Any experience with Geo IP databases?

Opti · 2005-03-10, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barron

Thanks! Thats just what I was looking for.

Now to go turn a profit with it.

Maxmind's free country database is really only useful for testing.. You can grab the latest IP allocations each day direct from the four registries that handle them (ARIN, RIPE, APNIC and LACNIC) and create a close to perfect country database yourself.

This place also provides a more up to date country database than maxmind.. It's accurate enough for live use imho, but it's usually a week out of date most of the time too. http://ip-to-country.webhosting.info/node/view/6

the City location databases rely on information MaxMind (or whoever is selling it) put together themselves. They create maps of individual ISP routers and IP useage, and even use non web-based info like ISP licence applications that might identify where particular IPs blocks will be restricted to. I'd say you pay for what you get when it comes to buying a database for this level of targetting.

A regional database that will lock down the IP to a state or province accurately is a better basis to plan from, if you are thinking of building a geo-application from the ground up imho... much more reliable.

side note: If you want to try to block free email account usage for site submitters... MaxMind sell a database of identified free email providers too.. think it's about 15 bucks plus $3/mth for updates.

and this is just too cool to describe.. free creditcard fraud checker.. that's worth checking out if only to see the scope of what you can do with a database of IP numbers and a little thought

http://www.maxmind.com/app/ccv

Barron · 2005-03-10, 02:28 PM

Opti, maybe we should get together on this.

I may need to find another source for the database. Maxmind refuses to give me a phone number. I'm finding it hard to do business with someone that wont give me their name or phone number. But, if there are the only source, I may have to.

Any suggestions on another provider?

mikeyddddd · 2005-03-10, 04:00 PM

I've looked at Maxmind who has affiliate and reseller programs and IP2Location who has an affiliate program: http://www.SellShareware.com/Program...108&PrID=59152 ).

I've looked at ARIN. But, when I did the customer query at ARIN all I got was the latitude and longitude in the database, not the city and state info that shows in their tutorial. So, I probably had something screwed up.

The AFF are fairly accurate. Depending on the IP I get when I connect it will be within 50 miles.

I just think that showing your town is a proper level of personalization to grab a surfer's attention. Showing a nearby major intersection may be so close as to be creepy.

Geo-targeting is definitely worth spending some time researching and testing.

Wenchy · 2005-03-10, 04:38 PM

Hey mikey

Well, ummm... I checked it out and... yeah, it got the country right LOL

Guess my router's mask is doing what it's supposed to, huh?

Editted because I just realized I'm still logged into a secure VPN for my day job. I'll have to try this later after I log out. DOH!

Opti · 2005-03-10, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barron

Opti, maybe we should get together on this.

I may need to find another source for the database. Maxmind refuses to give me a phone number. I'm finding it hard to do business with someone that wont give me their name or phone number. But, if there are the only source, I may have to.

Any suggestions on another provider?

I'm supposed to have written an article for Drav's blog project on this subject.. and I've actually been trying to hack together some simple scripts webmaster's can cut-n-paste for limited geo-targetting functionality.. so we probably can help each other. ;-)

hook up on icq?

2005-03-10, 04:00 PM	#3
mikeyddddd A woman is like beer. They look good, they smell good, and you'd step over your own mother just to get one! Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Irving, TX Posts: 57	I've looked at Maxmind who has affiliate and reseller programs and IP2Location who has an affiliate program: http://www.SellShareware.com/Program...108&PrID=59152 ). I've looked at ARIN. But, when I did the customer query at ARIN all I got was the latitude and longitude in the database, not the city and state info that shows in their tutorial. So, I probably had something screwed up. The AFF are fairly accurate. Depending on the IP I get when I connect it will be within 50 miles. I just think that showing your town is a proper level of personalization to grab a surfer's attention. Showing a nearby major intersection may be so close as to be creepy. Geo-targeting is definitely worth spending some time researching and testing. __________________ mikey likes it

2005-03-10, 04:38 PM	#4
Wenchy Trying is the first step towards failure Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Mile High City Posts: 120	Hey mikey Well, ummm... I checked it out and... yeah, it got the country right LOL Guess my router's mask is doing what it's supposed to, huh? Editted because I just realized I'm still logged into a secure VPN for my day job. I'll have to try this later after I log out. DOH! __________________ I was thinking of the immortal words of Socrates, who said, "I drank what?"

2005-03-10, 02:28 PM	#2
Barron You tried your best and you failed miserably. The lesson is 'never try' Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 166	Opti, maybe we should get together on this. I may need to find another source for the database. Maxmind refuses to give me a phone number. I'm finding it hard to do business with someone that wont give me their name or phone number. But, if there are the only source, I may have to. Any suggestions on another provider?