 MB and installation takes less than 30 seconds. All dependencies (embedded Python) are included — you don't need to install anything else.

Are the QSL cards printable?

Yes. They export to 1280×720 px PNG (high resolution), perfect for printing on A6/A7 cardstock or sending by email. 6 visual themes to choose from, all with a world-map background.

How do satellite predictions work?

We use the SGP4 algorithm (same as NORAD) with TLEs updated from CelesTrak. We compute AOS, LOS, max-elevation and duration for the next 10 passes over your QTH (defined by your Maidenhead locator).

Where does the DX cluster data come from?

We connect to DXSummit (a public web cluster). Refresh every 15 seconds. Filters by band, mode, and callsign. Optional sound alerts when a new one shows up.

How do I switch between Spanish and English?

Settings → Language → choose ES or EN. The switch is instant, no restart required. Over 500 strings translated natively.

I get "Windows protected your PC" when installing

This is normal — HamOrbit doesn't have a code-signing certificate yet (~€230/year, coming later). The executable is safe: click "More info" → "Run anyway". The installer source code is verifiable on GitHub.

How do I report a bug?

Email us via contact or open an issue on GitHub Issues. Attach the log if you can — it's at %APPDATA%/HamOrbit/logs/hamorbit.log.

How do I request a new feature?

Same as a bug — email us or open a GitHub issue. We read everything and prioritize based on community interest.

Frequently asked questions