Nice clear description of how the callsigns work! I benefitted from the ability to take over a callsign when my Dad passed away two years ago. He was KL7DZQ when we lived in Alaska, and was issued that call in about 1961. After submitting proof from a 1969 Callsign Book and a copy of his death certificate, I was able to change over to his old callsign. I now operate as KL7DZQ outside of Alaska, so that 'family' rule is pretty powerful. Thanks for sharing!
I started in 1972 as WN8MGU as a Novice. Two years later as a General I was WA8MGU and went through several upgrades and two vanity signs after I was a 20 wpm Extra in 1986. I am now W4WFL living in west Florida at Pensacola so my suffix is West FLorida in which I will keep unless I move from this part of the state.
I grew up, the son of a U.S. diplomat, in Amman, Jordan, in the time of King Hussein! Because of that, forever, he has been "my King," so it is nice to know he was a ham, though I did not know it as a kid.
Really cool. I have always had a half romantic notion of amateur radio operators due to fiction in books and movies. It's fun learning more, and making notes in case I ever decide to have an amateur radio operator pop up in one of mine. Thanks for making this easy to understand!
Thank you Jim for the detailed information. Just as you mentioned, I was VU2JFP in 1985 with a Grade 1 license and later requested for VU2JO as it was available, when I upgraded to Advanced Grade in 1988. At that time we had 4 levels of licenses in VU land. Currently we have only two levels: VU3 for Restricted Grade and VU2 for General Grade. Region wise callsigns are not there at present. 73 de Jon, VU2JO
Hi interesting to see the difference between the licenses in the USA compared to us in the UK... I did notice you'd missed the 2E0 Intermediate license holder out on the video. 73s 😊
I got my ticket when I was 16 and never changed it, even if I upgrade I am keeping it the same. My wife on the other hand, changed hers before she was even on the air..
I suppose many hams today don’t understand calls signs Internet licensees with no instructor or Elmer. Some of the old ways seemed to be a bit better. On the other hand its much easier to get a license today which is good for the hobby. Btw, i was issued my 2x1 in 1978. It was fun in the beginning as those calls were rare de ke4d
Does the number character need to follow the same format for vanity call signs? Ie can you request a vanity call sign containing a number from an area you don't reside? Thanks for the video.
In most cases you can request an out of area call sign as long as it's in the lower 48 states. If you want an Alaska, Hawaii or islands call, you need to reside there.
Yes, with the exceptions others have noted. When I upgraded from Technician to General I treated myself to a vanity callsign. I "moved" from region 0 to 7 - figuratively not literally. One of the main reasons is I love the desert southwest. Someday, maybe, hopefully, I'll live there and operate from there. We'll see... I am sort of low-key studying for my Extra. Haven't decided to go for it, haven't decided not to. If I get it, I don't intend to change my call again. W7RHX
@@HamRadioPrep yes it is a gmrs license. I can communicate with it though is my understanding. Just have to stay on limited frequencies. Still new to all of this.
Longer callsigns can have an unexpected advantage in a pile-up: the end sticks out past everyone else. e.g. "[...UNINTELLIGIBLE PILE-UP NOISE...] ...delta delta" '...DELTA DELTA, DELTA DELTA only, go ahead.' "Roger. This is Xray Xylophone Seventeen Pomegranate Delta Delta, you're 59. Thank you." '59. 73. QRZ...' ...
Nice clear description of how the callsigns work! I benefitted from the ability to take over a callsign when my Dad passed away two years ago. He was KL7DZQ when we lived in Alaska, and was issued that call in about 1961. After submitting proof from a 1969 Callsign Book and a copy of his death certificate, I was able to change over to his old callsign. I now operate as KL7DZQ outside of Alaska, so that 'family' rule is pretty powerful. Thanks for sharing!
Excellent! I have heard about the family rule, but it's nice to hear a first hand experience.
I started in 1972 as WN8MGU as a Novice. Two years later as a General I was WA8MGU and went through several upgrades and two vanity signs after I was a 20 wpm Extra in 1986. I am now W4WFL living in west Florida at Pensacola so my suffix is West FLorida in which I will keep unless I move from this part of the state.
I grew up, the son of a U.S. diplomat, in Amman, Jordan, in the time of King Hussein! Because of that, forever, he has been "my King," so it is nice to know he was a ham, though I did not know it as a kid.
The Kings callsign was JY1. When he was heir he kept himself busy flying Lockheed Tristar Airliners for Alia the Jordanian state airline.
Excellent
Really cool. I have always had a half romantic notion of amateur radio operators due to fiction in books and movies. It's fun learning more, and making notes in case I ever decide to have an amateur radio operator pop up in one of mine. Thanks for making this easy to understand!
Great video! It's also worth noting that you'll be issued a 2x2 sequentially if you pass all three exams as a new ham.
Great tip. That just didn't make it in for time.
