QRZ! Ham Radio 3/QRZ Ham Radio Callsign Database - Volume 3.iso/00readme.txt

Text File | 1994-07-11 | 15KB | 313 lines

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* The QRZ! Ham Radio CD-ROM           Volume 3              July 1994 *
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Well, another 6 months has gone by and much has happened to the QRZ
project.  There's now a completely revamped  DOS Windows interface, new
search programs for AIX and OS/2, and several hundred files for the
amiga and the Macintosh.  We've also got a large new collection of
amateur related shareware from the Boston Amateur Radio Club, thanks to
Scott, WY1Z.  Also, we have been granted special permission from the
ARRL to publish their entire INFO SERVER directory, which you'll find
in the \arrl directory.

Sadly, we still don't have a Macintosh interface to the callsign
database, but we're looking for volunteers!  If you're a Mac programmer
and would like to earn a free subscription to QRZ, then please get
in touch with us!

We believe that you'll really like the new Windows interface, which was
completely rewritten in Visual Basic.  You'll notice that you can now
load the program onto your hard disk using the SETUP.EXE program which
will save you a couple of seconds of startup time each time you run
QRZ.  There are several new features including recent call lookup
memory and much better printing utilities.  The online Help is also new
with hypergraphics to guide you around the window.

We would especially like to welcome our international users from
around the world.  QRZ is now being sold worldwide and is available
in Africa, Europe, Japan, and as far as we know, on all the
continents (well, maybe not in Antarctica).  To be honest, we have no
idea of exactly how many countries QRZ is in, but we would like to
hear from our users wherever they may be.  This summer, we're
starting the QRZ "Best of DX" QSL card collection that will be
featured in a future edition of the CDROM.  If your card is selected
it will be read in on an HP color scanner and made available to the
world as a .GIF file.

For more information about the QRZ "Best of DX" QSL card contest,
please see the file BESTOFDX.TXT.

On other international topics, we've updated the Canadian callsign
database and have added quite a few UK and IT (Italy) callsigns.  The
data for these countries was donated to us and is not 100% accurate.
For the most part, however, it seems fairly reliable.  We hope you
find the new information useful.  We are always looking for more
countries to add and would gladly accept your tape of floppy disk of
countries that we don't already have.

Many users have written to ask why we don't go with a complete
international database and we must admit that it would be a nice
thing to do.  Unfortunately, QRZ is a very small company and we do
not have the staff necessary to gather and compile the massive
amounts of data.  We hope to do this someday, but for now QRZ will
remain primarily a US callsign database.  We will, however, continue
to accept international data and do our best to make it available to
you as people from around the world make it available to us.


-fred  AA7BQ           [e-mail]


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GENERAL INFORMATION
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OTHER NOTES

In the last edition (Volume 2), we stated that QRZ would be published
on a quarterly basis.  This has proved to be unworkable and we wish
to apologize for those who were disappointed when the Spring 1994
edition did not show up.  Our commitment will now stand at two issues
per year, one in the summer and one in the winter.

Also, in the last issue we mentioned a callsign database update
service for those who wanted to customize their listings.  Due to a
lack of user response, this has been discontinued.


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GETTING STARTED

If you're running Windows then you'll want to run QRZII.EXE, the
latest Windows callsign database program, right away.  Don't forget
to look in the \WIN3 directory for a number of useful windows help
files.  As with previous versions of QRZ!, QRZWIN requires no
installation, just pop the disc in and run it.  You may want to
create a program item in one of your favorite groups which points to
QRZII.EXE - and the new icon is kind of neat too.

Starting with Volume 3, it is now possible to install a copy of the
QRZII windows program on your hard disk.  This will improve the
startup time by a couple of seconds.  You'll need about a megabyte of
hard disk space to do the install, but you probably will agree that
it's worth it.  To run the installation, WHICH IS ENTIRELY OPTIONAL,
just open your File Manager and go into the \qrz directory and
double-click on the SETUP.EXE program.  It should only take about a
minute to complete and it will create a new icon and program group on
your system.

If you running DOS and/or would prefer the command line interface,
you can just type QRZ at the DOS prompt - no installation or setup is
necessary.

