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Manager - N2MG
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Survey Question

Question

Do you think we should go back to the good old days when our prefix actually indicated our qth? Such as KH6 would really mean Hawaii - not Florida, KL7 would mean Alaska - not Arizona, and W1's would really be in New England?

Results (4476 answers)

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Survey Comments

Call sign

If you're in the early stages of hamdom or a late bloomer, nothing worse than trying to get that KL7 station for your WAS that turns out to be in Florida....or the KG4 DX that is in Washington state. A majority of hams have verticals or wire dipoles, aiming the beam isn't the point.
Posted by AG4QE on 2003-06-28

Callsign vs.State

ENOUGH ALREADY ON THIS CALLSIGN CHANGING! I've had this call most of my long life. Its my name! Are we suddenly going back to getting organized with a call that indicates more than it presently does, after issuing VANITY (!) calls all these recent years? Can someone tell me the value of knowing what area a person is? If you hear him and need to know, ask him.Or ask your computer.
Let it go! Ben Piller, K9CSM
Posted by K9CSM on 2003-06-04

YES. The call sign number SHOULD and DOES indicate the actual region of residence-- IN CASES OF ORIGINAL LICENSE. However, once the amateur moves, he should be allowed to keep his own callsign for as long as he wishes. I got my tech ticket in '83 in the 4 area. Since then i have lived in the 5, 4(again), 5(again), 2, and now in the 8 area. And i hope we can move back to the 2 area. However in 20 years i have held the same call sign and have no intention of ever changing it. "I will give up my callsign when they pry it out of my cold dead fingers!!"
Posted by RADIOWEENIE on 2003-05-03

Calls

I can't figure out your system, glad you lot understand it. In Australia it is easy, VK for Australia, a number for your state, a prefix letter for your license class then whatever you like, too easy.
Kevin Forbes VK3UKF
Posted by VK3UKF on 2003-03-26

N0 SP3LL1NG

I agree with NE0P. One should have the option to keep his old call when moving, but new vanity calls should be restricted to the geographical area. What's messy is folks requesting vanity calls outside of their district just to spell cute words or do contest stunts. We should not be able to "pronounce" our call signs :)

Adding a / with your current zone has been used for many years. Why not keep doing that.

As for the "beam whiners", just be glad you're able to put one up on your real estate. Go out and buy a rotator for it.
Posted by WB1W on 2003-03-26

Callsign Areas and FCC

This is what happens when the FCC is run by lawyers rather than hams or servants of the people. I am a 3 in 5 land and changed from being a 0 in 5 land after being a 0 in four land. I had to get a 0 call in Iowa (couldn't keep K3SWJ, K4HPQ,or WB4OWN). Moved back to FL and couldn't get any of the others back but could keep W0RAO. Then the vanity program would give away K3SWJ my first call. Calls not tied to an area are confusing. What is really puzzling is the inability to treat AK, HI, and the other DX entities any differently than CONUS. They are different to the FCC and other government branches but are treated differently for licensing. We really need to get FCC staff that are concerned not just with amateur radio but who are interested in all aspects of communications rather than a stepping stone in a career path.

Posted by K3SWJ on 2003-03-10

Point your beam?

How about listening to determine, or else...establishing contact, finding out where they are?

What about that term "working you off the back of my beam?"

Say you have a very narrow beam-width, and live in San Louis Obispo, CA...
The station calling CQ is in Crescent City, a few miles south of Oregon. How is having a 6th area call sign going to help then? the 6th area could be 180 degrees south of your position, 180 north, or 90 east, or anything except West.

Same would apply to the 7th call area. Lots of places that would place the 7th area call a full-circle of possible short-path beam headings dependent on station positions.

If the mode is phone, big deal, how hard is it to say this is [call-sign] in [city and/or state].

If you are a casual contester, in this day of computers, even the casual are using advanced logging software that remember call signs from previous contest logs, that includes QTH if that is part of the exchange. If you are active in many contests eventually the community remembers you are the 6 in 4 land... In this day and age of computers, just type in the callsign and voila, there is the latest registered QTH.

EVERY QSO I HEAR, QTH IS PART OF A NORMAL EXCHANGE unless they know each other and already know each other's QTH, UNLESS IT'S YOU ARE BUSTING A PILEUP, AND IT'S your call 59 or 5NN as the entire exchange, in which case the DX in that moment really needn't care where you are, and all you care, is they got your call-sign correct.

Given this statistical factual observation anyone can verify by listening to any QSO that is starting on any HF band, what difference does it really make if your call area does not match?

In the case of DX, I've had at least two non Hawaii qso's from KH6 call holders that moved to the lower 48. It was good to know they HAD at one time been there. And, I could tell by the sound of their signal, that it would have been a stretch if they had really been in Hawaii given condx, they were too loud, and their signal lacked the tell tale signs such as flutter and fading that often accompanies DX signals even if they are Strength 9 on a typical rig S-meter.

These are only my thoughts on this subject, and it's good to know that opinions can and do vary.

Posted by W3DCG on 2003-03-06

Point your beam?

How about listening to determine, or else...establishing contact, finding out where they are?

What about that term "working you off the back of my beam?"

Say you have a very narrow beam-width, and live in San Louis Obispo, CA...
The station calling CQ is in Crescent City, a few miles south of Oregon. How is having a 6th area call sign going to help then? the 6th area could be 180 degrees south of your position, 180 north, or 90 east, or anything except West.

Same would apply to the 7th call area. Lots of places that would place the 7th area call a full-circle of possible short-path beam headings dependent on station positions.

If the mode is phone, big deal, how hard is it to say this is [call-sign] in [city and/or state].

If you are a casual contester, in this day of computers, even the casual are using advanced logging software that remember call signs from previous contest logs, that includes QTH if that is part of the exchange. If you are active in many contests eventually the community remembers you are the 6 in 4 land... In this day and age of computers, just type in the callsign and voila, there is the latest registered QTH.

EVERY QSO I HEAR, QTH IS PART OF A NORMAL EXCHANGE unless they know each other and already know each other's QTH, UNLESS IT'S YOU ARE BUSTING A PILEUP, AND IT'S your call 59 or 5NN as the entire exchange, in which case the DX in that moment really needn't care where you are, and all you care, is they got your call-sign correct.

Given this statistical factual observation anyone can verify by listening to any QSO that is starting on any HF band, what difference does it really make if your call area does not match?

In the case of DX, I've had at least two non Hawaii qso's from KH6 call holders that moved to the lower 48. It was good to know they HAD at one time been there. And, I could tell by the sound of their signal, that it would have been a stretch if they had really been in Hawaii given condx, they were too loud, and their signal lacked the tell tale signs such as flutter and fading that often accompanies DX signals even if they are Strength 9 on a typical rig S-meter.

These are only my thoughts on this subject, and it's good to know that opinions can and do vary.

Posted by W3DCG on 2003-03-06

Old Daze

Back in the old daze it was easy to tell who was from where. K1, New England, KH Hawaii etc.
It seems to me that with computers, issuing an area dedicated call sign should be easier today than it was 20 years ago. Well, maybe !
73, Jack K2JX
Posted by K2JX on 2003-03-05

Calls..

91 percent say yes...or I don't care...8 percent say no...there IS something wrong in the system...something..
Posted by KL7FH on 2003-03-01

Callsign Integrity for Alaska

If I were the "initiator" of this survey, I would mail in the printed results to both the ARRL and the FCC so that they can clearly see the callsign structure mess they've created.

The results should carry some weight in helping resolving this issue.
Posted by KL7HRN on 2003-02-22

Callsign Integrity for Alaska

If I were the "initiator" of this survey, I would mail in the printed results to both the ARRL and the FCC so that they can clearly see the callsign structure mess they've created.

The results should carry some weight in helping resolving this issue.
Posted by KL7HRN on 2003-02-22

Good Old Days

This has been a Rock in my sock since it was changed. Was it a cost problem ? IT WENT BY THE WAY OF CW , THE BRIDGE TO CROSS TO JOIN THIS SPECIAL GROUP OF PEOPLE. Progress seems to go in reverse sometimes.
Thank you.
Posted by KA9HUK on 2003-02-15

for KL7FH

I wasn't going to reply but after some thought, I had to. Since KL7FH states that not requiring those no longer in Alaska to change their callsigns is an oversight, maybe he believes we are all either "wannabees" or "has beens". I get a feeling that he has an attitude of "I am an Alaskan and I am better than you because of that". I may be wrong, but since he protests so much, I wonder. I AM a life member of the AARC but I did remove my license plates once I settled in the "lower 48". The only reason I have for retaining the callsign I have is because it the last link I have with a state I loved very much. The attitude I feel from KL7FH sure isn't the same as I experienced while there and from friends I STILL have there. So, regardless of what others think, I will keep the callsign and remember the good times and friends there. Sorry you aren't happy with that but is all I have left of Alaska and I intend to keep it as long as I legally can.
73
Frank
KL7IPV
Posted by KL7IPV on 2003-02-11

CALL SIGNS;

I was in the military when I was introduced to radio..in "3" land.in which I hold a call sign from. I moved back to "8" land where I grew up, and thought I wanted an 8 call..but I found that I liked my 3 call very much. Along with some other comments that I have read..people have worked me before..and my friends as well that I have made..remember my call. In my experiences I have always exchanged the QTH, which clarifies it from the get go. Alot of things have changed in rulings in ham radio, from licensing and call signs, and band widths..and so on...all the comments have valid points attached to each one..and each of us enjoy the radio, or we would not have taken the time to read and comment on such a subject...let us all enjoy the radio, whether u are a 6 in 4 land or an 8 in 8 land...73...de..Scott
Posted by N3JJT on 2003-02-11

