Getting Started

From download to your first logged QSO — in 5 minutes.

System Requirements

Requirement	Value
macOS	14.0 Sonoma or newer — tested up to macOS 26 (Tahoe); macOS 15 (Sequoia) and 26 run flawlessly
Architecture	Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3/M4) or Intel (Universal2 build)
Disk	~80 MB for the app + logs
Internet	only for DX cluster, QRZ/HamQTH lookup, updates — logging itself runs offline

macOS 12 / 13 is not supported

HAM-Tools uses SwiftUI APIs from macOS 14 (e.g. the new MapKit DSL and onChange signature). On older systems you'll see "You can't use this version of the program with this version of macOS".

macOS 14 is available as a free Apple update for all Macs from model year 2018 onward. If your Mac is older, there's unfortunately no version for you right now — a backport to macOS 13 is possible in the medium term, but not planned for 1.x.

1. Install the App

1. Download the latest DMG: HAM-Tools (latest.dmg) — the link always points to the current version. Older versions are not kept publicly available (privacy cleanup with V1.9.7).
2. Double-click the DMG → the window shows HAM-Tools.app and an Applications shortcut
3. Drag the app into the Applications folder (drag & drop)
4. Close + eject the DMG

Gatekeeper Note (no longer applies with the notarized build)

With a non-notarized pre-release, you may see "App is damaged" or "Unidentified developer" on first open. Workaround:

sudo xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine /Applications/HAM-Tools.app

Or without Terminal: System Settings → Privacy & Security, scroll all the way down → "HAM-Tools.app was blocked" → Open Anyway.

TIP

As of version 1.7.1 the app is Apple-notarized. The workaround is no longer needed.

2. Activate the License

Without a license, the app runs in demo mode: 50 QSOs cumulative, then read-only (everything readable + exportable, but no new logging). The license unlocks unlimited logging.

1. Email hb9hji@funkwelt.net with your callsign + name
2. You'll get a ~300-character license string in reply
3. In the app: Cmd+, → License tab
4. Paste the license string → "Apply License"
5. The status should jump to green "Full version active"

Details: Activate License →

3. Configure Your Station

So the app knows who you are:

1. Cmd+, → Station tab
2. Enter:
   • Callsign: your official call (e.g. HB9HJI)
   • QTH locator: your 6-character Maidenhead locator (e.g. JN47PN)
   • Optional: name, CQ zone (CH = 14), ITU zone (CH = 28), canton

TIP

The callsign is checked against the license — it must match one of the licensed callsigns, otherwise the app goes into demo mode.

4. First QSO

The app starts directly in the Logbook with the DXClusters sub-tab active. On first launch no log exists yet — a sheet appears automatically.

1. In the DX cluster tab at the bottom, double-click an interesting spot → call + frequency are taken into the input panel, and CAT (if active) jumps to the frequency
2. Enter RST, plus any other fields (name from callbook, locator …)
3. Cmd+Return or click "Log QSO" → the QSO lands in the table

5. Next Steps

• Understand the Logbook modules — multi-log, sub-tabs, history
• Start a contest — wizard, score panel, Cabrillo export
• Connect CAT — pick a radio model, CI-V (for ICOM), multi-config
• POTA workflow — Activator vs. Hunter, park hopping