diff --git a/examples/meshtastic-qt6/qml/main.qml b/examples/meshtastic-qt6/qml/main.qml
index e3b7c75..e04dd6e 100644
--- a/examples/meshtastic-qt6/qml/main.qml
+++ b/examples/meshtastic-qt6/qml/main.qml
@@ -84,7 +84,6 @@ Item {
         autoExclusive: true
         checkable: true
         onTriggered: connection.changed(objectName)
-        Component.onCompleted: if (mobile && (Qt.platform.os !== "android")) { height = 0 }
       }
       Com.MenuItem {
         objectName: "WIFI"
diff --git a/examples/meshtastic/app.pro b/examples/meshtastic/app.pro
index bf5b09b..d036cc1 100644
--- a/examples/meshtastic/app.pro
+++ b/examples/meshtastic/app.pro
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+# to set manually (when no BLE available)
+#CONFIG += no_ble
+
 LISP_FILES = $$files(lisp/*) app.asd make.lisp
 
 exists(/etc/sailfish-release) {
@@ -65,7 +68,6 @@ win32 {
 sfos {
   QT      -= serialport
   CONFIG  += no_usb
-  DEFINES += NO_USB
 }
 
 android {
@@ -146,6 +148,14 @@ ios {
   QMAKE_BUNDLE_DATA += launch
 }
 
+no_ble {
+  DEFINES += NO_BLE
+  QT -= bluetooth
+}
+no_usb {
+  DEFINES += NO_USB
+}
+
 32bit {
   android {
     equals(QT_MAJOR_VERSION, 6) {
@@ -188,16 +198,21 @@ SOURCES += \
 !android {
   HEADERS += \
     cpp/connection/connection.h \
-    cpp/connection/ble/ble.h \
-    cpp/connection/ble/ble_me.h \
     cpp/connection/wifi/wifi_me.h
 
   SOURCES += \
     cpp/connection/connection.cpp \
-    cpp/connection/ble/ble.cpp \
-    cpp/connection/ble/ble_me.cpp \
     cpp/connection/wifi/wifi_me.cpp
 
+  !no_ble {
+    HEADERS += \
+      cpp/connection/ble/ble.h \
+      cpp/connection/ble/ble_me.h
+    SOURCES += \
+      cpp/connection/ble/ble.cpp \
+      cpp/connection/ble/ble_me.cpp
+  }
+
   !no_usb {
     HEADERS += \
       cpp/connection/usb/usb_me.h
diff --git a/examples/meshtastic/cpp/connection/connection.cpp b/examples/meshtastic/cpp/connection/connection.cpp
index 3f18edd..e535130 100644
--- a/examples/meshtastic/cpp/connection/connection.cpp
+++ b/examples/meshtastic/cpp/connection/connection.cpp
@@ -1,10 +1,12 @@
 #include "connection.h"
-#include "ble/ble_me.h"
 #include "wifi/wifi_me.h"
 #include <QStandardPaths>
 #include <QFile>
 #include <QDataStream>
 
+#ifndef NO_BLE
+  #include "ble/ble_me.h"
+#endif
 #ifndef NO_USB
   #ifdef Q_OS_ANDROID
     #include "usb/usb_me.android.h"
@@ -31,7 +33,9 @@ Connection::Connection(QtAndroidService* service) {
 }
 #else
 Connection::Connection() {
+#ifndef NO_BLE
   ble = new BLE_ME(this);
+#endif
 #ifndef NO_USB
   usb = new USB_ME(this);
 #endif
@@ -47,21 +51,27 @@ void Connection::setConnectionType(const QVariant& var) {
 void Connection::startDeviceDiscovery(const QVariant& var) {
   switch (type) {
     case BLE:
-#ifndef NO_USB
+#ifndef NO_BLE
+  #ifndef NO_USB
       usb->disconnect();
-#endif
+  #endif
       wifi->disconnect();
       ble->startDeviceDiscovery(var.toString());
+#endif
       break;
     case USB:
 #ifndef NO_USB
+  #ifndef NO_BLE
       ble->disconnect();
+  #endif
       wifi->disconnect();
       usb->connectToRadio();
 #endif
       break;
     case WiFi:
+#ifndef NO_BLE
       ble->disconnect();
+#endif
 #ifndef NO_USB
       usb->disconnect();
 #endif
@@ -71,13 +81,17 @@ void Connection::startDeviceDiscovery(const QVariant& var) {
 }
 
 void Connection::stopDeviceDiscovery() {
+#ifndef NO_BLE
   ble->stopDeviceDiscovery();
+#endif
 }
 
 void Connection::disconnect() {
   switch (type) {
     case BLE:
+#ifndef NO_BLE
       ble->disconnect();
+#endif
       break;
     case USB:
 #ifndef NO_USB
@@ -91,18 +105,24 @@ void Connection::disconnect() {
 }
 
