News Coverage

Summary table

Date	Outlet	Title	Author	Language	Type
2026-10-29	RTL-SDR Blog	SimTX: A Multiplayer Shortwave Radio Simulator with Realistic Propagation and rtl_tcp Support	admin	English	News post
2026-10-29	HamRadio.my	SimTX: The Multiplayer Shortwave Radio Simulator With One Shared Band and Real Propagation	9M2PJU	English	Long-form overview / guide
2026-10-29	TechSpeeltuin	SimTX biedt realistische propagatie in multiplayer simulator	AI-redactie TechSpeeltuin (AI-generated)	Dutch	News brief (summary of RTL-SDR Blog)
2026-10-30	NextTechWorld	SimTX: Shortwave Radio With a Virtual Ionosphere	not credited	English (also translated)	Feature / analysis
2026-11-02	Marcin Stolarski - Inzynieriada (YouTube)	InzynieRanek 2026-11-02 – Radio bez radia? SimTX i wirtualny eter	Marcin Stolarski (channel), with Grażynka	Polish	Video discussion (not an independent test)
2026-11-04	RadioMesh.pl	Każdy może nadawać, nic nie idzie w eter. SimTX symuluje fale krótkie	MarWoj (SP9MAW)	Polish	Feature / hands-on guide

Coverage details

RTL-SDR Blog (2026-10-29)

• Link: https://www.rtl-sdr.com/simtx-a-multiplayer-shortwave-radio-simulator-with-realistic-propagation-and-rtl_tcp-support/
• Summary: Short news post introducing SimTX as an open-beta multiplayer shortwave simulator in which all users share one simulated band. It lists the propagation stack (IRI-2020 with live ionosonde data, ITU-R groundwave and noise, Watterson fading), the transmit sources (mic, audio file, GNU Radio IQ), the supported modes and the virtual satellites. It highlights the local rtl_tcp bridge that lets SDR++ and similar programs tune the simulated band.
• Notes: States that the software does not appear to be open source. Embeds the official demo video (Amsterdam to Budapest, 1145 km). This post is the source for the TechSpeeltuin brief below.

HamRadio.my (2026-10-29)

• Link: https://hamradio.my/simtx-multiplayer-shortwave-radio-simulator/
• Author: 9M2PJU
• Summary: The most detailed third-party guide so far. It covers:
  • the "hear it" audio clips (clean rig, overdriven rig, calm band, Kp 7.5 storm)
  • a modulation-mode reference table
  • propagation basics (groundwave, skywave, skip zone, LUF/MUF, NVIS, grey line)
  • desktop app vs legacy Java client, with a download table
  • a five-step first-transmission walkthrough
  • stations and satellites
  • receiving with SDR++
  • Lua extensions, CLI and API
  • accounts and community
  • a comparison with WebSDR/KiwiSDR, OpenWebRX and HamSphere
  • a limitations section
• Versions mentioned: desktop app 0.1.0-alpha-14, legacy Java client 0.4.1.
• Notes: Links to the official wiki pages and a Hacker News discussion (item 49890503).

TechSpeeltuin (2026-10-29)

• Link: https://techspeeltuin.nl/hamnieuws/2262/simtx-biedt-realistische-propagatie-in-multiplayer-simulator
• Summary: Three-paragraph Dutch news brief. It covers the shared virtual spectrum, the propagation models, the transmit modes, the rtl_tcp bridge, Windows/macOS/Linux support, Discord accounts and the Amsterdam to Budapest demo.
• Notes: Labelled as written by the site's AI editorial desk. It credits RTL-SDR Blog as its source and adds no new reporting.

NextTechWorld (2026-10-30)

• Link: https://nexttechworld.com/ham-radio/simtx-shortwave-radio-simulator/
• Summary: Long analytical feature (about 25 minutes reading time) discussing SimTX as a shared virtual RF medium rather than a voice-chat style app. Topics include:
  • the shared-spectrum design
  • IRI-2020 plus ionosonde assimilation, and the limits of empirical models
  • Watterson fading, Doppler and multipath
  • ITU-R noise and groundwave
  • transmitter modelling (PA compression, heating, splatter)
  • rtl_tcp and GNU Radio as an architectural choice
  • FT8/WSPR and virtual satellites
  • use in training
  • open questions: model validation, scaling, latency and the lack of published source code
• Notes: No author is credited. The page says its images are AI-generated or from royalty-free sources. Available in a dozen languages (de, fr, it, nl, es, pt, tr, ru, ar, ja, hu).

Inzynieriada / InzynieRanek (2026-11-02)

• Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQpfMwdHfhc
• Channel: Marcin Stolarski - Inzynieriada (published 2026-11-02, 06:00 UTC; Polish)
• Summary: Episode of the channel's InzynieRanek series in which the host and a co-presenter named Grażynka discuss SimTX as a communications simulator with a shared virtual band, a modelled ionosphere and reception through SDR software. According to the description, they cover educational uses, experimenting without an antenna and the limits of simulation. They also show excerpts of the developer's demonstration (virtual stations in Amsterdam and Budapest, the effect of propagation conditions and transmitter overdrive).

RadioMesh.pl (2026-11-04)

• Link: https://radiomesh.pl/krotkofalarstwo/kazdy-moze-nadawac-nic-nie-idzie-w-eter-simtx-symuluje-fale-krotkie/
• Author: MarWoj (SP9MAW)
• Summary: Polish hands-on article (about 6 minutes reading time). It explains how to listen with SDR++ and how to set up your own receiver and station. It covers the antenna options and NEC import, how the server computes each path, an SNR-threshold table by mode, satellites, and the terms of service (pirate and numbers stations and jamming are allowed within limits; unlicensed music and impersonating real stations are not).
• Facts reported that other coverage does not include:
  • open beta since 14 August 2026
  • download page offered version 0.1.0-alpha-16 on 1 November 2026
  • run by a single private individual in Hungary
  • accounts can be created by e-mail with a code login since 1 November 2026 (previously Discord only)
  • a public receiver in simulated Budapest that needs no account (argon.simtx.net, port 1240)
  • minimum age 13, with parental consent for minors
  • the author notes the demo video's route, levels, storm, clock and overdriven transmitter were set by script, and calls it a demonstration
  • a licence is only needed if the simulator's audio is fed into a real transmitter

Related media

• "We broadcast a song through a simulated ionosphere" (qrmcat): the official demo video embedded or referenced by RTL-SDR Blog, HamRadio.my, TechSpeeltuin, Inzynieriada and RadioMesh.pl.
• Hacker News discussion (referenced by HamRadio.my).
• Official site and official wiki.

Differences between reports

Topic	Reported	Source
Desktop app version	0.1.0-alpha-14 (29 Oct)	HamRadio.my
Desktop app version	0.1.0-alpha-16 (1 Nov)	RadioMesh.pl
Account creation	Discord	RTL-SDR Blog, HamRadio.my, TechSpeeltuin
Account creation	E-mail login added 1 Nov 2026	RadioMesh.pl
Source availability	Not presented as open source	RTL-SDR Blog, NextTechWorld, RadioMesh.pl

See also

• Main Page