nd5y
Member
Not in all cases. I got my current vanity callsign in 1998 but the earliest record in the ULS is 2004 when I did an adimistrative update.
VANITY call sign
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FluxMux
Newbie
Kind of proves my point though regarding the other post. It shows real fast you didn't just now start into it and are trying to "look" like someone else who has been at it for a lot longer.
FeedForward
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Well I'm pleased to see some thoughtful comments on the subject of vanity. Ease of CW operation used to be a consideration, but these days every electronic keyer will spit out the call, the contact number and anything in between. In fact, the voice equivalent will practically make a new voice contact also without operator intervention. Scrambling for an expired call has everything to do with appearing to be a long-time experienced radio operator. In a few years, the call sign universe will just represent those who were most diligent in shuffling FCC application paperwork. My suggestion to the FCC is to require a pass on a more technical exam. Call it The Most Extra class for example.
Heard a new ham on 2 meters last night who just made his first 2 meter "contact" if you can call it that. His contact did not know what a QSL card was. Good for him he would be taking his General exam right away and had already applied for a vanity call sign, like that was part of becoming a new ham or part of the General Class exam. There are lots of letter and number combinations. I don't agree with the attitude that says, well what the heck if a call isn't being used why should anyone care? I care because the call sign system becomes useless as a way to geo-locate someone and/or to get a basic idea of when a ham was licensed. If people would put as much effort into improving their technical abilities as they do in applying for some else's call sign, the hobby would improve remarkably.
-FF
Heard a new ham on 2 meters last night who just made his first 2 meter "contact" if you can call it that. His contact did not know what a QSL card was. Good for him he would be taking his General exam right away and had already applied for a vanity call sign, like that was part of becoming a new ham or part of the General Class exam. There are lots of letter and number combinations. I don't agree with the attitude that says, well what the heck if a call isn't being used why should anyone care? I care because the call sign system becomes useless as a way to geo-locate someone and/or to get a basic idea of when a ham was licensed. If people would put as much effort into improving their technical abilities as they do in applying for some else's call sign, the hobby would improve remarkably.
-FF
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needairtime
Member
I'd imagine people despise having a 0 in their call for the CW reason, 0 is like one of the longest CW sequence, yet people still covet them... I guess I'm a bit biased because I'm in zone 10 and of course I'd see a lot of them, but does it matter...
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Though people can't really geolocate someone with their call, most people don't move around much, and when people want to get their WorkedAllStates achievement, sometimes they ignore calls from a particular zone because they know they've already worked all the states in that zone already. Ha, their loss, but it does increase the effort to check each call for their real location.
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The silly thing with me is that I did pass Element 4 and got assigned the appropriate systemic call. I've been licensed less than a year, and sometimes wonder if I should have just gotten a 2x3 vanity just to blend in with the newbies, especially since I still don't have HF gear...
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Though people can't really geolocate someone with their call, most people don't move around much, and when people want to get their WorkedAllStates achievement, sometimes they ignore calls from a particular zone because they know they've already worked all the states in that zone already. Ha, their loss, but it does increase the effort to check each call for their real location.
---
The silly thing with me is that I did pass Element 4 and got assigned the appropriate systemic call. I've been licensed less than a year, and sometimes wonder if I should have just gotten a 2x3 vanity just to blend in with the newbies, especially since I still don't have HF gear...
KE0GXN
Member
I have thought about getting a vanity call. But I will most likely not...I suspect there are several reasons guys chase vanity calls. For me the pride of being the first and only holder of my call ...out weighs any "cool" factor a vanity call may provide. I like the fact that I am the only and first KEØGXN ever, at least till I go SK and I would venture to say given the randomness of my call it may very well stay that way for awhile after too.
FluxMux
Newbie
What difference does it make? I don't understand this attitude. It's just a call sign for a hobby. We aren't calling in air support. Only part I would say they need to put a stop to are the ones who keep changing it over and over, and those who get one out of their region (but at this point they've let the region number become useless anyway) However... If you're a holder of a license class, you should be entitled to a license that reflects it, and if you want to pick a call sign that is no longer in use, what is the harm in that? Not all these inactive call signs are SK's in the first place and a very large number of them have already been used multiple times in the past few decades on top of that (some many times within the past decade) How long should a call sign be out of service before being put in use again, or in your view should it be permanently retired? If permanent retirement of the call sign is the case, it wouldn't take long until people who reach Extra won't be able to get a call sign that reflects it and holds the convenience of a shorter amount of characters, so I'm confused on what the problem is. Let's get to a point where eventually call signs are 3x4? It's a hobby and one that needs more people, not limiting pointless things that turn newcomers off to it, leave, and you lose influence over your hobby with the FCC and eventually bandwidth to corporate use. Keep things in perspective and think of the bigger picture.