To KL7IPV

Frank please don't take my opinion as a personal stab at you. I have a great respect for you and your opinion. I feel this is just a "debate" with pro's and con's being tabled in a discussion. You are not the reason I wrote what I did. Anyway I have voiced my opinion and Frank I have to give you KUDOS for standing up and voicing your views on the subject for there are many many more KL7's sitting in the background just listening up here and down there. With that I say the best of 73 and I will move on to another subject.. dit dit
Posted by KL7FH on 2003-02-11

To KL7IPV

Frank please don't take my opinion as a personal stab at you. I have a great respect for you and your opinion. I feel this is just a "debate" with pro's and con's being tabled in a discussion. You are not the reason I wrote what I did. Anyway I have voiced my opinion and Frank I have to give you KUDOS for standing up and voicing your views on the subject for there are many many more KL7's sitting in the background just listening up here and down there. With that I say the best of 73 and I will move on to another subject.. dit dit
Posted by KL7FH on 2003-02-11

To KL7IPV

Frank please don't take my opinion as a personal stab at you. I have a great respect for you and your opinion. I feel this is just a "debate" with pro's and con's being tabled in a discussion. You are not the reason I wrote what I did. Anyway I have voiced my opinion and Frank I have to give you KUDOS for standing up and voicing your views on the subject for there are many many more KL7's sitting in the background just listening up here and down there. With that I say the best of 73 and I will move on to another subject.. dit dit
Posted by KL7FH on 2003-02-11

To KL7IPV

Frank please don't take my opinion as a personal stab at you. I have a great respect for you and your opinion. I feel this is just a "debate" with pro's and con's being tabled in a discussion. You are not the reason I wrote what I did. Anyway I have voiced my opinion and Frank I have to give you KUDOS for standing up and voicing your views on the subject for there are many many more KL7's sitting in the background just listening up here and down there. With that I say the best of 73 and I will move on to another subject.. dit dit
Posted by KL7FH on 2003-02-11

calls and their locations

Having been a 5 in 7 land, a 7 in 4 land I voted NO. That call IS me. When people here it, they know who it is if we have had chats before. If I suddenly changed to wz4xxx or some such, no one would recognize it as being me. I dont want to change my name, or my call. Now when it comes to the Pacific Islands and all these folk (many non-citizen- with no green card) then its flat out wrong to issue them a call which should indicate those "countries" Same with KL and KH, those indicate diffeent "countries" to us Hams. The FCC could not care less though, and that is a shame. As to the K1B operation, if the FCC wouldnt issue a KH1 call, then they could have worked with their own call/K1B, with no problem. It was wrong to issue it, wrong to use it, and makes no sense, since it will shortly show up in Timbucktu or some other such place, and wont that make a nice mess in the data banks. In contests I use N7DC/4, to let others know to where they are listening. Portable calls are just that, portable. So the K1B group didnt even need a new license did they? To us Hams, countries are more important to identify than states anyway.

Posted by N7DC on 2003-02-11

Call Sign Matching Location

I get amused when I read comments from people saying that when you hear a call sign it helps you locate the person on the other end. Balderdash! I have read comments about the "4" area being so big and hard to figure out where a person really is. The "8" area is similar. It covers Ohio, West Virginia, and Michigan. From the north west tip of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (which borders Wisconsin to the north)to the bottom eastern tip of West Virginia is over 1500 miles. That's really zeroing in on the location isn't it. Are we too lazy to ask for a QTH? The FCC has set up the system and it works just fine. I personally live in Michigan (the "8" area) and have a "9" call. Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin are in the "9" area and stations in Indiana are closer than stations in West Virginia.

All of these areas are arbitrary anyhow and are just a generalization of a geographical area. I don't think that they were ever intended to zero in on a location unless your talking about New York or some of the other smaller areas. Let's face it, there are only 10 numerical digits to deal with and more than 50 states and territories. Any system based strictly on a number is going to be imperfect for such a vast region and only 10 digits to choose from.
Posted by K9TH on 2003-02-10

Where In The Worl

If you give a grid square (4 or 6 character)I know exactly where you are located. Not rocket science at all!

Dennis - KG4RUL
Posted by KG4RUL on 2003-02-10

callsigns

Isn't it interesting that the FCC requires a current address in Alaska for a callsign. But you can renew an Alaskan call with an address outside of Alaska. I can agree on keeping the call if you intend on returning ie. an active military or college student etc..even a snowbird..(someone who lives in Alaska during summer)but the folks who are not...geez...do you still have your cars with KL7 plates too? My opinion is to renew an Alaskan callsign the address should also be Alaskan..this is an oversight..73 Frank
Posted by KL7FH on 2003-02-10

This subject has several angles from which to view. First you can be like me in that I have held the same callsign since 1978, my previous call was my WN6HYQ "Novice". I have since upgraded to Extra Class never changed my callsign, could have but why? Did my ego of holding an Extra Class license really require a 2X1 or 1X2 call, not! Hey if that's your thing great and God bless you. I had lots of friends who changed their calls and later wished they hadn't. As they say O'well!


But the subject of being able to tell where a guy is, or is suppose to be is important. W6's are California, K1's are suppose to be rare to catch on the air, and KH6 is somewhere in the Pacific!


OK for some who recognize my callsign yes I was public enemy number 2 on the FCC Club callsign hit list. Yes I'm still the trustee for many callsigns located and used in California with numbers ranging from 0-9, it's not my fault, it's not illegal because the rules allow it. When the FCC began changing the rules on licenses, callsigns, and location of stations etc. many things we've taken for granted, such as a W6 being in California went out the window.


Does this need to be fixed? I'm not sure they can. Remember that some of us who got in on the first vanity club callsigns paid $50.00 per call. For the organizations that I represent and the other folks who got the N3 calls because they grew up back east that was a lot of money. So how can they bring order to what we have without taking away callsigns, or having to giveback money our government doesn't have?

Simple! If your K3OES operating in California the rules should require you to ID with a "Stoke 6" or portable 6, mobile 6 you get the idea. Of course one might ask, who's going to enforce this? The FCC doesn't have the resources to ride herd over the implementation of a rule like this. ANSWER: They don't have too, it's our job! Each and every one of us has the responsibility to conduct ourselves properly on the air. Ever heard of GOOD AMATEUR PRACTICE? OK there will be those who refuse to cooperate; I've played the 40-meter war zone in past years. That's what our OO program is for and last but certainly not least when all else has failed, there's Riley.


I'll step down from my soapbox now; I've said my peace.



73's,


J.N. Hudson III, WA6HYQ.

Posted by WA6HYQ on 2003-02-10

just argue

It’s no wonder the new comer’s think we are a bunch of SNOB’S! We argue about all this trivial stuff and what happens they come in and sell off or just take our beloved frequencies. (i.e. 11m parts of 220) What do they take NEXT??

So lets concentrate on what really matters being friendly and welcoming new comers and the so called outsiders we are all hams.
We argue and they able to take from us because our eyes are closed to what’s going around us.
Let us quit acting like a bunch of little kids! If I can't pitch then you can't use my ball

Robert (Bob) Bailey N6YVY
Posted by N6YVY on 2003-02-09

just argue

It’s no wonder the new comer’s think we are a bunch of SNOB’S! We argue about all this trivial stuff and what happens they come in and sell off or just take our beloved frequencies. (i.e. 11m parts of 220) What do they take NEXT??

So lets concentrate on what really matters being friendly and welcoming new comers and the so called outsiders we are all hams.
We argue and they able to take from us because our eyes are closed to what’s going around us.
Let us quit acting like a bunch of little kids! If I can't pitch then you can't use my ball

Robert (Bob) Bailey N6YVY
Posted by N6YVY on 2003-02-09

I've been burned...

When I ponied up for my "vanity" call - really just the best CW call I could get - I was disappointed when my first two "1" choices went to hams in Florida and Texas. I understand the problem in not being able to take your call with you - I wish there had been a compromise. Get the call for the area you are in, and be able to keep it. Is that so tough for the FCC to figure out? 73, Brian, K1NW
Posted by K1NW on 2003-02-09

Keep It Simple

I've been licensed many years and have held calls as a W5 in Texas, W6 in California, W8 in Ohio and now I'm back as a W6 in California. I must admit I prefer the old way...not because I'm an old Geezer who thinks that that's the way I did it and, by God, that's the way everyone should do it... but because it's simpler for DX, is more equitable for contests and certificate chasers, and is really quite simple. Its seems to be more fair, just and equitable for everyone to know where a station is located. What's wrong with that? It just seems reasonable.

I support no code, because that's the way technology has taken us.. and no code seems to be fair... and that's also true with calls and locations. Having said that, there's much more to worry about in the world that call signs, so I'm not going to lose any sleep over this issue. Goodnight.

Joe, W6OJ
Posted by W6OJ on 2003-02-09

Call Sign Matching Location

I get amused when I read comments from people saying that when you hear a call sign it helps you locate the person on the other end. Balderdash! I have read comments about the "4" area being so big and hard to figure out where a person really is. The "8" area is similar. It covers Ohio, West Virginia, and Michigan. From the north west tip of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (which borders Wisconsin to the north)to the bottom eastern tip of West Virginia is over 1500 miles. That's really zeroing in on the location isn't it. Are we too lazy to ask for a QTH? The FCC has set up the system and it works just fine. I personally live in Michigan (the "8" area) and have a "9" call. Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin are in the "9" area and stations in Indiana are closer than stations in West Virginia.

