Android OTA Notes
This page tracks FreqMapper's private signed Android installer, commonly called the OTA channel. It is separate from Google Play and is expected to become a historical channel after Google Play fully replaces private distribution.
Channel status
Active. Existing private-installer users can continue receiving signed updates through FreqMapper. New Google Play installs receive their updates from Google Play and do not download or install this APK.
When private OTA distribution is retired, this page will remain available with the final version, release notes, installer information, and retirement date.
Latest development OTA
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Version | 0.1.106 |
| Build code | 107 |
| Released | October 2, 2026 |
| Minimum supported build code | 1 |
| Service | https://dev.freqmapper.net:8443 |
| Permanent installer | Download the latest signed APK |
| Release metadata | View the current Android release manifest |
The release manifest is the source of truth for the version-specific APK path, SHA-256 checksum, minimum supported build, release notes, and publication time. FreqMapper verifies that published checksum before Android opens its installer.
Complete release notes
- Keeps app controls clear of Android status bars, camera cutouts, and navigation controls under Android 15's enforced edge-to-edge display.
- Preserves safe layouts across the map, Chat, and other tabs with gesture or three-button navigation and with the keyboard open.
- Updates splash-screen compatibility for modern Android display cutouts.
What to test
- Update an existing development private installation and confirm Android retains the app's saved radios, settings, trips, and signing identity.
- Check every tab in light and dark appearance on Android 15 or later. Confirm content remains clear of the status bar and camera cutout.
- Test gesture and three-button navigation, then open Chat with the keyboard. Confirm bottom tabs, warning banners, and the composer remain reachable.
- Connect a test radio and run a short wardrive. Confirm BLE, location, map controls, and saved uploads behave normally.
- Open Settings → App updates and confirm it reports 0.1.106 as current.
How private updates work
- FreqMapper checks the production release manifest at launch, after returning to the app, when internet access returns, and before a new radio connection.
- If a newer compatible private release exists, the app downloads its version-specific APK over HTTPS.
- The app compares the APK with the manifest's SHA-256 checksum.
- Android shows its normal installation screen and requires the person holding the phone to approve the update.
- The permanent installer URL is replaced atomically only after the versioned APK is present.
FreqMapper cannot silently install an update. The first private installation may require allowing FreqMapper as an Android install source. A build installed from Google Play instead opens the Play listing for updates.
Recent OTA releases
| Version | Release date | Main update |
|---|---|---|
| 0.1.106 (107) | Oct 2, 2026 | Android 15 edge-to-edge, system-inset, and display-cutout compatibility |
| 0.1.96 (97) | Sep 16, 2026 | Offline Mode, readiness status, recent Watchers, and Play-aware required updates |
| 0.1.93 (94) | Sep 15, 2026 | NDK-stripped native map libraries and retained Trips redesign |
| 0.1.92 (93) | Sep 15, 2026 | Redesigned Trips, mapped activity, signal timeline, and MapLibre 13.6.1 |
| 0.1.91 (92) | Sep 14, 2026 | Quiet-session heartbeat stability and stronger background radio retention |
| 0.1.90 (91) | Sep 14, 2026 | Automatic radio reconnect repair and keyboard-safe Chat layout |
| 0.1.89 (90) | Sep 14, 2026 | Chat-safe enrollment reminders and direct Radio-tab recovery |
| 0.1.88 (89) | Sep 14, 2026 | Settled update status and removal of false startup map alerts |
| 0.1.87 (88) | Sep 14, 2026 | Current-session RX totals, battery status, and separate RX statistics |
| 0.1.86 (87) | Sep 14, 2026 | Multi-channel Chat/RX, offline Active Patrol, and focused enrollment |
| 0.1.85 (86) | Sep 10, 2026 | Secure offline wardrives and live-service reliability |
| 0.1.84 (85) | Sep 10, 2026 | Automatic update prompts and checksum-verified installation |
Android 0.1.94/build 95 was not published. Android 0.1.95/build 96 was a Google Play testing release; the next production private OTA was 0.1.96/build 97. The complete Android release history retains all earlier private-test versions and their main changes.
Retirement plan
The OTA channel should be marked Retiring only after the Google Play build is available to every intended tester and existing private installs have a documented migration path. It should be marked Retired only after no new private releases will be published.
Retirement will not remove this page or the historical Android release notes. The final entry will record:
- the final private version and build code;
- the date new OTA releases stopped;
- whether the permanent APK remains available;
- how an existing private-install user moves to Google Play; and
- any signer or uninstall/reinstall requirement that applies at that time.
Do not uninstall a working private build merely because OTA retirement is planned. Follow the migration instructions published here when the channel status changes.