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QRZ ELECTRONIC MAIL (e-mail) ADDRESS

QRZ is now a fulltime UUCP connected Internet site and will soon be
upgrading to a high speed line with direct connection.  This will
enable us to offer services such as a WWW Mosaic server and ftp
uploads and downloads.  This should be in place by the end of the
summer, as soon as the telephone company gets finished digging a new
trench.  When QRZ comes online to the Internet, an announcement will
be made on the Ham radio newsgroups.  Stay tuned!

In the meantime, as always, we always happy to hear from you via
e-mail.  If you have any suggestions, ideas or questions about the
QRZ!  software, don't hesitate to drop us a line at:

             [e-mail]


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SOME IMPORTANT FILES AND DIRECTORIES ON THIS DISC

(NOTE:   The 'x:' is replaced with your drive letter)

x:\00readme.txt      You're reading it.
x:\cdf.exe           CD-FIND - locates files on the CD
x:\qrz.exe           The DOS callbook program.
x:\qrzhelp.txt       The DOS help file
x:\qrzII.exe         The Windows callbook program
x:\qrzII.hlp         The Windows help file for QRZII.EXE
x:\arrl              The entire collection of ARRL INFO server files
x:\buffalo           Technical Files from CS.BUFFALO.EDU
x:\callbk            The callbook database is stored here
x:\digests           Selected INTERNET NEWS Articles
x:\germany           Ham Radio files from Germany
x:\misc              Like the name says - Some good TNC Software too
x:\mods              150 radio MOD files
x:\utils\pkunpak.exe Used for 'unpacking' .ARC files
x:\utils\unzip.exe   Used for 'unzipping' .ZIP files
x:\simtel            A large collection of ham related shareware
x:\simtel\starter    A collection of ARC\ZIP\TAR utilities
x:\ucsd              Contributions from UCSD, Brian Kantor, WB6CYT, UCSD
x:\digests\...       Usenet Ham Radio News articles 1989-1993
x:\ucsd\...          Large assortment of ham radio programs
x:\ucsd\packet\...   Lots (70MB) of packet related files.
x:\unix              UNIX compatible callsign search software and source
x:\wav               Sound Blaster .WAV files for TNC testing
x:\win3              Misc. Windows help files and articles
x:\win\src           Example VB 3.0 callbook source code
x:\world             The Boston Amateur Radio Club shareware collection
                     including lots of Amiga, Mac and other useful files.


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       HAM SHAREWARE AUTHORS

We welcome quality contributions from amateur radio shareware
authors.  We also are interested in any data or information files
which would be of interest to the general amateur radio community.
To submit your data and/or software for inclusion in a future version
of QRZ! just send e-mail to [e-mail] or write to:

QRZ! c/o Fred Lloyd 8215 E. Wood Drive Scottsdale, AZ  85260

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Walnut Creek CDROM is an approved vendor and associate member of the
Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP).  ASP wants to make sure
that the shareware principle works for you.  If you are unable to
resolve a shareware-related problem with an ASP member by contacting
the member directly, ASP may be able to help.  The ASP Ombudsman can
help you resolve a dispute or problem with an ASP member, but does
not provide technical support for members' products.  Please write to
the ASP Ombudsman at 545 Grover Road, Muskegon, MI 49442 or send a
CompuServe message via CompuServe Mail to ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * Watch for the next edition in 6 months! * * * Thanks and 73,



      Thank you for buying  the QRZ! Ham Radio CD-ROM!


* * * IMPORTANT LICENSING INFORMATION - PLEASE READ * * *

This license applies to you, even if you don't read it.


LICENSE TO USE

This CD is licensed "Like a book", which means that if you have the
CD-ROM disc then you have the license.  The license lasts as long as
the CD does.

You can copy this CD to a hard disk, but we wouldn't recommend it.  At
todays prices, you could buy 30 copies of this CD for what it would
cost you in hard disk space - think about it.  (Come to think of it,
you could also buy a dozen copies of the CD and a CD-ROM drive for what
you would pay in hard disk space.)

If money is no object to you and you really want to copy this disc to
your hard disk than go ahead.  Just remember that in order for the
license to be valid, you must still have the CD.  What all this means
is that you may not copy this CD to your hard disk and then sell, give
away or loan out the CD.  If you do decide to dispose of the CD, then
you must erase any copies of it that you may have made.

