Call Signs

[CLynch7]

I'm going to take my test on June 2, and I would like to take both the Tech and the General exams. Assuming I pass both, would I get two callsigns, one tech that would never get used and then a General, or would I just get the CSCEs and then just one callsign in the ULS?

[ki4rvh]

You get one callsign issued.

[C138Kaysone]

Clynch what region are you in and where are you going to take your test? im studying now so i can take the test soon, im just wondering if your close by NC or something, im waiting for Orange to host theirs.

[CLynch7]

Athens GA, so not very close. I'm taking the exams through the Athens Radio Club.

[C138Kaysone]

oh ok, i once seen someone from out of state come over here to take their test...

im just studying hard now because i want to nail this, its really 35 or 300 more from what i heard?

Im trying to memorized every important aspect that i would need but it can be any random test i think?

[W7RA]

You will get a callsign assigned to you for each level you reach, based on what part of the country you live in.. You can then pay $10 and get a "vanity" callsign, which you can choose from available callsigns for your level, regardless of where you live. The shorter the callsigns are only available to the higher levels, ie: extra = 1x2 or 2x1 .

[newsphotog]

Originally Posted by W7RA

You will get a callsign assigned to you for each level you reach, based on what part of the country you live in.. You can then pay $10 and get a "vanity" callsign, which you can choose from available callsigns for your level, regardless of where you live. The shorter the callsigns are only available to the higher levels, ie: extra = 1x2 or 2x1 .

Wikipedia has a nifty little table about call signs: Amateur radio licensing in the United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Main article: Amateur radio licensing in the United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[NeFire242]

Vanity's are more than $10. Buddy of mine got his a few years back and it was $21 or so. The testing fee last I knew he said was $14.

[C138Kaysone]

so $15.00 to take the test and a vanity call sign?

Ill just take whatever i get by the FCC if i manage to pass this test, just took a practice exam, good thing i memorized a few of them but there are more that i got wrong on other practice exams, i just hope i dont fail the test but im determine to get my license if it takes me more then a month, i got all the time now until.... well ever

[newsphotog]

Originally Posted by C138Kaysone

so $15.00 to take the test and a vanity call sign?

Ill just take whatever i get by the FCC if i manage to pass this test, just took a practice exam, good thing i memorized a few of them but there are more that i got wrong on other practice exams, i just hope i dont fail the test but im determine to get my license if it takes me more then a month, i got all the time now until.... well ever

It will take about $15 to take the test (depending on which club is sponsoring your testing session) and the vanity will cost $12.30. The money for your test and the money for your vanity call sign are two separate things. The vanity call sign fee goes to the FCC and I think the testing fee goes to the sponsoring club and/or the ARRL. I could be wrong on that last one though, and I'm sure someone here will be quick to point it out if I am.

More information on vanity call sign fees on the ARRL website: ARRLWeb: FCC Regulatory Fee Requirements for Vanity Call Signs

[C138Kaysone]

yeah im looking into that now, trying to find a few testing sites, i know one is 25 miles away from me and one here in town, i may email one of the members and see when the next sponsored test session would be, my head is about to explode studying this but i hope i dont have to redo the test over and over after it expires.

Just hope i can memorize everything i need.

[newsphotog]

You can get your sequential call sign after you take the test. That is the default. After your sequential call sign shows up in the FCC database, you can request a vanity call sign.

[C138Kaysone]

Mm ok and when you mean by vanity it would be like how some people would customize their license plates or is this something totally different?

[W7RA]

You can get callsigns from dead people. The shortest and best calls expired, and about 10 years ago the FCC decided to allow Hams to reuse those old callsigns for a fee. They still must be legitimate Ham callsigns. [Letter(s)][AreaNumber][Letter(s}] http://www.qrz.com/i/expired-callsigns.html

This is the best site for harvesting callsigns, but it is down for a few weeks as he overhauls it. http://www.vanityhq.com/


Your proper area number is 4. You are in "4 land." You could get a vanity call from another area, but I don't know why people do that. 4 says "South."

[C138Kaysone]

Well i might as well keep what i get and memorize it but i guess short would be easier

[kb0nly]

Getting a shorter callsign through the vanity program has more benefits than easier to remember, since after a while you remember your call like your first name, its more operating related. A 1x2 call is a lot faster to say and send in CW than a 2x3 call is. Also faster and less info for the receiving station to hear.

I often thought about getting a vanity call myself, but after having the same call for 15 years i'm kinda attached to it, even as an Extra now i still don't want to give it up for a shorter 1x2.

[DDan]

I have a friend who is a contester and has been around for a long time. He has a 2x1 and he says that he has way too many people ask him to repeat his callsign because people assume he has 2x3 and that they missed the third and fourth alpha. He suggested a 1x3 and that is what I got.

[emd001]

your call is also awesome, sorry im a geek. Its funny you said that your call sign is like the back of your hand. Im a volunteer firefighter and radio person for the county i live in and had my public service radio mounted on top of my ham radio and for the first couple of weeks i would put my call sign across our county system and my radio number across our local ham repeater. lol.

[jmp883]

C138Kaysone and CLynch7,

Good luck in your upcoming tests.

C138Kaysone, it sounds like you're still a bit unsure of the material. Do you have Gordon West's Technician study guide? It's good you're studying on your own and have been taking practice tests. Have you taken any sort of class to prepare for the test? When I got my license back in 2005 the local Red Cross chapter sponsored a day-long Technician class on a Sunday. Using Gordon West's book we started at 8am, covered every single question in the Tech question pool and then took the written test around 5pm. We had an absolutely phenomonal teacher and out of the almost 30 people in the class I'd say that at least 95%, if not more, passed.

Almost a year later the same Red Cross chapter held a General class session, taught by that same teacher. Again it was a LONG Sunday but it had the same results. Well over 90% of the attendees passed. In fact most of the attendees of the General class were the same ones who took part in the Tech class the year before.

I want to stress that it wasn't just memorization of questions and answers either. In both classes we covered a lot of theory and background information, which made the day much longer than necessary. However the majority of us felt that that was the right way to do it. It's nice to know the logic, theories, formulas, etc. behind the questions.

I contemplated changing my call to a vanity call when I became a General but I got used to my original callsign and, like comfortable sneakers or jeans, I don't really want to change something that doesn't really need to be changed. Besides I'd have to change the 'Amateur Radio' license plates on my truck and in NJ anyway, that's more of a pain in the neck then applying for a vanity call from the FCC. By the way here's a little tip for those of you who want your callsign on your license plates. Check with your motor vehicle agency to see if they have license plates labeled Amateur Radio. Here in NJ most hams I know get their callsign on the standard NJ vanity plate which costs far more than the actual 'Amateur Radio' license plates! The trouble is that you can't apply for 'Amateur Radio' plates at a DMV office! You have the call the Special Plate Unit at DMV HQ in the state capitol. They mail you an application, you mail back a copy of your FCC license and current vehicle registration and in about a month or so you get your Amateur Radio plates mailed to you.

Good luck in your upcoming test!

73 de KC2PJL

[CLynch7]

Originally Posted by jmp883

C138Kaysone and CLynch7,

Good luck in your upcoming tests.

Thanks! Two weeks....