Vanity Call Sign

[FeedForward]

Always a hot topic, eh? The FCC did not always have the vanity call sign system. I remember sending a written letter (way back) to request a close friend's call after he passed away. They ignored my letter, as you can expect, since there was no vanity system in place. No ham obtained a special call just because he passed a higher grade test! If you were active, everyone knew you by your call, so it was dumb to think about changing it.

The only changes happened when they had the novice license which lasted for 1 year. During that time your call was KN* Brilliant, using an N for novice. If you passed another exam, they dropped the N. Now N means nothing. The only people who had 2 letter calls were old timers who were usually your fathers or grandfathers. And, they usually had an Advanced Class, which made the Extra look silly.

I am sad to hear talk of elitism. This concept in my opinion is Marxist drivel. If a person is skilled in electronics, he should be recognized and respected for that achievement. If it means having extra privileges on the bands, or having a 2 letter call, so be it. Unless of course it offends someone or hurts their feelings. (joke).

One feature of certain short calls is that they are readily understandable CW or phone call signs. Other than that, I don't see much reason to fuss over it. Personally I would like a recognizable call for those amateurs who actually passed a real electronics theory test and have some skill in CW. But then that's elitist isn't it? My theory test was not multiple choice. I actually had to explain what I was doing and draw schematics. Then there was a verbal examination if you had a really dedicated examiner. Think about it. A ham license used to mean something. At least, its been that way 'till now.

FF
K7PHX

 

[Token]

Always a hot topic, eh? The FCC did not always have the vanity call sign system. I remember sending a written letter (way back) to request a close friend's call after he passed away. They ignored my letter, as you can expect, since there was no vanity system in place. No ham obtained a special call just because he passed a higher grade test! If you were active, everyone knew you by your call, so it was dumb to think about changing it.

The only changes happened when they had the novice license which lasted for 1 year. During that time your call was KN* Brilliant, using an N for novice. If you passed another exam, they dropped the N. Now N means nothing. The only people who had 2 letter calls were old timers who were usually your fathers or grandfathers. And, they usually had an Advanced Class, which made the Extra look silly.

The Novice licenses that were 2 years and non renewable started in 1967 (prior to that was one year), and also carried the KN or WN, with the N being dropped on advancement. In 1976 the KN/WN callsigns were dropped. In 1978 the Novice license went to 5 years, and renewable.

I think there was a Vanity system in place in the late 1920’s or 30’s, at least for 1x2 calls. Based on what I heard in the 1960’s it may have been similar to the later Extra class only Vanity system in the late 60’s / early 70’s.

Hams have been able to get a “special” callsign for being a higher grade since about 1968. From ’68 on the FCC allowed Extra class licensees with over 25 years of activity to request a 1x2 callsign vacated by an SK. You could not request a specific callsign, just ask for a 1x2. In 1976 Extras could request a specific 1x2 callsign, they phased this in over the period of a year based on your time of license, so that senior Extras got first dibs at the better callsigns. In Dec of 1977 they stopped this program. So from July of 1976 to December of 1977 there was a requested callsign Vanity system in place, but only applied to Extras.

A similar phased approach to Vanity callsigns was put in place when the current Vanity system stated in 1995. First previous holders could apply, then Extras could apply, then Advanced, and finally all classes were eligible. I think it took almost 2 years to totally open the Vanity system? Working from memory there, so I could be off a bit.

T!

 

[vagrant]

Thanks for that last bit. I was not familiar with any of that information. It is indeed a pocket full of history and appreciated.

To answer your question it is not the FCC, but us amateurs that choose to obtain vanity calls that use the district we are in. Not everyone does and that is okay too, in my opinion. Based on your post it appears the system has changed several times. Whether for the better or worse is a matter of perspective at a particular point in time. Having a call sign for over 20 years then relocating to a different district, for whatever reason, may play havoc with giving up a long used call. When your amateur acquaintances refer to you and even beckon to you face to face using the last three, or your full call, it re-enforces it as your identifier to the brain. A nickname if you will that is now outside of the black box and for some, quite tangible.

I think you are right. What does it matter any more to the FCC. It is already wide open, yet fellow amateurs continue to choose a call using their respective district number. While some amateurs prefer the status quo, others embrace the openness. No matter what I can tell you one thing we all have in common; when we make a DX contact with someone in Antarctica, it is pretty cool.