All of these areas are arbitrary anyhow and are just a generalization of a geographical area. I don't think that they were ever intended to zero in on a location unless your talking about New York or some of the other smaller areas. Let's face it, there are only 10 numerical digits to deal with and more than 50 states and territories. Any system based strictly on a number is going to be imperfect for such a vast region and only 10 digits to choose from.
Posted by K9TH on 2003-02-09

Keep It Simple

I've been licensed many years and have held calls as a W5 in Texas, W6 in California, W8 in Ohio and now I'm back as a W6 in California. I must admit I prefer the old way...not because I'm an old Geezer who thinks that that's the way I did it and, by God, that's the way everyone should do it... but because it's simpler for DX, is more equitable for contests and certificate chasers, and is really quite simple. Its seems to be more fair, just and equitable for everyone to know where a station is located. What's wrong with that? It just seems reasonable.

I support no code, because that's the way technology has taken us.. and no code seems to be fair... and that's also true with calls and locations. Having said that, there's much more to worry about in the world that call signs, so I'm not going to lose any sleep over this issue. Goodnight.

Joe, W6OJ
Posted by W6OJ on 2003-02-09

Location

W4YA is really torn up over this issue. The only thing the 4 would tell you is that you were in 4 land. And thats all that matters. If you are sporting a 4 call and aren't in 4 land ,then failing to send a slant bar(/) and the call area you're in renders the call areas meaningless. Once upon a time we had meaning, now we have meaninglessness.
Posted by WA4DOU on 2003-02-08

Epiphany!

Why not DISPOSE of the number in all call signs? Tradition! Duplication! Chaos! Mayhem!
We have all sorts of IDs these days. Social Security, zip code, phone number, car license, to mention a few. Next are bar codes, digital coding,and packets. What difference does it make to a wireless communication where two call signs talk to one another, and the number identifies a region of the country? Not much in light of all the other ID numbers available. My suggestion would be to add a tag to the callsign that locates us in a more definitive
way. Oh! wouldnt that be grid squares? Let's use them on HF! I can almost hear the cries of complaint on that subject. With a simple computer program, the map of the area can be brought up both in written and graphic form.
Mobile hams would have to jot it down for future reference. Most logging progarams have it already built in. We are blessed with an excess of technology. Our brains remain analog. Let's someone figure out how to fix that.
Posted by K8DIT on 2003-02-08

Vanity program provides plenty of callsign options

When you stop and think about it, the vanity program would almost always allow a ham to obtain a similar call sign when he moved to a new call district. W6BS could most likey obtain a call with the "BS" suffix. Perhaps he could get something like WF4BS or KM4BS.
Posted by W1DLS on 2003-02-07

What about DXCC?

Another headache with the call area stuff, is the stupidity with special calls not being where you expect them to be. Take for instance the recent K1B (Baker/Howland Is) and K8T and K8O (American Samoa). I was part of the K8T, K8O trip. The FCC refuse to issue a callsign which represents what is a different COUNTRY. We would far rather have been KH8T and KH8O - but it was not to be. Daft.

-Nigel- (G4KIU)
Posted by G4KIU on 2003-02-07

Secondary station license

When the FCC discontinued the requirement to change call signs when you moved, they also discontinued “secondary station licenses”. Their reasoning for both changes was that the FCC did not need to know your location anymore, and didn’t want the expense and burden of the extra paperwork. It does appear from the responses, however, that a lot of the hams still want to know your location. We didn’t back then, but now have a mechanism in place to pay for such luxuries as a secondary station license with the Vanity system. So why not allow us transplants to use the vanity system to get a secondary call in our present district while still allowing us to keep our treasured, original call for when we find our way back home? I think a vast majority of us transplants would go for that and we would tend to use our new “area correct” call sign more often, especially during contests. That wouldn’t solve all of the confusion, but it would go a long way towards consistency without forcing everyone to give up their original calls.
Posted by NK9R on 2003-02-07

Re: What about DXCC?

I think in order to get a ham ticket in
the territories (and non-CONUS States),
one has to have a mailin' address that reflects that territory. I gues all y'all coulda gotten a General Delivery address at the local Post Office and then applied for
a license. However, bein' a limey, I guess you woulda had to take the test for a US ticket. So probaly the special event call
was the best alternative.

As the post under this sez, the FCC no longer cares where US hams operate in areas
under their jurisdiciton.

73 de Ronnie
Posted by WA4MJF on 2003-02-07

Call Area Numbers

I keep seeing coments like "..the rest of us would know where he is.." OK, I'll make a bet. I'll go somewhere in the 4th area and get on 75 SSB with my 4th area call sign. I'll buy a steak dinner for anyone in New England or Old England if they can tell me where I am. This should be rather easy for the 79% who voted YES.
Posted by W4YA on 2003-02-07

for AL7GA and others

I don't contest much but when I do I make it very obvious that I am not in Alaska. I do that by giving my state with my call. It simple and directly lets the other station know where I am. If they choose to pass me by, that is understandable. If they choose to complete a contact, they know in advance they are getting a station Nevada NOT Alaska. A simple courtesy like that from each would eleviate that problems discussed here. And I KNOW I am an "outsider", but my heart hasn't learned that yet I guess.
73
Frank
KL7IPV
Posted by KL7IPV on 2003-02-06

Working stations

I'm assuming that as nobody needs Ohio for anything, if I change my call to an 8, I can expect to have even fewer responses to my CQ on 40M?

By the way, the call district doesn't really help in direction of the beam. With 4-land running from VA to FL, and 5-land running from Mississippi to New Mexico, and (God forbid) 7-land from Canada to Mexico! Having beamwidth that wide sort of defeats the purpose of the beam.

The "Special" callsigns, however, are another story. There is no reason why the FCC cannot demand amateurs holding KL7 or KH6 to actually live in those states to hold those callsigns.

Yes, my call is a vanity, and out of area even when I got it. But as I lived 10 miles from the Mississippi border in Tennessee, I figured the 5-land call wouldn't be too far afield. Besides, all the 4th district calls for Extra class (and Advanced class as well) were already taken.

If they do return to the call district structure, they will have to alter the districts. The first district should be NY/NJ and all of New England. Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky should be added to Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland for the "new" Second call district. Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois could be the third.

You get the idea ... if you return to the call district system, then reapportion the district boundaries to reflect a balanced population.

de N5NW
Bellbrook, Ohio

Posted by N5NW on 2003-02-06

You want to change calls? Pay for it!

If the FCC were to ever reinstate the requirement of having call district match location, they'd need money to handle the onslaught of license modifications. Would you be willing to pay for that added "benefit"? Do you think that we ALL should have to pay, even though we may not agree with this perceived need?

Food for thought
John
Posted by WB5OAU on 2003-02-06

Just add the number!

The best solution to this would be to require the use of a slash and the number of the actual callsign area of operation. For example when W1XYZ retires to Florida, he can either apply for a new "4" callsign (and the vanity program would provide him many more options than in the old days) or he can retain his W1 call and sign /4 afterwards. The choice would be up to him, but either way, the rest of us would know where he is.

Posted by W1DLS on 2003-02-06

N5NW, you're right about Ohio

But then, if nobody needs Ohio for anything, they REALLY don't need California for anything, since there's even more of us.

This is why I always say something like, "At the North Pole!" or "Mxyplycktk Island!" after my callsign, just to keep them guessing.

(Only kidding.) I liked your comments about Ohio, though. I thought it might be an advantage in pileups that I can sign "WB2WIK/6," and get two shots each time around, calling as a "2" and then again as a "6." Turns out nobody needs 2's or 6's. Foiled again.
Posted by WB2WIK on 2003-02-06

for KL7FH

In your statement that you found one call "not taken" by outsiders, I feel slighted. I didn't "take" mine, I got it while living in Alaska. The fact I still have it is a choice granted by the FCC. If one lives outside Alaska and tries to get a KL7 call, you can not get one. The rules limit you to callsigns in the call area you are in UNLESS you can show a good reason to have a special district call. I can get a call for any area within the contiguous 48 states but no other. I chose to retain my KL7 because it allows the last link with a state I loved. That doesn't mean I have "taken" it.
73
Frank
KL7IPV
Posted by KL7IPV on 2003-02-05

Area call signs

What is the purpose of having call districts or geographic designators within calls if they are not going to be used within their defined areas? If numbered call districts are no longer important then we should start getting call letter like radio or tv station.
Posted by KG5FTK on 2003-02-05

K2BF has it right!

K2BF says, "[these should be] the rules: (1) If you have a callsign that indicates a DX entity (KL, KH, etc...) and you move [to conus] then you have to change calls. (2) If you move within continental US, you may keep your callsign. (3) If you are requesting a new callsign, you get one for your current area [only]."

Let's add to that: if KL7ZYX is visiting Maryland he should use the call W3/KL7ZYX. Likewise, I would use KL7/W3GCW when I'm in Alaska.

After reading all the posts, I don't believe that we need an FCC rule change. This is just "Good Amateur practice," is already covered under the rules, and everyone should be willing to follow it anyway.
Posted by W3GCW on 2003-02-05

K2BF has it right!

K2BF says, "[these should be] the rules: (1) If you have a callsign that indicates a DX entity (KL, KH, etc...) and you move [to conus] then you have to change calls. (2) If you move within continental US, you may keep your callsign. (3) If you are requesting a new callsign, you get one for your current area [only]."

Let's add to that: if KL7ZYX is visiting Maryland he should use the call W3/KL7ZYX. Likewise, I would use KL7/W3GCW when I'm in Alaska.

After reading all the posts, I don't believe that we need an FCC rule change. This is just "Good Amateur practice," is already covered under the rules, and everyone should be willing to follow it anyway.
Posted by W3GCW on 2003-02-05

My Dad's callsign

Back in 1996, as soon as the first gate opened for a vanity call I had made the upgrade to extra class from advanced so that I could apply for the persons callsign that started me in this wonderful hobby. My dad lived in another state and we had many great QSO's on amateur radio before his passing. I now hold his callsign with great pride/passion and find it very upsetting that most would have me forsake it due to my location. Let's worry about losing spectrum(220mhz or????) if we want to make waves. And sorry to the contest/DXers that have troubles with this issue. Maybe if you held a deceased relatives call you'd have a different opinion!! LET IT BE
Posted by WI6Z on 2003-02-05

for KL7IPV

Frank, one of the problems we have faced for years is the FCC does NOT enforce the supposed rule you quoted about "outsiders" getting (K)L(7) calls. Many have and continue to get fake addresses in Alaska and receive, on that basis, an Alaskan call.

