kst4contest/github_docs/en-Installation.md

Installation

🇬🇧 You are reading the English version | 🇩🇪 Deutsche Version

Prerequisites

An resolution of 1200px by 720px is recommended

ON4KST Account

To use the chat, a registered account with the ON4KST chat service is required:

• Register at: http://www.on4kst.info/chat/register.php

Chat Etiquette

The official language in the ON4KST Chat is English. Please use English even when communicating with stations from your own country. Common HAM abbreviations (agn, dir, pse, rrr, tnx, 73 …) are widely used and understood.

Personal Messages

To send a private message to another station, always use the following format:

/CQ CALLSIGN message text

Example: /CQ DL5ASG pse sked 144.205?

During heavy chat traffic (5–6 messages per second in a contest), public messages directed at a specific callsign are easily missed. However, KST4Contest also catches such messages if they are accidentally posted publicly (see Features – PM Catching).

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Download

Windows

The latest version can be downloaded as a ZIP file:

https://github.com/praktimarc/kst4contest/releases/latest

The filename has the format praktiKST-v<version_number>-windows-x64.zip.

Linux

The latest version can be downloaded as an AppImage:

https://github.com/praktimarc/kst4contest/releases/latest

The filename has the format KST4Contest-v<version_number>-linux-x86_64.AppImage.

macOS

⚠️ Best-Effort Support: macOS builds are provided as a convenience but are not fully tested. We build and release macOS binaries with every release, but we cannot test every scenario on macOS. If you encounter issues, please report them – we will do our best to address them, but cannot guarantee the same level of support as for Windows and Linux.

The latest version can be downloaded as a DMG disk image (available for both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs):

https://github.com/praktimarc/kst4contest/releases/latest

The filename has the format KST4Contest-v<version_number>-macos-<arch>.dmg, where <arch> is arm64 (Apple Silicon) or x86_64 (Intel).

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Installation

Windows

1. Download the ZIP file.
2. Unzip the ZIP file into a folder of your choice.
3. Run praktiKST.exe.

Settings are stored at %USERPROFILE%\.praktikst\preferences.xml.

Linux

1. Download the AppImage.
2. Unzip the AppImage into a folder of your choice.
3. Make the AppImage executable (in the terminal with chmod +x KST4Contest-v<version_number>-linux-x86_64.AppImage)
4. Run the AppImage.

Settings are stored at ~/.praktikst/preferences.xml.

macOS

1. Download the DMG file for your architecture (Apple Silicon or Intel).
2. Open the DMG file.
3. Drag KST4Contest.app into your Applications folder.
4. On first launch, macOS may show a warning because the app is not notarised. To open it:
   • Right-click (or Control-click) on KST4Contest.app in Finder and choose Open.
   • Alternatively, go to System Settings → Privacy & Security and click Open Anyway.
5. Run KST4Contest from your Applications folder or Launchpad.

Settings are stored at ~/.praktikst/preferences.xml.

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Updating

KST4Contest includes an automatic update notification service: as soon as a new version is available, a window will appear at startup with:

• information that a new version is available,
• a changelog,
• the download link for the new version.

Update Process

Windows

Currently, there is only one way to update:

1. Delete the old folder.
2. Unzip the new ZIP file.

The settings file (preferences.xml) is preserved because it is stored in the user folder, not the program folder.

Linux

Currently as follows:

1. Download the new AppImage
2. Mark the new AppImage as executable
3. (optional) Delete the old AppImage.

macOS

1. Download the new DMG file.
2. Open the DMG.
3. Drag the new KST4Contest.app into your Applications folder, replacing the old version.

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Known Issues at Startup

Norton 360

Norton 360 classifies praktiKST.exe as dangerous (false positive). An exception must be created for the file:

1. Open Norton 360.
2. Security → History → Find the corresponding event.
3. Select "Restore & Add Exception".

(Reported by PE0WGA, Franz van Velzen – thank you!)