 void Connection::setDeviceFilter(const QVariant& vName) {
+#ifndef NO_BLE
   ble->setDeviceFilter(vName.toString());
+#endif
 }
 
 void Connection::read2() {
+#ifndef NO_BLE
   ble->read();
+#endif
 }
 
 void Connection::write2(const QVariant& vBytes) {
   QByteArray bytes = vBytes.toByteArray();
   switch (type) {
     case BLE:
+#ifndef NO_BLE
       ble->write(bytes);
+#endif
       break;
     case USB:
 #ifndef NO_USB
diff --git a/examples/meshtastic/cpp/connection/connection.h b/examples/meshtastic/cpp/connection/connection.h
index 82eb47e..b3b084a 100644
--- a/examples/meshtastic/cpp/connection/connection.h
+++ b/examples/meshtastic/cpp/connection/connection.h
@@ -3,9 +3,11 @@
 #include <QObject>
 #include <QVariant>
 
-class BLE_ME;
 class WiFi_ME;
 
+#ifndef NO_BLE
+  class BLE_ME;
+#endif
 #ifndef NO_USB
   class USB_ME;
 #endif
@@ -28,9 +30,13 @@ public:
     BLE, USB, WiFi
   };
 
+  WiFi_ME* wifi = nullptr;
+#ifndef NO_BLE
   Type type = BLE;
   BLE_ME* ble = nullptr;
-  WiFi_ME* wifi = nullptr;
+#else
+  Type type = USB;
+#endif
 #ifndef NO_USB
   USB_ME* usb = nullptr;
 #endif
diff --git a/examples/meshtastic/cpp/qt.cpp b/examples/meshtastic/cpp/qt.cpp
index 5c8a194..c38903e 100644
--- a/examples/meshtastic/cpp/qt.cpp
+++ b/examples/meshtastic/cpp/qt.cpp
@@ -152,6 +152,17 @@ QVariant QT::wifiConnectable(const QVariant& vIP) {
   return QVariant();
 }
 
+QVariant QT::hasFeature(const QVariant& vName) {
+  auto name = vName.toString().toLower();
+#ifndef NO_BLE
+  if (name == "ble") return true;
+#endif
+#ifndef NO_USB
+  if (name == "usb") return true;
+#endif
+  return QVariant();
+}
+
 // SQLite
 
 QVariant QT::iniDb(const QVariant& vName) {
diff --git a/examples/meshtastic/cpp/qt.h b/examples/meshtastic/cpp/qt.h
index cd85a94..f7c9a58 100644
--- a/examples/meshtastic/cpp/qt.h
+++ b/examples/meshtastic/cpp/qt.h
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ public:
   Q_INVOKABLE QVariant read2();
   Q_INVOKABLE QVariant write2(const QVariant&);
   Q_INVOKABLE QVariant wifiConnectable(const QVariant&);
+  Q_INVOKABLE QVariant hasFeature(const QVariant&);
 
   // GPS
 #ifdef Q_OS_ANDROID
diff --git a/examples/meshtastic/cpp/qt.pro b/examples/meshtastic/cpp/qt.pro
index b8c40d9..ff02b8f 100644
--- a/examples/meshtastic/cpp/qt.pro
+++ b/examples/meshtastic/cpp/qt.pro
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+# to set manually (when no BLE available)
+#CONFIG += no_ble
+
 QT          += sql network bluetooth serialport
 TEMPLATE    = lib
 CONFIG      += c++17 plugin release no_keywords
@@ -9,22 +12,32 @@ TARGET      = qt
 OBJECTS_DIR = ./tmp/
 MOC_DIR     = ./tmp/
 
+no_ble {
+  DEFINES += NO_BLE
+  QT -= bluetooth
+}
+
 HEADERS += \
   connection/connection.h \
-  connection/ble/ble.h \
-  connection/ble/ble_me.h \
   connection/usb/usb_me.h \
   connection/wifi/wifi_me.h \
   qt.h
 
 SOURCES += \
   connection/connection.cpp \
-  connection/ble/ble.cpp \
-  connection/ble/ble_me.cpp \
   connection/usb/usb_me.cpp \
   connection/wifi/wifi_me.cpp \
   qt.cpp
 
