+ return $_[0] =~ /^[01\*\-]+$/;
+}
+
+# check that a thing is a frequency
+sub is_freq
+{
+ return $_[0] =~ /^\d+(?:\.\d+)?$/;
+}
+
+# check that a thing is just digits
+sub is_digits
+{
+ return $_[0] =~ /^[\d]+$/;
+}
+
+# does it look like a qra locator?
+sub is_qra
+{
+ return $_[0] =~ /^[A-Ra-r][A-Ra-r]\d\d[A-Xa-x][A-Xa-x]$/;
+}
+
+# does it look like a valid lat/long
+sub is_latlong
+{
+ return $_[0] =~ /^\s*\d{1,2}\s+\d{1,2}\s*[NnSs]\s+1?\d{1,2}\s+\d{1,2}\s*[EeWw]\s*$/;