Amateur Radio OSINT

Ham Radio informational resources

As a ham radio operator, I’m well aware of the wealth of information available on those holding an FCC license. Amateur operators frequently join specialized platforms for training and collaboration—many of which require a valid callsign just to register. For an OSINT analyst, these databases represent a valuable, yet often untapped, resource.

The investigative process becomes significantly smoother if you already have the subject's callsign in hand. You might wonder, though: How likely am I to actually find it?

More often than you’d think. Many operators proudly display their callsign on their license plate—offering a perfect pivot point if you have a photo of the subject's vehicle. Even without a custom plate, many "hams" opt for a vinyl decal on their rear window or bumper. These small physical details can be the key that unlocks a subject’s entire licensing history and digital footprint.

How to research a callsign

RadioReference is an Amateur Radio Callsign Database that does not allow you to be logged in to search a call sign. Without being logged in, a search of a callsign will reveal the following:

• License Status
• Operator Class
• Full Name of Operator
• Date license was granted
• Date license expires
• Address (Blocked) unless logged in

You can register for an account with just a unique username here

(Note: you should check the terms of service to make sure you are authorized to do so.)

QRZ Ham radio database, forums, swap meet, etc. Without being logged in, a search of a callsign will reveal the following:

• User profile image, if used
• Biography of the user
• email (Blocked) unless logged in
• Address (Blocked) unless logged in

You can register for an account with just a unique username here

(Note: you should check the terms of service to make sure you are authorized to do so.)

ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio. Without being logged in, a search of a callsign will reveal the following:

• Name
• Address
• Licensee ID
• Licensee Class
• FRN Number
• Radio Service Classification
• Issue Date
• Expire Date
• Date of Last Change

These are just a few of the websites that can be searched. I hope you find this resource valuable, should you ever need to research an FCC callsign.