UK Vanity Call Signs - 2 &1Letter Suffix? Ham Radio Feature

[@stephanhersey1186]

Here in the US we have the ability to acquire a 'vanity' call sign and it is very popular to do so. We do have to pay for them. I changed my call right after receiving my first call as I did not like the one I was issued. As you mentioned in years past the number in the call sign here in the US was a designator of the area we were licensed in and when one moved they had to apply for a new license or use a stroke and the number of the area they were transmitting from. That changed when the rules changed from licensing the station to licensing the individual. I personally like having the number reflect the area that I live and wish it was still a requirement. Thanks for the great videos. Steve, k7ofg..

[@ipklondonuk]

I don't need or want a vanity call, I'm just thankful to have my callsign and I'm so used to it now

[@watersstanton]

Can’t argue with that.

[@fthorup]

In Denmark we select our callsign on a web page - first see if its available, select it and then pay for it. Why not choose your own? I see no reason for not selecting your own...

[@uctechreviews]

I'm with you on this Peter - when I got my callsign in the 80's I didn't really like G1THW, and phonetically it doesn't really roll off the tongue very well (some stations seem to struggle with Tango Hotel Whiskey). But it's my identity, some people know me by it and if and when it's possible to get a 'vanity' callsign in the UK, I wouldn't bother changing. On the other hand, if I'd had the opportunity to choose the suffix when I was originally licensed, as you can today in the UK, I would definitely have done that.

[@watersstanton]

Yes logical view.

[@M7JCZ]

A callsign can be chosen right from Foundation level, at least for the last 3 letters. Or you can just allow the assignment of the next callsign ready to be issued. I chose mine. I would pay for a nice callsign, just like a registration mark process, if the option were to be available.

[@watersstanton]

Probably the view of many.

[@davidwalle5025]

Good job Peter I like seeing what is going on in the uk

[@watersstanton]

Glad to keep you updated.

[@oldmanandguitar]

I contacted Ofcom to switch my 2e0 callsign to an M8, its not available option yet, but they said possibly in a few months and an option on the website.

[@watersstanton]

Good news. make CW a bit easier.

[@wrote8]

Peter I may be getting confused here with what you mean by "vanity" but when I got my full licence in 2021 I paid OFCOM £20 to get my personalised c/s GM3RTG (my initials) I operate CW and I didn't want an MM0 c/s as that would mean sending a minimum of 9 dashes in a row by which time the other 'end' would have nodded off! Of course that means I have a c/s that's indexed for the 1960's which occasionally causes upset when I contact a 'proper' G3 although I am of that vintage myself

[@watersstanton]

Interesting.

[@ronhonick549]

I got my Novice license in 1962, made Extra a year later, and was very active before taking a "short" break. I recently got back into the hobby after … wait for it … 52 years! I've kept my license current despite living in several states, but I'll be darned if I'll gave up the WA4KUI call I've had for the past 62 years!

[@watersstanton]

Nice one.

[@jimdavis5230]

I haven't got a vanity call sign but the last three letters are RFD. I often phonetically give them as Radio Frequency Distortion which makes people laugh.

[@watersstanton]

Nice one.

[@brianjrichman]

As an ex-pat Brit living in the USA, I can confirm that ones call is not so tied to the area of the country anymore. I am in Texas (K5 'land'), and I have a K9 call sign. My "Technician grade" call sign (same as UK Foundation) was KI5HIL, however now as an Extra (UK Full), I am K9BJR. The K9 is because we have dogs and the last three are my initials. The fee for a vanity call sign here is a once-off payment of $35.

[@watersstanton]

Sounds a bargain, Come on Ofcom!

[@SteveBrace]

You already can to a limited extent. The prefix is set, but you can choose the last three letters, with some obvious exceptions, provided nobody else has it.

[@watersstanton]

Yes agreed.

