QsoNet Frequent Questions

Most answers are found by opening your account page.

Account page	Email problems	Password Problems
License Picture	Remove Callsign	Installing / reinstalling
Change Callsign	Apple / Linux	Windows version
Rule enforcement	Crashes / freezes	Voice breakup
Audio problems	QRZ.com	Payment Questions
Most answers are found by opening your account page.

Most answers are found by opening your account page.
Please look at your account page before asking questions.

Q: How do I open my account page?
A: There are three ways:
1) Go to the home page at Qsonet.com, put your mouse cursor over the word "Account" and click your left mouse finger.
2) Click the white question mark on the top left corner of the transceiver, then click the underlined link https://qsonet.com/user.php
3) Click here... https://qsonet.com/user.php

Q: How do I change my password?
A: Open your account page and make the changes.

Q: How do I change my handle, QTH, Info?
A: Open your account page and make the changes. You will need to logout / login to see these changes. HINT: every band switch does a logout / login.

Q: How do I download the program?
A: Open your account page and click "Download Program".

Q: How do I download the manual?
A: Open you account page and click "Download Manual".

Q: How do I pay?
A: Open your account page and click "How To Pay".

Q: I lost the welcoming email. Can you send it again?
A: Open you account page and click "Send Email Again".

Q: Please remove my callsign from the user list.
A: Open your account page and uncheck the checkbox "Allow callsign to be published..."

Q: I do not see these things on my account page.
A: Use the slider on the right side of browser to scroll down to more stuff. Keep holding your left mouse finger down while you pull the slider downward on your screen. Be sure Javascript and Cookies are enabled on your browser.

Q: Why do I see a security warning about a certificate error?
A: Delete the "WWW" from the url address. Some browsers are configured to always add "WWW" even when it is the wrong thing to do.

Q: I did not receive the welcome email with download instructions.
Q: I did not receive any email when I sent my license picture.
Q: I did not receive any email when I clicked "Forgot Password".
Q: I did not receive a confirming email after I made a payment.

A: Open your account page and be sure your email address is entered correctly.
Some ISP's, security software and email programs will tag these automatic emails as spam. Look in your spam folder.
If you continue to suffer from missing email, its highly recommended that you open a free GMAIL account at HTTP://GMAIL.COM. Hotmail and yahoo mail are also free.

Q: I forgot my password.
A: Open your account page and click "Forgot Password."

Q: My password is not working.
A: Your must erase the stars before entering your password.
Test you are using the correct password by seeing if it will open your account page.
If it fails with the right password, then the callsign is wrong.
Be sure your callsign is showing correctly above the password. Be sure your zero is a plain zero, not a crossed zero or a letter "OH".
To correct an error in your callsign, you must reinstall the program.

Try unchecking "Remember me on this computer" until you get this problem solved.

HINT: The Qsonet discussion forum is a whole different system from the Qsonet system. Do not confuse these two independent systems.
HINT: Registry cleaners were a good idea ten years ago. Today they cause many problems and solve none.

Q: When I try to log in nothing happens.
A: Be sure you click the "Log in Now" button after entering your password.
Try waiting 2 minutes to see if any error message will appear.
We had reports the running some versions of McCafee, ZoneAlarm and Norton will cause this problem. Refer to your documentation for McCafee, ZoneAlarm and Norton.


Q: When I try to log in I see Error 103 or Error 22.
A: Error 103 is reported if CQ100.EXE is not able to use the internet on your computer.
Usually this is some firewall, antivirus or "security" program running on your computer.
You need to read through the documentation for this software to find out how to authorize CQ100.EXE to use the internet.
A few people have reported that AOL Firewall reports error #22 instead of #103.
The firewall that is part of Windows XP is no problem.
Usually it is Windows 98 users who are running these strange third-party firewalls.

Q: After I log in, I see "Connecting To Server" scrolling across the window.
A: You are using an advanced firewall, router or ISP who is not allowing a simple outbound TCP connection to ports 24980 to 24985 on qsonet.com

Q: Why do I need to send a copy of my license? All my information is on QRZ.com and the FCC database.
A: Any CBer or SWL can pick your callsign from QRZ.com. We need to know you are the owner of that callsign.

Q: I don't have a scanner.
A: You can use a digital camera, web cam or fax machine.

Q: How do I sent it?
A: There are 4 ways to send it. Please choose only one.
1) Open your account page and use the provided button.
2) Send an email attachment to douglas "at" qsonet.com.
3) Send a one page fax to (613) 822-5625. Please write your callsign in big letters on the fax page.
4) Send postal mail to Cormac Technologies Inc., 28 N. Cumberland St., Thunder Bay, ON P7A 4K9, Canada. Remember it takes a bigger stamp to get to Canada. Airmail to Canada takes about 2 weeks.

