diff --git a/server/server.go b/server/server.go
index 2f2bd17..4c4b0d2 100644
--- a/server/server.go
+++ b/server/server.go
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import (
 	"log"
 	"net/http"
 	"nhooyr.io/websocket"
+	"strings"
 	"sync"
 	"time"
 )
@@ -64,6 +65,7 @@ func (self *BBSServer) subscribeHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request)
 
 	// decode subprotocol data into settings objects
 	data := c.Subprotocol()
+	data = strings.ReplaceAll(data, ".", "=")
 
 	// base64 decode
 	decoded, err := base64.StdEncoding.DecodeString(data)
diff --git a/ts/index.ts b/ts/index.ts
index 62650f0..a720c95 100644
--- a/ts/index.ts
+++ b/ts/index.ts
@@ -211,11 +211,19 @@ function connect() {
       subprotocol += JSON.stringify(a) + ",";
     }
     subprotocol += "]";
-    subprotocol = btoa(subprotocol);
+    subprotocol = btoa(subprotocol).replace("=", ".");
     
     // open the websocket connection with settings as subprotocol
     const wsProto = location.protocol == "https:" ? "wss" : "ws";
     _conn = new WebSocket(`${wsProto}://${location.host}/subscribe`, subprotocol);
+    _conn.addEventListener("open", (e: any) => {
+      console.log("websocket connection opened");
+      console.log(JSON.stringify(e));
+    });
+    _conn.addEventListener("error", (e: any) => {
+      console.log("websocket connection error");
+      console.log(JSON.stringify(e));
+    });
     _("websocket", _conn);
   }
 }