Did the vanity call sign process change?

[montyhouse]

Nothing I can find (e.g., ARRL) matches what I'm seeing under the FCC's License Manager. Now, on the left side, it says when you highlight "Update Licenses," "Also used to request a vanity call sign." I try and it goes nowhere with zero instructions. The "old way" of looking for the "Apply for Vanity Call Sign" link appears to be gone.

It really can't be this hard, right?

 

[ecps92]

Amateur Call Sign Systems

About A unique call sign is assigned to each amateur station during the processing of its license applications. Each new call sign is assigned sequentially using the sequential call sign system, which is based on the alphabetized regional-group list for the licensee's operator class and mailing...

www.fcc.gov

Nothing I can find (e.g., ARRL) matches what I'm seeing under the FCC's License Manager. Now, on the left side, it says when you highlight "Update Licenses," "Also used to request a vanity call sign." I try and it goes nowhere with zero instructions. The "old way" of looking for the "Apply for Vanity Call Sign" link appears to be gone.

It really can't be this hard, right?

 

[Lauri-CoyoteFrostbite]

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Monty,
A moment ago I just checked out the vanity license process......



".....Individuals must apply online by logging into their license account in the
FCC License Manager filing system. In the License Manager section click on the link that states “apply for vanity callsign”. The applying amateur must have their FRN (FCC Registration Number) and their CORES/License password to log into the system......."


Last month I helped some new hams get their vanity calls---The FCC site is active and you should have no trouble applying for your's.

Lauri



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[montyhouse]

For anyone in my predictament.......Under "My Licenses," you will see one or more licenses (I had ham & GMRS). CLICK ON THE ONE FOR WHICH YOU WANT A VANITY CALL SIGN. Then, you will be taken to a new page with says "License HM6XXX At A Glance." "Request Vanity Call Sign" will be on your right.

 

[Marcy57]

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Monty,
A moment ago I just checked out the vanity license process......



".....Individuals must apply online by logging into their license account in the
FCC License Manager filing system. In the License Manager section click on the link that states “apply for vanity callsign”. The applying amateur must have their FRN (FCC Registration Number) and their CORES/License password to log into the system......."


Last month I helped some new hams get their vanity calls---The FCC site is active and you should have no trouble applying for your's.

Lauri



.

Guess everything changes? I do not remember that in 97 applying for a vanity...my first choice and I got it!
I do not remember doing a FRN or CORES/ license password but it,s been a long time..73,s Marcy

 

[Marcy57]

Guess everything changes? I do not remember that in 97 applying for a vanity...my first choice and I got it!
I do not remember doing a FRN or CORES/ license password but it,s been a long time..73,s Marcy

I moved to a different "Call Area" but I,m not giving that vanity up the thousands that applied for it
or chose it will have to wait till I,m SK ! lol!...Enjoy Memorial day..73,s Marcy

 

[n5ims]

Remember that vanity call signs require the applicant to pay the $35 fee for each application (note that's application, not each call sign requested on the application as possible choices). This fee is required to be paid even if you don't end up getting your requested call sign.

 

[Lauri-CoyoteFrostbite]

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When you go to select your vanity callsign, save yourself the disappointment of rejections by first running your choice thru the FCC data bank--

License Search

If your choice comes up clean you have an excellent chance of getting that callsign- unless you happen to be applying for it at the exact same time as someone else--- which in most cases that will be highly unlikely; so do have your alternatives (you can select up to 20, list them in order of preference.)
But you can pretty much forget it if you are after a 1X2 or 2X1 call, they are virtually all gone unless you qualify for a station location like Wake Island.

I've helped any number get their vanity of choice- and it is simple and actually fun to plot and scheme your new identity.
(I suggested "K6SUX" - which is open, - to a dear friend..... her colourful response can't be typed here )


Lauri



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[AK9R]

But you can pretty much forget it if you are after a 1X2 or 2X1 call, they are virtually all gone...

Patience, grasshopper. I've had a 1x2 and now a 2x1. The first 1x2 I applied for had 6 applicants and I lost. The second had 5 applicants and I lost. The third had 3 applicants and I won. The 2x1 I applied for had 2 applicants and I won. I find the listings of available 1x2 and 2x1 callsigns at AE7Q.com to be very useful while hunting for a new callsign.

 

[Lauri-CoyoteFrostbite]

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Ah !, yes !............There is no denying that a "faint heart never won fair lady."


The AE7Q site is a great reference, and it can be both entertaining as well as a bit discouraging.
In my example of the K6SUX 'suggestion' (above); she is an Extra Class. Together we explored the options of the special vanity's that maybe she could get, and we used AE7's resources.

In the end she settled for a 2X2 format (I have a 2X2 also- so I am a tad prejudiced- though its one of those "restricted geographical" calls)--
As a nice touch she got to choose her initials for the suffix..... pretty cool-- and faced no competiton.


I really applaud the ability to change a callsign- the sequential government issued ones can be bloody awful...to say nothing of some them being goofy, embarrassing, even borderline vulgar. Change, as any old timer will say, wasn't always the case-- you 'danced with the one that brought you' (I danced with my first call, and I must say it really hasten'd my upgrade to Advanced Class.)

