Post Av1TsCJnlGvbYJZn2e by M0YNG@mastodon.radio
 (DIR) More posts by M0YNG@mastodon.radio
 (DIR) Post #Av0Z6jhSke4dkbR3hI by tk@bbs.kawa-kun.com
       2025-06-11T03:25:49.137026Z
       
       0 likes, 0 repeats
       
       Anyone know the history of why there are so many call sign prefixes in the US?  Did each of them mean something different?#AmateurRadio #HamRadio
       
 (DIR) Post #Av1TXxEm7gCyzIZYTA by W6KME@mastodon.radio
       2025-06-11T03:40:06Z
       
       2 likes, 1 repeats
       
       @tk It's complicated. Originally, everyone picked their own, but by 1927 the need was there for international coordination and the ITU assigned letters to countries. Those apply to loads of things beside amateur radio-airplane tail numbers use the same system for example. We have multiple initial letters simply because the US has had the need for so many calls.Good article here-https://www.eham.net/article/38849
       
 (DIR) Post #Av1TlRTD1sUUW9kt28 by ntoskrnl@furry.engineer
       2025-06-11T04:36:27Z
       
       1 likes, 0 repeats
       
       @W6KME @tk Oooo that was a fantastic read! Our school club (W4AQL) was founded in the 1910s and back then has callsigns such as 4YA and 4AV which is so weird to think about now since they don't fit the modern format :D
       
 (DIR) Post #Av1TsCJnlGvbYJZn2e by M0YNG@mastodon.radio
       2025-06-11T06:52:15Z
       
       1 likes, 0 repeats
       
       @ntoskrnl @W6KME @tk even the UK has 3 (G, M, 2)It's basically a legacy of colonial racism.Because everything that was a British colony at the time is V-something."We need so many callaigns" doesn't work when India has to share with Australia, Canada, etc.(Yes, I know it's more than just the initial letter, but why does the UK have three initial letters and then we share one initial letter across multiple countries?)
       
 (DIR) Post #Av1TuROChO2asDhlhY by chgowiz@dice.camp
       2025-06-11T10:55:23Z
       
       1 likes, 0 repeats
       
       @tk In a nutshell - WW1 and WW2. There's videos on the topic, but I read about it mostly from Gordon West's General study guide.