Member directory: Where we're from?

[STTScott]

I was noticing something in the Members area: Unless I've missed something, we have no idea where/what area our members are from. If we're traveling, it would be nice if we knew which of our fellow members might be nearby to CQ.

 

Or -- and using my own situation, I live in the US Virgin Islands, so if someone's visiting down here, they might like a connection, as well as what frequency I monitor quite often. Dunno how much of a PITA this might be to do this (and allow us to see who's in particular individual states), but there ya go.

 

Regards,

Scott

[mbrun]

I was kind of suppressed this website does not do that as well. Since a user is required to have a valid FCC GMRS call-sign to have full privileges to this site it would seem a FCC lookup could occur in the background to fill in the City and State of the user automatically.

 

It would also seem that the callsign of the user should be readily available for members to see as well.

 

For many amateur radio forums that is exactly what they do.

 

Michael

WRHS965

KE8PLM

 

 

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[berkinet]

You can easily look up someone’s address via their call sign. Presumably, if they don’t list their callsign they don’t wish to have their location known.  Also, GMRS is not like ham radio, where simply having a license is an understood implication of interest in making contact.

[BoxCar]

The ULS system the FCC uses for LMR license data can do searches in geographical areas. All you need to do is enter the parameters you want; ZA for the license type and state to return a list of all license holders within the state. You can drill down even further getting those in a county or even city if desired. Yes, the feature of searching the FCC database could be programmed into MyGMRs if Rich wanted to take the effort but its also just as easy to go directly to the FCC and pull the data yourself.

[mbrun]

It is agreed that the information is readily available if one has the callsign. I use the ULS directly and frequently.

 

I must admit I have on multiple occasions just wanted to know what city a particular poster was on in by looking up their profile via the post. At least in TapaTalk, the app I use for MyGRMS, the city and state does not appear there. I wish it did.

 

Michael

 

 

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[berkinet]

It is agreed that the information is readily available if one has the callsign. I use the ULS directly and frequently. ...

For those who do not know the URL: https://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/UlsSearch/searchLicense.jsp

[wayoverthere]

Personally, i can see arguments for sides of this issue. on one hand, location can be helpful in resolving some of the issues and questions that come up (what repeaters are near me? or i can't access this repeater..), and like mbrun, i've used the callsign lookup to get that context.

 

On the other hand, like Berkinet mentions, the expectations with GMRS are generally a bit different (and more restricted/private) than in the amateur radio arena, in most cases...so i understand and respect that some users choose not to share their location.  I've also seen posts elsewhere where people noted the callsign lookup on this site, and wanted to know how to remove their information from the site (the responses indicated it was just an automated lookup from FCC, not info on the site).

 

I do think there's a good middle ground, though.  I'm not familiar with the admin side of things for this board software, but i know "location" is one of the profile fields, but it doesn't appear to be set to display, and i don't see a privacy option to display it.  if it would be possible in the software to display it, ideally with an option to whether (or not) to display that field,  that would be another option for those willing to share their location (less specifically than a call sign gives).  Those that chose not to could continue to opt out.

[berkinet]

... i know "location" is one of the profile fields, but it doesn't appear to be set to display, and i don't see a privacy option to display it...

 

The profile location does display, though it depends on how you view the forum.  In a standard desktop browser, it is visible. I'd post a screenshot, but the image gallery upload does not work.

[BoxCar]

It is agreed that the information is readily available if one has the callsign. 

Do an advanced search for city state - no call signs needed.

[berkinet]

Do an advanced search for city state - no call signs needed.

 

With the caveat that given the number of inactive GMRS licensees, a listing by area can be misleading and provide essentially useless information.

[mbrun]

Just want to be clear here. This person is not complaining just offering suggestions for the sake of convenience that potentially benefits everyone.

 

I have already submitted a feature request to the authors of TapaTalk (the forum app I pay to use) requesting that they consider supporting display of location information (currently visible on website) plus the users GMRS and Amateur call signs.

 

We will see what happens.

 

 

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[BoxCar]

Go down to license detail and you can specify active licenses only.

[wayoverthere]

The profile location does display, though it depends on how you view the forum.  In a standard desktop browser, it is visible. I'd post a screenshot, but the image gallery upload does not work.

i'm about 50/50 between posting from mobile; looked at some profiles from the desktop, including my own...am i missing where it shows up?  i don't see an option in the profile settings to toggle visibility of location.  i can see it on my own profile, but not on anyone else's...yours, for example.  or is it tied to if you've added someone as a 'friend' on the forum?

 

screenshots here

[berkinet]

Go down to license detail and you can specify active licenses only.

I was referring to not being active users. People with a license who never turn on their radio.

[berkinet]

....am i missing where it shows up?  i don't see an option in the profile settings to toggle visibility of location.  i can see it on my own profile, but not on anyone else's...yours, for example.  or is it tied to if you've added someone as a 'friend' on the forum?

 

screenshots here

Depending on the means you use to access the forums, the location information shows up under the user avatar in each post. For example, using Safari on a Mac I see your location is middle of CA. That appears just above your "ask" callsign.

[n4gix]

The profile location does display, though it depends on how you view the forum.  In a standard desktop browser, it is visible. I'd post a screenshot, but the image gallery upload does not work.

Here is an example:

[wayoverthere]

Depending on the means you use to access the forums, the location information shows up under the user avatar in each post. For example, using Safari on a Mac I see your location is middle of CA. That appears just above your "ask" callsign

 

 

 

Here is an example:

 

 

thanks for clarifying...guess a lot haven't bothered filling that field in, and i didn't look around enough to notice someone else that had.