[@GordonHudson]

People always choose callsigns originally issued pre 1979. Like it or not it does get them some kudos. The ability to change callsign might be interesting, but i like the history of my original callsign. Americans seem fine with changing callsign regularly. 73, GM4SVM

[@watersstanton]

Thanks for sharing.

[@adamsonofdon2766]

As a brand new ham, I applied for a vanity as the call assigned to me doesn’t roll off the tonnage as easily as Id hoped for. I did some searching and found that my dad’s initials are also my kids first name initials are available in the suffix. I should receive confirmation from the FCC by Tuesday as the latest on my new call sign. Yes, a payment is needed per application of 35$.

[@watersstanton]

Not a lot to pay if it meets your needs.

[@markgodden4544]

I've had my call for 40 years and would not want to change it.

[@RobertYonng]

I got mine for a quick short CW call sign.

[@brianfields4479]

Is vanity derived from ego, and ego leads to arrogance, or have I got it wrong again.

[@AnneSmith-wr3kp]

Only arrogant people I've seen are the ones ranting and raving about people with vanity callsigns. I say live and let live.

[@javron99]

I have one G7NUT, which i was able to reserve, as it was just about to come up. It did about 3 months after my test, much to the annoyance of my brother. Managed to get the car reg too. Because dvla had held back all the G's until 2002.

[@watersstanton]

Nice one. I got G0PEP for W&S many years ago. But the "Vanity" I am talking about is the shorter one and two letter calls. It would require extra prefixes to be sanctioned.

[@Nick_G7IZR]

When I eventually got licenced as a Class B G7, I had to endure all the insults that G7's endured for being newly licenced. All these years later I like being a G7 and meeting other G7's on air. So I wouldn't change even if it was free. The other thing is you can get an idea of when a licence was issued, but you can't with some of the current vanity calls that are in use.

[@dieselbushcraft1299]

I grew up spending time in my fathers shack on the top band net on a Sunday morning. Late 80s I got my class B a G7 but in those days you got what you got. A few years later after father had passed I knew morse requirement was likely coming to an end and I wasn’t sure if I would have been able to get the G3 without morse, so I knuckled down and passed the morse and obtained my father’s class A license. Since then my two sons were involved with radio and club events so they obtained their foundation and intermediate and were able to request similar calls to their fathers. Is this vanity or a way of remembering and respecting my father and their grandfather that unfortunately they never met. I also got the registration number 20 years ago and still use it on my vehicles to this day. The callsign meant something to my siblings so I still like to think of it as a family memory. I don’t see the harm in people requesting a specific callsign when they apply for their license. I think I would have different feelings if a new format of callsign came out and people were able to chop and change. As for the prefix letters being dropped, that’s fine but I still like to use GM when I’m north of the border but that’s just me and again it shows a little respect to the nation Im visiting. I’m possibly very old fashioned in my attitudes and thinking.

[@watersstanton]

Interesting stuff. I think I would also tend to use the full prefix of the UK country,

[@DukeStonebreaker]

I got a vanity because my FCC-issued call was too long and I didn't feel any attachment to it.

[@watersstanton]

Yes the shorter calls are now becoming very much in demand.

[@tamstutz921]

Yes, currently the FCC in the US charges $35 per application for a vanity call sign. You can submit for a specific call, or submit a list of desired, available calls on an application, but there’s no guarantee that you will get any of them. If multiple people ask for a particular call that’s come available, the FCC randomly selects one person to receive it. Therefore, it is possible to submit several applications for calls and never receive any of them, but you will be charged the $35 application fee for each application.

[@watersstanton]

Ah well its a bargain for some and robbery for othes!

[@stuartrichardson5699]

Interesting topic ,I would like to have option to use my old G6 callsign when I was class B at the moment the answer is no you can’t have it unless you revoke your G4 callsign .i see no problem in using a vanity callsign….The new license and consultation did say that it is likely a license holder will change callsigns ….outside of the current pathway assumedly?