+!no_ble {
+  HEADERS += \
+    connection/ble/ble.h \
+    connection/ble/ble_me.h
+  SOURCES += \
+    connection/ble/ble.cpp \
+    connection/ble/ble_me.cpp
+}
+
 linux {
   LIBS += -L../../../platforms/linux/lib
 }
diff --git a/examples/meshtastic/lisp/qt.lisp b/examples/meshtastic/lisp/qt.lisp
index 017d611..2af9be9 100644
--- a/examples/meshtastic/lisp/qt.lisp
+++ b/examples/meshtastic/lisp/qt.lisp
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
    #:*cpp*
    #:data-path
    #:disconnect
+   #:has-feature
    #:ini
    #:ini-db
    #:ini-positioning
diff --git a/examples/meshtastic/lisp/radios.lisp b/examples/meshtastic/lisp/radios.lisp
index 8ef7c65..4df88d8 100644
--- a/examples/meshtastic/lisp/radios.lisp
+++ b/examples/meshtastic/lisp/radios.lisp
@@ -7,6 +7,10 @@
   (setf *connection* (or (app:setting :connection)
                          :ble))
   (set-connection-type)
+  (unless (qt:has-feature qt:*cpp* "ble")
+    (q> |height| ui:*ble* 0))
+  (unless (qt:has-feature qt:*cpp* "usb")
+    (q> |height| ui:*usb* 0))
   (q> |checked| (symbol-name *connection*) t)
   (q> |model| ui:*region*
       (cons "-" (mapcar 'symbol-name (rest (lora:keywords :region-code)))))
diff --git a/examples/meshtastic/lisp/ui-vars.lisp b/examples/meshtastic/lisp/ui-vars.lisp
index bd622ef..2409c96 100644
--- a/examples/meshtastic/lisp/ui-vars.lisp
+++ b/examples/meshtastic/lisp/ui-vars.lisp
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
   (:use :cl)
   (:export
    #:*add-manual-marker*
+   #:*ble*
    #:*busy*
    #:*channel-name*
    #:*dialogs*
@@ -36,11 +37,13 @@
    #:*remove-marker*
    #:*share-location*
    #:*toast*
-   #:*unread-messages*))
+   #:*unread-messages*
+   #:*usb*))
 
 (in-package :ui)
 
 (defparameter *add-manual-marker* "add_manual_marker")
+(defparameter *ble*               "BLE")
 (defparameter *busy*              "busy")
 (defparameter *channel-name*      "channel_name")
 (defparameter *dialogs*           "dialogs")
@@ -74,4 +77,5 @@
 (defparameter *share-location*    "share_location")
 (defparameter *toast*             "toast")
 (defparameter *unread-messages*   "unread_messages")
+(defparameter *usb*               "USB")
 
diff --git a/examples/meshtastic/platforms/android/src/org/cl/meshtastic/MeActivity.java b/examples/meshtastic/platforms/android/src/org/cl/meshtastic/MeActivity.java
index cecf795..c9e764f 100644
--- a/examples/meshtastic/platforms/android/src/org/cl/meshtastic/MeActivity.java
+++ b/examples/meshtastic/platforms/android/src/org/cl/meshtastic/MeActivity.java
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ public class MeActivity extends QtActivity
     // GPS
 
     // location hack: needed to not lose initial position with non moving
-    // devices (on android Qt seems not to capture inital location values)
+    // devices (seems necessary on android when using Qt/QML)
 
     public double position_lat  = 0.0; 
     public double position_lon  = 0.0; 
diff --git a/examples/meshtastic/platforms/windows/setup.nsi b/examples/meshtastic/platforms/windows/setup.nsi
index 75cbda0..28f2bf6 100644
--- a/examples/meshtastic/platforms/windows/setup.nsi
+++ b/examples/meshtastic/platforms/windows/setup.nsi
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
   Unicode True
   !include "MUI2.nsh"
   Name "Mesh SMS"
-  OutFile "out\Setup-Mesh-SMS-0.9.3.exe"
+  OutFile "out\Setup-Mesh-SMS-0.9.4.exe"
   InstallDir "$PROGRAMFILES\Mesh SMS"
   Var STARTMENU_FOLDER
   !define MUI_ABORTWARNING
diff --git a/examples/meshtastic/qml/ext/messages/Messages.qml b/examples/meshtastic/qml/ext/messages/Messages.qml
index b08088c..9637eb4 100644
--- a/examples/meshtastic/qml/ext/messages/Messages.qml
+++ b/examples/meshtastic/qml/ext/messages/Messages.qml
@@ -258,7 +258,8 @@ Rectangle {
         height: width
         source: "../../img/emoji.png"
         opacity: 0.55
-        visible: edit.focus && (Qt.platform.os !== "android") && (Qt.platform.os !== "ios")
+        // on android/iOS/Windows native emojis work out of the box
+        visible: edit.focus && ((Qt.platform.os === "linux") || (Qt.platform.os === "osx"))
 
         MouseArea {
           anchors.fill: parent
diff --git a/examples/meshtastic/qml/main.qml b/examples/meshtastic/qml/main.qml
index c6f53be..ab4f3f6 100644
--- a/examples/meshtastic/qml/main.qml
+++ b/examples/meshtastic/qml/main.qml
@@ -83,7 +83,6 @@ Item {
         autoExclusive: true
         checkable: true
         onTriggered: connection.changed(objectName)
-        Component.onCompleted: if (mobile && (Qt.platform.os !== "android")) { height = 0 }
       }
       Com.MenuItem {
         objectName: "WIFI"