QRZ..... Subscriber or Non Subscriber

[NA4BH]

QRZ has a great service that they offer. Callsign lookups, great message boards, and they fill in all the lookup information with many logging programs. Not only that, they give most everyone something to do during the low sun spot cycle.

Why do you, or, why don't you subscribe to this service?

Just wondering?

[n0ov]

Simple.

Their database does NOT contain all amateur radio call signs -- some of the ones who have been banned have been removed.

What is offered is not value added in my book -- if this site was amateur radio specific I may consider, but there are entirely too many trolls, nut jobs and wacko's posting on a regular basis

Would consider getting a subscription if this was amateur radio specific and not a bunch of whiners or complainers.

On a positive note -- the free stuff that is offered does help folks prepare for their tests. They get an A+ for that.

[k4kyv]

Quote[/b] (n0ov @ July 05 2007,02:04)]Their database does NOT contain all amateur radio call signs -- some of the ones who have been banned have been removed.

What is offered is not value added in my book -- if this site was amateur radio specific I may consider, but there are entirely too many trolls, nut jobs and wacko's posting on a regular basis

Would consider getting a subscription if this was amateur radio specific and not a bunch of whiners or complainers.
Well, there's the Talk forum that is amateur radio specific.

I agree that the data base is of less value when some valid FCC callsigns are deleted because the operator has done something that doesn't meet someone's approval.

[ad4mg]

Quote[/b] ]n0o0ob: there are entirely too many trolls, nut jobs and wacko's posting on a regular basis
Perhaps if the postings were done on an irregular basis you would be happier? http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[ka5piu]

Quote[/b] (n0ov @ July 04 2007,19:04)]Simple.

Their database does NOT contain all amateur radio call signs -- some of the ones who have been banned have been removed.

What is offered is not value added in my book -- if this site was amateur radio specific I may consider, but there are entirely too many trolls, nut jobs and wacko's posting on a regular basis

Would consider getting a subscription if this was amateur radio specific and not a bunch of whiners or complainers.

On a positive note -- the free stuff that is offered does help folks prepare for their tests. #They get an A+ for that.
Hello.

Rag Chew Central is just like, well, Amateur Radio Ragchew.
For Amateur Radio related stuff hit the other forums.
I agree, Q&A can be a bit off the wall, some answers make the original poster unhappy.
And, true, a lot of the people "Should already know", but they don't.
And, yes, if one does a search they will find the answer.
But, that is true of just about everything, so I see that as being not much of an issue.
What I do see is all of the good QRZ does.
As was pointed out, the practice tests make getting a ticket easy.
Finally, quite a few people who get banned ask that their call be removed from the Zed.
In that case a link is now provided to the FCC site.
And, I would not expect all calls to be in the database.
Some, like Saudi Arabia, are in the QRZ database in English.
Yes, you can look them up in the Saudi database, if you can read Arabic.

[N5NPO]

Quote[/b] (ad4mg @ July 04 2007,19:34)]Quote[/b] ]n0o0ob: #there are entirely too many trolls, nut jobs and wacko's posting on a regular basis
Perhaps if the postings were done on an irregular basis you would be happier? #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
I do hearby pledge to troll more irregularly.





I am N5NPO and I approve this TROLL. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[WF7A]

Hey, you think it's bad here with trolls and such, try eham.com: it's MUCH worse there. I canceled my subscription there because of the lack of moderator action to give the boot to the ne'er-do-wells that deserved to be booted.

To answer why I'm a subscriber here, the answer is easy: my membership to the ARRL was coming up for renewal and about that time, I stumbled onto QRZ. Since we live on a shoestring budget, The Wifoid gave me a choice: subscribe to one or the other, but not both. I felt I got more personal value for my money--and more fraternity--here than with the ARRL, so Fred got my money...and I haven't regretted that decision since. I prefer to support "the little guy" who I know will put my hard-earned money to good use than to send a check and wonder where the money really went to.

As an aside, we give quite a bit to charity but when we do, we're very selective with whom we give it to: we'd rather give it to one person who we can see results with than send it to a black hole in the red light district. Wait, that didn't come out right...