If you operate your system as a BBS, networking or packet radio system,
then it is okay to let other people log onto your machine and use this
disc.  Your users may download anything they like, except the callsign
database.  Be sure your users understand that the callsign database is
NOT shareware and can not be downloaded.

If you are thinking about making a CD-ROM of your own, note that you
MAY NOT copy any portion of this disc in doing so.  If you have a
good idea for a new title, call Walnut Creek CDROM ([phone]).
They are happy to talk to you.


* * * SHAREWARE * * *

There are a lot of shareware programs on this disc.  Shareware
authors make their living by depending on the fact that honest people
will pay them if they find the shareware useful.  Nearly all
shareware packages will contain a message that asks you to send money
to the author(s) if you like their software.  Although you paid for
this CD-ROM, your purchase did not include any payments to the
shareware authors.  You must contact them directly at the address
they indicate.

There is also a fair amount of "Public Domain" software on this disc.
Public domain software is different from shareware in that no payment
to the author is generally expected.  The author(s), out of the
kindness of (his/her/their) heart(s) have decided to donate their
work to the public at large.  If you are able to find out who they
are, It would be a nice gesture to drop them a line expressing your
appreciation of their work.

The callbook data, the callbook search and retrieval software, and
the on-line help files are neither shareware nor in the "public
domain".  These products are included as a part of this CD-ROM and
may not be sold or traded separately.  As the owner of the CD, you
may copy any portion of this disc to another media as long as you
still own the CD.  You may not sell or trade any of the copies that
you make.  You can, however, sell or trade the CD itself.  Once the
CD is sold or traded, the license to use the CD transfers to the new
owner.


* * * DISCLAIMERS * * *

There are a lot of good programs on this disc. Some of the programs
are great and some of them are not-so-great.  Many of them are widely
known to be good, useful packages but we here at QRZ! cannot take
responsibility or offer support for any of them.  If you need help
and can find a name or an address within a particular shareware
package then you might try contacting them yourself.  If not then
you'll just have to figure it out for yourself.

Above all, remember the following:

ALL OF THE SOFTWARE AND DATA ON THIS DISC IS OFFERED "AS IS" AND
WITHOUT A WARRANTY OF ANY KIND.

You also need to be aware that we cannot accept any responsibility,
or liability in the event that using the software on this disk causes
you grief, malfunction, data loss or thinning of the hair.  As with
any new software, make sure that you back up your system regularly so
that you can recover from unforeseen crashes.

This CDROM comes with a full money back guarantee.  If you are
dissatisfied for any reason, you can return it for a full refund.
Walnut Creek CDROM guarantees the physical media of this CDROM disc
only.  If the CDROM is unreadable, you may exchange it for a working
version.  Walnut Creek CDROM makes no warranty about any file on this
CDROM, including any written by Walnut Creek.  You, not Walnut Creek
CDROM, assume all risk of using any of the files on this CDROM.  We
reserve the right to limit any effort on our part to rectify problems
with any file on this CDROM.

Although we have made every attempt to examine every program on this
disc, some non-shareware or public domain programs may have slipped
by.  If you find such a program on this disc, please notify us
immediately so we can rectify the situation.  Thanks.


* * * RADIO MODIFICATIONS * * *

There are a lot of data files which describe how to modify various
radios in various ways.  Some of these modifications make it possible
to transmit and receive on frequencies which are unauthorized or
illegal.  It is our expectation that users who modify their radios
have legitimate reasons to do so and will not operate their gear in
an illegal or irresponsible manner.

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DATABASE ACCURACY

The US callsign data has been obtained from the federal government.  As
one might expect, information from the federal government is less than
100 percent accurate.  We don't maintain this database and therefore if
you want something changed or corrected then you'll have to deal with
the FCC yourself.  Actually, it's pretty easy.  Just get a 610 from the
FCC, fill it out with the correct information and mail it in.  There is
no charge for this and the information will probably reach us in time
for the next edition of the CD.

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Our thanks to everyone else we forgot to mention.

Bowen, KA2NRC, buffalo.edu