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Author Topic: Vanity Call Sign: Request future letters?  (Read 281 times)

AD6AD

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Vanity Call Sign: Request future letters?
« on: January 16, 2021, 10:34:54 AM »

OK, so I just passed my Extra exam, and I'm interested in a vanity call sign.

They are up to AJ6RR.
Can I request a call sign that is later than that, say AM6AA?
That is, call signs they have not gotten to yet?
Or, do I need to pick something that is earlier than AJ6RR?

(Uhh, asking for a friend, ha, ha!)
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VE1GA

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Re: Vanity Call Sign: Request future letters?
« Reply #1 on: January 16, 2021, 11:00:46 AM »

You may be able to get AM6RR but you'd need to move to Spain. The US allocation is from AA-AL only. The rest of the A series is allocated to Spain, Pakistan, India, Australia and  Argentina.
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AD6AD

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Re: Vanity Call Sign: Request future letters?
« Reply #2 on: January 16, 2021, 11:30:21 AM »

Mmm! Pakistan, you say, aye?!! 
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WA2ONH

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Re: Vanity Call Sign: Request future letters?
« Reply #3 on: January 16, 2021, 11:39:34 AM »

First of, Congratulations on passing your EXTRA Class exam!

Next, it's time to study about selecting a "Vanity Callsign" with the help of these two sites:

Choosing Your Ideal Vanity Call Sign by Anthony A. Luscre (K8ZT)
http://www.k8zt.com/vanity-callsign

The AE7Q Site covering Vanity Application Process and more at
http://www.ae7q.com/query/text/Vanity.php

AE7Q's site is the Go-To one for knowing the availability of the Vanity Callsign(s)
choices you're considering, as well as, the probability of it being granted to you by the FCC.

Good Hunting!
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73 de WA2ONH  <dit dit> ... Charlie
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"Never be satisfied with what you know, only with what more you can find out."
   Dr David Fairchild 1869-1954 US Scientist

W7XTV

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Re: Vanity Call Sign: Request future letters?
« Reply #4 on: January 16, 2021, 11:43:49 AM »

OK, so I just passed my Extra exam, and I'm interested in a vanity call sign.

As an Extra, you can ask for any type of callsign you want, 1x2, 1x3, 2x1, 2x2, or 2x3, as long as it's available.

Quote
They are up to AJ6RR.
Can I request a call sign that is later than that, say AM6AA?
That is, call signs they have not gotten to yet?
Or, do I need to pick something that is earlier than AJ6RR?

The last Group A block available in 6-land is AK6 if you want a callsign that's never been assigned previously.  The AL block is assigned to Alaska.  But you are not limited to a 6-call.  Call areas are valid only for original assignments.  Once you get your license, you can request a call that contains any digit, other than those assigned to Alaska (AL, KL, NL, WL), Hawaii/Pacific Islands (AH, KH, NH, WH), or Puerto Rico/Caribbean Islands (KP/NP/WP).

If you want a 2x2, you can request any available in Group A or B, other than those noted above.

Or, you could wait for a 1x2 or 2x1 call to open up and request it.  You'll be one of many for each call, though.
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AD6AD

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Re: Vanity Call Sign: Request future letters?
« Reply #5 on: January 16, 2021, 12:35:47 PM »

Big thanks, all.
EXCELLENT answers and help.
 :)
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KM1H

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Re: Vanity Call Sign: Request future letters?
« Reply #6 on: January 16, 2021, 12:46:51 PM »

I would request using a call in your home sixth call area as it can get very confusing when using a rotatable directional antenna.

Carl
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W6RZ

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Re: Vanity Call Sign: Request future letters?
« Reply #7 on: January 16, 2021, 06:06:00 PM »

Or, you could wait for a 1x2 or 2x1 call to open up and request it.  You'll be one of many for each call, though.

Competition for 6-land calls isn't that heavy. Only 5 people applied for W6SO, and 3 are already disqualified leaving it a 50/50 toss-up. KO6L and NB6S are available immediately.

The next 1x2 call coming up is W6AN on 1/22.
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AD6AD

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Re: Vanity Call Sign: Request future letters?
« Reply #8 on: January 16, 2021, 10:11:43 PM »

I don't really care for short calls.
I'd be happy with simple 2x2, maybe get something balanced or meaningful.

Like "AB6BA since I like the band ABBA,
or K6UFO, since I'm a space cadet.

(Joke)
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AD6AD

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Re: Vanity Call Sign: Request future letters?
« Reply #9 on: January 22, 2021, 08:27:38 AM »

I checked the references provided . . .

    Choosing Your Ideal Vanity Call Sign by Anthony A. Luscre (K8ZT)
    http://www.k8zt.com/vanity-callsign

    The AE7Q Site covering Vanity Application Process and more at
    http://www.ae7q.com/query/text/Vanity.php 

Thanks to WA2ONH,
and there are several desirable call signs available.

QUESTION
Do the listings they provide pretty much guarantee me getting one of the signs I want.

Or, does the FCC make the ultimate decision?
That is, if I enter a list of desired calls.
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WA2ONH

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Re: Vanity Call Sign: Request future letters?
« Reply #10 on: January 22, 2021, 08:39:58 AM »

Thanks to WA2ONH,
and there are several desirable call signs available.

QUESTION
Do the listings they provide pretty much guarantee me getting one of the signs I want.

Or, does the FCC make the ultimate decision?
That is, if I enter a list of desired calls.

Have you bought any LOTTERY Tickets lately? The FCC randomly picks the one to award the "desired" Callsign from the total of X-number of Hams who applied for it.

Like life in general, nothing is guaranteed to you. Good Luck.
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73 de WA2ONH  <dit dit> ... Charlie
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Never be satisfied with what you know, only with what more you can find out."
   Dr David Fairchild 1869-1954 US Scientist

W3HF

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Re: Vanity Call Sign: Request future letters?
« Reply #11 on: January 23, 2021, 06:05:08 AM »

Thanks to WA2ONH,
and there are several desirable call signs available.

QUESTION
Do the listings they provide pretty much guarantee me getting one of the signs I want.

Or, does the FCC make the ultimate decision?
That is, if I enter a list of desired calls.

Have you bought any LOTTERY Tickets lately? The FCC randomly picks the one to award the "desired" Callsign from the total of X-number of Hams who applied for it.

Like life in general, nothing is guaranteed to you. Good Luck.

Yes, it's a lottery, but it's not exactly what you implied.

On every processing day, FCC randomly (yes, a lottery) selects an application and processes it to completion. It assigns the first callsign on that application's preference list that is available--number 1 if it's available, or number 25 if the previous 24 are unavailable for any reason (date, license class, invalid, etc). If none are available, then the application is dismissed.

Then the FCC randomly selects an application from all that are left for that day, and does the same thing. And then again, and again, until all applications from that day are processed to completion.

If every application has only one requested callsign, then this is mathematically equivalent to a lottery among all who applied for it. But since there are second choices and third choices and so on, it's really much more complex, because a single application is in multiple lotteries based on its preference list. So it's easier to describe as a lottery among all applications, regardless of callsign selected.
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