[ETS/PARC List] changes to the QRZ callsign look-up process

[E Drew Moore]

. Changes to the QRZ.COM Database & Lookup Process

    Posted by: "Patrick Thrush, AE1PT" ae1pt at hamtechtalk.com ae1pt

    Date: Wed Nov 3, 2010 3:13 pm ((PDT))

 

Some big changes in store for everyone-things that continue to make QRZ.COM
unique for amateur radio call lookups.  Note that this will not affect users
of the XML data port service-and likely will not cause any problem for
current callsign scrapers using the "free" lookup in HRD logbook.  Here is
the release made by Fred Lloyd, AA7BQ today:

 

 

 

"We're pleased to announce some  new database feature enhancements to QRZ.

 

 

 

The first enhancement gives our web search engine the ability to find
prefixed

 

and suffixed callsigns.  For example, when you should enter PD3/XX1XX into
the search

 

box, the database will search more thoroughly for PD3/XX1XX and failing
that, it will 

 

bring you to the page of the primary callsign, which in this case is XX1XX.

 

This works for both prefixes and suffixes, or in other words, searching for
XX1XX/PD3 

 

yields the same result.

 

 

 

The new prefix/suffix search capability extends to both the callsign lookup

 

boxes as well as to direct links to the website.  For example, if you go to
a

 

web browser and type in  http://www.qrz.com/db/pd3/xx1xx you will get the
XX1XX

 

record.

 

 

 

A part of this feature includes a new callsign alias database.  What's an
alias

 

you ask?  An alias is another callsign that you may have used or been
previously

 

issued.   Prior to today, a ham could list only their most recent previous
callsign

 

as an alternative way of being located.  With the new aliases feature, you
can now

 

list ALL of your previous callsigns, whether or not they have been reused by
someone 

 

else.  Your aliases will be examined whenever someone does a database search
and if

 

multiple references to a given callsign are found, the user will be
presented with

 

a choice of alternatives.   Note that when a direct URL link is used, the
returned

 

page will favor the current callsign instead of listing alternatives.

 

 

 

The callsign aliasing system also eliminates the need to make a separate
database

 

entry for your temporary overseas callsign.   Again suppose the callsign
XX1XX was

 

operating maritime mobile (/MM) for a while and the call XX1XX/MM was used.
With 

 

the new system, a separate listing for XX1XX/MM is unnecessary because all
queries 

 

asking for XX1XX/(whatever) will be sent to the main XX1XX page.   With this


 

consolidation, XX1XX can list all of his mobile and overseas operations on
his primary 

 

page, using the biography area for detailed explanation, QSL info, etc..

 

 

 

Adding new aliases to your callsign record is easy.  Just go to your
callsign page,

 

choose the Detail tab, then click on Edit Record.  From the Callsign Update
Manager,

 

choose "Update the basic callsign data".  Look down the page to find
"Aliases and

 

previous callsigns".  In the Add box, insert the previous callsign you would
like to

 

be found by, and include a comment if you like.  Click Save Changes at the
bottom

 

of the page and you're done!

 

 

 

A few notes about aliases:

 

 

 

The new alias facility has made the old 'previous callsign' field obsolete.
During

 

the conversion, we have converted the 'previous callsign' for every record
to an alias 

 

having the comment 'Previous callsign'.  The result is the same.  If someone
searches

 

for your previous callsign, they will be led to your current callsign page.

 

 

 

Note that an alias can be any identifier.  While we don't recommend it, you
could 

 

use your first name as an alias.  You could also use a tactical callsign
from some

 

other radio service, if you like.  The purpose of the alias facility is to
create

 

other names by which you can be found on QRZ.

 

 

 

Also, note that we won't tolerate abuse of the facility, especially when it
comes

 

to using the facility to harass others.  Also note that you may not use the
facility

 

to degrade the search engine, for example, aliasing common words (e.g.
'the') to your callsign.

 

You should use the facility with due care and deference to others.  If you
have trouble

 

in recognizing deference, then we'll remind you with a privilege banishment.

 

 

 

Prior to today's announcement, we offered limited support for the addition
of prefixed

 

and suffixed ('slashed') callsigns as regular entries in our database.
Effectively

 

immediately, this capability will no longer be offered as it is made
obsolete by the

 

new search engine.  Those 400 or so existing slashed callsigns in our
database will

 

be still available for a short while by substituting an underscore (_) for
the slash.

 

For example, CU3DX/P can be fetched by searching for CU3DX_P.  These will be
removed

 

in about 90 days.

 

 

 

The callsign alias feature has not yet been added to the XML data server
that is used

 

by the popular logging programs.  We will solicit comments from the logbook
program

 

authors and XML software developers before amending our XML interface."

 

 

 

 

 

73,

 

 

 

Patrick Thrush, AE1PT

 

QRZ Forums General Manager