Privacy Policy

Last updated: June 12, 2026

Overview

ShackPilot is designed to operate on your devices and local network or secure VPN. Radio control, audio, your QSO logs, and decoded messages stay on your devices. The app and this website use privacy-respecting, anonymous analytics to understand feature usage and improve the product, as described below. We do not sell your data or use advertising SDKs.

Analytics

ShackPilot uses Mixpanel to collect anonymous usage analytics. This data is not tied to your identity — there is no account system, and we never collect your name, email address, or amateur radio callsign.

In the app, we record anonymous events such as app launches, session length, radio connections, which features and digital modes are used, and subscription activity. Each event carries basic context like app version and platform (macOS or iOS). We never include callsigns, QSO log contents, decoded messages, or operating frequencies.

Analytics in the app is optional. You can turn it off at any time via Settings → General → Share Usage Data on macOS, or the Settings tab on iOS. When disabled, no events are sent.

On this website, we use Mixpanel autocapture (page views, clicks, and navigation) to understand how visitors use the site. The site does not request or collect any personal information.

Local Data

The following data is created and stored locally on your device:

• QSO logs - stored as a local JSON file on your Mac. These are never sent anywhere unless you explicitly choose to export or upload them.
• App settings - your preferences (callsign, grid square, audio devices, connection settings) are stored in UserDefaults on your device.
• Decoded messages - FT8/FT4, CW, SSTV, RTTY, and Packet decoded data exists only in memory during the session and is not persisted.

Network Communication

ShackPilot communicates over your local network (or VPN) in the following ways:

• macOS to radio - USB serial and USB audio, entirely local to your Mac.
• iOS/macOS client to macOS server - TCP and UDP connections on your local network or VPN. Audio, radio commands, and state data are exchanged directly between your devices. No data passes through any external server.
• Bonjour discovery - the app uses Apple's Bonjour protocol to discover the ShackPilot server on your local network. This is a standard local network protocol and does not communicate with the internet.

Optional Third-Party Services

If you choose to enable any of the following integrations, data is sent directly from your device to the respective service. ShackPilot does not act as an intermediary.

• QRZ.com - QSO log entries are uploaded directly to QRZ.com using your API key. Refer to QRZ.com's privacy policy.
• CloudLog - QSO log entries are uploaded to your CloudLog instance at the URL you configure.
• WSJT-X UDP - QSO data is broadcast via UDP on your local network for third-party logging software.

All of these integrations are disabled by default and require explicit configuration by you.

Microphone and Local Network Access

ShackPilot requests access to:

• Microphone - used for transmitting audio to your radio. Audio is sent only to your radio or your ShackPilot server on the local network.
• Local network - used for iOS/macOS client-server communication and Bonjour discovery.

These permissions are required for core app functionality and are never used for data collection.

Changes to This Policy

If this policy is updated, the changes will be posted on this page with an updated date.

Contact

If you have questions about this privacy policy, contact contact@va7lsz.com.