HFConverse
Support
Help & documentation.
Release notes, manuals, and answers to the questions that come up most. If you can't find what you need, the contact form is one page away.
Releases
Version information.
What's in the current build, and what changed. Older releases are listed below as they accumulate.
HFC is in alpha testing. Public downloads will appear on the home page once it's released — subscribe to hear the day it's out.
What's new
- First public release of the cross-platform rewrite, on Windows, macOS and Linux — a proper installer on Windows, and a self-contained zip (download, unzip, run) on macOS and Linux.
- Support for the SCS PTC-IIusb, PTC-IIIusb, P4 Dragon and PXdragon DR-9400 modems.
- Winlink email (Pending approval) over radio, with an RMS gateway list.
- Keyboard-to-keyboard PACTOR QSOs, Baudot RTTY, AMTOR and PSK31.
- Station-to-station image and QSL-card transfer, with a QSL album.
- User-defined macros on the function keys, and CAT frequency read/control via the modem itself, Hamlib, or the FlexRadio API.
- Callsign lookup (Worked Station) with distance and beam heading, plus QSO logging to ADIF or an external logger.
- Light, dark, and system themes.
Previous releases will appear here once there's a version history to show.
Documentation
Manuals & guides.
Step-by-step help for HFConverse, from first run to operating. The user manual is a preliminary draft that grows and is polished as the app is built — each card below opens the relevant section.
Getting started
Install HFC, set your station details, and connect to the modem.
Supported modems
PTC-IIusb, PTC-IIIusb, P4 Dragon and PXdragon DR-9400 — what works, and per-model notes.
Connecting your modem
The port selector, modem type, and confirming the modem answers.
Keyboard-to-keyboard QSOs
Running a live, half-duplex PACTOR conversation with another station.
RTTY operating
Baud, shift and polarity, and tuning in a Baudot RTTY signal.
PSK31
Narrowband keyboard chat — carrier tuning, and Clear Send Buffer.
AMTOR
Keyboard AMTOR ARQ contacts and FEC-based CQ — HFC's newest mode.
Images & QSL cards
Sending photos and digital QSL cards, and browsing the QSL album.
Macros
Function-key macros with substitution tokens and the working callsign.
On the Air
Announce your PACTOR presence and work stations from the live list.
On the Air alerts
Pushover notifications when a station you follow comes up in PACTOR.
Worked Station & logging
Callsign lookup, distance and bearing, and logging QSOs to ADIF or an external logger.
Winlink email (Pending approval)
Compose, send and receive messages from the built-in mailbox.
Radio control (CAT)
Reading and setting your rig's frequency — direct modem control, Hamlib, or the FlexRadio API.
Questions
Frequently asked.
Do I need a licence to use HFC?
Yes. HFC is a tool for licensed amateur radio operators — you transmit under your own callsign, on the amateur bands, subject to your licence conditions.
Which modems does HFC work with?
HFC supports the SCS PTC-IIusb, PTC-IIIusb, P4 Dragon (DR-7800/DR-7400) and PXdragon DR-9400 — see the manual for per-model notes. The tested-on-the-air list currently starts with the PTC-IIusb and grows as operators report what they're running — see the requirements for the current list.
Will HFC work with other PACTOR software?
Yes. PACTOR, AMTOR and RTTY all run inside the SCS modem's own firmware, not the host program — HFC is a front end that talks to your modem the same way Alpha/Simple32, MixW, Airmail, RMS Express, Paxon and the rest do. Anyone you can already work on PACTOR, you can still work with HFC. The one HFC-specific extra is digital QSL card exchange, which only works station-to-station between two copies of HFC — regular QSOs are unaffected either way.
Is HFC really free?
Yes — the whole app, with no paid tier and nothing held back. If it earns a place on your desk, a donation is welcome, but it's entirely optional and you'll never be nagged for one.
What do I need besides the modem?
A licence, an HF transceiver, and a Windows, macOS, or Linux machine with the .NET 8 runtime. CAT control of your rig is supported but optional. The full list is on the requirements section.
Does Winlink need an internet connection?
No — Winlink email is carried over radio through RMS gateway stations, and HFC includes a gateway list to help you find a path. The internet isn't part of the radio link.
Can HFC control my radio's frequency?
Yes, in one of three ways: the modem's own CAT port, Hamlib's rigctld (for a radio with no direct link to the modem), or a FlexRadio's network API. Whichever you pick, HFC and the radio always agree on where you're listening.
Do I need to install anything?
On Windows, yes — a small installer (Start Menu entry, proper uninstaller under Apps & Features). On macOS and Linux, no: HFConverse is still a portable app there — download the zip, unzip it, and run it straight out of the folder; nothing is written to /Applications or a system package database. On macOS, Gatekeeper blocks an unsigned app by default, so there's a one-time unblock step — see the manual.
Is HFC open source?
Not while it's under active development — the source stays closed to keep releases coherent. It will be opened up once the app is no longer actively maintained. There's more on that in the licensing section.
How do I report a bug or suggest a modem for the tested list?
For bugs, use the bug tracker — you can see what's already known and add a new report (each one is reviewed before it appears). To suggest a modem for the tested list, drop a note via the contact form with your callsign and the model you're running.
Found a bug? Check the known-issues list and report anything new on the bug tracker. Every report is reviewed before it appears publicly.
Open the bug trackerStill stuck? If your question isn't answered here, send a note and it'll be sorted — HFC is a small project and messages actually get read.
Contact the author