HamRadioRally User Guide

1. Browsing for Equipment

You can browse listings in several ways directly from the main navigation bar:

  • By Category: Hover over a main category like "Amateur Radio" to see a dropdown of subcategories. Click any subcategory to see all listings within it.
  • By Listing Type: Click on "Buy (Wanted)" to see all listings where users are looking to buy specific items. Click "Exchange" to see items offered for trade.
  • Latest Listings: The homepage always shows the most recent listings across all categories.

2. Managing Your Profile

Your profile page allows you to manage how other users see you. You must be logged in to access it by clicking "Profile" in the top-right corner.

  • Sync with QRZ.com: The easiest way to populate your profile. Enter your callsign in the "Sync with QRZ.com" section and click "Sync Profile". This will automatically fill in your display name, location, gridsquare, and profile picture from your QRZ.com page (requires a QRZ XML subscription on the server).
  • Upload a Profile Picture: To use a custom picture, click "Choose File" in the "Upload Profile Picture" section, select an image from your device, and click "Upload Image". This will override any picture from QRZ.
  • Edit Manually: You can manually type or change your Display Name, Callsign, Location, and Gridsquare in the "Edit Profile Manually" section. Click "Save Manual Changes" when you are done.

3. Selling Equipment (Creating a Listing)

To create a listing, you must be logged in. Click the green "Sell Equipment" button in the navigation bar.

  1. Select Category: First, choose a main category from the dropdown. This will then enable the "Subcategory" dropdown.
  2. Select Subcategory: Choose the most appropriate subcategory for your item.
  3. Listing Type: Specify if your item is "For Sale", "Wanted", or for "Exchange".
  4. Title: Give your listing a clear and descriptive title (e.g., "Yaesu FT-891 HF Transceiver").
  5. Description: Provide details about the item's condition, features, age, and any included accessories.
  6. Currency & Price: Choose either Pound sterling (GBP) or Euro (EUR) and enter the price.
  7. Delivery/Collection: Choose how the buyer can receive the item.
  8. Images: You can upload up to 5 images. The first image will be the main display image. Click "Choose Files" and select the images from your device.
  9. Click "Create Listing" to publish it.

4. Managing Your Listings

You can edit or delete your own listings at any time.

  • Navigate to your listing's detail page.
  • At the bottom of the page, you will see "Edit Listing" and "Delete Listing" buttons.
  • Clicking "Edit" will take you to a form pre-filled with your listing's details, where you can make changes.
  • Clicking "Delete" will permanently remove your listing after you confirm.

5. Contacting Sellers & Managing Messages

  • Contacting a Seller: On any listing that is not your own, click the green "Contact Seller / Make Offer" button. This will create a new conversation and take you to the message page.
  • Viewing Conversations: Click the "Messages" link in the top navigation bar. This shows a list of all your ongoing conversations, sorted by the most recent reply.
  • Replying to Messages: Click on any conversation from your message list to view the full history and type a reply in the text box at the bottom.

6. Saved Searches & Email Alerts

Never miss a deal. If you're looking for a specific item, you can create a saved search alert.

  • Click on "Saved Searches" in the main navigation menu when you are logged in.
  • Enter the keywords for the item you are looking for (e.g., "Icom 7300").
  • Click "Save Search".
  • The system will now automatically email you whenever a new listing is created whose title or description contains your keywords.
  • You can manage and delete your saved searches from the same page at any time.

7. Installing as a Web App

You can install HamRadioRally on your device's home screen for easy access. The site must be accessed via HTTPS for this to work.

  • Desktop (Chrome/Edge): An "Install" icon (often a computer screen with a down arrow) will appear in the address bar. Click it and then click "Install".
  • Android (Chrome): After browsing the site for a moment, a pop-up may appear at the bottom of the screen. If not, tap the three-dot menu in Chrome and select "Install app".
  • iPhone/iPad (Safari): Tap the "Share" icon (a square with an arrow pointing up) at the bottom of the screen. Scroll down and tap "Add to Home Screen".
Install HamRadioRally on your device?