Frequently Asked Questions
The UALR team gets many questions on the database. This FAQ attempts to answer those we get most frequently.
Where do we get our data for callsign.wa5lru.org?
This call sign database is updated daily and is derived from FCC license data found at:
https://www.fcc.gov/uls/transactions/daily-weekly
Why do we run callsign.wa5lru.org?
We intend these lookups to be a useful resource for new hams waiting for their license and current hams waiting for an upgrade. Under the new rules, as soon as you know your call, you can begin using it and its privileges. Of course it’s fine to use it to do a quick lookup to verify others’ information and status, just like the old callbooks were often used.
Can I request that call sign changes be made on the callsign.wa5lru.org website?
Please note that we cannot update your information directly. We only mirror the information from the FCC. If you see an error in your entry please contact the FCC to correct it.
Call signs of deceased licensees
Several questions revolve around “what happens to my relatives call sign” upon death. The answer to that is “nothing” – unless the family lets the FCC know officially that the radio operator has died.
Note that a station call sign is active and listed as such in the FCC database (and therefore UALR page) for 12 years. This is the 10 year term plus 2 years grace period.
CQ magazine had this to say:
The FCC cancels a deceased amateur’s call sign as of the date of death when it receives proper evidence of death. Three types of supporting documentation that the FCC accepts are: a copy of the death certificate, an obituary from a newspaper, or information from the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) that shows the date of death. The SSDI is an online database of millions of deceased individuals with U.S. Social Security Numbers whose deaths have been reported to the Social Security Administration. It is located on the web at <http.ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com>. Sometimes the FCC also cancels a call sign on its own without this data when it learns of the licensee’s death through other sources.
Washington Readout by Fredrick O. Maia, *W5YI
Page 54 · CQ · February 2010
Why are detail pages on callsign.wa5lru.org so slow to load?
Detail pages query various API sites to augment FCC data. We don’t control turnaround times for these queries. We do intend to add more server- and client-side caching, as we’re able, for data that doesn’t change often. We may also experiment with ways to show partial results in the browser as slower parts are assembled or add interface elements that convey that our web server is working on gathering outside data.