diff --git a/Configuration.cpp b/Configuration.cpp
index b955871..ae81d45 100644
--- a/Configuration.cpp
+++ b/Configuration.cpp
@@ -628,6 +628,7 @@ private:
   qint32 RxBandwidth_;
   double degrade_;
   double txDelay_;
+  bool check_for_updates_;
   bool id_after_73_;
   bool tx_qsy_allowed_;
   bool spot_to_reporting_networks_;
@@ -750,6 +751,7 @@ qint32 Configuration::aggressive() const {return m_->aggressive_;}
 double Configuration::degrade() const {return m_->degrade_;}
 double Configuration::txDelay() const {return m_->txDelay_;}
 qint32 Configuration::RxBandwidth() const {return m_->RxBandwidth_;}
+bool Configuration::check_for_updates() const { return m_->check_for_updates_; }
 bool Configuration::id_after_73 () const {return m_->id_after_73_;}
 bool Configuration::tx_qsy_allowed () const {return m_->tx_qsy_allowed_;}
 bool Configuration::spot_to_reporting_networks () const
@@ -1400,6 +1402,7 @@ void Configuration::impl::initialize_models ()
   ui_->sound_cq_path_display_label->setText(sound_cq_path_);
   ui_->sound_dm_path_display_label->setText(sound_dm_path_);
   ui_->sound_am_path_display_label->setText(sound_am_path_);
+  ui_->checkForUpdates_checkBox->setChecked (check_for_updates_);
   ui_->CW_id_after_73_check_box->setChecked (id_after_73_);
   ui_->tx_qsy_check_box->setChecked (tx_qsy_allowed_);
   ui_->psk_reporter_check_box->setChecked (spot_to_reporting_networks_);
@@ -1677,6 +1680,7 @@ void Configuration::impl::read_settings ()
   monitor_off_at_startup_ = settings_->value ("MonitorOFF", false).toBool ();
   monitor_last_used_ = settings_->value ("MonitorLastUsed", false).toBool ();
   spot_to_reporting_networks_ = settings_->value ("PSKReporter", true).toBool ();
+  check_for_updates_ = settings_->value("CheckForUpdates", true).toBool();
   id_after_73_ = settings_->value ("After73", false).toBool ();
   tx_qsy_allowed_ = settings_->value ("TxQSYAllowed", false).toBool ();
   use_dynamic_info_ = settings_->value ("AutoGrid", false).toBool ();
@@ -1849,6 +1853,7 @@ void Configuration::impl::write_settings ()
   settings_->setValue ("MonitorOFF", monitor_off_at_startup_);
   settings_->setValue ("MonitorLastUsed", monitor_last_used_);
   settings_->setValue ("PSKReporter", spot_to_reporting_networks_);
+  settings_->setValue ("CheckForUpdates", check_for_updates_);
   settings_->setValue ("After73", id_after_73_);
   settings_->setValue ("TxQSYAllowed", tx_qsy_allowed_);
   settings_->setValue ("Macros", macros_.stringList ());
@@ -2381,6 +2386,7 @@ void Configuration::impl::accept ()
   aggressive_ = ui_->sbAggressive->value ();
   degrade_ = ui_->sbDegrade->value ();
   RxBandwidth_ = ui_->sbBandwidth->value ();
+  check_for_updates_ = ui_->checkForUpdates_checkBox->isChecked();
   id_after_73_ = ui_->CW_id_after_73_check_box->isChecked ();
   tx_qsy_allowed_ = ui_->tx_qsy_check_box->isChecked ();
   transmit_directed_ = ui_->transmit_directed_check_box->isChecked();
diff --git a/Configuration.hpp b/Configuration.hpp
index f47ba0b..e971a87 100644
--- a/Configuration.hpp
+++ b/Configuration.hpp
@@ -118,6 +118,7 @@ public:
   qint32 RxBandwidth() const;
   double degrade() const;
   double txDelay() const;
+  bool check_for_updates() const;
   bool id_after_73 () const;
   bool tx_qsy_allowed () const;
   bool spot_to_reporting_networks () const;
diff --git a/Configuration.ui b/Configuration.ui
index aa4fd43..153e7ac 100644
--- a/Configuration.ui
+++ b/Configuration.ui
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
       <string>Select tab to change configuration parameters.</string>
      </property>
      <property name="currentIndex">
-      <number>3</number>
+      <number>0</number>
      </property>
      <widget class="QWidget" name="general_tab">
       <attribute name="title">
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@
                 <x>0</x>
                 <y>0</y>
                 <width>738</width>
-                <height>453</height>
+                <height>448</height>
                </rect>
               </property>
               <layout class="QVBoxLayout" name="verticalLayout_3">
@@ -278,8 +278,8 @@
                <rect>
                 <x>0</x>
                 <y>0</y>
-                <width>615</width>
-                <height>646</height>
+                <width>726</width>
+                <height>631</height>
                </rect>
               </property>
               <layout class="QVBoxLayout" name="verticalLayout_26">
@@ -394,6 +394,13 @@
                     </property>
                    </widget>
                   </item>