And in reality, although you may have enjoyed living here, and we enjoyed having you, now that you live "outside" you are in fact an "outsider". The courteous thing to do, for anyone leaving a DXCC entity location, is to relinquish that call sign. I hope if it ever becomes necessary for me to leave the state that I will have the courage and courtesy to do so as well. -Ken AL7GA
Posted by AL7GA on 2003-02-05

Slashed zero

N8UZE isn't quite correct ... he's just too young to know "the rest of the story". The slashed "oh" was used to write (with pencil/pen) a "zero" when one appeared in a message being copied by a telegraph (or RADIO-telegraph) operator. I learned the (real) Morse code as a youngster hanging around a railroad depot in Oklahoma. What we all use ... well, some of us ... today is NOT Morse code.
Posted by K0PP on 2003-02-05

Callsigns

There is nothing more frustrating than trying to get one of the harder ARRL awards,Like Worked all States QRP CW 80 or 40 meters than to get 1/2 way through a contact with what you think is a hard to work state from your QTH,and find out that your contact's real QTH is actually right next door!!!
In Canada you must get a new call sign if you move from province to province. you are allowed to keep a silent key's callsign if it has sentamental value to you ie: It was your Dad's calllsign.
Posted by VA6WP on 2003-02-05

NO ...

I have the ultimate vanity call, but got it many years before the vanity call program. It's a prime case of a result of the old "incentive licensing" program. I live in Montana, and wouldn't have been able to "move" the call from Colorado. My last name is "KOPP", so "K0PP" is certainly "special" to me. 73! Ken Kopp - K0PP
Posted by K0PP on 2003-02-04

KG4s

Only 2X2 KG4 calls are GITMO. The 1X2s, 2X1s, and 2X3s are all CONUS calls.
Posted by K4NR on 2003-02-04

KL7 Callsigns

Pick just about any KL7xx 3x2 call and do a lookup on QRZ.com...most are not even in Alaska! or KL7x 3x1's! I was lucky to find KL7FH as one NOT taken by outsiders..
73,
Frank KL7FH
Posted by KL7FH on 2003-02-04

Makes too much sense!

Yes, I support that issue. I have tried to work some stupid
DX stations as a relocated W0/5 and they wouldn't accept my call
as they were going by call areas, and "no number 0". So I ended up
applying for a W5 call which I didn't want.

It is confusing at best to determine where anyone is in this country
anymore. I don't see this as an issue overseas. Worked a KH8 once
that was stateside. A KH2 also. Now that's confusing!

Posted by W5KRM on 2003-02-04

No Zero FCC District

There is NO zero FCC Radio District. There is a 10th FCC Radio District. Many moons ago, when the FCC was designin' the call signs, it was decided we would not have 2 number
prefixes. So when the came to the Tenth,
they overlaid the zero on a "lazy 1".

That is why you see the "slash", as the lazy 1 was later called, through the zero.

In a brand, when letter or number is not
vertical it is called "lazy".

73 de Ronnie
Posted by WA4MJF on 2003-02-04

The slash 0

The slash zero did not come about due to the FCC's efforts. It was to distinguish the letter O from the numeral 0 as in many typefaces it is not very clear which is which.
Posted by N8UZE on 2003-02-04

Slash Zero

Now is that really as good a tale
as the one I presented :-)

Seriously, though there is NO
ZERO Radio District!

73 de Ronnie
Posted by WA4MJF on 2003-02-04

Slash Zero

Now is that really as good a tale
as the one I presented :-)

Seriously, though there is NO
ZERO Radio District!

73 de Ronnie
Posted by WA4MJF on 2003-02-04

Just leave it as is

Why just leave it as it is ? If you want to get a Vanity call as I have been thinking about dumping my call to a V.C. anyway the FCC could issue for a ham moving out of the call-district say From California dist 6 to Michigan dist 8 he or she could apply for a change of address and automatically apply for a new call-sign or a Vanity call in that region. I think it would be nuts to a call W50XXX can you imagine what that would be on CW ??? 11 meter CB had went from KXX-0000 to KXXX-0000 then the Temp call has zip code assigned with initials KJD12345 John Doe was his name living in Hottersville, US I know that MARS uses a longer call then government uses a 2 letter mobile 4 digit call.
There may be a web site has that info.
my 2 cents worth.
Posted by N8ZUX on 2003-02-04

Call / location

On 6 meters (50 mHz) we all use our "grid
square" as a locater....Doesn't make much difference as to your call...CM88 is where you are...
73....enjoy! Walt KA6VNU
Posted by KA6VNU on 2003-02-04

THE ANSWER!!

Stick a "W" in front of your FRN. No extra work for the FCC 'cuz the "call signs" are already assigned.

Enough Already!

Harry W3463387


Posted by N2ERN on 2003-02-03

Why bother...

If the number doesn't tell us where you are, why bother sticking to any sort of numbering system? At least add the call area number as a suffix, until the numbers no longer mean anything. Otherwise, I (personally) have not got a clue how well I'm doing, where to beam or indeed how propagation is doing. And then you may not work me, and I might be a mult!

Posted by GM4AFF on 2003-02-03

KL7 in "0 Land"

I first got my license in Alaska in 1999. I moved to Missouri six months ago and made the choice to get a "0" call right away. Why?
Well, it was a matter of integrity to me. Sure, I could have used the KL7 call to my advantage and would surely have received priority from a rare DX station or in a contest. I'm sure we have all heard of or experienced the aggravation of giving a KL7 priority and come to find out they are in Washington or Arizona...then your opening abruptly closes and your chances at your other "real" priority stations are gone. The advantages of required corresponding call sign and actual call area are quite evident to me. Obviously, my vote is YES!
Posted by KL7RZ on 2003-02-03

Why not 2 callsigns

As an 8 in 3-land i would apply for a vanity call with a 3 in it for sure if I could also keep my original call

As I understand the process, the FCC holds my current call just in case I decide not to renew the vanity call. So if this is the case, why not allow the heritage call to be used also? This is the practice in many countries where hams often have shorter, more unusual prefix calls for contest use. Thus I could use a 3 call in contests where location mattered, and revert to my comfortable heritage call for general qsos. But since this an extra logistical burden for the FCC, the idea is not likely to go anywhere!
Posted by WB8YYY on 2003-02-03

Painless solution?

How about a requirement for the call to correspond to station location whenever an upgrade or renewal is executed. That way it is phased in instead of an "all at once" kaos party.
Posted by AB7R on 2003-02-03

W8 in W9 Land

The nature of my profession, has caused me to live in Zero Land, Eight Land, and Nine Land. Throughout all of those moves, I kept the Eight land call that I earned while living in the Detroit area. Now that I have finally settled down "for ever" in Indiana, I considered changing my call to a "W9". However I decided not to because so many people around the world now know me as W8WZ. I enjoy it when I finish a QSO, and an old friend from years ago jumps in to say "Hello". I would loose that if I changed my call. Also, the only person hurt by my desision is myself. Per ARRL operating manual protocall, when a station is calling for stations by numbers, you ONLY ANSWER FOR THE NUMBER IN YOUR CALL, NO MATTER WHERE YOU REALLY ARE. Thus, I have to answer with the "8s" even though the station's beam is not pointed at me. I am willing to make that sacrifice for the familiarity of my old call, and my old friends. When calling CQ, I usually give my location for the benefit of anyone trying to beam in on me. 73, Carl W8WZ
Posted by W8WZ on 2003-02-03

Geographic Call Signs

It is probably a bit out of place for a non-US amateur to voice opinion on an internal US call sign policy. Just out of interest, I've long thought the British call sign system had a lot of merit. "Over there", the numeral and suffix (ie. 3ABC), stayed with the owner. In England, the call would therefore have been G3ABC. Upon moving to Wales, it would become GW3ABC, or to Scotland, it would become GM3ABC. That was neat ... you never lost your identity no matter where you moved, and your call sign still revealed your geographic location.

I'm a bit out of touch with it now, so it is possible the old British system may have since been adulterated.

Here in Canada, we now have a mushed up system similar to that in the US. I don't particulary care for it. One sad point is that call signs that were meant for a specific area are not available to people living in that area because of it being held by an individual in another district. Perhaps after a "grace period", all out of district call signs should be repatriated.

I think this will be a situation where "one size won't fit all".

73,
Leigh - VE1GA

Posted by VE1GA on 2003-02-02

Good Old Days

There is no reason to initiate any FCC action. Everyone, under our current rules, has the ability to pick any number he/she wants, as often as he/she wants. So, if you want another number, go ahead and change your call. But, I think that it is wrong to suggest rule changes that would force others to change their call signs for no reason other than it's the way we used to do it.
Posted by W4YA on 2003-02-02

Good Old Days

In the old days you could move to a new place
and get your new call with your old suffix if
available. W1ABC-W2ABC-W3ABC and etc. With
the greater number of calls today can you
guess how that would work?
When I changed my call people thought I was
in Japan! (KA5N) Even DX calls seem to have
changed, doens't anyone care about those.
Worry about something else.
Allen KA5N

Posted by KA5N on 2003-02-02

Good Old Days

If we're going to go back to the way things were before around 1980, then the first thing to do is punt the VEC system and get the FCC to start giving the license exams again. Let's face it--the VEC system is a failure. Hardly a month goes by when we do not hear of "examination irregularities" taking place somewhere with the FCC investigating. Who knows how many corrupt examination sessions are not detected? Let's fix the problem of hams who scam their way to being licensed first.

