Release Notes: 0.5.15-beta
May 25, 2026
QSO Director version 0.5.15 brings one of the most significant connectivity upgrades yet: native UDP connection support for a growing range of modern network-capable ICOM transceivers.
The new release adds direct high-speed UDP communication support for the following radios:
- IC-705
- IC-7300Mk2
- IC-7610
- IC-9700
- IC-905
- IC-7760
- IC-7851
- IC-7800
- IC-7700
This places QSO Director among a very small number of amateur radio applications capable of directly interfacing with ICOM’s native network protocol stack over UDP without relying on traditional serial emulation layers or slower polling-based CAT systems.
Why Native UDP Matters
Traditional CAT control methods were originally designed around serial communications, with many modern applications still relying on TCP bridges, USB virtual COM ports, or middleware layers to communicate with radios.
QSO Director’s new native UDP implementation communicates directly with compatible ICOM radios across the network, dramatically reducing latency while increasing responsiveness and reliability.
For operators, this delivers several important advantages:
- Faster frequency and mode updates
- Lower latency for real-time station synchronisation
- More responsive band and VFO tracking
- Reduced overhead compared to legacy polling methods
- Improved reliability for remote and distributed station setups
- Better scalability for multi-radio environments
- High speed spectrum scope support
The difference is particularly noticeable when operating over LAN or remote IP-based station environments where rapid state updates and low overhead are essential.
Built for Modern Networked Stations
As more amateur radio stations move toward Ethernet-connected radios and remote operation, native network protocol support becomes increasingly important.
ICOM’s newer radios expose highly capable network interfaces, but relatively few third-party applications fully utilise them directly. QSO Director 0.5.15 changes that by integrating native UDP support directly into the platform.
This allows operators to connect to supported radios using their native network capabilities instead of depending on USB cables, CI-V adapters, or external middleware.
The result is a cleaner station architecture with fewer points of failure and significantly improved performance.
Designed for Serious Operators
Whether running a contest station, remote setup, digital station, or integrated logging environment, QSO Director’s native UDP support is designed to provide a faster and more seamless operating experience.
The addition further reinforces QSO Director’s focus on modern radio integration, high-performance networking, and advanced station interoperability.
Native UDP support is available now in QSO Director version 0.5.15.
Join Us on the Journey
By joining QSO Director in Early Access, you’re not just buying software, you’re helping shape its future. Your feedback, ideas, and real-world use will play a vital role in what comes next.
I’m incredibly grateful for your support and excited for the journey ahead.
Let’s build the future of amateur radio software — together.
James – M0YOM
