WM1KE's FCC Database Search: Problems with the FCC Database
For all the money spent on this database by the government, it is riddled with errors.
Here are some of the problems that you might encounter. I'm sorry, but the problems are in the actual data that is in the FCC's database. I can not do much about them.
The biggest problem is with old/stale callsigns. Search a zip code, for example, and you or a friend may show up with a previous callsign. They should still be in the list with the current call sign but the FCC tracks old calls for historical purposes.
Aother problem is with addresses. For example, someone might have both a PO Box and a physical address listed. I can handle that. What I can't handle is when the clerks code the PO Box in the field for street address instead of in the POBox field it belongs in. Another problem is addresses like:
7 miles south of the intersection of RT 345 and RT 678
or
Room 345 34A Williams St, Highview Apartments, Mytown, MyState
Even Google Maps gives up trying to locate entries like these. And yes, there are really entries like that in the database.
Some people are in the database with different callsigns in different tables. Wrong (probably typo'ed) ZIP codes seem common. Type the first digit wrong and Google maps will place a Ham in Alaska who is really in Maine.
Additionally, the database layout itself is inconsistant. In some areas of the database the callsign is stored in a field called 'callsign.' In others it is in a field 'call_sign.' Although it would seem that a simple underscore should not be much of a problem it actually makes it difficult to wite simple code. You have to code-in the exceptions.
The FCC database is what I call a “persistent” database. The data seems to stay in there until someone goes in and cleans it out. Silent Keys, expired licenses and Silent Keys with expired licenses are all found in there. I plan to add an option to just report active licenses but I will never be able to test for Silent Keys.
Missing data, bogus dates, you name it, it's in there. Caveat Emptor.
Other choices:
All Hams within a radius of a ZIP™ code
All Hams within a certain County (Province, Territory...)
Known problems with the FCC database (your tax dollars at work)
How this works (DON'T re-invent the wheel...)
Search engine provided by Mike, WM1KE
(http://wm1ke.us).
Mike is hungry
for suggestions. Send them, and any problems you encounter, to: Mike.
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