Hello everyone,
I would like to invite AppleVis users to try Listen SDR, a native iPhone app for listening to public SDR receivers, now available on public TestFlight.
This is not meant to be just another radio app that happens to be partially usable with VoiceOver. My goal with Listen SDR is to build something that is genuinely practical, efficient, and enjoyable to use for blind and low-vision users who want to explore radio on iPhone.
If you enjoy tuning around, checking public receivers, listening to distant stations, experimenting with SDR backends, or simply want an app that takes VoiceOver usability seriously, I would be very grateful if you gave Listen SDR a try.
What makes Listen SDR different
Listen SDR is being built with accessibility as a core part of the app, not as a last-minute layer added after the fact.
I am putting a lot of work into making the app:
- faster to navigate with VoiceOver
- less cluttered and less fragmented during listening sessions
- clearer in the way controls are announced
- more practical for repeated real-world use, not just short demo use
I am trying to reduce the kind of friction that often makes technically accessible apps tiring in practice.
Current VoiceOver-focused work includes:
- grouped VoiceOver navigation where possible
- Magic Tap support
- rotor support for fast movement through bookmarks and presets
- spoken confirmations for selected actions
- optional screen reader reading of RDS information
- settings that have been reorganized into shorter sections instead of one long, exhausting screen
- continued work on labels, focus behavior, and overall navigation efficiency
What the app can do
Listen SDR currently supports:
- FM-DX Webserver
- KiwiSDR
- OpenWebRX
Depending on the receiver, the app can provide:
- direct tuning on iPhone
- mode and signal controls
- receiver directories
- saved radios
- favorites and listening history
- bookmarks and presets
- local recording
- AirPlay support
- audio and accessibility customization
Why I especially want testers now
The app is in active development, which means feedback right now is extremely valuable.
This is the best moment to test it if you want your feedback to influence how the app evolves. I am actively improving:
- VoiceOver behavior
- settings layout
- navigation flow
- spoken announcements
- backup and restore
- recording and background playback
- consistency across different receiver backends
If something feels awkward, confusing, too verbose, too quiet, too hidden, badly labeled, or simply slower than it should be, I want to know.
Please do not hesitate to report:
- bugs
- bad labels
- broken announcements
- inefficient navigation
- confusing workflows
- missing actions
- ideas for improvement
- feature suggestions
I am absolutely interested in detailed criticism, not just compliments. If something is annoying, I would rather hear it directly and fix it.
What I would love you to test
If you try Listen SDR, I would especially appreciate feedback on:
- how efficient the app feels with VoiceOver overall
- tuning and changing frequency
- browsing and choosing receivers
- saving favorites and using bookmarks
- recording and background listening
- settings navigation after the recent reorganization
- whether spoken feedback helps or gets in the way
- anything that still feels clumsy or inconsistent
Download links
Public TestFlight for iPhone:
https://testflight.apple.com/join/bbTvprWc
Project page / support / privacy:
https://kazek5p-git.github.io/listen-sdr-ios/
Latest Android APK:
https://github.com/kazek5p-git/listen-sdr-ios/releases/latest/download/ListenSDR-android-release.apk
Please test it and tell me what should be improved.
You can reply on AppleVis and you can also use the in-app feedback options to send bug reports, suggestions, and general comments.
If you are willing to spend some time testing it, I would really appreciate it. The more real VoiceOver feedback I get, the better this app can become.
Thank you.
Comments
This is great!
It’s a very good initiative and exactly what I was looking for. I’ll download it and provide the necessary feedback.
Thank you very much.
Could I listen to things such as amateur radio and time stations
I am curious about things like that. Can I listen to like amateur radio repeaters or CW band? I also like to hear the time stations that do the clicking thing and the time announcements. I always thought those were pretty cool. Are there any specific radios that you work with in the app that do that now? I know this sounds silly but I’m just curious. I’m not an actual amateur radio operator but I like to listen to them and I’ve even thought of getting a license years ago
first test
Hello,
i've installed your app and i've been able to connect a kiwi receiver.
adding a new receiver is a bit confusing at first.
But after a few mistakes, I finally understood how to do it.
first i've copied and past the receiver url found on kiwi :
http://22111.proxy.kiwisdr.com
After a few tries, I realized I shouldn't use http:// but only :
22111.proxy.kiwisdr.com
after that connexion was ok.
Choosing modes and adjusting frequencies is very intuitive, and the magic tape is really handy when the radio gets too noisy during setup.
I haven't explored it much further yet, but I'll take the time to send you feedback.
An interesting addition would be the ability to search directly in the Kiwi database or other databases and add a receiver from the results.
i also work on a similar app for PC and Raspberry Pi using Python for local and web receivers.
It's a great complement for me to continue listening on the go.
and it's the first one that's truly completely accessible with voiceover. There are a lot of elements in the interface, but once you know where you're going, everything is quite logical.
thanks