+                  <item>
+                   <widget class="QCheckBox" name="checkForUpdates_checkBox">
+                    <property name="text">
+                     <string>Check for software updates at startup</string>
+                    </property>
+                   </widget>
+                  </item>
                   <item>
                    <layout class="QHBoxLayout" name="horizontalLayout_9">
                     <item>
@@ -918,8 +925,8 @@ text message.</string>
                <rect>
                 <x>0</x>
                 <y>0</y>
-                <width>718</width>
-                <height>435</height>
+                <width>285</width>
+                <height>397</height>
                </rect>
               </property>
               <layout class="QVBoxLayout" name="verticalLayout_27">
@@ -1339,8 +1346,8 @@ a few, particularly some Kenwood rigs, require it).</string>
                <rect>
                 <x>0</x>
                 <y>0</y>
-                <width>237</width>
-                <height>467</height>
+                <width>257</width>
+                <height>427</height>
                </rect>
               </property>
               <layout class="QVBoxLayout" name="verticalLayout_28">
@@ -1767,8 +1774,8 @@ radio interface behave as expected.</string>
            <rect>
             <x>0</x>
             <y>0</y>
-            <width>760</width>
-            <height>502</height>
+            <width>267</width>
+            <height>302</height>
            </rect>
           </property>
           <layout class="QVBoxLayout" name="verticalLayout_29">
@@ -2080,8 +2087,8 @@ both here.</string>
            <rect>
             <x>0</x>
             <y>0</y>
-            <width>746</width>
-            <height>525</height>
+            <width>572</width>
+            <height>498</height>
            </rect>
           </property>
           <layout class="QVBoxLayout" name="verticalLayout_30">
@@ -2543,8 +2550,8 @@ for assessing propagation and system performance.</string>
            <rect>
             <x>0</x>
             <y>0</y>
-            <width>760</width>
-            <height>502</height>
+            <width>498</width>
+            <height>321</height>
            </rect>
           </property>
           <layout class="QVBoxLayout" name="verticalLayout_31">
@@ -3121,8 +3128,8 @@ QListView::item:hover {
                <rect>
                 <x>0</x>
                 <y>0</y>
-                <width>738</width>
-                <height>378</height>
+                <width>280</width>
+                <height>201</height>
                </rect>
               </property>
               <layout class="QGridLayout" name="gridLayout_15">
@@ -3376,8 +3383,8 @@ QListView::item:hover {
                <rect>
                 <x>0</x>
                 <y>0</y>
-                <width>233</width>
-                <height>253</height>
+                <width>236</width>
+                <height>258</height>
                </rect>
               </property>
               <layout class="QGridLayout" name="gridLayout_5">
@@ -3580,8 +3587,8 @@ QListView::item:hover {
                <rect>
                 <x>0</x>
                 <y>0</y>
-                <width>277</width>
-                <height>93</height>
+                <width>288</width>
+                <height>96</height>
                </rect>
               </property>
               <layout class="QGridLayout" name="gridLayout_8">
@@ -4190,11 +4197,11 @@ soundcard changes</string>
  </connections>
  <buttongroups>
   <buttongroup name="CAT_stop_bits_button_group"/>
+  <buttongroup name="CAT_data_bits_button_group"/>
   <buttongroup name="TX_mode_button_group"/>
   <buttongroup name="CAT_handshake_button_group"/>
+  <buttongroup name="split_mode_button_group"/>
   <buttongroup name="PTT_method_button_group"/>
   <buttongroup name="TX_audio_source_button_group"/>
-  <buttongroup name="CAT_data_bits_button_group"/>
-  <buttongroup name="split_mode_button_group"/>
  </buttongroups>
 </ui>
diff --git a/mainwindow.cpp b/mainwindow.cpp
index 11d7e65..874a84e 100644
--- a/mainwindow.cpp
+++ b/mainwindow.cpp
@@ -12,6 +12,9 @@
 #include <QRegExp>
 #include <QRegularExpression>
 #include <QDesktopServices>
+#include <QNetworkAccessManager>
+#include <QNetworkRequest>
+#include <QNetworkReply>
 #include <QUrl>
 #include <QStandardPaths>
 #include <QDir>
@@ -1638,15 +1641,81 @@ MainWindow::MainWindow(QDir const& temp_directory, bool multiple,
   if (!m_valid) throw std::runtime_error {"Fatal initialization exception"};
 }
 