Q: I sent my license but there is no response.
A: You should get an email confirmation within 16 hours that your callsign has been activated.
See "Email Problems" above.
Be sure you send the actual image file, and not a windows shortcut file.

If your image is not acceptable, there will be no response.
Examples of unacceptable images are:
1) a picture of your face, your dog, your rig, your QSL card.
2) a screen shot from a public web site.
3) an image generated from AE7Q or similar public website.

Q: I can't find my license.
A: Try sending some other image identification proving that you are the person named in the government database, living at the registered address.

Q: Please remove my callsign from the user list.
A: Open your account page and uncheck the checkbox "Allow callsign to be published..."

Q: How do I move the program onto my new computer?
Q: I had to wipe my old computer clean. How do I reinstall the program?
Q: Can I install the program onto many computers?

A: The procedure for re-install is identical to your original install. Open your account page and click "Download Program".
It is not necessary to re-register or send another copy of your license when you do this.
You can install the program on many computers if you wish. Just be sure your callsign is not being used on two computers at the same time.

Q: How can two different stations install onto the same computer?
A: If these stations are different Windows Users, they can each install the program for their callsign.
If they are the same Windows User, it will be necessary to reinstall the program whenever you wish to change the callsign.

Q: I have a new callsign. How do I change it?
A: Do not register the new call.
Send email to douglas "at" qsonet.com giving the old callsign and what you want it changed to.
Be sure to send this request from the same email address that shows on your account page.
Once the call has been changed on the Qsonet server, you will receive an email instructing you to reinstall the program at your end.

Q: Will this program work in the Apple or Linux operating system?
Q: Do you have any plans to make an Apple or Linux version?

A: No.

Q: Does it work on Windows 95?
A: No.

Q: Does it work on Windows 98 and ME?
A: Some got it working. Some did not.

Q: Does it work on Windows 2000 and XP?
A: Yes.

Q: Does it work on Windows VISTA?
A: Most people are saying it works fine under VISTA, although some people are saying they need to use the Vista volume controls instead of the transceiver knobs.

Q: How do I report someone who is breaking the rules?
A: Quietly send an email to abuse "at" qsonet.com
Do not confront them or get into an argument.
Do not send them an email. Just relax and tune to a different frequency.

Q: I heard a tech licensed station transmitting outside his band privileges.
A: He is doing nothing wrong.
Qsonet does not enforce band and license restrictions by license class for any country.
Techs can transmit on any Qsonet band and frequency, as long as they follow the mode restrictions.

Q: I heard someone sending CW on the phone band.
A: He is doing nothing wrong.
On real radio, the law is no phone on the CW bands, but CW, PSK, FSK are allowed on the phone bands.

Q: I heard someone discussing politics or religion.
A: He is doing nothing wrong. There is no law against this.

Q: I heard someone using fowl language.
A: If you really believe this goes beyond what the FCC would allow on late night television, please send a report to abuse "at" qsonet.com

Q: I heard someone transmitting music.
A: Usually this is accidental - probably VOX related. Please send a report to abuse "at" qsonet.com

Q: The program quits working whenever I do a band switch.
A: This problem is caused by Kerio Firewall. Kerio must be totally uninstalled, not just closed.

Q: The program freezes when I start transmitting and double with another station who has also started transmitting.
A: Try to avoid holding your mouse down on the PTT button, or holding your space bar down. Just click you mouse on the PTT button or tap your space bar. Set the PTT button to PTT / PTL mode.

Q: I see an error message "Program is Already Running".
A: Try rebooting your system. Try downloading the latest version. CQ100 is not supported for Windows 98 and ME.

QsoNet uses a single, outbound TCP connection just like any web page.
QsoNet uses very small internet bandwidth: Approximately 1.8 KB/s = 14.4 kbaud.

First try to determine which side of the conversation has the problem.
Usually one station will always have this problem, while other stations only hear the problem when they talk to this particular station.
Don't always assume it is your problem. The problem may be at the other side.

If the voice is breaking up, first be sure the transmitter is not using Vox.
Bad Vox setting will sound like a voice breakup.
Ask the station to use Push-To-Talk instead of Vox.

