Ham Radio Deluxe®: The Complete History and Version Guide

1. The Simon Brown Era (2003 – 2011)

Created by Simon Brown (HB9DRV), Ham Radio Deluxe® began as a freeware project supported by voluntary user donations. Simon's vision built the foundation of Rig Control, Logbook, and Digital Master.

• Final Release by Simon Brown: Version 5.0b Build 2893
• Final Release Date (Compiled): March 29, 2011 at 07:11:03 UTC
• Status: Freeware (Legacy), Unsupported.

2. The Transition & Community Support Period (Early 2012)

In late 2011, HRD Software, LLC acquired the rights to the software suite. To ensure a smooth transition, the new ownership team developed and released several 5.x updates at no cost to the public.

• First Free Release by HRD Software, LLC: Version 5.1 (Compiled April 24, 2012)
• Final Free Release by HRD Software, LLC: Version 5.24.38 (Compiled October 18, 2012)
• Developer: HRD Software, LLC
• Status: Released as Freeware. Unsupported.

3. The Modern Professional Era (Late 2012 – 2016)

With the release of Version 6.0 in late 2012, Ham Radio Deluxe® transitioned to a paid licensing model to support full-time professional development, regular updates, and technical support.

4. The Modern Era (2016 – Present)

2016 – 2021: Rebuilding Under New Leadership

In late 2016, a significant ownership and leadership change reshaped HRD Software, LLC. Following a customer service incident that drew widespread community attention, one of the three original partners departed the company. The remaining two partners — Randy Gawtry and Dr. Michael Carper (WA9PIE) — assumed full operational control and immediately set about rebuilding customer trust and accelerating development.

Between January 2017 and mid-2021, HRD Software made 825 documented software improvements, averaging eight releases per year. The company transitioned to a cloud-based operational infrastructure, grew its customer base by 28% year over year, and modernized its support systems. Panadapter support, Worked Status Indicators (WSI), and expanded digital mode integration were among the major feature additions during this period.

2021 – Present: Sole Ownership Under WA9PIE

On July 31, 2021, HRD Software, LLC completed an internal ownership transition when Dr. Michael Carper (WA9PIE) acquired Randy Gawtry's equity in the company, becoming sole owner. Randy Gawtry departed to focus on his company, Timewave Technology Inc. In a statement at the time of the transition, Gawtry noted that the two had transformed HRD Software into a solid, cloud-based organization and that Ham Radio Deluxe had reached a market-leading position.

Under sole ownership, development has continued to accelerate. Ham Radio Deluxe v6.9 — the most stable and feature-rich release in the software's history — was developed and released during this period, with continuous updates issued to all licensed users at no additional charge. The user base now stands at over 41,500 licensed operators in 130 countries worldwide.

Dr. Carper (WA9PIE) has been a licensed amateur radio operator since 1974 and holds DXCC Honor Roll status, bringing direct operational experience to the software's continued development priorities.

Fact Check: Is Version 5.24.38 "Simon's Code"?

No. While version 5.24.38 was the last free version, it was developed and released by HRD Software, LLC in 2012. Simon Brown's final release was version 5.0b 2893. All versions of Ham Radio Deluxe®, regardless of release date or version number, are the exclusive intellectual property of HRD Software, LLC.

Ham Radio Deluxe® and Ham Radio Deluxe Software® are registered trademarks of HRD Software, LLC.