For those not familiar with the AE7Q site, and have some time on their hands, its a fun place to search out the stats about a number of things ham radio trivia.
------------------------------------------

I haven't checked this out:
..........................So, with this new fee to apply for a vanity,-- is it $35 win/or/loose ? Seems this might get expensive if you have to keep rolling the 1X2/2X1 dice in the callsign lottery.



Lauri


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[AK9R]

So, with this new fee to apply for a vanity,-- is it $35 win/or/loose ?

Excellent question. I don't know the correct answer, but I can speculate (it's what us humans do, after all).

Before the FCC reduced the vanity fee to $0, you could apply for a refund if you didn't get the callsign that you applied for. But, the current $35 fee is an "application fee" and, theoretically, you are tying up their resources by making the application whether you get the callsign or not.

 

[alcahuete]

Absolutely 100% a win. People would rotate through vanity callsigns and lock them up forever. I remember there being people with 20+ callsigns locked up, because when your callsign changes, the old one does not immediately go back into the pool.

While $35 isn't much, it will hopefully help curb the callsign hording.

 

[Marcy57]

I,m on my 3rd callsign which is a vanity now I got in 97 on my first try, the other
2 have never been reissued and even my Fathers callsign who is SK now never got
reissued ...I keep waiting to see my old callsigns show up but they never do...LOL!
I was a Novice got a KA1 callsign (1980) then ended up with a N1 callsign when I got
back from South Korea, in the Army I was HL9WK when I was there, I did not
like the N1 call I had was not CW friendly (which is all I operate) LOL! so I
applied for a vanity....bit of nostalgia...73,s Marcy
(Not sure if the HL9 call ever got reissued? was 1985 lol!)

 

[Lauri-CoyoteFrostbite]

.
An Epilogue ?

The FCC clarified the new licensing tax - the $35 'fee' only applies to new licenses, renewals and vanity callsign applications.... most administrative modifications and license upgrades are exempt .

According to the ARRL VEC ".....most current licensees....will not be charged....until they renew or apply for a new vanity callsign."

Bon Appetit, mes amours !

__________________________________________________________________________________________

(Source: QST, June 2022, pg. 64 )


Lauri

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[RFI-EMI-GUY]

I was checking out FCC applications on ULS the other day and came across an application for a vanity license that was dismissed. The ham put up about 8 choices. How could he strike out 8 times? Isn't there a database of available call signs?

 

[alcahuete]

I was checking out FCC applications on ULS the other day and came across an application for a vanity license that was dismissed. The ham put up about 8 choices. How could he strike out 8 times? Isn't there a database of available call signs?

The vast majority of the time, they are requesting call signs that aren't available, or requesting call signs that are outside of their license class. You see techs requesting goofy stuff all the time.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

The vast majority of the time, they are requesting call signs that aren't available, or requesting call signs that are outside of their license class. You see techs requesting goofy stuff all the time.

The FCC should add some code to ULS to kick out those type applications at the error checking stage. It would be a waste of time for examiners to look at applications for 1x2 callsigns for a tech licensee.

 

[alcahuete]

The FCC should add some code to ULS to kick out those type applications at the error checking stage. It would be a waste of time for examiners to look at applications for 1x2 callsigns for a tech licensee.

Oh come on...this is the FCC we're talking about.

Completely agreed. There should be some sort of logic to reject techs. doing crazy things, requests for call signs that are not available, oh and the other big one, requesting call signs that don't even go with the licensing scheme at all. I forgot about that one. You get like KNK6KK, nonsense like that, or applications starting with numbers and all sorts of craziness.

I actually used to go through a bunch of the apps just for a good laugh.

 

[AK9R]

It would be a waste of time for examiners to look at applications for 1x2 callsigns for a tech licensee.

I would not assume that any human looks at vanity callsign applications. The callsign rules are coded into the FCC's computer and I imagine that invalid requests are automatically dismissed. I can't answer why they are not blocked at time of application.

The callsign rules are on the FCC's website. Make sure you click on the Sequential Callsign System and Vanity Call Signs tabs: Amateur Call Sign Systems

The resource I use for 1x2 and 2x1 callsigns is ae7q.com. He breaks down the available 1x2 and 2x1 callsigns by region.

 

[GlobalNorth]

It's about time that the call sign hoarders got kicked to the proverbial curb for locking up call signs. Now, they better have cash to waste in order to satisfy that urge to game other Amateurs.

Yes, it is $35 USD now to apply, whether you get the call sign or are denied. No refunds.

I used AE7Q.com to find an available Extra callsign that I wanted. Previously, it was issued to a new Extra and sadly, he died within months of getting the new call. It ran for a decade and then sat unclaimed for the requisite time before I snapped it up.

Other than CW work, I don't get the appeal of a 1x2 or 2x1, but others want them.

The FCC's computers won't allow Techs or others to receive call signs out of their classes. They still apply for them any how, whether through honest ignorance or hoping that something screws up.