Thank you Jim for the detailed information. Just as you mentioned, I was VU2JFP in 1985 with a Grade 1 license and later requested for VU2JO as it was available, when I upgraded to Advanced Grade in 1988. At that time we had 4 levels of licenses in VU land. Currently we have only two levels: VU3 for Restricted Grade and VU2 for General Grade. Region wise callsigns are not there at present. 73 de Jon, VU2JO
Nice to hear how it works in other parts of the world.
@@HamRadioPrep 73
Happy Holidays to everyone and their Families. 73 de Your Friend Uncle Guenter 💯👍🙋♂
Hi interesting to see the difference between the licenses in the USA compared to us in the UK... I did notice you'd missed the 2E0 Intermediate license holder out on the video. 73s 😊
Thanks for the video. Fascinating and informative!
You're very welcome Angela! Thanks for checking it out.
I got my ticket when I was 16 and never changed it, even if I upgrade I am keeping it the same. My wife on the other hand, changed hers before she was even on the air..
I suppose many hams today don’t understand calls signs Internet licensees with no instructor or Elmer. Some of the old ways seemed to be a bit better. On the other hand its much easier to get a license today which is good for the hobby. Btw, i was issued my 2x1 in 1978. It was fun in the beginning as those calls were rare de ke4d
Someone took N1CAD the day before I was gonna apply for it... Someone also already took N0ATF and N0FBI as well, hehe.
Yea but there is a W0NKA and I just worked him yesterday.
Well done Jim
In the distance past in the US, if you moved from your region to another. you would have get a new call sign
The number 0 and the letter O should never be used together in the same callsign, same as on license plates. KC0OLH.
Iowa license plates have a slash through a zero so you know it isn't a letter O.
@@bwtv147 So does Texas but only on ham radio license plates, otherwise they never use the two together in the same string.
A great followup up would be to look at the various additions for mobile, portable, or operating in another country. -Mike Perry, WA4MP
Good suggestion!
Does the number character need to follow the same format for vanity call signs? Ie can you request a vanity call sign containing a number from an area you don't reside? Thanks for the video.
In most cases you can request an out of area call sign as long as it's in the lower 48 states. If you want an Alaska, Hawaii or islands call, you need to reside there.
@@N4BFRVision Comment. I don't like out of area. I'm a 9. I hear a 6, I expect Cali not Michigan.
@@davep6977 it’s not for everyone. I have a friend who went from a 4 to a 0 and decided to do back to a 4.
@@N4BFRVision it's only money 😃
Yes, with the exceptions others have noted. When I upgraded from Technician to General I treated myself to a vanity callsign. I "moved" from region 0 to 7 - figuratively not literally. One of the main reasons is I love the desert southwest. Someday, maybe, hopefully, I'll live there and operate from there. We'll see... I am sort of low-key studying for my Extra. Haven't decided to go for it, haven't decided not to. If I get it, I don't intend to change my call again. W7RHX
When I get mine, I want a vanity one.
Can you get a vanity call sign for GMRS radio?
KD4KDF 73.
Nice . . .
Glad you enjoyed it!
THAT WOULD BE A REALLY COOL CALL SIGN. 🤠 I MIGHT DO IT! 🤠🤘
My wife's first general call was N9BFD which I thought was a bfd but it embarrassed her so she changed it when we moved.
Mine has a double meaning. 😂
73 from DK6MS
With people being able to move across country and keep their call it’s confusing. You might hear a K1 and he is now in Florida instead of New England.
During my POTA activation last week I was surprised at how many "put of area" stations I worked. I see the snowbird issue with Florida and Arizona.
Hmm .
You left out slash calls and other identifiers like "/" mobile 8 or /R
Thanks for the suggestion. We could cover international operations a little too in a future video.
None have a hidden meaning, they just follow publicly accessible protocol.
My call sign is 7 digits for whatever reason. Any insight?
It's rare to have a ham radio callsign with more than 6 unless it's a special event type of thing. Could you have a GMRS call sign?
@@HamRadioPrep yes it is a gmrs license. I can communicate with it though is my understanding. Just have to stay on limited frequencies. Still new to all of this.
You are correct! Ham radio opens up a whole different set of frequencies and if you join us you get a new call sign!
Longer callsigns can have an unexpected advantage in a pile-up: the end sticks out past everyone else.
e.g. "[...UNINTELLIGIBLE PILE-UP NOISE...] ...delta delta"
'...DELTA DELTA, DELTA DELTA only, go ahead.'
"Roger. This is Xray Xylophone Seventeen Pomegranate Delta Delta, you're 59. Thank you."
'59. 73. QRZ...'
...
Great point!
Hidden meaning?
Hidden?
Clickbait. Thanks, congrats.
How is that hidden? Two thumbs down!
lol, Klickbait
Great explanation, 73 de GØUSL (Usually Sat Listening!)