Free callsign lookup for HRD 5.24 and sunspot data fix

K1FSY · April 2015

I recently hooked my Flex-3000 back up after a hiatus and configured HRD with MiniDeluxe (http://github.com/krisp/minideluxe) and my old mysql logbook, only to realize that my QRZ XML subscription had lapsed years ago and I'm not really serious enough about it to resubscribe.

Instead, I wrote a small python web service that will intercept callsign lookups from HRD and supply it with free data from hamqth.com. I also added passthrough support for the files that HRDLogbook tries to download pertaining to sunspot data. NOAA changed their URLs and they are hard-coded into HRD.

The intention of this program is not to stiff QRZ.com on subscription fees, but to open up options for old legacy software. It is reasonably easy to install Python and install the modules. It can also run as a service (manual or automatic.)

The more computer-savvy you are, the eaiser this will be to get working. It requires installing some software, typing some commands and editing your hosts file.

Theory of operation, usage and source code are available at http://github.com/krisp/fauxqrz

Drax · April 2015

Doesn't HRD already support free qrz.com page stripping?

K1FSY · May 2015

The paid 6.x version might, but that functionality has long since been stripped from the free 5.x version. The qrz forum people deleted my post about this from their HRD section so I'm guessing that they are using the xml subscription data from 5.x users as a cash cow.

Steve Magee · June 2015

Hi Dave,

Followed the instructions paying particular attention to the host file, when i try to look up a callsign from the test panel i get this:-

<?xml version="1.0"?>














<HRD xml:lang="EN" Description="Callsign Lookup" Created="15-Jun-2015 20:15">
<head>
<Lookup Options="2">G3PKW</Lookup>
<Callsign></Callsign>
<Source>QRZ.com subscription interface</Source>
<Status></Status>
<Valid>No</Valid>
<Timestamp>2015-06-15 20:15:25</Timestamp>
</head>
<body></body>
</HRD>

if you could point me in the right direction I would be very grateful.

Cheers

Steve GW7VFJ

DH2ID · June 2015

I am glad for my subscription to QRZ.com and HRD 6 as I like to support programmers who write excellent software for HAMs. If I am able to shell out money for new hardware I should equally be able to spend a small percentage of this money for software.

K1FSY · June 2015

Hi Steve

Check to make sure it is running. Open your web browser and try this URL assuming you stuck with 127.0.0.5:

http://127.0.0.5/bin/xml?username=user&password=password

You should get an XML saying login failed. Replace user and password with your hamqth user and password. If it works, you will see an element called <Key> with a long string inside it. Copy this string into notepad or other text editor to form the following URL:

http://127.0.0.5/bin/xml?s=thekeystring&callsign=k1fsy

That should look up my callsign and return lots of details. If all this is working double check the hosts file (%windir%system32driversetchosts) and make sure it has the right entries in it. You can test this by running a command prompt and typing "ping xml.qrz.com". It should reply from 127.0.0.5. If not it's the host file. If the other tests fail because you can't connect to the service, double check all the python stuff and make sure it is running. I suggest running it from the command line in the foreground for initial testing before trying the service installer just in case.

Steve Magee · June 2015

Hi Dave it doesn't appear to be running as the browers wont connect, ive turned the firewall off still no joy, its late here and im working early in a few hours so i'll have another bash when i get home
Thanks for your help

Steve GW7VFJ

K1FSY · June 2015

Hi Steve, I added a couple steps to the install notes on the github page on how to download and run the script as well. Hope it helps straighten things out.

73s

Top Dawg · September 2015

Dave - would you mind emailing me. I need to talk to someone who is proficient connecting PSDR programs together.

Thanks es 73
Robert AA6UP topdawg044atyahoodotcom

Steve · February 2016

trying to get this python script to run. I have my host file set correctly as I can ping the site and get a response. When I put this in to a url I get nothing back http://127.0.0.5/bin/xml?s=thekeystring&callsign=k1fsy .
When I look at the fauxgrz.py file executing it eventually stops after a few seconds complaining that the port 80 is not free on 127.0.0.5. I've looked at this with tcpview and don't see where it's used.

Here's a screen shot of the command prompt running the python script.

Any help... 73, KC1AXJ

K1FSY · February 2016

Hi Steve

Windows has a few services that rely on "http" service which will bind to 0.0.0.0:80. You can try stopping it and then connecting to 127.0.0.5:80. The connection should no longer work and then you can try the script again. An alternative would be to run the python script on another machine (or in a linux vm for example) and to point the hosts file to that machine's IP address.

Free callsign lookup for HRD 5.24 and sunspot data fix

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