KE0GXN
Member
Lots of 2X3 Extras in my area along with 1X3 Techs and Extras. I think the days of equating calls with a class of license has come and gone, much like the region numbers. I plan on upgrading next week and I do not foresee a desire for a Extra call in my immediate future if ever.
However, I do agree with others, that it seems the vanity call sign system is being abused to some extent. I don't get the need to change your call multiple times a year, etc..
Besides if your an active operator, who wants to deal with the headache of updating your electronic logs all the time due to a new call and what not and the QSL confusion that comes along with it? To each there own, but changing calls constantly would be a headache I would not soon deal with.
However, I do agree with others, that it seems the vanity call sign system is being abused to some extent. I don't get the need to change your call multiple times a year, etc..
Besides if your an active operator, who wants to deal with the headache of updating your electronic logs all the time due to a new call and what not and the QSL confusion that comes along with it? To each there own, but changing calls constantly would be a headache I would not soon deal with.
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Sigh, amateur radio just keep changing.... I'm sure all these vanity callsigns are still confusing old tymers (ie: my father, --not me, I'm still spritely 
).... I'll pick on the prefix "KN" (as in KN4XYZ)
".....Time was, the "KN" and "WN" prefix's you wanted to drop like a hot potato. The "N" meant a Novice, and the operator really stood out - might as well have been draped with a "Noobie" banner. "
Well, if my father didn't actually say those exact words to me, I have heard this feeling about those call signs enuff from him and his peers to give it a voice.
(Passing a higher class exam qualified for dropping the "N", and as call signs were used up, "A's, B's C's"... were substituted.)
Personally, of all the prefix's out there- "KN and WN's" signal something very negative that I can't disassociate from childhood.
.................. Sorry KN4MFU
Lauri
____________________________________________________-
bye -the- bye, I have been KX6, KS6 and operated using KJ6, KW6, KM6, KC4's..... when they meant something entirely different than today.... --------second big 'Sigh.'
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).... I'll pick on the prefix "KN" (as in KN4XYZ)".....Time was, the "KN" and "WN" prefix's you wanted to drop like a hot potato. The "N" meant a Novice, and the operator really stood out - might as well have been draped with a "Noobie" banner. "
Well, if my father didn't actually say those exact words to me, I have heard this feeling about those call signs enuff from him and his peers to give it a voice.
(Passing a higher class exam qualified for dropping the "N", and as call signs were used up, "A's, B's C's"... were substituted.)
Personally, of all the prefix's out there- "KN and WN's" signal something very negative that I can't disassociate from childhood.
.................. Sorry KN4MFU
Lauri
____________________________________________________-
bye -the- bye, I have been KX6, KS6 and operated using KJ6, KW6, KM6, KC4's..... when they meant something entirely different than today.... --------second big 'Sigh.'
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w2xq
Mentor
This article https://www.eham.net/articles/38849 on the history of amateur radio calls is an interesting read. It adds to Lauri-Coyote's postings. Be sure to read the comments for additional information.
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A nice historical perspective, 2XQ
Today one can designer-select their callsigns. The ease is so simple that how things were in the past has faded from my memory.
Like the article said, you were issued a call by the FCC and that was that.
.........Learn to love it. I had heard that if you had enuff swing with the 'commission' you could get special considerations- but I never knew anyone that powerful.
Vanity Callsigns ?... a ham then should have been so lucky. Of course suffix's were the toss of the dice...and the variety of three letter combinations are awesome. I don't think the FCC did much in the way of censoring some rather good ones- for I can recall quite a number that if I were to type them here the RR spell check'r would "***" them out.
There wasn't much one could do with that luck.
But I do have a particular memory-- one of visiting a young man's 'radio shack'- He had held a "WB#" callsign for many years- and tolerated the mild tongue twist of saying it on 'fone.
The evening I visited he was about to check into a local VHF net.
The net control station was an old southern gentleman who went by the name of "Beauffy *" -- like as not, Beauffy was always well 'primed' by the time he opened the net.
My friend waited his turn patiently to call in, gave his call, and Beauffy replied:
"The 'net re-ko-nizzes Double You You Be... Beee"...... long pause
"....reck-uniizzes... You Double You.. you............."
I don't think he ever got the prefix straight... but my friend was check'd in. Everytime his turn came around "Beauffy" would butcher it. I think my friend would have simply let this go, but there was this giggling teenage girl in the 'shack' and not helping any ego's out, --- not at all ! (I had a "K" call.)
My friend shortly there after went into the service; was stationed in Hawaii, and Immediately changed the WB to a KH6 (which he still holds.)
And my apologies to any and all with "WB" prefix's
Lauri
__________________________________________________
* I am trying to spell what it sound'd like; "beau-fee" though I am sure now he could have no objections to my spelling- he must have pulled The Big Switch long ago.