[ad4mg]

Quote[/b] (N5NPO @ July 04 2007,22:40)]Quote[/b] (ad4mg @ July 04 2007,19:34)]Quote[/b] ]n0o0ob: there are entirely too many trolls, nut jobs and wacko's posting on a regular basis
Perhaps if the postings were done on an irregular basis you would be happier? http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
I do hearby pledge to troll more irregularly.





I am N5NPO and I approve this TROLL. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
Are you running for office? The Law & Order dude ain't gonna like that. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[N5NPO]

Quote[/b] (ad4mg @ July 04 2007,20:14)]Quote[/b] (N5NPO @ July 04 2007,22:40)]Quote[/b] (ad4mg @ July 04 2007,19:34)]Quote[/b] ]n0o0ob: #there are entirely too many trolls, nut jobs and wacko's posting on a regular basis
Perhaps if the postings were done on an irregular basis you would be happier? #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
I do hearby pledge to troll more irregularly.





I am N5NPO and I approve this TROLL. #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
Are you running for office? #The Law & Order dude ain't gonna like that. # http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
I am running for TROLL....








I am N5NPO and I approved this TROLL. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif



Say, anybody got a good pick of a troll creature?

[KI4PEQ]

Quote[/b] (N5NPO @ July 04 2007,20:40)]Quote[/b] (ad4mg @ July 04 2007,19:34)]Quote[/b] ]n0o0ob: #there are entirely too many trolls, nut jobs and wacko's posting on a regular basis
Perhaps if the postings were done on an irregular basis you would be happier? #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
I do hearby pledge to troll more irregularly.
There are medications that can help.

http://members.cox.net/ki4peq/Prune-O-Lax.jpg

Fred gets my $$$ because he offers a service I use a lot. He provides this forum, and I think if I use it I should assist in its care and feeding. I also get the callbook CD-ROM from QRZ. And even though some of the posts on Rag Chew get way over the top, with people posting things there and saying things they would not say to a fellow ham face to face, I still think it is worth my money.

I fritter away my some of my pension on amateur radio gear, magazines, and internet forum subscriptions. The rest I just squander. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[NA4BH]

Quote[/b] (KI4PEQ @ July 04 2007,20:55)]Quote[/b] (N5NPO @ July 04 2007,20:40)]Quote[/b] (ad4mg @ July 04 2007,19:34)]Quote[/b] ]n0o0ob: #there are entirely too many trolls, nut jobs and wacko's posting on a regular basis
Perhaps if the postings were done on an irregular basis you would be happier? #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
I do hearby pledge to troll more irregularly.
There are medications that can help.

http://members.cox.net/ki4peq/Prune-O-Lax.jpg
The Wifoid even laughed at this.... http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[KC7UP]

I subscribe because I use the call lookup in conjunction with my logging program. So what if some have been deleted, my program has them. I like no ads, instant screen changes and enjoy the company.
Curt

[KB1KIX]

I don't know much about the subscription service.

I look at it this way - the site has lots of ads, I have supported many advertisers on this site and clicked links and made lots of purchases - which keeps advertisers happy.

I can't justify paying for a service, when I already support their advertisers.

Just my .02 cents worth.

Jonathan

[n0ov]

I rest my case.

Blogs of this nature are good fun, however, there is no reason to pay hard earned $$$ for this and access to an incomplete database.

[ad4mg]

Quote[/b] (n0ov @ July 05 2007,07:40)]I rest my case.

Blogs of this nature are good fun, however, there is no reason to pay hard earned $$$ for this and access to an incomplete database.
It should be just like MW talk radio. You buy the equipment ... and the content is free.

You know that you're first post put an incredible amount of pressure on many of us trolls. It was kinda like a "Wet Paint - Do Not Touch" sign. You just gotta ... http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

73

[N5NPO]

Quote[/b] (ad4mg @ July 05 2007,04:47)]Quote[/b] (n0ov @ July 05 2007,07:40)]I rest my case.

Blogs of this nature are good fun, however, there is no reason to pay hard earned $$$ for this and access to an incomplete database.
It should be just like MW talk radio. #You buy the equipment ... and the content is free.

