FAQ

FAQ

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Is this the same as the Windows HTCommander?

It's a cross-platform port of it. Same core (radio control, AX.25, APRS, Winlink, BBS, voice codec), rehoused on Avalonia / .NET 9 so it runs natively on Linux and macOS. The original Windows/WinForms app — and all credit for it — belongs to Ylian Saint-Hilaire (Ylianst/HTCommander).

Do I need a license?

To transmit, yes — amateur radio rules apply. You can run the app receive-only (APRS monitoring, listening, packet capture) without transmitting by leaving Allow-Transmit off. See Transmitting and Safety. No license? Start here.

Which radios are supported?

Benshi-protocol radios over Classic Bluetooth — BTech UV-Pro / UV-50Pro, Radioddity GA-5WB / DB50-B Mini, and Vero VR-N75/N76/N7500/N7600. See Supported Radios.

Why won't Winlink / BBS connect?

Almost always the radio's "Digital mode" — it must be OFF for the TNC (KISS) path used by Winlink, BBS, and the App-TNC beacon. Digital mode disables the TNC. See Troubleshooting.

Does it run on Windows?

The cross-platform build targets Linux and macOS. For Windows, use the original Ylianst/HTCommander. The WinForms app still lives in this repo's src/ and shares the same Core.

Is there an Intel (x86) macOS build?

Not yet — macOS is Apple Silicon (M-series) only for now.

Why does macOS say the app is "damaged"?

It isn't — it's just not notarized yet, so macOS quarantines the download. Run xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine HTCommander.app once. See Installation.

Where is my data stored?

On Linux, Winlink mail is at ~/.config/HTCommander/mail.db; config uses XDG paths. macOS uses the equivalent Application Support location.

How do I report a bug?

Open an issue using the bug-report form (platform, version, radio model, steps). For Bluetooth issues, attach an HTBT_DEBUG=1 log — see Troubleshooting.

What's planned next?

On-air verification of the ⏳ items (soft-modem demod, connected-mode sessions, Winlink-over-radio), plus longer-haul features (STT/TTS, SSTV, AGWPE, file transfer). See Roadmap and Parity.