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Today one can designer-select their callsigns. The ease is so simple that how things were in the past has faded from my memory.
Like the article said, you were issued a call by the FCC and that was that.
.........Learn to love it. I had heard that if you had enuff swing with the 'commission' you could get special considerations- but I never knew anyone that powerful.
Vanity Callsigns ?... a ham then should have been so lucky. Of course suffix's were the toss of the dice...and the variety of three letter combinations are awesome. I don't think the FCC did much in the way of censoring some rather good ones- for I can recall quite a number that if I were to type them here the RR spell check'r would "***" them out.
There wasn't much one could do with that luck.
But I do have a particular memory-- one of visiting a young man's 'radio shack'- He had held a "WB#" callsign for many years- and tolerated the mild tongue twist of saying it on 'fone.
The evening I visited he was about to check into a local VHF net.
The net control station was an old southern gentleman who went by the name of "Beauffy *" -- like as not, Beauffy was always well 'primed' by the time he opened the net.
My friend waited his turn patiently to call in, gave his call, and Beauffy replied:
"The 'net re-ko-nizzes Double You You Be... Beee"...... long pause
"....reck-uniizzes... You Double You.. you............."
I don't think he ever got the prefix straight... but my friend was check'd in. Everytime his turn came around "Beauffy" would butcher it. I think my friend would have simply let this go, but there was this giggling teenage girl in the 'shack' and not helping any ego's out, --- not at all ! (I had a "K" call.)
My friend shortly there after went into the service; was stationed in Hawaii, and Immediately changed the WB to a KH6 (which he still holds.)
And my apologies to any and all with "WB" prefix's
Lauri
__________________________________________________
* I am trying to spell what it sound'd like; "beau-fee" though I am sure now he could have no objections to my spelling- he must have pulled The Big Switch long ago.
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edweirdFL
Member
I passed my General license exam 1 week after I passed the Technician exam. I already had a vanity call in mind and requested it the day my General upgrade appeared online. I've only got 1 QSL logged in LoTW with my original 2x3 KN4xxx sequential callsign and I used it in a limited fashion on the local repeaters while waiting for my vanity W4xxx to be assigned.
After a year and a half of using the vanity call and around 1200 QSOs, I don't think I'm going to request a different shorter vanity call when I pass my Extra upgrade, I'll stick with with the 1x3 I've been using.
After a year and a half of using the vanity call and around 1200 QSOs, I don't think I'm going to request a different shorter vanity call when I pass my Extra upgrade, I'll stick with with the 1x3 I've been using.
I am a Technician class license holder. I originally had a 2x3 callsign, but about two years after I got my original call, the "gate" was opened for vanity call signs for my license class, so I got a 1x3, with the suffix being my initials. "Quicker out of the mouth" than my original call...and given the fact that I am into e-comm work and severe storm spotting, that was (and still is) important to me. I plan on keeping this one!
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needairtime
Member
Speaking of call signs, the local repeater that has nets on it usually request people to use their suffix to announce they have a comment after checking in as to reduce collision/double key time. I already feel weird that since I have a 2-letter suffix, where most people have 3-letter. The curiosity comes if someone joins with a 2x1, especially if they have something like KA0A or something like that and "raise their hand" to speak with "A" sounding like "HEY!"
Perhaps they better just repeat their whole call sign in this case... Especially if more than one person has the same suffix, which almost became a problem because two people did recently come in with similar sounding suffix that could have needed to be resolved with ITU phonetics if the whole call sign was not repeated.
Another thing that people seem to do in nets for check-ins is to split check in groups by suffix, again to reduce collision/double key. While that's not a problem on it's own, if the net is a bunch of recently licensed people that have the same first letter in their suffix... I was thinking that last letter would be a better "hash" to reduce collisions as it would spread out more evenly regardless of when they got licensed. Fortunately it has not been a problem, but thought it was an interesting optimization -- maybe already used on other nets.
Perhaps they better just repeat their whole call sign in this case... Especially if more than one person has the same suffix, which almost became a problem because two people did recently come in with similar sounding suffix that could have needed to be resolved with ITU phonetics if the whole call sign was not repeated.
Another thing that people seem to do in nets for check-ins is to split check in groups by suffix, again to reduce collision/double key. While that's not a problem on it's own, if the net is a bunch of recently licensed people that have the same first letter in their suffix... I was thinking that last letter would be a better "hash" to reduce collisions as it would spread out more evenly regardless of when they got licensed. Fortunately it has not been a problem, but thought it was an interesting optimization -- maybe already used on other nets.
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With a single letter suffix I can see the dilemma, Needs. I have a idea, but I save it for a moment.
