Moving...Change Call Sign To New District?

mattyjaco · #1 (**permalink**) 06-16-2009, 01:28 PM

Hi I am in the NY district and will be soon moving to Florida, are there any advantages od disatvantages of changing my call sign to the new district or keeping it the same? Also how would one go about doing so, including updating address with fcc? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!

ps: not a vanity call sign if it matters

KB0YOJ · #2 (**permalink**) 06-16-2009, 06:31 PM

The only advantage is when you contact other hams on the radio they have a good idea where you are call from by your call. I have kept my call over the years of moving around

KD0HMI · #3 (**permalink**) 06-16-2009, 11:01 PM

I just got my "ticket" back in April. My advice is go ahead and keep it, after all it really does not matter.

DaveIN · #4 (**permalink**) 06-17-2009, 08:09 AM

It's up to you, but a ham call is unique and different as a name. If you want to stand out in the crowd, and get a few instances of "you need to identify your call with a stroke four", until they know that your a transplant. I'd keep it

Caesar · #5 (**permalink**) 06-17-2009, 09:10 AM

if you do much/any HF i would consider to update the call so when in contests and such they will know generally where you are located.

trace1 · #6 (**permalink**) 06-17-2009, 11:20 AM

While it is really left up to you to change your call or not, it shouldn't be very hard to contact the FCC with your new address and request a new one call. However, I'd personally keep mine if I ever moved from location to location to location, if I were ever to move again and again and again, etc.

KS4VT · #7 (**permalink**) 06-17-2009, 11:42 AM

You can change your address at anytime on the FCC website. You will first be required to get an FRN number, if you don't have one already. Tie your call sign(s) with the FRN number and then do an administrative update.

It's a little clunky at first, especially getting your FRN number, but I'm sure you will catch on.

N1BHH · #8 (**permalink**) 06-17-2009, 01:18 PM

If you like your call sign, then keep it. If you don't you can always look for a call sign that is available in 4-land that you like. I think it's kinda silly, unless you have a call that can't be spoken without a tongue twist or sloppily sent on CW, just to have your initials. That's so self indulgent in my mind. I like my call and it was what I actually hoped for back in those days, when you actually tested before the FCC.

reedeb · #9 (**permalink**) 06-21-2009, 12:28 PM

I've had mine since '94 and I have moved twice '01 from Maine to South Carolina and just recently from SC to Texas and I've kept my original call all this time and never had a problem with it. I'm proud of my call sign as it's something I worked hard to get and will NEVER give it up just to blend in with the rest of the population. After all we are all hams it shouldn't matter what your call is no matter where you are

zz0468 · #10 (**permalink**) 06-22-2009, 02:44 AM

I'd ask myself how attached to the old call I am. I've had my call for 35+ years, and it's the only call I've ever had. I'd be hard pressed to change it. But if it's a systemic call issued just a few years ago, they would seem to me to be more disposable.

It can be useful to know the call area a station is actually operating from, but I no longer depend in that... I'll look a station up on QRZ instead. A large percentage of calls are from out of their original areas.

N8IAA · #11 (**permalink**) 06-22-2009, 08:42 PM

No need to change your call sign, or, ID with the slash and area you are operating from. That changed about 20 yrs ago

But, updating your operator/home license is easy if you have your FRN #. Easy to get at the FCC license website.
Larry

HampshireCountyHelyon · #12 (**permalink**) 07-07-2009, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattyjaco

Hi I am in the NY district and will be soon moving to Florida, are there any advantages od disatvantages of changing my call sign to the new district or keeping it the same? Also how would one go about doing so, including updating address with fcc? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!

ps: not a vanity call sign if it matters

Changing your call is as easy as using the FCC Universal Licensing System (ULS): ULS Home. Simply login get assigned a FRN (FCC Registration Number), and you're off to the races...

Under the new rules, as long as the FCC has a ~contact address~ that is valid, you can keep and take your call with you. I myself know several snow-birds, they keep the call of the district they consider "home." The truckers I make contacts with, and the RVers, who drive all over the country, keep their calls the same no matter where they are based.

While having a number in your call, that would for the most part, give people a heads up as to where you most likely are, in every DX contact I've made, and every contest I've worked, one of the basic bits of information exchanged, is where one is operating from, not where one lives!

Does your call carry a "good weight" for CW? Does it make for good "homemade phonetics"? Is it a call that you earned with your Elmer? Does your call mark a special time in your life?

Bottom line is this, how do ~you~ feel about your call? If you like it keep it! If not...