Subj : Re: US 2 metre licence query-more
To   : alt.ham-radio.vhf-uhf
From : Jim - NN7K
Date : Wed Oct 12 2005 00:31:21

From Newsgroup: alt.ham-radio.vhf-uhf

Correct, also, originally, there were call areas from 1 thru 9, but some
areas were going thru lots of callsigns (and that is true, even today), 
like California. What to do?? That is when the government came up with 
the "0" calls, and those have been there for 70 or more years!  Also, the
last time (part of the "Incentive Licenseing"  debacle, cals with 1X2 
letter, 2X1 letter were for Extra class, and when those ran out, went to
2x2 calls,as well as the Advanced.  The 1x3 letter calls were for the
Technician, and Generals,and the 2X3 calls were reserved for novice 
(originally prefixed with "WN,KN,or WV")until the other calls in the
  series  were used up.  A few years ago, oweing to the dieing off of
old timers, and the wanting to raise money for the government, the calls
were allowed to be purchased from the government for ten years, with
a fee structure to renew, tho, IF you held that call before the date
of the issue of these (NOW VANITY) calls, (as is mine, and numorius
1X2 and 2X1 holders), there is no renewal fee to hold your call!
If memory holds, the WC (number) calls were for for Civil air patrol,
  and some other services related, but not amateur radio calls.
As stated, almost anything goes, nowadays, have a club here in Reno,
NV , the "Wide-Area Data Group" that holds the call WA7DG ! Other
  considerations came into play for Alaska, and Hawaii  (K) L7, and
(K) H6 respectively, for extra class calls- which ran out early-
the FCC reassigned blocks of ALL KH calls, and KL calls, and think
, KP (for Puerto Rico), to THOSE localities, to grant folks with
extras those premium calls (again at no charge, but assigned in
Alphabetical order).  At one time the system made sense, but now-
days, dont count on ANYONE being where they belong geographically!
Jim NN7K


Ralph Mowery wrote:
>>I have another query if you don't mind.  I understood the callsign for
> 
> Iowa
> 
>>is K0 (Kilo Zero).  What's the significance of callsigns beginning N0
>>(November zero) and KB0 (Kilo Bravo zero) in that State?  The two quoted
>>are for IRLP nodes/ 70cm repeaters in Cedar Falls, Davenport and Conrad,
>>all Ia
> 
> 
> The call for any US ham can be almost anything now.  The continental states
> started with a W or K call years ago.  Then to the WA, WB,WD and up.  They
> skipped the WC as I think it was used somewhere else.  At one time repeaters
> were using special WR calls but not in about the last 20 or maybe more
> years.  There are 10 call areas 0-9.  They used to be for specific areas and
> still are but if you move you can now keep your old call even if it is out
> of the call area.  If you go strictly by the call issued to you, it will
> designate the class and call area but if you upgrade or move to a differant
> area you can keep the old call.  Now with the vaniaty call system you can
> apply for any call that is not in use and is a legal call for the US.  It is
> possiable to have a W1AAA, W2AAA, W3AAA, W4AAA and so on all in the same
> house by differant people if they want to apply for the vanity calls and
> those calls are not already in use.
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