# Installation

> 🇬🇧 You are reading the English version | 🇩🇪 [Deutsche Version](de-Installation)

## Prerequisites

### 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](Features#catching-personal-messages)).

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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 `praktiKST-v<version_number>-linux-x86_64.AppImage`.


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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 praktiKST-v<version_number>-linux-x86_64.AppImage`)
4. Run the AppImage.

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.

![Example Update Window](update_window.png)

### 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.


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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!)*