I've held my call for 25 years & now live in IL. I like it; it is like a pair of old shoes but if I had to get a 9 call I would, if I could get a K or W9 x 2 call.
Posted by K5UJ on 2003-02-02

I voted "yes", but....

I was first licensed with a WN6 and thought it would become a WB6 with the same suffix. It didn't because there were two other hams in the same city ( Chino, CA in 1967 )with the same suffix. The FCC then assigned a completely diferent callsign to me. I've had a WA7 in Washington and now I have a KL7. I've had it long enough I really don't want to change. I DO realize that it gives me some advantage when I make a call to a DX station because the KL7 is not all that common from ALASKA. Unfortunately, it is getting more common in the lower 48. I have to renew this year and am thinking of changing but am having a hard time with that. I think it is because I really have a love for that part of the world and hate to give up the last hold I have on it. In fairness, I would give it up if the FCC said to, but otherwise.........
73
Frank
KL7IPV
Posted by KL7IPV on 2003-02-02

'call signs

The number systen was put into place for a reason. Now it has no value what so ever. If you wish too have a 6 call and live in NY then you should have to sign/2.
What I would really like to see is for the old K an w calls to be recyled. It is a real pain trying to remember these weird prefixs like AE. Ditto fo the N calls.
I have noticed posting from DX stations that they have no love for how we have messed it up.
K3VO
Posted by K3VO on 2003-02-02

Out of area Call signs

OK If you are W6XXX and move to W1 you are now W16XXX then you move to W5 you are W56XXX
Then to W8 you are W86XXX.....First Number is Call area YOU are IN and second is where you got call..now you retire and go back to LA you are now W6XXX.. I spent 2-3 years in FN42 Boston.MA and everytime I call a W0,9,8 the station faded out as the turned the beam to W7!!!!!!! I am also Pivved that a guy in MD or OH gets a W7 call just to get his Initials!! I should have got a W1 call to fool the JA's on 6m!!!!!! De W7MEM ex N7EIJ EX KA7BTQ
Posted by W7MEM on 2003-02-02

Out of area Call signs

I forgot What whould WPX be like with all those new CALL'S!!
Posted by W7MEM on 2003-02-02

Call Sign

Although I voted, 'YES' for going back to the good old days where calls really indicated where you were, I do see a couple disadvantages. (1) It would probably cost our FCC more because they would be reissuing a lot of licenses. (2) Given our more mobile society, some of us would be forced into giving up old cherished calls when perhaps, we really didn't want to.

Heck, I remember in 1964 or '65, having to inform the FCC Engineer in charge when I was planning to take my novice station from the Detroit suburbs up to Lexington, Michigan (on Lake Huron) for a week's summer vacation). I guess that is starting to be a long time ago!
Posted by K8DXX on 2003-02-02

Let's Petition the FCC!!

With the majority in favor of reverting to the old way, why not initiate something for FCC action? It's frustrating if we don't do anything but take a survey...
Posted by NI6S on 2003-02-01

call signs

I have somewhat mixed feelings on the subject. I was originally assigned WN9NFO as a Novice in Illinois in 1964. Then WA9NFO as a General, then Advanced, and Extra. All my awards have the call WA9NFO as does my ARRL Life Membership. In 1975 I moved to California. I wanted people I knew to know it was me when they heard my call, so I kept it. After a number of years signing WA9NFO/6 and/or having to explain how I am in the Orange Section, I decided it wasn't worth the hassle. Since the vanity call I wanted was available, I took it. Now I am a 6 in California and contest operating is so much easier. I should have done this a long time ago. My callsign now is just as personal to me as my old 9 callsign was. Changing to the 'good old days' is not as painful as it appears to be on the surface. You can get to love a new (more reflective of your location) call as much as you loved an old call.
Posted by W6RTW on 2003-02-01

call district call signs

Yyyyyyyyeeeeesssssss paleeze.
Posted by K7LCS on 2003-02-01

I wish more DX stations would give their opinion. I find it very annoying to work US stations that give a wrong impression of their whereabouts in their prefix. As far as I know there is no other country in the world with "zones" that allows out of zone operation without adding a /zone to the callsign. But in the US they really made a mess of things.

US stations: remember that in some [parts of the world people have still very limited internet access. So looking up a call is not that easy.

SWL and people that just listen to check the propagation are confused when they hear a W6 and think there is propagation to the W-Coast...... and that guy/gal is in Vermont....
OK clean up your mess. If you want to police the world - and it looks like it - you should give the good example.
Posted by VK2GWK on 2003-01-31

Vanity Calls

My vanity call was originally my father's. I applied for the honor of assuming his call the first day I was eligible to do so. I currently live in California so I'm technically in the clear... but I will *not* surrender my Dad's call if I ever leave the state. It means too much to me.

73s

Jon
WB6AEA
Posted by WB6AEA on 2003-01-31

Yes, its a mess out there now

the only thing this "anything" goes with the callsign prefixes has accomplished is created customers for the callbook people ( this isn't bad, I want them to stay in business). But I think there is enough variety with vanity callsigns without letting the prefix mean nothing. I can't imagine changing my callsign to K0JX. Stop the confusion, bring back the older style.
Posted by K8JX on 2003-01-31

a License is a License...

A License is a License... or Is it? I have been continuously licensed since 1959. I have been issued SIX different Call Signs for different reasons and different regulations over the years. So ... on the one hand, you must have a license to operate like you must have a vehicle license And an operator license to drive a car on the public ways. Some vehicles gotz the random issue, some gotz the gov't ones & some gotz the Vanity ones... some are stolen and some are fake... and every once in a while you see a vehicle with NO license!

If you really Look at your license, you will See different numbers... u gotz ur Call Sign AND File#.

Some hams seem to almost worship their Amateur Call Sign and some couldn't care less what it is.

Perhaps the System needs fixing like any government program.

I bet the Majority of guys who want Call Signs reflect Location should really Think about what they are in such agreement about... How about REAL LOCATION to be required on your Call Sign!

How far do you want to take it... the old Call Area thing, or STATE I.D. so you can tell EXACTLY which State... like the states have an alphabetical order A-Z. The First State is "01" and the Last State is "50". For example... "W50Z or N29A or K11D". Many More Great Call Signs wud INSTANTLY become available for the VANITY guys. The LOCATION guys would Really get into a guyz location. and the SHORT Call Sign guyz wud git a great opportunity to apply for all the new short-calls created by the FIX.

Letz not even git into an Extreme of "W75460-0000A" for ZipCodePlus4 LOCATION! Then IRAQ could fire a missle and git within 300 feet of you using your Zip... now Thatz LOCATION!!!

73 es God bless from the Amateur Extra, Non-Vanity station.... WV4R... in Texas.
Posted by WV4R on 2003-01-31

Call Signs

I really wouldn't care, except that when I went looking for my vanity call, there weren't any area four calls available that would reflect an extra class and that also would be easy to use when working DX. Since I was licensed in California in 1979, I had used KA6GWP, which didn't carry well when there was a pile-up or a lot of noise on the bands. I noticed that my OM's call "Delta Whiskey Whiskey" seemed to be able to get through noise and pile-ups better than mine; so I decided to keep the "6" as a souvenir and received the DWW that I wanted for working DX.
Posted by K6DWW on 2003-01-31

NF3I/7 becomes N7JI

I used to be NF3I back in the DC area. When I moved to Oregon four years ago, I toyed with keeping my old callsign which I had held for 40% of my entire life, and 90% of my the duration of my ham license.

I didn't feel right NOT signing /7, so I went ahead and did it, choosing N7JI when I saw it was available.
Posted by N7JI on 2003-01-31

Call Signs

Hey, it's no big deal. Even in the so-called "good old days," (I was licensed in 1960, so I well-remember) you couldn't tell where someone was located just because of their prefix. Say you're in central Illinois and another 9 station calls you. Do you point your beam north to Wisconsin or southeast to southern Indiana? 30 seconds into a QSO you give your QTH, so what's the big deal? I just moved to Iowa from Tennessee and I'm glad I don't have to give up my present call sign. --Dale, K4EQ
Posted by K4EQ on 2003-01-31

Call Sign

It seems that most voters on this subject want the callsign to reflect a geographical area. Reasons cited are knowing where to turn the beam, getting an idea of the state etc.

I have the solution!

Have the FCC assign each state with a number from 1 to 50. Use the prefixes W, K, and N in 1X2 or 1X3 format. this gives each state about 54,000 callsigns that can be issued. US teritorial posessions could be numbered the same way but with 2X2 or 2X3 callsigns. Mobile and portable ops outside their state would need to sign /whatever the number of the state they are in.
This system would be great!

W1XYZ would be in Main while K49DUD means he is in Alaska and WK6DID is on Johnston Island. Looking for Montana for WAS? just listen for any W,K or N47.

Instantly know where to point the beam, no confusion such as exists today when you hear a K3 who is actually in Kentucky.


73
George
K3UD
Posted by K3UD on 2003-01-31

Gold Old Days

This all began when Stu Meyer W2GHK/4 SK, didn't wan't to change his call sign. He had enought horsepower with the FCC to force the rulemaking through the bureaucracy. Time to change back.
Posted by K4TBN on 2003-01-30

Call Areas

Here are two simple solutions to the problem:

1. Use ZIP codes. W4YA would be W32750YA

2. Use Grid Squares; W4YA=WEL98YA

End of discussion! I am pleased to have solved this problem. Next?
Posted by W4YA on 2003-01-30

While We're At It!

