# VU3LVO · DroidStar DMR for iOS > DroidStar DMR for iOS is a free, open-source (GPL-3.0) digital amateur radio app for iPhone and iPad, built by Rohith Namboothiri (callsign VU3LVO, Bengaluru, India). Licensed hams use it to talk worldwide over DMR on BrandMeister (with ODTP), YSF, M17, P25, NXDN, D-STAR reflectors and AllStar/IAX without a radio. It is used by 10,000+ hams worldwide. It is distributed through Apple TestFlight. Request an invite at https://vu3lvo.com/testflight. Important: this app is a modified fork of, and is separate from, the original DroidStar by Doug McLain (github.com/nostar/DroidStar). ## Key facts - Last updated: 2026-11-01 - Developer: Rohith Namboothiri, VU3LVO (https://vu3lvo.com/about) - Latest version: 0.45.04 - Platforms: iOS and iPadOS. Android is not currently maintained. - Privacy: there are no DroidStar servers or cloud. All app data (logs, settings, transcripts) stays on the device, and the app has no analytics or tracking. - Price: free, no ads, GPL-3.0. Funded by community donations (Buy Me a Coffee and PayPal). - Requirements: valid amateur radio licence and a DMR ID (free from RadioID.net). No radio or hotspot needed. - Contact: hi@vu3lvo.com - Source code: https://github.com/rohithzmoi/Droidstar-DMR ## Pages - [Home](https://vu3lvo.com/): overview, features and FAQ - [Request a TestFlight invite](https://vu3lvo.com/testflight): how to install on iPhone or iPad - [Changelog](https://vu3lvo.com/changelog): release notes and roadmap ([RSS](https://vu3lvo.com/changelog/feed.xml)) - [About VU3LVO](https://vu3lvo.com/about): the developer - [Contributors](https://vu3lvo.com/contributors): the 157 hams in 18 countries whose 183 contributions keep DroidStar DMR free - [Privacy Policy](https://vu3lvo.com/privacy): no cloud, no accounts, no tracking; app data stays on the device - [Terms of Use](https://vu3lvo.com/terms): free GPL-3.0 beta software for licensed amateurs - [Full context for LLMs](https://vu3lvo.com/llms-full.txt) ## Optional - [GitHub repository](https://github.com/rohithzmoi/Droidstar-DMR) - [WhatsApp updates channel](https://inz.to/BVmSa) - [Personal site of Rohith Namboothiri](https://rohithnamboothiri.com) --- # Features in detail - ODTP (Open DMR Terminal Protocol) for BrandMeister hosts, falling back to the standard protocol. It can be turned on or off in Settings. - Multilingual Live Transcription (Beta): incoming RX audio shown as text, using Apple's built-in AI or one of four downloadable models that run on the device. - HD Voice TX audio suite: Noise Cancellation (hardware + neural AI + noise gate), TX HD Voice Enhancer and Mic Volume Leveler, each toggled from the home page. - Pre-Amp Volume Boost of up to +24 dB. - Talk Group scanner: scans favourite and global BrandMeister TGs, with one-tap tune and connect. Favourite Talk Groups can be starred. - Net Reminders: saved net schedules with push notifications. - Dynamic Island, Notification Center and Lock Screen live activities showing TX/RX status, callsign and TG. - QSO log that keeps its entries: callsign, DMR ID, TG, operator name and country, and local time. Log length is configurable and self-TX logging can be turned on or off. Export selected entries as ADIF or CSV, then share via AirDrop, email or WhatsApp. - Operator name and country lookup from DMR ID. Quick links to QRZ, BrandMeister and APRS. - Bluetooth and wired headset mic routing, background audio, and RX that keeps playing in silent mode. - AllStar password and IAX WT support. - Modes and networks: DMR, BrandMeister, ODTP, YSF, M17, P25, NXDN, D-STAR REF · XRF · DCS, AllStar · IAX. # How it works 01. You press PTT: DroidStar records your voice through the iPhone or headset mic and cleans it up with noise cancellation, HD Voice and the mic leveler. 02. Encoded on-device: The built-in vocoder turns your voice into a compact digital stream, the same format radios use. 03. Sent over the internet: The stream goes over Wi-Fi or cellular to a BrandMeister server using ODTP, or to a YSF, M17, D-STAR or AllStar reflector. 