Frequently Asked Questions about QRZ

Please note: if you're having some sort of problem, it would be very kind of you to read this document carefully before asking someone for help.

• Problems Logging In
• General User Account Rules
• Changing your Password / Preferences
• Adding Your Picture
• The Database and the FCC
• The Online Swap Meet

Problems Logging In

How Do I Login?

The first thing you need to do is establish a user account. That's the easy part. All we need is your for you to choose a user name, a password and your current email address. The system will then send you an email with your login instructions. The registration center is fully automated and operates 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Account registration emails are always sent immediately.

To get started, go to: The QRZ User Account Manager and follow the instructions on the screen.

General User Account Rules

The following general rules apply to QRZ user accounts.

• One account per person
• One account per email address
• Registrants must be individuals, not clubs
• A callsign user name is required for database access
• No profane or indecent user names
• Impersonation, fraudulent postings, pirate activities will be dealt with by hanging.

But what if....

My spouse and I both use the same email address?

If you are happily sharing an email address then you should be equally happy sharing a QRZ account. Remember: A single user account can administer many callsigns. You don't need a second account, ever.

If your spouse needs an independent login then hop on over to Google and get a free gmail account or two.

I administer several callsigns for a club or DXpedition?

Again, please remember: A single user account can administer many callsigns.

I forgot my password, changed email providers and now I can't login?

The The QRZ User Account Manager is your friend. Go there and be amazed at its ease of use.

Changing your Password / Account Preferences

How do I change my password?

Yep, you guessed it: Click here for The QRZ User Account Manager

I logged in okay so how do I edit my bio or callsign info?

First, pull up your callsign. Look for a link that says Update this listing. Click on that link to begin editing your info. You'll be asked to supply your username and password again as a security precaution.

Speaking of biography information, we have a few standards. First, a biography is about a person and not a point of view. We don't permit commercial advertising in the Bio's, and we don't permit subjects of a sexual nature. You are expected to talk about yourself in your bio, your hobbies, etc.. It's okay to mention religion if you like, but it's not okay to preach. So far nobody has had much to say about politics, but, unless you're running for office then it's not about you then is it?

If you're looking for a soapbox to spout your opinions on then please, by all means, feel free to use our online forum for that.

I updated my email address but it doesn't change when I pull up my callsign!

The email address that is shown on your callsign database listing is set separately in the database, and is completely apart form your user account registration address. This gives you the option of keeping your email address private and affords you the flexibility to display another, possibly different email address to the general public.

You can change what is shown in the callsign database by using one of the following methods:

• Pull up your callsign in the database and click on Update this listing
• Go directly to the Callsign Updater
• You can set it while using the The QRZ User Account Manager

Putting Your Picture Online

How do I put my picture online?

Just go to the Callsign Updater and follow the instructions.

Please note that it might take several days to a week before your picture is approved to appear online.

We have standards, but many people say they're too low. In any case, here are some of the things we consider before we approve pictures for publication:

• Must not contain pornography
• Must not contain copyrighted images
• Must not be used for commercial advertising
• Must not depict hate, racism, or extremism
• Must not be tasteless or gross (by our sole opinion)
• Must be used with permission of the callsign holder or family
• QRZ has the right to reject any picture without cause

Our standard picture dimensions/specs are: no more than 400 pixels wide, no more than 350 pixels tall, and is in JPG format. The maximum file size my not exceed 40,000 bytes.

About the Database, and the FCC

How often do your update your FCC data?

We update every day that new information is available. The FCC is prone to making mistakes and they will occasionally miss a day, or three of new license data. When you get an upgrade, a new license, a change of address, anything, the information goes into the FCC's computer system. How it gets there is another story. If you use a VEC, it goes in right away. If you use the FCC's website, it goes in real soon. If you use a local VE Session team, your mileage may vary. There can be a wagon train of people handling your application before your new ticket arrive in the mail. Regarding how long this all takes, don't get your hopes up too high. If you expect a 10 to 14 day turnaround, you'll usually be pleasantly surprised. We have also seen 3 day turnarounds.

The FCC processes license information every [working] day and applies the updates to their online computer system. Sometime during the late night or early morning, their system gathers all of the updates from the previous day and prepares a daily dump. This dump contains the changes since the last full dump. QRZ, and all other websites, use this daily dump in an attempt to stay in sync with the FCC. Once a week they do a full dump that we occasionally fetch even though it shouldn't be necessary. We usually don't apply this full dump unless it has become evident that the FCC missed a daily. (I get cranky when I miss a daily).

When the FCC misses a daily, we don't get the data and soon, usually within 24 hours, (although it seems like microseconds) people start complaining to us that our information is of sync with the FCC. They say this because they've found what they're looking for at the FCC's website (their online part) and so we must be slackers since we "didn't get it".

We're not bragging here but we can say with confidence that Our system never fails to process an update when it's available. Our system is far more reliable than theirs, and, it's staffed by better skilled systems administrators (well, maybe I am bragging :-). The point of all this is to say that, when there's a problem, 99% of the time it's not our fault. Sigh.

How often do you update your DX and foreign callsigns?

We get the Canada file once a month. The other countries - never. We have found no other countries besides the USA and Canada who provide their information available for download on the Web. Nearly all of the DX callsigns in our system are contributed by users who input the data while visiting our site. Sometimes we get a file with a thousand or so callsigns, but some of these are really old or come from questionable sources. We're doing the best we can and some countries Like Germany and the U.K., refuse to give out their data, except to the Flying Horse.

How do I place an ad in the online swapmeet?

The first thing you must do is go to the Forum and login.

Next, click on the Forum section that you would like to place an ad or an article in.

Click on the first button that you see that says New Topic. This will take you to a fill-in form where you can compose your article or swap listing. Follow the instructions on this page and click on Post New Topic when you've finished filling the form out.

Don't forget to search through the Help Center Forum where hundreds of people can help you with your problem.

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