Your internet pipe may be too full.
If you have Skype, LimeWire, Itunes, BitTorrent or instant messengers running, your internet pipe might be plugged.
Try closing these other programs.
Especially try closing Skype because it routes other people's voice calls through your computer without your knowledge.
If you are downloading music or files while using QsoNet, your internet pipe might be too full. Close these programs completely by right clicking their icon on the system tray at bottom right corner.

Perhaps another computer in your house or neighborhood is busy downloading.

If you use an Internet Accelerator program, it might be busy downloading web pages into your cache. Try closing your browser.

Here is a company that has some free tools to diagnose where the internet bottleneck and breakup are happening... www.visualroute.com

Some Antivirus programs and firewalls will inspect every internet packet. If your computer CPU is not fast enough, the antivirus program might be causing the breakup.

If your router does packet inspection, try turning this option off.

Some wireless routers are frequently stopping and starting the wireless connection. This will cause momentary gaps in the audio. Try to improve the strength of the wireless signal, or simply use a real wire instead.

Try running the following test to Dallas, Texas www.speakeasy.net/speedtest
I get 1092 kbps download and 313 kbps upload. The Qsonet system requires about 16 kbps.

USB headsets are treated by windows as a separate sound card.
If you are having audio trouble, click the little question mark at top left corner and be sure the correct sound card(s) are selected.

When you talk into the mic while transmitting, the S-Meter should bounce with your voice, peaking about S9 to 10dB over.
Adjust the transceiver Mic Gain knob as required.

If your mic is still not working, click Audio Input Mixer and be sure mic is SELECTED and turned up.
Some sound cards have "Advanced" button where you can select "dB Boost" to make your microphone louder.

Some headsets have a hardware Mic switch embedded in the headset wire. Be sure its turned on.

If you hear a squealing feedback from your speakers, click the Audio INPUT Mixer and be sure that Microphone is MUTED in here.
Try closing all other programs so see if they are the cause of sound card trouble.

If you still have problems, close CQ100 and open Windows Sound Recorder.
If the Windows Sound Recorder can record and play your voice, your sound card is OK.
If Windows Sound Recorder has the same problem, then you need to check you hardware wires and sound card and your Windows configuration under Control Panel.
Try installing the latest driver software for your sound card.

Check in Control Panel that your GSM 6.10 codec has not been turned off or removed.
This codec has installed with all versions of windows since Win 95. Some free programs can make a mess of your codec settings.
If you start having audio problems after installing a free program, try performing a Windows Rollback to reverse the problem.

Someone reported he adjusted the priority of GSM 6.10 codec in Windows control panel to solve transmit audio problem.

When you click on someone's callsign, your browser should open to QRZ.com
A few people have reported that this feature does not work.

We use a standard windows technique that allows one program to send a command to open you DEFAULT browser. This technique works in all versions of Windows.

Here are some reasons why it may not work:

1) Something has messed with your default browser settings. Some ISP's install their own special browser that makes a mess of your system default browser settings.
Try downloading Firefox firefox.com and install that as your default browser.

2) Some "Internet Security" programs (yuk) cause lots of problems.
They detect one program trying to open another program as a "Hyjack Attempt".
They remove the ability of any program to open your browser.
Leo Laporte on television's "Call For Help TV" says these internet security programs cause a lot more problems than they solve.
This problem is with your Windows configuration. It is not a bug in CQ100. It is not a problem with your internet connection.

Try Control Panel, "Tools", "Internet Options", click on the advanced tab, and select the "Restore Defaults".

Q: How do I pay?
A: Open your account page and and click the button "How To Pay". All internet payments must be made from this page.

Q: How can a pay for a friend?
A: There are two ways to pay for a friend:
1) Sign in to your friend's account page using his callsign and password, then make the payment in the normal way.
2) Make an extra payment for your own account, then send email to douglas "at" qsonet.com explaining you wish to transfer this FULL year to some other callsign. Part-years cannot be transfered.

Q: Can I use someone else's credit card?
A: Yes. Your friend can sign in to your account page as you, click "How To Pay", then make the payment.

Q: Can I just send you my credit card number by email, fax or telephone?
A: NO, absolutely not. Never sent confidential information my email. We never see anyone's credit card information and we don't want to. The payment page goes direct to our bank using a secure encrypted connection.

Q: When does my account expire?
A: Open your account page and read your expiration date at the top of the page. We do not send out reminders.

Q: If I pay early will I lose the remainder of my free trial?
A: You receive the entire free period, regardless of when you pay. The paid time is added on to the end of the free time.

Q: My account has expired and the system will not let me re-register. It says my callsign is still registered.
A: You callsign remains registered even after your time has expired. Just open your account page and make your payment in the normal way. Do not try to re-register your callsign.