uk-radio-mcp

An MCP server for UK radio frequency data. It reads Ofcom's Wireless Telegraphy Register (free) and can add optional paid or approval-gated sources when you supply API keys as environment variables.

Ask your assistant things like "who is licensed on 456.6375 MHz with a 12.5 kHz digital emission?" or "list business radio licences within 15 km of SY1 1AA".

Tools

Postcode lookups use the free postcodes.io service.

Related MCP server: io.github.MicaelJarniac/repeaterbook

Install

git clone https://github.com/jon-humphries/uk-radio-mcp
cd uk-radio-mcp
uv venv && uv pip install -e .            # add ".[radioreference]" for the SOAP source

Add it to Claude Code:

claude mcp add uk-radio -- /path/to/uk-radio-mcp/.venv/bin/uk-radio-mcp

Or in an MCP client config:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "uk-radio": {
      "command": "/path/to/uk-radio-mcp/.venv/bin/uk-radio-mcp",
      "env": { "REPEATERBOOK_TOKEN": "rbuapp_...", "REPEATERBOOK_USER_AGENT": "..." }
    }
  }
}

Static data and refresh

Static datasets download on first use into ~/.cache/uk-radio-mcp and refresh automatically on a later tool call once the cached copy is older than its interval. If a refresh fails, the stale copy is used and the result says so.

Optional services

With an API (set the variables to enable)

RepeaterBook (amateur repeaters, approval required)

• Request access: https://www.repeaterbook.com/api/token_request.php

• REPEATERBOOK_TOKEN: app_... for server use, or a per-user rbuapp_... token from https://www.repeaterbook.com/user/api_apps.php

• REPEATERBOOK_USER_AGENT: must match the approved app literally, or the API returns 403 ua_mismatch

• Call: GET https://www.repeaterbook.com/api/exportROW.php?country=United%20Kingdom with header X-RB-App-Token. Needs scope api.export_row. Redirects are not followed.

• Personal, non-commercial use. Attribution: "Data courtesy of RepeaterBook.com".

RadioReference (SOAP, Premium subscription plus approved app key)

• Apply: https://www.radioreference.com/account/api/apply

• RADIOREFERENCE_APP_KEY, RADIOREFERENCE_USERNAME, RADIOREFERENCE_PASSWORD (your own login; credentials may not be shared)

• WSDL: https://api.radioreference.com/soap2/?wsdl&v=latest&s=rpc. Methods include getCountyInfo(ctid), getZipcodeInfo, getUserData, getCountyFreqsByTag.

• Coverage is strongest in the US and Canada. UK data is limited.

• Install with pip install -e ".[radioreference]".

RadioID (free) can take RADIOID_API_TOKEN (sent as X-API-Token). Without it, requests are anonymous. Its terms forbid mirroring, competing projects and commercial use.

Subscriptions with no API

These sell file exports only, so there is nothing to call. Export from their sites and import into your scanner software.

Limits

• Ofcom withholds some licences, so absence from the register is not proof of no licence.

• The register gives frequency, site and emission code. It does not say which protocol (DMR, NXDN, analogue) is in use, and it holds no radio IDs.

• Listening is generally legal in the UK, but acting on or disclosing what you hear is restricted by the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006.

Development

uv pip install -e ".[dev]" && pytest

Licence

MIT. Data from each source remains subject to that source's terms.