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Privacy Policy

Effective Date: February 11, 2026 Last Updated: March 17, 2026

Hamtrax ("we," "us," or "our") respects your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and share information when you use the Hamtrax application, website, and related services (the "Service").

1. Information We Collect​

Information You Provide​

  • Account information: Email address, name, callsign, country, and license class.
  • Profile information: Display name, nickname, and profile photo.
  • QSO logs: Contact records you create or import, including callsigns, frequencies, modes, dates, times, and notes.
  • Location data: Grid square, coordinates, or city — depending on the location mode you choose (callsign lookup, device GPS, or manual entry).
  • User-generated content: Photos, field notes, livestream URLs, folder cover images, station equipment images, and feedback submissions.
  • Billing information: If you subscribe to a paid plan, payment is processed by Stripe. We do not store your credit card number or full payment details — Stripe handles this directly. We store only your Stripe customer ID, subscription status, and plan type.
  • Station equipment: Rig and antenna profiles, including names, descriptions, and photos you upload.

Information Collected Automatically​

  • Device information: Browser type, operating system, and device identifiers.
  • Usage data: Pages visited, features used, and interaction patterns within the Service.
  • Authentication data: OAuth tokens and session information from third-party sign-in providers (Google, Apple).

Information from Third Parties​

  • Callsign lookups: We query external databases (HamQTH, and in the future QRZ) to retrieve publicly available callsign registration data such as name, address, grid square, and license class.
  • Activity data: We aggregate data from public amateur radio services (POTA, Reverse Beacon Network, PSK Reporter, and the FCC amateur radio database) to power activity discovery features.
  • Location imagery: We use Flickr's public API to source geo-tagged nature photography for park and location displays.

2. How We Use Your Information​

We use collected information to:

  • Provide, operate, and improve the Service.
  • Create and manage your account.
  • Display your profile and QSO statistics to other users (based on your privacy settings).
  • Power location-based features such as distance calculations and map displays.
  • Resolve callsign data and derive default settings (band plan, license privileges).
  • Track award progress (DXCC, WAS, WAZ, etc.) based on your logged contacts.
  • Send service-related communications (account verification, password resets).
  • Detect and prevent abuse, fraud, or violations of our Terms of Service.

3. How We Share Your Information​

We do not sell your personal information.

We may share information in the following circumstances:

  • Public profile data: Your callsign, display name, and profile photo may be visible to other Hamtrax users depending on your settings.
  • Service providers: We use third-party services (Firebase/Google Cloud) to host, store, and process data on our behalf. These providers are bound by their own privacy commitments.
  • Payment processor: If you subscribe to a paid plan, billing is handled by Stripe, Inc. Stripe receives the payment information you provide during checkout. Stripe's use of your data is governed by Stripe's Privacy Policy.
  • Legal requirements: We may disclose information if required by law, regulation, or legal process.
  • Safety: We may share information to protect the rights, safety, or property of Hamtrax, our users, or the public.

4. Data Storage and Security​

  • Your data is stored using Google Firebase (Firestore, Firebase Authentication, and Firebase Storage for user-uploaded media) with encryption in transit and at rest.
  • Certain data is cached locally on your device (IndexedDB) for offline access and performance.
  • We implement reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your information. However, no system is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

5. Your Location Data​

Location is central to many ham radio activities. You control how Hamtrax determines your location:

  • Callsign mode: Location is derived from your callsign registration address (publicly available data).
  • Device mode: Location is obtained from your device's GPS with your permission. We do not track your location in the background.
  • Manual mode: You enter a grid square, coordinates, or city of your choosing.

You can change your location mode at any time in Settings. Location data is used for distance calculations, propagation estimates, and map features.

6. Data Retention​

  • We retain your account data for as long as your account is active.
  • If you delete your account, your authentication credentials are removed. QSO logs and associated data may be retained in anonymized form for aggregate statistics. Account deletion removes your login credentials; to export your data beforehand, use the ADIF export feature.

7. Your Rights​

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the right to:

  • Access the personal information we hold about you.
  • Correct inaccurate information in your profile.
  • Delete your account and associated personal data.
  • Export your QSO logs and data.
  • Object to certain processing of your information.

To exercise these rights, contact us at info@hamtrax.com or use the account management features in Settings.

8. Children's Privacy​

The Service is not intended for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we learn that we have collected information from a child under 13, we will delete it promptly.

The Service may contain links to third-party websites or integrate with external services (QRZ, HamQTH, POTA, etc.). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties. We encourage you to review their privacy policies.

10. Changes to This Policy​

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of material changes by posting the updated policy with a new "Last Updated" date. Continued use of the Service after changes constitutes acceptance.

11. Contact​

If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, contact us at info@hamtrax.com.