Quick fixes, common questions.

Plug the interface in before you start OpenJSQ, and check that your operating system sees it (on Windows, look in Sound settings). On the Radio page, pick Audio from radio and Audio to radio. On AX1200, choose Built-in audio under Radio link for an audio interface; an external KISS TNC does its own audio and shows no devices.

On the Radio page, open Keying the transmitter. Use VOX for an interface that keys on audio (a SignaLink). Use Serial line (RTS/DTR) and the right port for a DigiRig or similar. Then press Test PTT: the radio keys for 1.5 seconds with no audio, and the line under the button says what happened. Try it into a dummy load. If the serial port is not listed, close any other program that holds it.

Neither the installer nor the ZIP is code-signed, so Windows may say it “protected your PC”. Check the SHA-256 against the Download page or SHA256SUMS.txt, then choose More info and Run anyway. If your antivirus quarantines the file, check the checksum again before you restore it.

Make it executable (chmod +x OpenJSQ-*.AppImage) and run it from a terminal to see any message. It needs glibc 2.39 or newer, which means Ubuntu 24.04 or later. If it names a missing library, install that library with your package manager. For example, sudo apt install libopengl0 (a library the Raspberry Pi package also depends on). If it still fails, ask on the forum and give your distribution and the message.

The system has no emoji font. Install one with sudo apt install fonts-noto-color-emoji, then start OpenJSQ again. Nothing else is affected. The Raspberry Pi package asks apt for that font along with OpenJSQ, so empty boxes there mean apt was told to skip recommended packages.

Check the radio’s volume and squelch, the frequency and mode, and the input level on the Radio page. Press Start radio. Confirm that your partner is really transmitting. Five quick checks →

OpenJSQ keeps one data folder with settings, profiles, history and mail. On Windows it is normally %LOCALAPPDATA%\OpenJSQ\OpenJSQ. On Linux and Raspberry Pi it is ~/.local/share/OpenJSQ/OpenJSQ. Your files folder is Documents\OpenJSQ (~/Documents/OpenJSQ on Linux) by default. You never have to guess: Settings → Files & configuration shows the exact path. For a jump-drive station, put a file named openjsq-portable.txt beside the program and it keeps its data there.

Check the exact station name you typed and your partner’s automatic-answer setting. Both stations must be on a waveform the other can hear. On slow HF modes an answer can take a few minutes. The operator guide explains Sent, delivered and acknowledged.

OpenJSQ asks once whether it may check for a newer version, and tells you in a small window when one exists; it never downloads or installs anything itself. Download the new version from the Download page. To upgrade on Windows, run the newer installer over the old one (it asks a running OpenJSQ to close first), or unzip the ZIP into a folder. Your settings, history and files are not in the program folder, so they stay. To remove the program on Windows, use Settings → Apps. Delete the data folder too if you want your data gone. Turn the check off in Settings › About & storage › Updates.