It didn't take long for Yousuf Al Balushi, A46UNX, to find his place in amateur radio right after becoming licensed in 2024: He was almost immediately drawn to chasing satellites, often using his own homebrew tools. Those challenging early days inspired him to create a free satellite-tracking mobile app to help deliver the best possibilities for successful contacts.

He gave it the name, Ham Satting. A member of the Royal Omani Amateur Radio Society, he shares the app freely with amateurs around the world, whether they are using its interactive map to track the ISS or to search for one particular amateur satellite. The app's numerous features include a built-in SSTV decoder that supports Robot 36/72 and other modes.

He told the website, Muscat Daily, that this was his attempt at creating a single place that integrated as many needed services as possible without requiring the user to switch between several apps. Finding all existing apps incomplete, he began his development work in August of last year. HamSatting was formally released this past January. He designed it for use by licensed hams, satellite chasers and people involved in ARISS contacts -- in fact, tracking the ISS is a default function. Individuals who want access to other satellites will need to obtain a free API key from the satellite tracking service N2YO.

Yousuf said that the app is also useful for grid-square hunters working toward awards such as VUCC. It can be downloaded for free from the Apple and Android app stores. More details are available at unixeer dot com (unixeer.com).

He told the website: [quote] "I hope the app will make satellite communication easier and more enjoyable for the amateur radio community." [endquote]