I never thought much of the concept of calls reflecting what class of license we held. I still think its smacks of egocentricity.
Posted by CURMUDGEON on 2003-01-30

To K4TBN

I thought it was W2NSD/1 when he left
CQ and went to NH to start 73 Magazine.
I thought that was before Stu moved to
Raleigh.

73 de Ronnie
Posted by WA4MJF on 2003-01-30

Call Sign

I don't really care. I have an out of area vanity call but I know there are certain situations where a /7 modifier is a good idea to avoid confusion.

Any proposal to go back to the "good old days" which has exceptions for how long you have had the call or whether you previously lived in the region is ridiculous. It would still cause the same confusion that you are trying to eliminate.
Posted by N9SX on 2003-01-30

Just be glad

I'm just glad that I can operate in a service that requires call signs! When I was searching for my vanity call (I really didn't like 'What An Idiot':) I considered a few out-of-area signs but in the long run it just didn't feel right _for_me_. I paid a lot of money for this QTH an am proud to live where I do. I'm a tech minus so I don't run into the problem of where to point the beam. But, as was mentioned by AE7G, you point your beam by signal reading anyway. I do have an IRLP node so I do kind-of use the area part of a call to guess where someone is. But IRLP users handle this by suggesting that when a station calls they include their location. Personally I'm in to ham radio to talk to people and burn myself with soldering irons. I don't decide to talk to someone just based on where I think they are at. If I'm up in VE7 land I use /W7 since I work a lot of those stations from home (one good thing about about living above Line-A.)

You know, this same discussion pops up from time to time on NANOG (nanog.org). Some want it so that only US sites have .com, .net, etc., or that US domains should all end with .us. It use to be the rule that you had to be a US 501(c) non-profit to get .org and you had to be a network (assigned an ASN) operation to get .net. Those days are far gone now but you still get some 'old-timers' bitching about it. (I'm really glad that the FCC didn't hand ham calls to Network Solutions to dole out!)

Anyway, there are far more important things for hams to worry about these days. What number you decided to have in the middle of your call really isn't one of them. It's not going to kill ham radio.

As an aside; it's a wonder that that the NAB hasn't used this to justify a west coast broadcast station being able to use a W call sign. They sure like to change signs everytime the change formats (or program directors.) I wonder if APOA is going to try for K & W vanity aircraft numbers.
Posted by W7COM on 2003-01-30

From here

Here, most of us care about the prefixes of your callsigns !
Frankly speaking, answering to a KH6 station and learning that it is actually located in Vermont is, of course, a great pleasure, but, well...
Would it be that difficult to add your area at the end of your callsign ? From here, it makes sense !
Best 73 de Jean-Marc, F5SGI
Posted by F5SGI on 2003-01-30

Good Old Days

To those calling for return to the "good old days" and/or abolition of the vanity callsign program, the issue for a lot of us is more nostalgia than vanity.

My first call was KN9OHI in 1958. Lost it because of moves, but had the opportunity to get it back couple of years ago and jumped at the chance.

K9OHI feels good--like an old pair of jeans that fit just right.

Does it really matter that I happen to live in South Carolina?



Posted by K9OHI on 2003-01-30

Good Old Days

OK, you guys have convinced me - I want to change my vote to YES and go back to the 'Good Old Days.' But why stop at changing call areas? Back then, if I were to make a trip from Orlando to Seattle, stopping at several places along the way to operate ham radio, I had to write a letter to every FCC Engineer In Charge along my route indicating the exact location of each stop, its duration, and a few other really important things. If my plans changed, all I had to do was write more letters. And I had to log a 30 minute CW QSO right before I renewed my ticket. And I had to keep a detailed log of everything else I did on the air. Ahh, yes, those were the days!! I sure miss them.
Posted by W4YA on 2003-01-30

Confussing

If W and K had the same lattitude in commercial broadcasting, the mass's would not know what from what.

Maybe it is just sour grapes, in NYC all the W2-- were all gone, as soon as the vanity craze hit. I was not going to get one of those N2-- calls. As soon as all the K calls
hit, I knew I was going to keep my old call
until I am a SK. I will do a double take with some of the new calls.

Oh well progress. Guess the higher the processor speed of a pentiumXX will just replace more jobs. Is it better to have progress or to be progressive!

Just MY 1.99 cents
Posted by WA2JJH on 2003-01-30

Good old days

I was first licensed in VA, but now live in
NJ. I would no more think about changing
my call when I move any more than I would
change my name. If you want to know where
I am, either listen, ask me, or enter my
call in that little "Call Search" box in
the upper left corner of this web page.
Posted by WA4FOM on 2003-01-30

Yes...but...

I think a district 7 station should not be able to get a district 2 call, for instance. I think KH6 should be reserved for Hawaii and KL7 should be reserved for Alaska (no, this is nothing new). But let hams be able to choose their prefixes (excluding dist. number); so if I wanted, I could get KF7WTF or N7RTM (if available)...etc.
Posted by KC7MMI on 2003-01-29

Wake Up

The return to the "Good Ol' Days" is a crock.
There weren't any good ole days, and if you
want to add more unnecessary load to the
already understaffed FCC and further tie
there hands from proper enforment, then you
need to find another hobby. If you want to
know where a fellow HAM is from or what his/
her mailing address is....ASK !
What a bunch of LIDS !
Posted by WA4PTZ on 2003-01-29

Calls

Well I can see the good and bad points about call signs. I have kepted the same call I have had since 1966 and even when living in other states I just signed portable. I would like the see it go back to the good old days. While in the Army and stationed overseas I would try and work my dad in Michigan, and used the call signs to check to see if any of the bands were open to Michigan and go from there. Now days a 8 call could be anywhere.
On the comment made earlier about Vanity calls, I have to agree that they should be issued for the callsign district not a california ham ending up with a 1 call sign. If the FCC is going to issue calls like that, then just issue them as they come in and do away with the call districts.
and to WA4PTZ, if you think that we are a bunch of LIDS, then I suggest you might want to find another hobby, because I don't think you can handle the stress of this one.
Posted by WA8VBX on 2003-01-29

Unethical DX operation

N2ERN:
>I once knew a DXer who was originally from >California. When he moved to NJ, he kept >his W6 call, thereby getting 2 chances at >dx-peditions (calling for 6's and calling >for 2's, as in "portable 2"). When he knew >he was going to move back to Cal, he got a >2 call -- same results, as in 2 or "2, >portable 6"). Now he sports a 7 call from a >brief stint in a 7-land state, and is back >in Cal -- yup -- as 7, or "7, portable 6". >I like this guy, and count him anong my >friends, but really--- should ANYONE play >the system to get double chances to work >rare DX?? Please!!


That's a clear cut case - signing portable
EVEN IF YOU ARE in a DX pileup is unethical behavior and poor operating practice. This issue has been discussed for years. If your call is N2ERN, you call with the "2's" irrespective of where you are actually located.

As far as changing callsigns to match areas goes, I had no choice. I moved to W4 in 1988 with a 2 land callsign and after 8 years of trying to get thickheaded people on the air to understand that I was in Tennessee, in 1996 I gave up and changed my call to an area-appropriate callsign. I think, though, that people should do whatever they want and not have call changes mandated by FCC.

Scott W4PA

Posted by W4PA on 2003-01-29

GOOD OLD DAYS

{1} ONLY ISSUE VANITY CALL FOR THE AREA
OPERATOR LIVES IN.

{2} ANY ONE WHO HAS A CALL FOR MORE THAN
25 YEARS CAN KEEP HIS{HER} CALL FOR
LIFE.

{3} ANY ONE WHO MOVES FROM HIS {HER} AREA
MUST GET A NEW CALL.IF THEY HAD CALL FOR
LESS THAN 25 YEARS.
JUST MY OPINION
W1FBI
Posted by W1FBI on 2003-01-29

Why the territoriality?

I voted NO. Although I live in California, I got tired of some idiots in "certain" neighbORing states who refused to talk to a W6 just because they hated California. I was not born in CA and I expect that I will move to some other western state in a few more years, so I got a W7 vanity call and when I do move I'll already be set. As for beam headings... hey, without checking, how do you know if a particular W7 is in Seattle WA or 2000 miles away in Douglas AZ? You don't! W4's could be anywhere across The South. Other call areas span wide areas too. Hams move around more than they used to and rightly get to keep their old call if they prefer to. Finally, the vast majority of hams already DO have calls reflecting their proper area. Besides, it's one of the first things I tell anyone I make contact with, is where I am.

One issue I do agree with: those of us in the contiguous 48 states should not keep calls intended for HI, AK, PR etc. That is stretching things too far, particularly when the FCC won't let you apply for them if you don't already live there.

Posted by AD7DB on 2003-01-29

I liked the old way

I liked the old way at least you had a idea of where the other station was located, this was very helpfull in testing antenna patterns in the real world. At least you know if a W6 answered your call here was on the west coast.
Posted by W8OB on 2003-01-29

Cope with imperfection.

This really should only be an issue with people starting out in ham radio who are collecting states, or working on getting common DX, like KL, KH, KP4s, etc. You are having problems, because you lack experience.

There certainly are enough ops in the common USA DX-states entities so that anyone who wants a Q with Hawaii, Alaska, or Puerto Rico can easily find them. Especially with the wide availability of internet spots showing the location of the spotted DX.

By now, we are all used to KH7 being the same as KH6, 2x3 KG4 calls are USA, just as we are use to KA6s not being Japan, and 9A not being San Morino; AC3 isn’t Tibet any more-you can’t tell by the call where in China the China station is (could be Tibet). Greece is issuing calls that look similar to Monk Apollo’s, but it isn’t Monk Apollo, or a Dxpedtion to Mount Athos.

If I hear someone on the air I want to talk with, or they call me, I rarely turn my antenna, unless the are weak. Even if they are a W6, I have to ask what part of CA they are in. Most of the time, as they talk I turn my beam, watching if their sig gets stronger or weaker.

