qFT8 Privacy Policy

This policy outlines how qFT8 handles your data, permissions, and communications. Our goal is transparency and simplicity.

            Key Principle: qFT8 does not submit any information to a server dedicated to this app.
            All data processing happens locally on your device. You may explicitly authorize sharing callsign, date and
            time, and optionally approximate location if you enter a valid QRZ API Key.
        

🆔 User Identity

You must provide an amateur radio Callsign. This is required for the fundamental operation of the app.

This callsign personally identifies you.
It is broadcast via Radio Frequency (RF) when connected to a transceiver.
It is encoded in audio signals for mock functionality when not connected to a transceiver.

📍 Location Data

Optionally, you can grant Approximate Location permission.

This is used solely to calculate your Maidenhead Grid Locator (e.g., "JN47").
If enabled, this coarse location (precision of 4 characters, approx. 100x100km) is shared publicly via RF transmissions as part of standard amateur radio protocols.

🎙️ Audio Permission

The app requires audio permission to capture signals.

Source: From the microphone (for mock/demo mode) or directly from a connected transceiver via USB audio.
Privacy: This audio is processed in real-time to decode FT8 signals. It is never recorded, stored, or shared.

📡 Transmissions

The app emits audio signals to communicate:

Speaker: Used for mock functionality when no radio is connected.
RF (Radio Frequency): When connected to a transceiver, the app instructs the radio to transmit.
Transmissions consist of single-tone signals containing your Callsign and Approximate Location (Grid).

💻 Optional Remote Control

The app includes an optional integrated web server for remote control within your local network.

Functionality: Allows you to remotely control the app and observe real-time data, including received callsigns, QSOs made, and decoding status.
Access: When enabled, this feature opens a local web interface accessible to other devices on your local network (WiFi/LAN).
Privacy: This feature is disabled by default and must be explicitly enabled in settings.

☁️ Optional External Services

You may choose to connect to optional third-party amateur radio services:

QRZ Logbook: If you provide an API Key, finished contacts are synced to your QRZ Logbook. Shared data includes: Callsign, Grid, Date, Time, Band, Frequency, and Mode.
Logbook of The World (LotW): If you provide your LotW username, password, and import a valid digital certificate (.p12/.t12), finished contacts are signed and uploaded to the ARRL LotW service. Shared data includes: Callsign, Grid, Date, Time, Band, Frequency, Mode, and your station certificate credentials.
PSKReporter: If you enable the PSKReporter spotting option, reception spots (received messages and signal reports from other stations) are periodically uploaded to the PSKReporter map network. Shared data includes: your Callsign, your Maidenhead Grid locator, the sender's callsign, frequency, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and timestamp.
WSPRnet: If the upload spots to WSPRnet option is enabled, they're periodically updated. Shared data includes: your Callsign, your Maidenhead Grid locator, the sender's callsign, frequency, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and timestamp.

📂 Data Management

You can import and export your logs and settings to/from files on your device at any time.