diff --git a/libresapi/src/webui-src/app/chat.js b/libresapi/src/webui-src/app/chat.js
index b272c3fdd..d8bfdfdb8 100644
--- a/libresapi/src/webui-src/app/chat.js
+++ b/libresapi/src/webui-src/app/chat.js
@@ -20,6 +20,9 @@ function lobbies(){
         return m("div.btn",{
             title: "topic: " + lobby.topic + "\n"
                 + "subscribed: " + lobby.subscribed,
+            style: {
+                backgroundColor: lobby.subscribed ? 'blue' : 'darkred',
+            },
             onclick: function(){
                 m.route("/chat?lobby=" + lobby.chat_id);
             }
@@ -29,16 +32,64 @@ function lobbies(){
 
 }
 
+function getLobbyDetails(lobbyid){
+    var lobs = rs("chat/lobbies");
+    if (lobs === undefined) {
+        return null;
+    };
+    for(var i = 0, l = lobs.length; i < l; ++i) {
+        if (lobs[i].chat_id == lobbyid) {
+            return lobs[i];
+        }
+    }
+    return null;
+}
+
 function lobby(lobbyid){
+    var lobby = getLobbyDetails(lobbyid);
+    if (lobby == null) {
+        return m("div","waiting ...");
+    }
     var msgs = rs("chat/messages/" + lobbyid);
     var info = rs("chat/info/" + lobbyid);
     if (msgs === undefined || info === undefined) {
         return m("div","waiting ...");
     }
-    return msgs.map(function(item){
-        var d = new Date(new Number(item.send_time)*1000);
-        return msg(item.author_name, d.toLocaleDateString() + " " + d.toLocaleTimeString(),item.msg);
-    });
+    var intro = [
+            m("h2",lobby.name),
+            m("p",lobby.topic),
+            m("hr")
+    ]
+    if (!lobby.subscribed) {
+        return [
+            intro,
+            m("b","select subscribe identity:"),
+            m("p"),
+            rs.list("identity/own", function(item){
+                return m("div.btn2",{
+                    onclick:function(){
+                        console.log("subscribe - id:" + lobby.id +", "
+                            + "gxs_id:" + item.gxs_id)
+			            rs.request("chat/subscribe_lobby",{
+			                id:lobby.id,
+			                gxs_id:item.gxs_id
+			            })
+                    }
+                },"subscribe as " + item.name);
+            }),
+        ];
+    }
+    return [
+        intro,
+        msgs.map(function(item){
+            var d = new Date(new Number(item.send_time)*1000);
+            return msg(
+                item.author_name,
+                d.toLocaleDateString() + " " + d.toLocaleTimeString(),
+                item.msg
+            );
+        })
+    ];
 }
 
 module.exports = {
@@ -46,8 +97,8 @@ module.exports = {
         return m(".chat.container", [
             m(".chat.header", "headerbar"),
             m(".chat.left", [
-                m("div.chat.header","lobbies:"),
-                m("hr"),
+                m("div.chat.header[style=position:relative]","lobbies:"),
+                m("br"),
                 lobbies(),
             ]),
             m(".chat.right", right),
diff --git a/libresapi/src/webui-src/app/retroshare.js b/libresapi/src/webui-src/app/retroshare.js
index e955bbb13..1f4b3674d 100644
--- a/libresapi/src/webui-src/app/retroshare.js
+++ b/libresapi/src/webui-src/app/retroshare.js
@@ -170,7 +170,11 @@ function checkFocus(){
 // called every time, rs or rs.request failed, only response or value is set
 function requestFail(path, response, value) {
     rs.error = "error on " + path;
-    console.log("Error on " + path + (response == null ? ", value " + value : ", response " + response));
+    console.log("Error on " + path +
+        (response == null ? ", value: " + value : (", response: " +
+            (response.debug_msg === undefined ? response : response.debug_msg)
+        ))
+    );
 }
 
 function rs(path, args, callback, options){
@@ -260,8 +264,8 @@ rs.counting = function(path, counterfnkt) {
 // listing data-elements
 rs.list = function(path, buildfktn){
     var list = rs(path);
-    if (list === undefined) {
+    if (list === undefined|| list == null) {
         return "< waiting for server ... >"
-    }
+    };
     return list.map(buildfktn);
 }