What if you could instantly identify a radio at a hamfest, get its key specifications, and find out what it’s worth simply by taking a photo?
That’s the idea behind HamScan – a new AI-powered mobile app we’ve been developing to help hams identify, research, evaluate, and manage their gear.
As a longtime ham myself, I’ve always enjoyed exploring used radio equipment, whether browsing tables at a hamfest, discovering an unfamiliar model, or researching a potential addition to my shack (not like a need more!).
But identifying equipment and finding reliable information about it isn’t always easy – especially if you’re unfamiliar with it or new to the hobby. Specifications, manuals, reviews, and even market prices are often scattered across multiple sources, making even a simple equipment search surprisingly time-consuming.
We thought there should be an easier way.
With the growing variety of digital voice equipment available to hams, understanding which digital modes a radio supports, its frequency coverage, and compatible accessories has become increasingly important. Whether you’re considering a DMR handheld, a D-STAR mobile, or a portable radio supporting Yaesu System Fusion, having reliable equipment information readily available can make researching and comparing radios much easier.
1 Meet HamScan
HamScan is designed to put detailed information about ham radio equipment at your fingertips.
Simply point your phone camera at a piece of ham radio gear, and HamScan helps identify the manufacturer and model, providing access to a wealth of information about it in seconds.
We’re building HamScan to include features such as:
- Equipment Identification: Identify radios, accessories, and other ham radio equipment using your smartphone camera or a text search.
- Specifications and Documentation: Find technical specifications, operating manuals, and other useful resources.
- Equipment Values: Research estimated market values and used equipment prices.
- Known Issues and Modifications: Discover common problems, popular modifications, and compatible accessories.
- My Shack: Keep track of the equipment in your personal ham radio collection.
- Hamfest Mode: Identify and estimate the value of multiple radios on a hamfest table from a single photo.
- Deal Watch: Explore equipment listings and pricing information to help evaluate potential purchases.
- Copilot: Get personalized answers to questions about your radios, their features, and how to use them.
Some features are still under development, and we have plenty more ideas planned for the future.
Our goal is simple: make HamScan a useful companion for hams, whether you’re at home, visiting a hamfest, or exploring the used equipment market for your next find.
2 Built with Input from the Ham Radio Community
Over the past couple of months, I’ve had the opportunity to introduce the HamScan concept to local ham radio club meetings here in New Brunswick.
The response has been extremely encouraging, with plenty of thoughtful questions, engaging discussions, and some excellent suggestions from fellow hams.
These conversations have provided valuable insights into how hams research, evaluate, and manage their equipment, and will help inform HamScan’s ongoing development.
We’re looking forward to building on that experience as we begin beta testing.
3 Beta Testing Begins
Our first round of beta testing with a small group of local hams here in New Brunswick has started.
The initial beta will focus on the iPhone version (iOS), allowing participants to identify equipment, explore HamScan’s capabilities, and provide feedback before the public release. Testing of an Android version is also planned in the coming weeks.
As with any new application, we expect there will be plenty to learn and improve along the way. And let’s face it, it wouldn’t be ham radio without a few bugs to work through!
As many of you know, the ham radio equipment universe is enormous, encompassing decades of radios, receivers, accessories, and commercial equipment that have found their way into ham radio use. As a result, building a comprehensive and reliable equipment database will be an ongoing effort. We’re building what we call the HamScan Radio Intelligence Platform, a growing collection of equipment knowledge that we hope will become a valuable resource for the ham radio community.
We’re very much looking forward to working with our beta testers to identify gaps, improve accuracy, and make the app genuinely useful for everyone.
4 See HamScan in Action
Want to lean more about HamScan? Visit our website to watch a short demonstration video and learn more about what we’re building.
While HamScan is not yet publicly available, you can sign up on the website to receive an email notification when it’s ready for download.
We’re excited about what lies ahead and look forward to sharing HamScan with the broader ham radio community!
73,
Don Trynor, VE9XF / VA3XFT
Co-creator, HamScan
https://gethamscan.com
Editor’s note: HamScan is being developed by EvoHam founder and editor Don Trynor and his co-creator.
