The Electronics Universe

Okay, so gimme the basics (cliff notes please):

How do arrive at your \'call letters\'  \'user handle\'?

What is the actual term to describe your \'handle\' \'call letter\'?

Why do some have \'W\' and some \'K\'?

:dontgetit: :dontgetit:

After completion of an Amateur radio test (and pass) The FCC (Federal Communication Commission) assigns the call sign. Now the prefix letter is or was a designator of classification.
Novice = K 2x3
Technician = N 1x3
General and Advance = W 1x3 2x3
Extra class = A 2x1

My call is a 2x3 "KC4UMO"
The number is the call district.

I may be wrong on a couple of those. Been a while.

My Call starts with K. However It was the first call I got and never changed with the upgrades.

BTW, good to see you.

I remember a friend was into this many years ago.   I could swear his # was KAKO1175.  Maybe I am wrong, but that sounds so right. Whatdoya think?

That KAKO call is a CB call near the end of when the FCC still assigned those.
I had one then KARK4820 and before that KNN2829.

Back in 1972 when I took my novice test (given by a friend WB8HRT, now W8ZP) I was assigned WN8NSI. All novice calls used to have N as the second letter in the prefix of the call. The first letter might be either a K or W at the time.

When I moved on to the Tech license, the FCC assigned me WB8NSI. The waiting was terrible, approximately a month for the license to arrive. We didn\'t have the internet then to be able to look at a FCC database to see what activity was on a call sign.

PS: I still have the original novice license. It was one of the cut and fold wallet licenses. I recently found it while digging through some papers. It is now safely stored away with my other important papers.

My call remained the same through upgrades of General Class and Advanced Class. In 1999 I checked the listings of available calls and found that the W8 version of my call was vacant (and had been since about 1953 I found out later) so I applied to the FCC for a vanity call of W8NSI (my current call sign). General Class and up are permitted 1x3 calls I believe. I have the Extra Class license and can get any of the 1x2, 2x1, or 2x2 calls that may be available.

My call W8NSI had been vacant since the 1950s. The previous holder of the call is now KI7BM, John Branch from Arizona. He contacted me to tell me the history of the W8NSI call.

Here is the link to a web page that lists calls that are in the vanity pool. Be sure to read the instructions at the top of the page because the calls are color coded by age and whether they are immediately available. A call must be vacant for 2 years before it becomes available. This link is for the 1x3 calls. By clicking the boxes at the top of the page you can select other list options.

http://www.radioqth.net/vanity/Avail1x3Prefix.aspx

73 de w8nsi jim