This week, we explore other ways to Google and find out when Scarborough Reef will be on the air.

Hands down, the best Internet search engine, in my humble opinion, is Google. I use it on a daily basis, usually more than once per day, and it never fails to find what I seek.

Lately, I have been exploring couple of the other neat features that Google offers and I will describe them to you here.

Google allows you to search a Web site without actually being on that Web site. Simple type "site:" followed by the domain of the Web site you want Google to search, and then enter a space followed by the word or words you want Google to search.

For example, to search ARRLWeb for any mention of this column, you would enter "site:www.arrl.org surfin'" in the Google search field, then click the "Search Google" button. Here's a shortcut: if the domain name begins with www, you can omit www. and save four keystrokes. As a result, "site:arrl.org surfin'" would replace "site:www.arrl.org surfin'" in the search field of our example.

In addition to searching, Google can alert you to news about rare DXCC entities like Scarborough Reef.

I need Scarbourough Reef on any and all bands. (Who doesn't?) To keep informed about the situation on Scarbourough Reef, I can ask Google to send me an e-mail whenever Google finds a new mention of that DXCC entity on any Internet Web site or news group.

Google Alerts is simple to use. You enter the term you want to be alerted about, where you want Google to look for the term (Web sites, news groups or both), how often you wish to be alerted (daily, weekly, or as it happens), and the e-mail address where you want Google to send the alerts. Google will verify the e-mail address by sending an e-mail to the address you enter. That e-mail will contain links that you click to verify or cancel the alert you have set up.

You can avoid the e-mail verification process by signing up for a free Google account. The account will also allow you to manage your Google alerts and to access other Google "products" that I have yet to explore.

Until next week, good searchin' and keep on surfin'.

Editor's note: When he is feeling out of sorts, Stan Horzepa, WA1LOU, googles himself to make sure his obit hasn't been posted prematurely. To discuss bits, bytes, search engines and other cool stuff, e-mail Stan.

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