# Configuration > 🇬🇧 You are reading the English version | 🇩🇪 [Deutsche Version](de-Konfiguration) After the first start, the **settings window** opens – this is the central starting point for all configuration. It is recommended to keep the settings window open during operation (e.g. to quickly toggle the beacon on and off). > **Important**: Always click **"Save Settings"** after any change! Settings are stored in `~/.praktikst/preferences.xml` on Linux and in `%USERPROFILE%\.praktikst\preferences.xml` (or `C:\Users\\.praktikst\preferences.xml`) on Windows. From v1.21 onwards, window sizes and divider positions are also saved when you click Save. --- ## Station Settings ![Station Settings](client_settings_window_station.png) ### Login and Chat Categories Enter your ON4KST chat credentials here (callsign and password). Also, select the **primary chat category** (e.g., IARU Region 1 VHF/Microwave). With the option for a **second chat** (Multi-Channel Login), you can log in to another category simultaneously (e.g., UHF/SHF). Both chats will then be monitored in parallel. You can optionally specify a different login name for the second chat (useful for Opposite Station Multi-Callsign Logging). ### Callsign and Locator Enter your own callsign and Maidenhead locator (6 characters, e.g., `JN49IJ`). These values are needed for distance and direction calculations. ### Active Bands Use the **"my station uses band"** checkboxes to select the active bands. Buttons and table rows will only appear in the user interface for selected bands. The software must be restarted after making changes. ### Antenna Beamwidth Enter a realistic value for your antenna's beamwidth (in degrees). This value is used for the [Sked Direction Highlighting](Features#sked-direction-highlighting). A test value of 50° has proven effective; DM5M uses quads with 69°. > **Do not** enter fantasy values – the direction calculations will become useless. ### Default Maximum QRB Maximum distance (in km) for which direction warnings should be triggered. A realistic value for DM5M is 900 km. Stations farther away are ignored for highlighting purposes. --- ## Server Settings (from v1.31) The chat server DNS and port are configurable in the Preferences: - **Server DNS**: Default `www.on4kst.org` (changed from `www.on4kst.info` in v1.31 hotfix). - **Port**: Default port of the ON4KST server. A change is only needed if the server moves or an alternative endpoint is used. --- ## Log Sync Settings Three methods are available for automatically marking worked stations. Details: [Log Synchronisation](en-Log-Sync). ### Universal File Based Callsign Interpreter (Simplelogfile) Interprets any log file using regex for callsign patterns. No band information is available. Suitable as a fallback or for log programs that are not directly supported. ### Network Listener for Logger's QSO UDP Broadcast **Recommended method.** KST4Contest listens for UDP packets sent by the logging software to the broadcast address when a QSO is saved. Stations are marked with band information. UDP port: default **12060**. (Used by UCXLog, N1MM+, QARTest, DXLog.net, etc.). ### Win-Test Network Listener (Additional UDP Listener) A dedicated network listener for Win-Test. KST4Contest receives and processes Win-Test-specific UDP packets (including sked handovers) on the configured port. --- ## TRX Sync Settings Receives the current transceiver frequency from the logging software via UDP. This enables the automatic population of the `MYQRG` variable. Useful for: - Quickly inserting your own QRG into chat messages. - Automatic CQ beacon with current frequency. > **Note for multi-setup**: When running two logging programs on two computers but only one KST4Contest instance, only one logging program should send frequency packets. KST4Contest cannot distinguish between sources. --- ## AirScout Settings Configuration of the interface to AirScout for aircraft scatter detection. Details: [AirScout Integration](en-AirScout-Integration). --- ## Notification Settings Three notification types are available: 1. **Simple sounds**: TADA sound for incoming messages, tick for sked direction detection, etc. 2. **CW announcement**: The callsign of a station sending a private message is output as a CW signal. 3. **Phonetic announcement**: The callsign is pronounced phonetically. --- ## Shortcut Settings Configuration of quick-access buttons that appear directly in the main window. Clicking a button inserts the configured text into the send field. All [variables](Macros-and-Variables#variables) can be used. --- ## Snippet Settings Text snippets are accessible via: - **Right-click** on a callsign in the user list - **Right-click** in the CQ message table - **Right-click** in the PM message table - **Keyboard shortcuts**: `Ctrl+1` to `Ctrl+0` for the first 10 snippets If a callsign is selected in the user list, the snippet is addressed as a direct message: `/CQ CALLSIGN ` --- ## Beacon Settings Configuration of an automatic interval beacon in the public chat channel. Recommended: use the `MYQRG` variable in the text so the current frequency is always up to date. Interval and text are freely configurable. > **Tip**: Enable the beacon when calling CQ and quickly disable it in the settings window when not calling. --- ## Messagehandling Settings (from v1.25) New settings section with the following options: - **Auto-reply to all incoming messages**: Configurable automatic reply to private messages. - **Auto-reply with own CQ QRG**: When someone asks for your QRG, KST4Contest automatically replies with the content of the `MYQRG` variable. - **Default filter for the userinfo window**: Pre-configured message filter for the station info window *(for Gianluca :-) )*. --- ## Win-Test Network Listener (from v1.31) A dedicated listener for Win-Test-specific UDP packets. Enables: - **Log synchronisation**: Worked stations are retrieved from Win-Test and marked in the user list. - **Frequency parsing**: The current TRX frequency from Win-Test populates the `MYQRG` variable. - **Sked handover (SKED push)**: Skeds from KST4Contest are passed directly to Win-Test via UDP. Win-Test's default UDP broadcast port (9871) is used. Settings: - **Enable/Disable**: Checkbox in Preferences (from v1.40). - **Port**: Configurable UDP port for the Win-Test listener. - **Sked UDP address and port**: Target address and port for SKED handover to Win-Test. > **Note**: The Win-Test listener is an **additional** listener – the standard QSO UDP broadcast listener on port 12060 remains independent. --- ## PSTRotator Settings (from v1.31) KST4Contest can control antenna direction via PSTRotator. Settings: - **Enable/Disable**: Checkbox in Preferences (from v1.40). - **IP address**: IP address of the PSTRotator computer (default: `127.0.0.1` when running on the same PC). - **Port**: Communication port of PSTRotator. > **Note**: After clicking a direction button, KST4Contest waits briefly for the rotator response. With slow rotors (e.g. SPID) there may be a small delay. --- ## Sniffer Settings (from v1.31) The QSO sniffer filters chat messages from configurable callsigns and forwards them to the PM window. Settings: - **Callsign list**: Comma-separated list of callsigns whose messages are always forwarded to the PM window. Use case: Keep track of important stations (e.g. DX expeditions or trusted contest allies) without constantly monitoring the main chat. --- ## Worked Station Database Settings The internal worked database contains: - Worked status of all stations (per band) - NOT-QRV tags (since v1.2) **From v1.40**: Entries have an automatic lifetime of **3 days** – manually resetting before each contest is no longer strictly necessary. For a full reset, the **"Reinitialize"** button is still available. --- ## Dark Mode (from v1.26) Toggle via the menu: **Window → Use Dark Mode**. The colors can be individually customized via CSS. --- ## Saving Settings Click **"Save Settings"** after **every** change! Without saving, all changes will be lost on the next start. - Storage location: `~/.praktikst/preferences.xml` on Linux and `%USERPROFILE%\.praktikst\preferences.xml` (or `C:\Users\\.praktikst\preferences.xml`) on Windows - From v1.21: Window sizes and divider positions are also saved. - If you encounter problems: delete the configuration file → KST4Contest will create a new one with default values.