[@ralfkruse7565]

In Germany you can mostly chose under available Callsigns from the block that is given out at that exam, at least it was so 50Y ago. Today with shrinking numbers of Radioamateurs you may ask for your preferences, and if it is free you can have that preferred callsign. When I hear a contest call, an example DR1A, I ask, please repeat..... please repeat the last 3 letters of the suffix. And when he explained that it is a special 1 letter call, his imaginated time advantage to a normal call is gone..... That's mean, isn't it!!!

[@moormoor4281]

I have call sign I'm happy.

[@73deoldtimer]

I submitted a comment yesterday, but something went wrong and it didn't stay posted. But interesting to now read latest submissions on this subject. One 'suffers' same problem as me, and I wish I could have avoided the 'Q' in my callsign GW3XJQ (1968) when I was very pleased to be issued with the callsign after passing the RAE and Morse test. Decades later I wanted to buy car registration G3XJQ but not possible. Finally, I was under the impression that 'nowadays' one could request a vanity callsign from Ofcom from the current prefixes so long as the suffix letters had not already been issued. During my time callsigns were issued in time sequence and you would have to wait for the one you wanted and hope it would be issued to you. Quite frankly I preferred this system to what we do today which is confusing when trying to ascertain when an amateur was licenced.

[@watersstanton]

Thanks for sharing.

[@MM0IMC]

I worked a KH6 recently, thinking he was in Hawaii. Turns out he was in Florida! 😲

[@watersstanton]

Yes I had s similar experience.

[@iandstanley]

I had trouble finding a callsign for my full licence. I struggle with Certain combinations of letters in quick succession and tried for a couple of hours trying to find a callsign for my full licence In the end I phoned up the helpline for the registrar Explaining my problem finding a a callsign that was available I was surprised to be asked what three letters I would want I gave my initials and the help desk searched through their database and found an old expired (silent key?) callsign that hand been returned in the G4 prefix range In effect I got myself a vanity callsign

[@pixelpackingpiccys]

I did it the other way. I was given my callsign in 1981 Then later on bought my callsign as a legal numberplate.

[@2182DX]

I kind of have the best of both worlds, I have my regular G0 call & a 3 character contest call. Happy with both…👍

[@watersstanton]

Very nice!

[@AubsUK]

I'm an M7, and I'd happily pay for a callsign I 'like' that I could take with me through my Foundation >> Intermediate >> Full.

[@ChoppingtonOtter]

Im just an M7 for now but the last 3 letters are my initials so I guess I have a vanity callsign for the moment.

[@watersstanton]

Nice one!

[@spweber54]

As with many things, I predict the 'vanity' call era will run its course and the pendulum will swing back. Just like the shocking and unexpected return to vinyl records by the younger generation after years of perfect digital music, the old callsigns will come back in vogue. For me my 50 year old callsign WB5UDI has become my ham identity and I cherish it!

[@watersstanton]

Yes I can identify with that. It’s your ham radio”name.”

[@akiddoo8113]

KT0TT - "Only one dit" In USA everyone has at least one dit.

[@LMGGPMG]

I think progression is far more important Peter.

[@G0PBS-QRZ]

I don’t think they should allow callsigns that make it seem you have been licenced longer than you have. A bit like licence plates not being allowed to make a car seem newer (only in reverse). For the same reason, I never liked the idea of people getting the callsign from a related silent key.

[@watersstanton]

It's a view held by quite a few. The easy solution is to issue new prefixes rather like quite a few countries are doing. It will probably happen - eventually!

[@mickeyred]

Having my call is a registration plate is a grand because G1. If I was G4 I’d save a few hundred quid :-)

[@watersstanton]

Ah yes!

