Get Yourself A Vanity Callsign |
By Urb LeJeune W1UL
Introduction
When you receive your first call from the FCC it is sequentially issued depending on the class of your license and your call area. If you receive a Technician or General call in the second call area it takes the form of KD2NZZ. The is called a 2 X 3 call, that is, two letters before the number and three letters after the number. If your initial license class is extra you receive a 2 X 2 call such as KA2BB.
Picking a Vanity Call
Once you have received your sequentially assigned call you can apply for a call to your liking, subject to certain rules. As a generalization, the higher the level of your license the shorter your eligible call signs. All classes of licenses can choose a 1 X 3 call such as W2ABC, the only limitation is that the call you are selecting is not currently issues or in the two year grace period.
The most common 1 X 3 calls are people initials. My wife is Patricia K. Vogel and her call is W2PKV. The call of a SK (Silent key) mentor or first name suffix , such as W2JIM, are also popular as are SK family members.
An Advanced Class (No longer issued) holder may select a 2 X 2 format such as NJ2UL, there are some limitations as show in the resource list below. An Extra Class holder may select a 2 X 1, a 1 X 2 or a 2 X 2. Don’t waist you time applying for any of the 1 X 2 or 2 X 1 calls. There are currently none available and when one rarely becomes available there may be 20, or more, applicants for the call. When I obtained W1UL in 2012 there were 16 applicants for the call and the situation has become worse.
You can also apply for the call of a deceased member of your immediate family. It is a special application and must be appropriate for your license class. You cannot apply for your fathers 1 X 2 call if you are a Technician or a General.
The next step is determining if the call(s) you want are available. Go to the first link in the resource section below. Build a list of 2 or 3 choices, although I must admit the last three vanity application I submitted contained only one choice and all were successful.
Resources
FCC lookup by call or name:
www.wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/UlsSearch/searchLicense.jsp
FCC Vanity Call Guidelines:
www.fcc.gov/common-filing-task-obtaining-vanity-call-sign#block-menu-block-4
ARRL Website: www.arrl.org/vanity-call-signs
Wonderful Vanity Call Data Source: www.ae7q.com/query
Actually Filing for Your Vanity Call
Go to: Online application login: www.wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsEntry/licManager/login.jsp
Enter your FRN number, password, and just continue on.
Do You Need Help?
If the process seems too daunting, or you run into problems, or you would like an easy way to apply for a vanity call, I would be happy to file your application for FREE. All I need is your current call, your FCC password and a couple of proposed vanity calls listed in your order of preference. If you don't have, or don't remember, your FCC password, email with your phone number or call me. I'll get back to you and we can discuss the next step.
73 Urb W1UL urb <at> ham-cram <dot> com - 609-937-5487
When Urb isn't writing articles for newsletter he is usually for on http: ham-cram.com which is the best ham radio license preparation site on the Internet.
Do You Need Help?
If the process seems too daunting, or you run into problems, or you would like an easy way to apply for a vanity call, I would be happy to file your application for FREE. All I need is your current call, your FCC password and a couple of proposed vanity calls listed in your order of preference. If you don't have, or don't remember, your FCC password, email with your phone number or call me. I'll get back to you and we can discuss the next step.
73 Urb W1UL urb <at> ham-cram <dot> com - 609-937-5487
When Urb isn't writing articles for newsletter he is usually for on http: ham-cram.com which is the best ham radio license preparation site on the Internet.