I have operated on quite a few Defense Department frequencies where if you don't use the proper protocol, you are simply ignored. The reasonings behind this are varied, I'm guessing-- but all the same, if I check in on such a controlled channel I'd better know how, and behave correctly. Perhaps protocol is used as a method of authenticating a station--
--from a semi memory--
"Bee Double-You calling eeF Bee Ate Yell-oh, over"
( translated, with a heavy French accent-- "BW calling FB8 Yellow...over")
Long pause----- "They don't answer us, Lauri"
"Its because they don't like you Girlfriend ... here, give me that mic"
+
+
+
"Foxtrot Bravo Eight Yellow this is Charlie Foxtrot * ........ over"
"Charlie Foxtrot , this is........." and 'Bingo !'
I never go wrong using the proper phonetics in place of the spoken letters, and using that protocol.
So saying, what I'd do in the case of your net, Needs, would be modify your suffix a bit. They said suffix, right?- the number is sort of part of the suffix- so instead of saying a simple "A A" -- say something like "This is ***" (or simply) "Six** Alpha Alpha" instead...
Just a thought
Lauri
___________________________
*my callsign
** and of course this will vary
*** this is called a "pro-word" prefix, and its use really helps get your callsign across... sort of like saying --"hey, listen up, my name is...." rather than saying a simple "Lauri"..... which often zips by undetect'd when someone is only half paying attention.
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I have operated on quite a few Defense Department frequencies where if you don't use the proper protocol, you are simply ignored. The reasonings behind this are varied, I'm guessing-- but all the same, if I check in on such a controlled channel I'd better know how, and behave correctly. Perhaps protocol is used as a method of authenticating a station--
--from a semi memory--
"Bee Double-You calling eeF Bee Ate Yell-oh, over"
( translated, with a heavy French accent-- "BW calling FB8 Yellow...over")
Long pause----- "They don't answer us, Lauri"
"Its because they don't like you Girlfriend
... here, give me that mic"+
+
+
"Foxtrot Bravo Eight Yellow this is Charlie Foxtrot * ........ over"
"Charlie Foxtrot , this is........." and 'Bingo !'
I never go wrong using the proper phonetics in place of the spoken letters, and using that protocol.
So saying, what I'd do in the case of your net, Needs, would be modify your suffix a bit. They said suffix, right?- the number is sort of part of the suffix- so instead of saying a simple "A A" -- say something like "This is ***" (or simply) "Six** Alpha Alpha" instead...
Just a thought
Lauri
___________________________
*my callsign
** and of course this will vary
*** this is called a "pro-word" prefix, and its use really helps get your callsign across... sort of like saying --"hey, listen up, my name is...." rather than saying a simple "Lauri"..... which often zips by undetect'd when someone is only half paying attention.
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Someone with the callsign KA0A could key up and say "alpha".
KE0GXN
Member
Interesting....
The only net I have participated in where your suffix or at least in this case the last two letters of your suffix only were needed to check in was the 14.247 DX net on 20 meters. There was a time I checked in and there was two X-ray, Novembers, however as I recall we were both eventually checked in without too much of an issue.
At the time I thought the whole last two of the suffix was weird way to run a net although now looking back on it, I can see where it would help getting folks checked in quickly and efficiently.
vagrant
ker-muhj-uhn
Not for me.
- I went from six characters to five.
- Kept the 6 being here in California
- Used letters that could be understood when pronounced.
- Did not use any T, P, B, D, E, V, N, M and the like.
- Phonetically, or not, my vanity rolls off the tongue easy enough which is nice during contests.
- Vanity call has a weight of 64
I thought about getting my Extra; moving down to four characters that had my initials with a weight of 42. The time came and went; it was gobbled up by whomever. It also had one of the letters I am not fan of, which was the main reason. Additionally, I would wager more operators I have met in person know me by my suffix rather than my name. Even those that know my name well, still use my three letter suffix. (Which does not spell out a word)
[ Puts on FCC boss hat ] There is at least one thing I would implement for vanity call applications. I would give preference to an operator who resides in the call area they are requesting when multiple applications are received.
needairtime
Member
I'm probably sticking with mine for a while. I don't do contests (probably the big one), though getting a 2x1 with suffix "A" (Hey!) "E" (mE!) "F" (that euphemism) "G" (Gee!) "O" (Oh!) or "U" (You!) would be fun to mess with nets... Just kidding!!!
The vanity is much easier for me to get compared to HF gear and somehow deal with HOA antennas...
The vanity is much easier for me to get compared to HF gear and somehow deal with HOA antennas...
N5TWB
Member
I was a long-time Technician with this call from the beginning in 1991. I upgraded my license class twice in recent years, primarily to become a VE and also with the thought of getting a 2x1 or 1x2 vanity call. I wanted to stick with my zone of residence so that limited my choices. The more I studied the available calls, the less I felt the need to change after so many years. Maybe I'll rethink this after I retire...
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