What's new in the September update for APRS Connect 1.8.0
APRS Connect 1.8.0 for Android received an update on 16 September 2026. It was delivered over the air, so it did not go through the Play Store. This post lists what changed, how to check that your phone has the update, and how to install it now if it has not arrived yet.
What an over-the-air update is
An over-the-air update is new app code that downloads directly from our update server. The Play Store is not involved, so there is nothing to download from the store.
The app checks for updates each time it starts. When it finds one, it downloads it in the background. It does not switch to the new version while you are using it, because restarting would drop your radio connection and stop your beacon. The update takes effect the next time the app starts from scratch.
The version number does not change. Your phone still shows 1.8.0 before and after the update. The update has its own ID, which is how you can tell the two apart.
This update only applies for Android phones running version 1.8.0.
How to check that you have it
- Open the menu and tap About.
- Look at the line under APRS Connect.
If it reads Version 1.8.0 · update 01a0ad43, you have this update.
If it reads only Version 1.8.0, your phone is still running the version it installed from the Play Store. The Updates section below that line shows what the app currently knows:
- Up to date: the app found nothing newer. If you see this without the update ID, tap CHECK FOR UPDATES.
- Not checked yet: the app has not checked since it started.
- Update available: the app found the update but has not downloaded it yet.
- Downloading…: the download is in progress. You can leave the screen and the download will continue.
- Update ready: the update is downloaded and waiting for a restart.
- Could not check: the update server did not answer. This is usually because the phone has no internet connection.
How to update now
The update will install on its own the next time the app starts from scratch. APRS Connect keeps running in the background by default, so closing the screen may not restart it. To install the update now:
- Open the menu and tap About.
- Tap CHECK FOR UPDATES. The app finds the update and downloads it.
- When the status changes to Update ready, tap RESTART TO APPLY NOW.
- Tap CONFIRM - RESTART NOW.
The app then restarts on the new version. The restart disconnects any radio or TNC that is connected, stops beaconing until the app is running again, and restarts the background service. The screen tells you how many connections it will close before you confirm. If you are in the middle of something, tap Wait for the next start - cancel, and the update will install the next time the app starts.
After the restart, open About again and check for update 01a0ad43.
What's new
New
- Choose how messages go out. Messages can be sent on the radio first, on APRS-IS first, on one link only, or on all links at once.
- Retry schedule. You can set how often the app retries a message that has not been answered.
- #APRSThursday reminder. A weekly reminder that you can turn on from Settings or from the #APRSThursday room.
- ISS.
- The space station works as a digipeater: repeated packets show VIA ISS, and there is an ISS beacon preset.
- The ISS is shown on the map at its position in orbit.
- You can set more than one reminder before a pass.
- The ISS screen links to spaceaprs.com.
- APRS OTA.
- Ops can use an internet source.
- Each op has a map, stations show their positions from the server, and the distance to each station is shown.
- The wrap-up shows how many of your calls the bot left unanswered, and the host and chase screens have a BLAST box.
- The op clock counts the QSLs the bot answered.
- A confirmed contact shows what the host and the chaser said.
- Packet page. The page links to the stations and objects in the packet, shows every decoded field, and returns you to the packet when you go back from the map.
- Packet copies. When a packet arrives more than once, the app keeps every copy, and the coverage map counts the copies that arrived second.
- Mobilinkd battery. The battery level of a Mobilinkd TNC is shown on the Radio screen and on the RF chip.
- Links in messages. A web address in a message is a link that opens in your browser.
- Offline maps. The offline map catalogue now covers Europe.
Changed
- Settings is grouped by topic, with one card for each section.
- The IGate and the digipeater are now in the menu.
- The first row of the menu fits six items.
- Pro features show a lock, so you can see which features need Pro before you tap one.
- The map has its own light and dark theme, and the dot under each callsign has been removed.
- Feedback opens a conversation with the developer, so a report can be answered.
- The net page shows the locator that the net asks for.
- Wording is clearer in several places, including deleting a conversation and the blast box.
Fixed
- A new install could show a black screen instead of the welcome steps.
- The app could open on the welcome steps after an update.
- A frozen APRS-IS connection is now restarted even while a radio is connected, and the Radio screen no longer shows it as connected.
- Background beaconing keeps its access to GPS.
- Beaconing now tells you when location is switched off. Before, it failed without saying why.
- A message split into parts is sent in full before any part is retried.
- An APRS-IS channel receives stations near you before your phone has sent its own position.
- A reception gap is shown only after the app has received something.
- Detection of packets repeated by the ISS is more accurate.