You know that you're first post put an incredible amount of pressure on many of us trolls. #It was kinda like a "Wet Paint - Do Not Touch" sign. #You just gotta ... #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

73
I gotta admit, I usually read the "Wet Paint" sign only after I get it on me.... http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[N2RJ]

I subscribed last year, because I wanted to support the site.

The added benefit I got was ad free use of the callsign DB and forums.

[n0ov]

Quote[/b] (ad4mg @ July 04 2007,05:47)]Quote[/b] (n0ov @ July 05 2007,07:40)]I rest my case.

Blogs of this nature are good fun, however, there is no reason to pay hard earned $$$ for this and access to an incomplete database.
It should be just like MW talk radio. #You buy the equipment ... and the content is free.

You know that you're first post put an incredible amount of pressure on many of us trolls. #It was kinda like a "Wet Paint - Do Not Touch" sign. #You just gotta ... #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

73
Oh you miss understand. #Not being judgemental here -- just trying to answer the original post honestly

Trolling for Dullards has been taken to a new art and QRZ seems to be prime fishing ground. Some of the posts are like a bad train wreck -- you don't want to see what is happening but you can't just help but look.

To go back to the original post, question was asked why or why not someone would #subscribe to QRZ.

---------------------
Of course the place has not been the same since Steve got banned............

[n2nh]

Quote[/b] (ad4mg @ July 04 2007,22:34)]Quote[/b] ]n0o0ob: there are entirely too many trolls, nut jobs and wacko's posting on a regular basis
Perhaps if the postings were done on an irregular basis you would be happier? http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
Every other Tues and Thurs with free forums for all soapbox wisemen on Holidays.

Howsabout that? http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[n0jaa]

Welcome to another edition of "As the Forum Churns."


I, for one, subscribe because Fred offers a good service. I also like the fact that I can delete my own posts and can even delete forums I create if I wish. Plus the inner pages don't have all of the garbage ads on them. If I want to see an ad, I can always go back to the main page.

[ve2nsm]

I don't use the database, or maybe 4 times a year max.
I'm here for the forums, and I don't see any ads, nowhere.

[al2n]

If you want to get rid of the ads, just use Firefox with Adblock installed.

I have not seen an ad around here in some time and have not had to pay for it.

As for the callsign database, it does come in handy, but it is far from complete. As mentioned earlier, many names have been removed because someone had a run in with Fred or an Admin and their information was removed either by request or in an act of anger.

You can get complete callsign lookups from the FCC (which is where Fred gets his information) and a couple other locations.

[W1GUH]

I subscribe because of the outstanding service I've gotten from the 'zed. #I forget how I found it in '02, I may have been randomly googling ham radio, and saw the callsign lookup. #Or I may have heard about it from a friend. #In any event, I had a ball looking for old friends, and especially liked how you could link your old call to your present call. #Does the FCC database do that?

Further, I noticed that they renew licenses. #This is back in the day when it was a real gorilla working the FCC site, or (shudder) mailing away for an application. #When I renewed with QRZ, it was two days (or maybe one day, I forget which) til I was updated in the database. #And I had my new ticket in my hand in less than a week. #That was outstanding, given their very reasonable fee.

I liked how, once you registered for free, you could customize your callbook lookup. #(I really should update mine!)

Finally, when I found out about Rag Chew, and couldn't remember my password, I went to "what to do about it", and the page read that it could be a while until my email was answered because the staff is by volunteers and there's large volumes of stuff to do. #The clincher was when I got my reply almost instantly.

Thanks to you, Fred, and the rest of the volunteers for a great site.

Add to that the outstand conversations we have on Rag Chew, and the free exchange of ideas amongst people who differ greatly, but enjoy the stimulating comments...well...yea I'll pay for this package.

That's why I subscribe. #Others have their own reasons to subscribe or not subscribe.

[N3ATS]

I spend a lot of time here. I get to share my home brew ideas, and I get great advice and tech support from the elders. I definitely use my share of bandwidth.

I like to be able to get the QRZ db info for my logging program (ACLog).

Besides that I don't mind supporting a free service.