Call sign question

[KD8TZC]

For an amateur license, why do some start with K vs some start with N? I know for commercial radio and TV, it has something to do with which part of the country you live in, but what determines it with Amateur radio?

 

[f40ph]

Simply depends on when it was issued up until the point they made "vanity" callsigns available. Now if someone qualifies, they can have a K, W, or N call. It doesn't indicate anything about geographic region. (Oversimplified of course).

Here's a pretty informative website on the subject I recently came across.
US Callsign Questions

 

[kb2vxa]

Just to complicate things, (;->) here are listings of worldwide Amateur prefixes and international prefixes used by other stations. An interesting other is the Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS) operating just outside the Amateur bands. They use the prefix at the top of the list, AAA Army, AAN Navy and AAF Air Force.

 

[k3td]

The history of callsign assignments is very interesting, and the FCC definitely has some unusual rules for amateur callsigns - especially when it comes to vanity callsigns in the 13 regions.

FCC: Wireless Services: Amateur Radio Service: Call Sign Systems: Sequential
AE7Q's Amateur Radio Database Query Tools

 

[novascotian]

Just putting in my two cents worth re call signs. The worst thing that ever happened in both USA and Canada was when it became acceptable to move from one district to another and keep your existing call sign. It is as if personal vanity and history have replaced the former clarity that if you are for example in contact with a W1, you know for sure their QTH is in the Northeast US, unless they add mobile or portable to the call. Here in Canada same thing.... an operator can start out in one of our most obscure districts like the Yukon and get a VY1 call and then move to Ontario which is VE3 and now be an instant celebrity and I think tht verges on being a cheat, on dx especially. Oh boy I am in contact with a VY1.....but they are in Toronto... what a letdown. In the days when QSL's were maybe of greater interest it was wonderful to see all the different prefixes and know they meant something for sure. Same In the US, I think that other than the special two letter prefixes for the outlying territories and states (like KH6 for Hawaii), a 6 for example ought to 100-% mean California, not some guy who moved to New Jersey.

 

[k5phw]

W A N K
Someone had a sense of humor.

 

[W2NJS]

Callsign prefixes...

For an amateur license, why do some start with K vs some start with N? I know for commercial radio and TV, it has something to do with which part of the country you live in, but what determines it with Amateur radio?

In broadcasting, dating back to the 20's and 30's, W prefixes were the Eastern USA and K's were the
West. Exceptions, however, existed even then, such as KDKA in Pittsburgh and KYW in Philadelphia.
Prefixes for countries are set by international agreement. USA stations are issued prefixes beginning with
A, K, N, and W, and that applies to commercial, amateur, public service, etc.

 

[kb2vxa]

I too was rather miffed when they went over to wandering prefixes, now you either have to ask QTH or do a look up. There is a reason however, both Industry Canada and the FCC ran out of callsigns. It used to be you could tell the license class too and now here I am a Technician with a Novice callsign. The same goes for all classes unless a "proper" one is requested, one of my friends is an Extra with a KB2 prefix. She didn't bother changing it, she's so well known it would only serve to confuse people.

The "interesting" thing is the broadcast assignments haven't changed but the ID requirement has. I gave up on DX because I can't be bothered sitting through all the station logo "IDs" being there are so many duplications waiting on the callsign and naturally the signal goes into a deep fade... AAARRRGGGHHH!!!

 

[Clam_Diggah_KB1VJT]

I recently saw a list of some ham call signs not to get stuck with

d0dge
f0rd
mr2rbt
cb4evr
m1pot
i1but
c0ffy

some of these I understand why not, but for others I have no clue.

 

[Al42]

I too was rather miffed when they went over to wandering prefixes, now you either have to ask QTH or do a look up. There is a reason however, both Industry Canada and the FCC ran out of callsigns. It used to be you could tell the license class too and now here I am a Technician with a Novice callsign. The same goes for all classes unless a "proper" one is requested, one of my friends is an Extra with a KB2 prefix. She didn't bother changing it, she's so well known it would only serve to confuse people.

That's the reason I'm glad we don't have to change calls when we relocate, Warren. I've been W2PMX for over 55 years, people all over the world know me by that call, and now I'm moving to 4-land. I'm glad I can keep the old call. It wouldn't bother me if I had to sign /4 or /M4 permanently. (BTW, didn't Wayne, W2NSD, keep his call when 73 moved to New Snowshire way back when you did have to get a new call? I wonder who he knew.)

 

[k3td]

That's the reason I'm glad we don't have to change calls when we relocate, Warren. I've been W2PMX for over 55 years, people all over the world know me by that call, and now I'm moving to 4-land. I'm glad I can keep the old call. It wouldn't bother me if I had to sign /4 or /M4 permanently. (BTW, didn't Wayne, W2NSD, keep his call when 73 moved to New Snowshire way back when you did have to get a new call? I wonder who he knew.)

I don't think anyone at the FCC would have done W2NSD/1 any favors! My guess is he did the same thing I and many others did until the FCC changed the rules - maintain a mailing address in your 'home' callsign region. Personally I'm glad the FCC changed the rules to allow anyone to keep their callsign if they wish. My good friend has been WA3UAT for many years and wouldn't change for anything. I started out as WA3TGR, then KB3PF (longer in cw than WA3TGR - ugh!), then NZ3I and finally K3TD in the 1996 Vanity Gate 2 land rush.

 

[k3td]

I recently saw a list of some ham call signs not to get stuck with

d0dge
f0rd
mr2rbt
cb4evr
m1pot
i1but
c0ffy

some of these I understand why not, but for others I have no clue.

Don't forget OH2BAD
The coolest callsign I ever saw for contesting was TE5T

 

[mancow]

That's why I stuck with a 0 even though I went with a vanity. I too think it detracts from the clarity of it all if you have a call from another area.

 

[rapidcharger]

The worst thing that ever happened in both USA and Canada was when it became acceptable to move from one district to another and keep your existing call sign.

That's the "worst thing that ever happened?"

 

[W2NJS]

That's the reason I'm glad we don't have to change calls when we relocate, Warren. I've been W2PMX for over 55 years, people all over the world know me by that call, and now I'm moving to 4-land. I'm glad I can keep the old call. It wouldn't bother me if I had to sign /4 or /M4 permanently. (BTW, didn't Wayne, W2NSD, keep his call when 73 moved to New Snowshire way back when you did have to get a new call? I wonder who he knew.)

As I recall, Wayne called himself W2NSD/1 after he moved North.

 

[Al42]

As I recall, Wayne called himself W2NSD/1 after he moved North.

/x was supposed to be while "temporarily" out of your call area. Selling your house isn't all that temporary. Not that it ever mattered to me, it's just another anomaly among the many.