Heard · APRS, made clear.

Privacy Policy

A plain-language explanation of how Heard uses APRS network data, optional location, local settings, optional callsign directories, safety reports, and external services.

Effective September 19, 2026 · Privacy Policy URL: /heard/privacy/

Overview

Heard is an amateur-radio APRS application developed by Dan Tilsley. This policy explains what information Heard uses, where it is processed, and the choices available to you.

Important: APRS is a public radio and internet-linked network. Callsigns, positions, status text, messages, and other packets transmitted through APRS may be received, relayed, logged, or displayed by stations and services outside the developer’s control.

Information you provide

Callsign and app settings

Your callsign, listening-area configuration, filters, map preferences, directory selections, onboarding state, and similar app settings are stored locally on your device so Heard can operate. Dan Tilsley does not automatically receive this information.

Optional APRS messaging and credentials

Heard listens in receive-only mode by default. When you deliberately configure and use APRS messaging or another sending-related feature, your callsign and message content are transmitted through APRS-IS and may be relayed across the wider APRS network. APRS messages should not be considered private or confidential.

Receive-only listening does not require Heard to collect an account password. If Heard asks you to save an APRS-IS passcode, QRZ credential, or another sensitive credential for an optional feature, that credential is stored on your device using Apple Keychain.

Location

Location permission is optional. When granted, Heard uses your device location to create or update a nearby listening area, position or recenter the map, and calculate distances. Heard does not use location for advertising and does not send your precise device location to Dan Tilsley.

Your selected listening-area coordinates may be included in a filter sent to APRS-IS so the network can provide packets for the requested geographic area. You can choose a different listening area manually instead of using device location.

APRS-IS receive-only operation

By default, Heard connects to APRS-IS to receive public APRS packets for the listening area you selected. These packets can include callsigns, positions, timestamps, symbols, status text, telemetry, weather information, messages, and technical routing information supplied by transmitting stations and network gateways.

Heard organizes and displays this information on your device. Dan Tilsley does not operate APRS-IS and cannot control the accuracy, availability, retention, or downstream use of information transmitted by other participants.

Optional callsign directories

Heard can download optional public callsign datasets from supported government sources, including Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

  • Directory downloads occur only when you choose to install or update a provider.
  • After installation, supported lookups are performed locally on your device.
  • Heard stores a local copy of the directory fields used by the app, such as callsign, name, entity type, city, province or state, qualification, and source date.
  • Record counts, source dates, and storage use are shown in the app when available.
  • You can remove an installed directory from Heard’s Settings.

FCC and ISED records are public licensing or registration records. They may be incomplete, delayed, or different from a station’s current operating location.

Safety reports and blocks

When you report content or block a station, Heard sends the reported station’s callsign, the action and reason, selected content when available, any details you enter, the app version, and a random report identifier. A callsign is not proof of a person’s identity. Avoid including sensitive personal information.

Reports are sent over HTTPS to a service operated for Dan Tilsley on Cloudflare, stored for review, and forwarded to the Heard support inbox at heardaprs@gmail.com. They are used to investigate abuse and enforce Heard’s Terms of Use, not for advertising or tracking. Reports are not transmitted over APRS.

Heard does not automatically attach your APRS passcode, device location, complete packet history, or contact details to a report. Text you choose to include may identify you or another person. Network providers process connection information, including your IP address, to deliver and protect the service; the report database does not store your IP address.

Pending reports and block notifications remain on your device until the service receives them. Failed submissions may remain marked as requiring attention. Your local block list is stored on your device. Unblocking does not cancel a notification already created or restore discarded history. Reviewed suppression rules are cached on your device, and suppressed callsigns are available through Heard’s public safety-rules service. Report text and reasons are not included in that public list.

External services

QRZ

When you tap a QRZ link, Heard opens the QRZ website in an in-app browser. QRZ may receive your IP address and browser information and may set cookies according to its own privacy practices. Dan Tilsley does not provide QRZ with a separate profile about you.

Apple Maps and Apple services

Heard uses Apple frameworks and Apple Maps. Apple may process information necessary to provide maps, App Store distribution, TestFlight, crash reporting, and related platform services under Apple’s own terms and privacy policy.

Analytics, advertising, and tracking

Heard does not include advertising SDKs or third-party behavioural tracking SDKs. Dan Tilsley does not sell personal information. Apple may provide developers with aggregated App Store, performance, and crash information through Apple’s developer services.

Diagnostics and support

Heard may show connection status, technical details, and diagnostics on your device to help you understand or troubleshoot the app. These diagnostics are not automatically sent to Dan Tilsley. When seeking support, you choose what information to include.

Data retention and deletion

Most Heard data is stored locally. Removing an optional directory deletes that provider’s local directory data. Deleting Heard removes its local app data from the device, subject to Apple-managed device backups, Keychain behavior, and platform rules.

Resolved reports whose email notification has been accepted by the email provider are deleted from the reporting database during scheduled maintenance once they are more than 30 days old. Unresolved reports and undelivered notifications remain while being handled. Support-email copies are retained separately for support and enforcement and are not covered by that automatic database deletion.

Deleting the app does not delete reports already received by the service or information sent to APRS. For report-retention or deletion requests, email heardaprs@gmail.com and include the report ID if available. Heard cannot remove records held independently by other APRS participants.

Children

Heard is intended for general amateur-radio use and is not directed specifically to children. APRS users should avoid transmitting sensitive personal information over the public network.

Changes to this policy

This policy may be updated as Heard evolves. The effective date shown at the top of this page will be revised when material changes are made.

Questions

Current support information is available on the Heard support page.