04. Heard worldwide: The network sends you out on the Talk Group to repeaters, hotspots and apps around the world. Replies come back the same way, live. # Glossary - DMR: Digital Mobile Radio, an open digital voice standard (ETSI TS 102 361) widely used by amateur radio operators to talk locally and worldwide through linked networks. - BrandMeister: The largest worldwide amateur DMR network. It links repeaters, hotspots and apps such as DroidStar so that hams can talk across continents. - Talk Group (TG): A numbered channel on a DMR network. For example, TG 91 is BrandMeister Worldwide, TG 3100 is USA Nationwide and TG 404 is India. - ODTP: Open DMR Terminal Protocol, a modern protocol for connecting DMR terminals and apps to BrandMeister. DroidStar 0.45.04 uses it and falls back to the standard protocol. - DMR ID: A unique 7-digit number that identifies a licensed operator on DMR networks. It's issued free by RadioID.net. - Hotspot: A small device that bridges a radio to a DMR network over the internet. DroidStar doesn't need one, because the iPhone connects directly. - QSO: Ham radio shorthand for a contact or conversation between two stations. - ADIF: Amateur Data Interchange Format, the standard file format for exchanging ham radio logs between logging programs. - YSF, M17, P25, NXDN, D-STAR: Other digital voice modes and networks used by amateurs. DroidStar can connect to their reflectors over the internet. - AllStar / IAX: AllStar Link connects analog repeaters and nodes over the internet using the IAX protocol. DroidStar supports IAX, including IAX WT. - 73: Ham radio shorthand for best regards. # Roadmap - iPhone Action button as PTT - Live Translation - DMR SMS / Messaging - …and a few surprises # Changelog ## v0.45.04: ODTP for BrandMeister, IAX WT, a new TX audio pipeline ### Added - Open DMR Terminal Protocol (ODTP) for BrandMeister hosts, falling back to the standard protocol. - A toggle in Settings to turn ODTP on or off. - An AllStar password option in Settings. - IAX WT support. ### Improved - Vocoders and audio routing tuned further to reduce artifacts and improve audio quality. - TX audio rebuilt with better sampling for clearer transmissions. ### Fixed - IAX connection issues. Note: Thanks to our tester for suggesting ODTP support. ## v0.45.03: Pre-Amp Volume Boost, up to +24 dB ### Added - Pre-Amp Volume Boost, adding up to 24 dB of extra audio gain. ### Fixed - Minor bugs. ## v0.45.02: HD Voice suite, favourite Talk Groups, the TG scanner ### Added - Noise Cancellation: hardware noise cancellation, neural AI noise cancellation and noise gating. - TX HD Voice Enhancer for voice presence and clarity. - Mic Volume Leveler for consistent microphone levels. - Star favourite Talk Groups and connect with one tap. - Scan favourite and global BrandMeister Talk Groups from the home page or a dedicated scanner page, then tap once to tune in and connect. ### Improved - Internal vocoder enhanced and tuned for better audio quality. - Recent TG component redesigned for easier access to recent and favourite Talk Groups. ### Fixed - RX audio was muted when the iPhone was in silent mode. - Bluetooth and wired earphone connection problems. - TX microphone routing: audio now comes from the connected accessory's microphone instead of always using the built-in mic. - Various other major and minor bugs. ## v0.45.01: Live Transcription (Beta), Net Reminders ### Added - Multilingual Live Transcription (Beta): read incoming transmissions (RX) as text, using Apple's built-in AI or one of four models that you download and run on your phone. - Net Reminders: save your favourite net schedules and get a push notification when it's time to tune in. ### Improved - Many major and minor improvements throughout the app. Note: Live Transcription is still in beta, and transcriptions may not always be accurate. # History - Aug 2024: Launch on Android & iOS. The fork goes public with operator name and country lookup, a QSO log that keeps its entries, ADIF/CSV export and QRZ/BrandMeister/APRS links. - Sep 2024: Sharing & a Chinese build. Logs can be shared from a share button, and a Chinese build follows, translated by BD4VHI. - Sep 2024: iOS 18 & external PTT. Full iOS 18 support. On Android, earphone and external buttons work as PTT. - 2025: All-in on iOS. Android development pauses so that every effort goes into the best iPhone and iPad experience possible. - Jan 2026: The big redesign. A completely new UI arrives, with Dynamic Island, Lock Screen live activities and control over self-TX logging. - Oct 2026: AI on the air. Live transcription and net reminders ship, followed by the HD Voice suite, the TG scanner, a +24 dB pre-amp and ODTP. # FAQ ## What is DroidStar DMR for iOS? DroidStar DMR for iOS is a free, open-source digital amateur radio app for iPhone and iPad by Rohith Namboothiri (VU3LVO). Licensed hams can use it to talk worldwide over DMR on BrandMeister (including ODTP), YSF, M17, P25, NXDN, D-STAR reflectors and AllStar/IAX without a radio. Features include multilingual