To me, this is the same as talking with a UA9 or UA0, just turn your beam as they talk to get the best sig, or clearest sig if there is noise. Sometimes, I’m turning my beam away from people, ‘cause straight at them is too noisy.

Have Fun working the AH3.

Shhhhhhhh!. Don’t tell anyone they might find multipath openings to Johnston Island—you might have to turn your beam to see if they come in better LP, SP, or some other direction.

Bob

Posted by RobertKoernerExAE7G on 2003-01-29

Many DX thought KG4PYM was Gitmo.

I think someone posted on eHam once, I think it was WIK once said, send RST, QTH, Name- in that order. That should take care of a beam heading question. Maybe send QTH first, then RST, but would it really matter.

I changed mine to the nearest call area Vanity that was not taken.

But it really doesn't matter- I remember individuals more, such as The Former New Yorker now in California, or the California BWZ now in Atlanta, or the 2-land contester in Dunwoody [whom I could be confusing with the former 8-lander somewhere around here], Sir WARC with the Florida 2 letter call now in Rochester [SK], etc, etc.

My "Good Ole Days" would have me trying for a 7-area call, but that really was too far off the mark for me to venture.

My wife wanted w1tch, but a kind and gentle lady in California already took it. I wanted W1ZRD but the wait for re-issue period had not yet ended![that's probably too far off the mark too tho'].

Maybe I'll change to a 4-land fast 2x2 if I ever decide to get serious about requiring those bottom 25 Kc segments where all the DX lives.
Posted by W3DCG on 2003-01-29

GITMO and other DOD callsigns

KG4xx are GITMO calls issued by DOD, not
the FCC. Often the suffix is the ham's
initials. You cannot keep the call once you
leave GITMO. Your FCC call is still
valid and is what shows in the FCC data base.
Any other KG4 call is a 4th District FCC
issued call (KG4x and KG4xxx).

KA#xx calls issued to occupation troops in
Japan and the home islands are also DOD
issued (KA2-KA0). KA1xx are issued by the
FCC to the First Radio District.

KC4AAA-AAF and KC4USA-USZ are issued to stations at the South pPole. All other
KC4xxx are FCC issued in the 4th District.

Hope this helps.

73 de Ronnie
Posted by WA4MJF on 2003-01-29

Guantanamo Bay

now that's why I couldn't find those Guantanamo bay callsigns in the FCC ULS.
TNX WA4MJF.
Posted by JJ1BDX on 2003-01-29

look up online callbooks

Even in Japan the stroke(/)-something designator has no longer been mandated by the government (though still considered as a recommended practice by JARL and those who chase JARL and Japanese awards). Why US, again?

BTW it's a law to answer where you are if you are requested anyway.

About the vanity call issue - keep it open. Don't let the old timers occupy the segments.
Posted by JJ1BDX on 2003-01-29

why bother!!!

Yes, yes and yes!
Go back to the reason that we even have call areas...to identify which area we are in! If you get a new license or you get a vanity call then it should be in the area that you are in. At a minimum it should be mandatory to identify with the area that you are in if it is not part of your call. If not then just issue callsigns out with any old number or maybe a CB handle like smokey bear or rubber duck.

I hate working a KH2 to find out that he is in Florida. Change your callsign!
Posted by AD6WL on 2003-01-29

Good ol days gone

The idea of having your call sign identify what call district you are located is dead as far as the FCC is concerned so why do we beat this dead horse yet again? I do agree that our call signs indicate which DXCC country we are located but that's enough. I plead guilty to keeping my 4 land call when I QSY'ed to Texas years ago. I only add /5 in certain contests that use call areas as multipliers. I've never found it a problem calling DX "by the numbers" with the 4th area guys. I'm certainly not "portable" - I live here permanently. I work many stations that don't have a call sign that coincides with the old system of what call district they "should" be located. Doesn't bother me. We should be more concened with stuff that really matters.
Posted by NA4M on 2003-01-29

People move

The forced "callsign change" in the "good old days" caused me to lose K8TNK, WA2VSM, a WA3 callsign I had for a few months, a WB8 callsign I had for a while, then a WA4EGT callsign, and now W6FCC. What has all this "callsign means location" done for me?

Basically, the only time that it would make sense is for someone who never plans to move. But if changing callsigns is a good idea, why not also change names when you move, then nobody would know who you are.

Posted by W6FCC on 2003-01-29

Strong Yes

I am very much in favor of having It required for all that have moved out of their call district I would like to know a 6 is in Calif or Hawaii and not somewere else in Timbucktoo. You can't keep your vechicle licence plates when you move to another province or state. I think that both USA and Canadian hams should be REQUIRED TO have correct callsigns for their call district. There is way too much confusion when you work a WA3 and find him in California. He should be required to get a 6 call like he gets all the proper plates and documents to drive his car in California. In contests you should be disqualified from the contest if you are using the out of district call without signing Portable. And you can only be Portable for so long six months after you move to another district you CANNOT CONTEST portable any more if you live permantly in the wrong district. In Canada you pay $60.00 to change your call unless you move to a different Province or Territory then Call sign changes are free of charge encouraging you to have correct call for Canadian District. I hope to see every ham be district correct in their call.
73
Gerry
Posted by VE7BGP on 2003-01-28

YES, Indicate area

Why even bother with "areas" if they mean
nothing anymore? I say go back to the old
way. If an operator moves, He/she should ID
with the /correct area number after callsign.
Actually changing the callsign could be done
at renewal time, (Or not at all IF the ham wants to keep adding the /(New call area number) each time he/she ID's) Bottom line is ALL amateurs should ID the AREA they are in, Either with a correct call, OR the /area number.
Posted by K9KJM on 2003-01-28

Good Old Days

I vote NO. There is no way anyone can tell the location of a station in the 4th or 7th area by the number alone! Is W4YA in VA or FL? How can you determine the location of W4YA/7? The call area number is meaningless even in small areas like the 3rd or 2nd.
Posted by W4YA on 2003-01-28

Call sign by area

I say yes go back to the call area requirement. I feel the FCC changed this procedure as part of their cost cutting. Cutting back on paper work saves money. This is also why they stopped testing Amateurs. It would be nice to know when you hear a W6 that the station is in California. Wow a W2 must be from NY or NJ what a unique idea.
Posted by KX2S on 2003-01-28

Yes, but...

I only voted YES on principal, knowing full well it won't happen and I can keep my calls that I have so much vested in at this point. I am my call letters after 20 years, even though I no longer reside in California.
Posted by NB6Z on 2003-01-28

care less

i really dont care now days with buckmasters and qrz and all the other
look ups i keep buckmasters open on desktop so if i hear a station i look
de ab7nc
Posted by AB7NC on 2003-01-28

A Place to Start

Since it is unlikely that the "Candy Company" will address this problem, there is another place to start. A grass roots campaign to convince the various contest administrations to DISCOUNT points on stations with out of area call signs. After all, it is especially important for the fast-paced contester to have a good idea what actual area he is communicating with. On the other hand, if the issue is not really important as the minority votes so far indicate - I will go along with them IF I can request P5GA!!!!! -Ken, AL7GA
Posted by AL7GA on 2003-01-28

Indicate Area

<<>>

Is this an opinion or do you have a reference to back it up? I currently live in Texas with a 4 call. There is no requirement for me to sign /5 although I often do.
Posted by K4NR on 2003-01-28

Yes, but...

I agree that our call signs should reflect the call district that we are operating from. I have worked KH6s from Texas and Oregon and it can be frustrating when moving your beam and losing the station. So I voted "yes", but rather than having to change call signs I think that having to ID with the /district should be mandatory, not a call sign change. If an op so chooses he or she could request a new call for their proper district, otherwise simply identifying with the correct /# that you are in should be plenty. I think that doing so is just good Amateur Practice, and always ID this way even without it being mandatory. 73 Clinton AB7RG
Posted by AB7RG on 2003-01-28

Good old days

For most of my ham career I was a KL7; I got my advanced while living there in 1982, I think. After moving back to the lower 48, I found that more often than not I either disappointed or annoyed people who heard my call and hoped they'd be connecting to an Alaska station. About a year ago I finally changed to my current call, which has the same suffix as my KL7 one. I finally saw it as an issue of courtesy, something all hams should be attentive to. I'm just sorry it took me so long to see it that way.

KD7QX in Idaho
Posted by KD7QX on 2003-01-28

Call Signs

I don't know about changing the rules, but I would encourage those who should to use / when needed. Of course, if you are mobile on two meters in Anchorage, the 'mobile KL7' is a waste of breath - what other call district would you be in? A rules change would not hurt my feelings and would eliminate a lot of confusion. With the vanity call system, it should not be too hard to find a call in your new district with a suffix similar to your old call. I started out as WB6RGR , went to N6FF, then to WF0H when I moved to Iowa, and now am K0RGR here in Minnesota. If I move again, it will be to a district where a 1X2 call ending in 'RR' is available. I hope...
Posted by K0RGR on 2003-01-28

Thats correct you DO NOT have to sign with say I am in CA. w9jcm/6 or mobile 6. You Do not have to do this.
Posted by W9JCM on 2003-01-28

I voted a resounding NO. These days, we are rolling through call signs rather rapidly. If I had had to change, I would have had four calls in a period of three years (8 to 9 to 0 back to 8). And when I moved back to 8 land, it's doubtful that I could have gotten my original call back even as a vanity call. It makes no sense to require people to change when they move. It's just too easy to look them up as you work them.

You still don't know where to point your beam based on call sign alone even if the person's call sign corresponds to their section. For example, I live in Michigan. If I hear a W9, do I point my beam SSW to southern Indiana, roughly west to Chicago or NW for parts of Wisconsin. So the beam heading argument is bogus.
Posted by N8UZE on 2003-01-28

Appropriate US Calls

K2BF seems to highlight the problem. Working a US station in one of the original 48 states causes no real problems.

