Subj : Re: US 2 metre licence query-more To : alt.ham-radio.vhf-uhf From : Doc Savage. Date : Wed Oct 12 2005 07:32:55 From Newsgroup: alt.ham-radio.vhf-uhf Jim - NN7K wrote in news:dXX2f.628$D13.521@newssvr11.news.prodigy.com: > 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. >> Licencing is falling apart world wide. I applied for a reciprocal licence for my last trip. When time was short and I'd heard nothing, I telephoned the Embassy and asked. I was left on hold for a good 10 minutes, then a new voice told me, "Use your own callsign, just add the State prefix and a slash." Most CEPT Countries do this anyway "I'm visiting several States," I said. "Do I change the prefix in every state?" I asked. I heard the rustle of pages being turned, the soft sound of a limp book being dropped, a whispered expletive, then "Um, they just changed all the rules, can you ask a local operator?" "What about fees and certification?" I asked. "There's no fee. Take your UK licence and a photocopy. Don't let anybody take the original unless he has a badge and a gun." I used W0/G4nnn in Florida, DC, WVa, Ne, Co and Mo and nobody queried it. Now I understand why. Thanks everybody for all your help. It's much appreciated .