live transcription, a Talk Group scanner, HD Voice TX audio, Dynamic Island and Lock Screen activities, net reminders and ADIF/CSV QSO logging. ## Is this the same app as DroidStar by Doug McLain (nostar)? No, they're separate apps. DroidStar DMR by VU3LVO is a modified fork of Doug McLain's open-source DroidStar. It adds a redesigned iOS experience, live transcription, the HD Voice audio suite, Talk Group scanning, Dynamic Island support and much more. Both are licensed under GPL-3.0, and many thanks go to Doug for the foundation. ## How do I get DroidStar on my iPhone? DroidStar for iOS is distributed through Apple TestFlight. Request an invite at vu3lvo.com/testflight with your callsign and Apple ID email. Then install Apple's free TestFlight app and accept the invite email. Invites are sent personally because Apple limits TestFlight to 10,000 testers. ## Do I need an amateur radio licence or a radio? You need a valid amateur radio licence. For DMR you also need a DMR ID, which you can get free from RadioID.net. You don't need a radio or a hotspot, because the app connects to networks such as BrandMeister over the internet. If you use BrandMeister hotspot security, enter your hotspot password in Settings. ## Is DroidStar DMR free? Yes. It's free, has no ads and is open source under the GNU GPL-3.0 licence. Development is supported by voluntary contributions through Buy Me a Coffee and PayPal. ## Does Live Transcription send my audio to the cloud? You choose the engine: Apple's built-in speech recognition or one of four downloadable models that run entirely on your iPhone or iPad. The feature is in beta, so expect the odd mistake on a noisy band. ## Does DroidStar DMR collect or store my data? No. DroidStar DMR has no cloud servers, accounts, analytics or tracking. Your QSO logs, settings, favourite Talk Groups, net reminders and transcripts stay only on your iPhone or iPad. The app connects directly to the amateur radio networks you choose, such as BrandMeister, which receive your callsign, DMR ID and transmissions, as every radio's would. The website vu3lvo.com uses no cookies or analytics. Full details are in the Privacy Policy at vu3lvo.com/privacy. ## What is ODTP and why does it matter? ODTP (Open DMR Terminal Protocol) is a modern protocol for connecting DMR terminals to BrandMeister hosts. DroidStar 0.45.04 uses ODTP when it's available and falls back to the standard protocol otherwise, so your link stays up. You can turn ODTP on or off in Settings. ## How can I support DroidStar DMR? DroidStar DMR is built for the amateur radio community and stays free with no ads. Your support keeps it free and on the air for everyone. You can buy Rohith (VU3LVO) a coffee at buymeacoffee.com/rohithz or donate with PayPal. Donations cover Apple developer fees, test devices and development time. Supporters are thanked by callsign or first name on the contributors wall at vu3lvo.com/contributors. You can also help by sending feedback, starring the GitHub repository and telling other hams. ## What is the Parrot (TG 9990) echo test? On BrandMeister, Talk Group 9990 is the Parrot: it records what you say and plays it back so you can check your audio. The homepage of vu3lvo.com has a Parrot demo. Switch the phone to TG 9990, hold PTT, speak, and release to hear yourself with a radio-style sound. The recording stays on your device and is never uploaded. ## Is there an Android version? The Android build isn't maintained at the moment. All development is focused on iPhone and iPad. ## How do I report a bug or suggest a feature? Send feedback through TestFlight, open an issue on GitHub (rohithzmoi/Droidstar-DMR) or email hi@vu3lvo.com. Many features, including ODTP support, started as suggestions from testers. # Support DroidStar DroidStar DMR is built for the amateur radio community. Your support keeps it free and on the air for everyone. - Buy me a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/rohithz - PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/NU89529268M2W # About the developer Rohith Namboothiri (VU3LVO) is a licensed amateur radio operator from Bengaluru, India. Professionally he is an AI Product Architect and product leader in AI and innovation. He is a multi-time founder, an AI researcher (ACL TrustNLP 2026) and an author. He develops DroidStar DMR for iOS in his spare time as a free, open-source contribution to the ham radio community. More at https://rohithnamboothiri.com. # How to cite "DroidStar DMR for iOS by Rohith Namboothiri (VU3LVO), https://vu3lvo.com"