-void MainWindow::checkVersion(){
-  auto m = new QNetworkAccessManager(this);
-  connect(m, &QNetworkAccessManager::finished, this, [this](QNetworkReply * reply){
-    if(reply->error()) return;
+QPair<QPair<int, int>, int> splitVersion(QString v){
+    int hyphenPos = v.lastIndexOf("-");
+    if(hyphenPos >= 0){
+        v = v.left(hyphenPos);
+    }
 
-    QString content = reply->readAll();
-    qDebug() << "version" << content;
+    QVector<int> intSegs;
+    foreach(QString seg, v.split(".")){
+        bool ok = false;
+        int i = seg.toInt(&ok);
+        if(!ok){
+            break;
+        }
+        intSegs.append(i);
+    }
+
+    int len = intSegs.count();
+    QPair<QPair<int, int>, int> tuple;
+    if(len > 0){
+        tuple.first.first = intSegs.at(0);
+    }
+    if(len > 1){
+        tuple.first.second = intSegs.at(1);
+    }
+    if(len > 2){
+        tuple.second = intSegs.at(2);
+    }
+    return tuple;
+}
+
+void MainWindow::checkVersion(bool alertOnUpToDate){
+  auto m = new QNetworkAccessManager(this);
+  connect(m, &QNetworkAccessManager::finished, this, [this, alertOnUpToDate](QNetworkReply * reply){
+    if(reply->error()){
+        qDebug() << "Checking for Updates Error:" << reply->errorString();
+        return;
+    }
+
+    QString content = reply->readAll().trimmed();
+
+    auto currentVersion = splitVersion(version());
+    auto networkVersion = splitVersion(content);
+
+    qDebug() << "Checking Version" << currentVersion << "with" << networkVersion;
+
+    if(currentVersion < networkVersion){
+
+        SelfDestructMessageBox * m = new SelfDestructMessageBox(60,
+          "New Updates Available",
+          QString("A new version (%1) of JS8Call is now available. Please see js8call.com for more details.").arg(content),
+          QMessageBox::Information,
+          QMessageBox::Ok,
+          QMessageBox::Ok,
+          false,
+          this);
+
+        m->show();
+
+    } else if(alertOnUpToDate){
+
+        SelfDestructMessageBox * m = new SelfDestructMessageBox(60,
+          "No Updates Available",
+          QString("Your version (%1) of JS8Call is up-to-date.").arg(version()),
+          QMessageBox::Information,
+          QMessageBox::Ok,
+          QMessageBox::Ok,
+          false,
+          this);
+
+        m->show();
+
+    }
   });
 
+  qDebug() << "Checking for Updates...";
   QUrl url("http://files.js8call.com/version.txt");
   QNetworkRequest r(url);
   m->get(r);
@@ -1654,7 +1723,9 @@ void MainWindow::checkVersion(){
 
 void MainWindow::checkStartupWarnings ()
 {
-  checkVersion();
+  if(m_config.check_for_updates()){
+      checkVersion(false);
+  }
   ensureCallsignSet(false);
 }
 
@@ -2598,6 +2669,10 @@ void MainWindow::on_menuControl_aboutToShow(){
 #endif
 }
 
+void MainWindow::on_actionCheck_for_Updates_triggered(){
+    checkVersion(true);
+}
+
 void MainWindow::on_actionEnable_Spotting_toggled(bool checked){
     ui->spotButton->setChecked(checked);
 }
diff --git a/mainwindow.h b/mainwindow.h
index b24c390..747ad40 100644
--- a/mainwindow.h
+++ b/mainwindow.h
@@ -177,6 +177,7 @@ private slots:
   void on_tx5_currentTextChanged (QString const&);
   void on_tx6_editingFinished();
   void on_menuControl_aboutToShow();
+  void on_actionCheck_for_Updates_triggered();
   void on_actionEnable_Spotting_toggled(bool checked);
   void on_actionEnable_Auto_Reply_toggled(bool checked);
   void on_menuWindow_aboutToShow();
@@ -413,7 +414,7 @@ private slots:
   void on_cbCQTx_toggled(bool b);
   void splash_done (); 
   void on_measure_check_box_stateChanged (int);
-  void checkVersion();
+  void checkVersion(bool alertOnUpToDate);
   void checkStartupWarnings ();
   void clearCallsignSelected();
   void refreshTextDisplay();
diff --git a/mainwindow.ui b/mainwindow.ui
index a573951..2966989 100644
--- a/mainwindow.ui
+++ b/mainwindow.ui
@@ -4613,7 +4613,7 @@ list. The list can be maintained in Settings (F2).</string>
      <x>0</x>
      <y>0</y>
      <width>994</width>
-     <height>22</height>
+     <height>25</height>
     </rect>
    </property>
    <widget class="QMenu" name="menuFile">
@@ -4688,6 +4688,7 @@ list. The list can be maintained in Settings (F2).</string>
     <addaction name="actionShort_list_of_add_on_prefixes_and_suffixes"/>
     <addaction name="actionCopyright_Notice"/>
     <addaction name="separator"/>
+    <addaction name="actionCheck_for_Updates"/>
     <addaction name="actionAbout"/>
    </widget>
    <widget class="QMenu" name="menuMode">
@@ -5677,6 +5678,11 @@ list. The list can be maintained in Settings (F2).</string>
     <string>Show Message Inbox...</string>
    </property>
   </action>
+  <action name="actionCheck_for_Updates">
+   <property name="text">
+    <string>Check for Updates</string>
+   </property>
+  </action>
  </widget>
  <layoutdefault spacing="6" margin="11"/>
  <customwidgets>