New QRZ Database Features

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 harrass 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.
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These new alias features are not a part of the database download files which conform to the 1993 format. The database downloads still work with the old DOS program, which is the principal reason that they aren't more sophisticated and feature rich.

A description of the database is at: http://www.qrz.com/i/qrztech.html

-fred

 

For years we've been tossing out the 'Previous callsign' data supplied by the FCC because it collided with other existing calls in the database. Now, this data has been saved and is available for meaningful use.

Today's update puts a timer on the intermediate results page so that the search engine will automatically load your page after 4 seconds. You can click to speed this up.

73,

-fred