[@alanjones3873]

I had my foundation M6AFJ because it was available and was dissappointed not to get it for 2E or M0 so definitely a place for them.I find more contentious taking historic family callsigns for sentimental reasons. I know two people with 3yr old G licences not M so I assume they are real old timers. So Vanity do exist and internationally all you will know is the country, nothing closer and nothing about experience. Ofcom will be foolish if they dont charge as per DVLA

[@johnorrells3797]

I am not that interested vanity calls. The only problem with my call is the middle letter of my suffix is Q. Which rules out my call being used on car number plate.

[@watersstanton]

Ah yes. A problem!

[@Crusty_Camper]

I don't have strong feelings one way or another. I only fully qualified last year and was given M0 KNQ which I've sort of become attached to - or it has attached to me. I think it's a pity that the M prefixes are mixed for levels and sad that new registrations are not all G, which made the distinction clear, but there you are. But I won't be changing mine, I have already got used to being M Zero Kings 'N' Queens. 73, Pete MOKNQ

[@watersstanton]

Thanks for sharing.

[@robertsills2506]

My M7~|~ uk number plate is out there somewhere I suspect they haven’t a clue about it’s relevance to radio ham

[@watersstanton]

Frustrating!

[@LMGGPMG]

WOW a M7 number plate so funny, thanks for sharing🤣

[@ethzero]

I want "Y0IR". No reason 😂

[@watersstanton]

Nice!

[@mrmyford]

M1NGE your in the log lol,

[@watersstanton]

HaHa

[@mrmyford]

@@watersstanton 73s M1EMC

[@M6JKW]

🙂👍

[@andy2E0JIU]

Hi Peter,I'd happily pay an annual price for a vanity call or pay a one off price.nice easy way to put some cash into ofcom.......think their missing an easy earner here.73

[@watersstanton]

One way or another I am sure it will happen.

[@tlnelson7598]

My call is WD3NA and its a vanity call. If you drop the W and change the 3 to an E it would spell my late wife's name. I changed my call to honor my wife.

[@watersstanton]

Thanks for sharing.

[@Alex-M0OOV]

I believe that for the purpose of vanity callsigns in the UK 'vanity' would mean only 2-letters after the prefix, not 3.

[@watersstanton]

Yes that is what many want and what I inferred in the Video.

[@pauls8456]

In Australia you can basically choose your own, it’s not ‘vanity’ (a US idea) why shouldn’t you be able to choose your identity. PS if you change your call you would be surprised how quick people get used it….

[@watersstanton]

Interesting.

[@g0ooq537]

I earnt my G0 call! To my reconing , it states I'm a Class A licensee and that I've passed a 12wpm morse dating back to the late eighties. It is in fact a form of identification. I'm fully supportive of reinstating old callsigns to new Ham's who have a family connection such as deceased relatives etc..... but the whole vanity thing can create a lot of confusion. Final thought's are why fix something that aint broken....

[@watersstanton]

Thanks for sharing.

[@LMGGPMG]

Should accept the one issued, most of it is- Look at me syndrome- very nauseating in my opinion.

[@mindblast3901]

cheesy calls no thanks

[@g7vqedave2]

Vanity callsigns, what is it with this hobby where plagiarising the callsign of some long dead amateur is seen as bestowing extra years of accrued wisdom upon the new owner, it's bad enough having to listen to idiots on HF telling you they have a ten element antenna with three elements on 10 metres when my modest Hex has 12 elements with two on each band, it's techno babble nonsense. To me it sounds pretentious and a bit up yourself, while I'm probably a bit thin skinned it's an aspect of the hobby that I don't like, well that and getting trampled underfoot in your average pile up.🤪

[@bobsaunders3621]

We have waited far too long for vanity callsigns to be made available in the Uk in my opinion. Ofcom as per usual need to catch up.

[@watersstanton]

Many will agree.

[@petemillis4666]

When I got my call 20 years ago I felt that is just been given left over letters. But it quickly became part of me and now I want to change it. When i get the time to upgrade, I don't know what I'll do! 73 M3KXZ