However when working a station who decides to keep an original AL7, KH, KG4 or even KP4 call whilst operating within one of the original 48 states can cause problems when trying to peak up a beam when operating from outside the US.

I've worked stations in the US who are variously using calls having KH2, KG4, KH6, KP4 and similar prefixes.

The comments of some US stations seem to suggest that they think that Amateur Radio only exists in the US. Why not consider the wider issues and especially with those of us chasing DXCC from outside the US.
Posted by G0GDU on 2003-01-28

A Novel Idea

I have given this much thought, and I have a solution. If I want to know someone's QTH, I'll just ask them. Something like "What is your QTH?" Or "QTH?" This might catch on.
Posted by W4YA on 2003-01-28

call sign

I dont really care what your call sign indicates . All that needs to be done is add a / 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,0, for where you are. That would work. On FM such as 2m 440m 6m it doesnt make any difference . On HF it means everything. You dont know where to point your beam . You dont know if you have worked that state or not because of the call.It does cause confussion.
Posted by AB4MT on 2003-01-27

Call Signs

Yes,absolutely! In the old days we were required to notify the FCC of our intent to operate portable and to sign /4 /7 or whatever.There was rhyme and reason to the concept. If you moved permanently you were required to exchange the call. What we have now is chaos! And in the name of what? So you can keep your call, even if it no longer serves the purpose of identifying your location? I signed /4 and other portable identifiers for many years because I didn't want to lose my call. BUT, I never moved permanently out of my call area. I'm absolutely in favor of a return to all forms of rhyme and reason in amateur radio! You can quote me on it.
Posted by WA4DOU on 2003-01-27

Not sure

I voted yes, but here I am an 8 in 4-land!

The good side of keeping WR8Y? I'm the ONLY WR8Y in history ... somehow that is important to me.

I usually have the laptop running on the desk and sitting at qrz.com anyway. I'll live with the current system, but admit I'd rather have things the way they were.
Posted by WR8Y on 2003-01-27

Not sure

I voted yes, but here I am an 8 in 4-land!

The good side of keeping WR8Y? I'm the ONLY WR8Y in history ... somehow that is important to me.

I usually have the laptop running on the desk and sitting at qrz.com anyway. I'll live with the current system, but admit I'd rather have things the way they were.
Posted by WR8Y on 2003-01-27

Mixed Question

These are really two separate issues. A KL7 operating in the Texas has to sign /W5, while a K4 operating in Texas does not need the /5. I lived in Alabama when I got this call and since there are no 1 X 2's or 2 X 1's left in the 5th call area, I decided to keep my 4 call. In casual operating, I use the /5, I don't for DXing or contesting. 73 de Tom, K4NR/5
Posted by K4NR on 2003-01-27

KZ1X/4

I voted yes. But ... This is one of those "not me, but everyone else should do it" things. I actually liked it better when you could hold two calls.

I sign /4 when I ought to, 'cause I'm an OF and know when that is.
Posted by KZ1X on 2003-01-27

call sign

I voted yes. Would be nice to have the indication at times where the station is. Might help the Dx operator when working by call groups to know where all the noise is coming from.
Posted by N0UY on 2003-01-27

No.
It's a more mobile life now. What if you move to other call areas, then move back to the initial one? Can end up with a long string of ex-call signs. It's nice to have the option to hold on the same call sign.
Posted by WA2DTW on 2003-01-27

Mixed feelings

Great question, and of course what "we" think probably won't change the rules. I wouldn't mind things going back to the "old way," where you could determine a ham's approximate location by his callsign, although if this occurred, I'd have to change my call, too. When I moved 3000 miles from the east coast to the west coast, I didn't change my call simply because there was no requirement to do so. Had a change been a legal requirement, I'd have a different callsign, now, and I'm sure I'd get used to it. At least the U.S. Amateur Radio Operator License data base is public domain, and no one can be "unlisted." It's not like that in many places in the world (including some populated countries with a lot of hams, like the U.K.), and I'd love to see that changed.
Posted by WB2WIK on 2003-01-27

Where 'ya from?

I once knew a DXer who was originally from California. When he moved to NJ, he kept his W6 call, thereby getting 2 chances at dx-peditions (calling for 6's and calling for 2's, as in "portable 2"). When he knew he was going to move back to Cal, he got a 2 call -- same results, as in 2 or "2, portable 6"). Now he sports a 7 call from a brief stint in a 7-land state, and is back in Cal -- yup -- as 7, or "7, portable 6".

I like this guy, and count him anong my friends, but really--- should ANYONE play the system to get double chances to work rare DX??

Please!! Bring back the old numbering system -- and submit a copy of your driver's license or passport or SOMETHING to make sure that when you say "portable" you really are.
Posted by N2ERN on 2003-01-27

Where 'ya from?

I once knew a DXer who was originally from California. When he moved to NJ, he kept his W6 call, thereby getting 2 chances at dx-peditions (calling for 6's and calling for 2's, as in "portable 2"). When he knew he was going to move back to Cal, he got a 2 call -- same results, as in 2 or "2, portable 6"). Now he sports a 7 call from a brief stint in a 7-land state, and is back in Cal -- yup -- as 7, or "7, portable 6".

I like this guy, and count him anong my friends, but really--- should ANYONE play the system to get double chances to work rare DX??

Please!! Bring back the old numbering system -- and submit a copy of your driver's license or passport or SOMETHING to make sure that when you say "portable" you really are.
Posted by N2ERN on 2003-01-27

Where 'ya from?

I once knew a DXer who was originally from California. When he moved to NJ, he kept his W6 call, thereby getting 2 chances at dx-peditions (calling for 6's and calling for 2's, as in "portable 2"). When he knew he was going to move back to Cal, he got a 2 call -- same results, as in 2 or "2, portable 6"). Now he sports a 7 call from a brief stint in a 7-land state, and is back in Cal -- yup -- as 7, or "7, portable 6".

I like this guy, and count him anong my friends, but really--- should ANYONE play the system to get double chances to work rare DX??

Please!! Bring back the old numbering system -- and submit a copy of your driver's license or passport or SOMETHING to make sure that when you say "portable" you really are.
Posted by N2ERN on 2003-01-27

Call Signs

I like to keep it simple. If the prefix is correct you know where th point your beam. It makes operations much easier.

As far as awards, DX and so forth go I learned that if you moved over 25 miles you start over again. So again I would like to go back to the old system. If you change districts change call sign.
Posted by KG4OOA on 2003-01-27

If I was king....

If I had my way....

I'd make these the rules:


(1) If you have a callsign that indicates a DX entity (KL, KH, etc...) and you move - then you have to change calls.


(2) If you move within continental US, you may keep your callsign.


(3) If you are requesting a new callsign, you get one for your current area. No out-of-area vanity calls!


__ Of course, I'm not king so I will continue to point the beam to the wrong part of the country and talk to lots of people whose initials match their callsigns.

Glen K2BF (in upstate NY)



Posted by K2BF on 2003-01-27

vanity calls

I really don't care if you keep your call when you move, becaue I did. However, I don't think that you should be able to request a call under the vanity program for a district you don't live in. At one time the call areas meant something, because not that many people moved to new areas, but now with the vanity program they are meaningless. In fact, I would like to see the vanity program done away with. Can't say that it has helped ham radio at all.

Here in town we have a 0 (me) 2 Seven calls, a 2 land call, and a NH6 and a NL7. Often the NH6 will get on 6 meters to talk to the NL7 across town. You should see the reflector go wild with notes about Alaska working Hawaii, and being able to hear them both!


Posted by NE0P on 2003-01-27

Call vs. QTH

I like knowing where a station is based on the call sign. However, if out-of-district call signs are issued and used, I would like to see the > / calldistrict# < suffix required if your number doesn't match the district you're operating in...as posted by AB4MT.
Just my humble opinion!! 73 all. Joe
Posted by W2DI on 2003-01-27

I Don't Think So...

In the age of computers and the internet it is pretty easy to look up a call sign to get location, beam heading and such.

A call sign becomes part of the owner's persona particularly if the owner has had the call sign for a lot of years.

I favor keeping things just the way they are.
Posted by WS1H on 2003-01-27

The old way was better

When I lived in California I was KQ6SK. Five years ago I moved to North Carolina so I changed my call. Yes, I like the call to reflect where I am or where the other station is. If I ever have to move again I'll change it again.

The voting is running 80% for the "old way". Who'se going to write up the proposal for the FCC? :)
Posted by KU4QD on 2003-01-27

Good Old Days

Remember that radio is international by nature, and therefore we should give up the typical American idea of "What's Easy For Me" and look to the overall picture.
If yoyr ego's are too large to change to a
legitimate call sign for your district, then at least sign with a /W6 or the appropriate
zone.

Posted by KL7HF on 2003-01-27

Call Sign Prefixes

What is the point of having them if they are not used ??? Requirements should be:

1. Sign portable if in a different area -

2. If you are in a district more than 2 yrs
portable, you need to change your call
sign.

It is very frustrating in a contest or DXing having to "guess". - Randy W7TJ

Posted by W7TJ on 2003-01-27

Good old day

Yes, I don't think they should ever started it in the first place,
but it probable would be a big project now, as well I think we
should have to go back to keeping log as we used to. and if
we were checked once in a while maybe it might slow the
interferance down as well, then if a person was proved to
have caused interferance and it wasn't loged, FCC should
take action.

Posted by k9ila on January 27, 2003
Posted by K9ILA on 2003-01-27

Good Old Days

In the 'good old days' you could use your original call for 50 years, then retire some place else and have to change to a new one. Not so good.
Posted by W4YA on 2003-01-27