Introduction — OpenHamClock Manual

What is OpenHamClock?

OpenHamClock is a free, open-source, web-based dashboard for amateur radio operators. Open it in any browser and you get a live, unified view of everything happening on the bands right now — DX spots, space weather, active POTA/SOTA activators, WSJT-X decodes, satellite passes, rig frequency, and much more — all on one screen, updating in real time.

Unlike traditional shack software that locks you to a single computer, OpenHamClock runs as a small server you install once (on a Raspberry Pi, a spare PC, or in the cloud) and then open on any device — a tablet on the operating table, a second monitor, a phone, or even a wall-mounted display in the shack. No installation needed on each client; just a browser.

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Try it before installing

The hosted version at openhamclock.com lets you explore the full dashboard with no sign-up and no installation. Enter your callsign and grid square and you're live in under a minute.

History & the Original HamClock

The inspiration for OpenHamClock is HamClock, the well-loved shack clock and propagation display written by Elwood Downey, WB0OEW. HamClock runs as a standalone C application directly on a Raspberry Pi screen and has a devoted following among DXers and contest operators for its clean readability and zero-dependency design.

OpenHamClock was created by Chris Hetherington, K0CJH, as a complete reimagining of that concept for the modern web. Rather than a single-screen C program, OpenHamClock is built as a React + Node.js application — 30+ independent panels, six layouts, five themes, sixteen language translations, and a plugin system for map layers. Where WB0OEW's HamClock is elegant minimalism, OpenHamClock aims for depth: every piece of data a serious DXer, contester, or POTA activator could want, in one place.

Both tools happily co-exist, and many operators run them side by side.

Who Is It For?

🎯 DXers

Real-time DX Cluster spots colour-coded by band, a one-click path from spot to map to radio tuning, great-circle bearings, and rare DXCC expedition alerts. Everything you need to chase the next new entity without switching windows.

🏆 Contest Operators

Active contest calendar, band condition indicators, live spot flow, and PSKReporter coverage. Know which bands are open before you spin the dial.

🏔️ POTA & SOTA Activators

Live activator lists for Parks on the Air, Summits on the Air, WWFF, and WWBOTA, with map markers showing exactly where each operator is transmitting.

📡 Digital Mode Enthusiasts

Live FT8, FT4, JT65, and WSPR decodes from WSJT-X, PSKReporter receive maps, RBN skimmer reports, and WSPR propagation heatmaps — all in real time.

🛰️ Satellite Operators

SGP4 real-time orbital tracking for 40+ amateur satellites. See pass windows, Doppler shift, range, and footprint overlaid on the world map.

🆘 EmComm Operators

A dedicated Emergency Communications layout with APRS-IS tracking, NWS weather alerts, FEMA shelter maps, net check-in rosters, and resource aggregation tokens.

Even if you are brand new to amateur radio, OpenHamClock is a great learning tool. Watching real DX spots appear on the map, seeing space weather indices change as a solar flare passes, or tracking an ISS pass overhead makes the hobby tangible in a way textbooks cannot.

Feature Overview

OpenHamClock ships with more than 30 independent panels. Here are the main sections covered in this manual:

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World Map

Interactive Leaflet map with DX paths, POTA/SOTA markers, satellite ground tracks, day/night terminator, and a rich layer system.

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DX Cluster

Live spots from DX Spider refreshed every 5 seconds. Band colour-coding, zone/mode filters, watchlist alerts, and audio tones.

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Space Weather

Solar Flux Index, K-index, sunspot number, X-ray flux, and real-time band condition indicators. Know the bands before you call CQ.

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Satellites

Real-time SGP4 tracking for 40+ amateur satellites. Pass windows, Doppler, range, and footprint on the map.

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POTA / SOTA / WWFF

Active park and summit activators with callsign, frequency, and map position. Never miss an activation in progress.

🎛️

Rig Bridge

Click any spot and your radio tunes automatically. Supports 22 radio plugins: Yaesu CAT, Icom CI-V, Kenwood, Elecraft, SDR TCI.

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WSJT-X / FT8

Live FT8, FT4, JT65, WSPR decodes. Local UDP integration or cloud relay agent. PSKReporter MQTT and RBN reports.

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Themes & Profiles

Five built-in themes, six layouts, and named profiles to save and restore your exact configuration.

At a Glance

Current version 26.3.x (weekly releases)

Author Chris Hetherington, K0CJH

License MIT — free to use, modify, and self-host

Languages 16 — English, German, Spanish, French, Japanese, and more

Themes Dark, Light, Legacy, Retro, Custom

Layouts Modern, Classic, Dockable, Tablet, Compact, EmComm

Panels 30+ independent data panels

Supported radios 22 rig control plugins (Yaesu, Icom, Kenwood, Elecraft, SDR…)

Source code github.com/accius/openhamclock

Hosted version openhamclock.com

The Dashboard

The default Modern layout places the world map in the centre, DX spots and propagation data on the left, and POTA/SOTA, space weather, and rig information on the right. Every panel can be shown, hidden, or rearranged in Settings.

OpenHamClock Modern layout: interactive world map in the centre, DX Cluster on the left, space weather and POTA activators on the right

The OpenHamClock Modern layout. The interactive world map dominates the centre; DX Cluster spots appear on the left; space weather, POTA activators, and rig info on the right.

What You Need to Get Started

Very little. OpenHamClock runs wherever Node.js or Docker runs. The quickest paths are:

Browser only — go to openhamclock.com, enter your callsign. Done.
Raspberry Pi — one curl command installs and configures everything, including a kiosk-mode browser that launches on boot.
Docker — one docker compose up and you are running in under two minutes.
Windows / macOS / Linux — clone the repo, run npm start.

Head to Quick Start to be up and running in under five minutes, or jump straight to Installation for the full platform-by-platform guide.