Who Would Change Their Callsign Anyway?
Like many amateur radio operators, I thought that I would change my callsign (more likely, compete to change my callsign) to a vanity call, preferably one with only four letters like a nice 1x2 or 2x1, once I earned my Extra license.
I upgraded just a few months ago, and I really got excited with the prospect of switching my callsign. I looked up what was available on AE7Q's great database (link here) and RadioQTH database (link here). Obviously, you're stuck with what's available, or so I thought...
I upgraded just a few months ago, and I really got excited with the prospect of switching my callsign. I looked up what was available on AE7Q's great database (link here) and RadioQTH database (link here). Obviously, you're stuck with what's available, or so I thought...
Callsign Harvesting
That's when I learned about "callsign harvesting". It's a touch morbid. Effectively, you look for a callsign that you want, that is expired but not yet available (there's a two year waiting period before it rejoins the pool), then you check to see if that particular operator is still alive. If not - and you find this out through obituaries, generally - you request a data search through the Social Security Administration to ensure it is the same person. Then, you forward all of your research to the FCC, and they release the callsign.
In the past, you could submit all of your paperwork, and then, the same or next day, submit a request to get the callsign. You do the work, and you get the callsign. Apparently, some other operators complained, so the FCC gave them a 30-day window between releasing the callsign before it could be picked up.
In the past, you could submit all of your paperwork, and then, the same or next day, submit a request to get the callsign. You do the work, and you get the callsign. Apparently, some other operators complained, so the FCC gave them a 30-day window between releasing the callsign before it could be picked up.
The Competition
The problem with this is the fact when more than one request is entered for an available vanity callsign, there's a competition. The end of the competition is totally random - the FCC randomly assigns the callsign. There's no guarantee you're going to get the callsign that you requested, or researched, if more than one person applies for it. And there are a lot of people applying for vanity callsigns!
Why Change It?
Operators want to change their callsigns because there's some prestige with operating under a shorter callsign. A six-letter call, like mine, tells people that you are a more recent operator. They are also available to technician licensed operators. A five-letter call is available to general licensed operators. A four-letter call is available only to Extra licensed operators.
Plus, there's some fun to it too. I've seen callsigns like K4LAW (Seth), who is a semi-retired lawyer. As another example, NA4VY (David) was once in the Navy.
Finally, by getting a smaller callsign, you can reduce your "CW weight", which is the number of dits and dahs you need to send your callsign in Morse Code.
Plus, there's some fun to it too. I've seen callsigns like K4LAW (Seth), who is a semi-retired lawyer. As another example, NA4VY (David) was once in the Navy.
Finally, by getting a smaller callsign, you can reduce your "CW weight", which is the number of dits and dahs you need to send your callsign in Morse Code.
My Story
I actually ended up finding an expired vanity callsign I wanted, and I did the research on the previous operator who had it. He had gone silent key, and I requested the required information from the Social Security Administration. After paying a fee, I received a letter that had the detailed information that I needed to give to the FCC to get the callsign released.
As I considered sending in the information, I realized that I had grown kind of attached to my callsign. I had a nice set of QSL cards, my licenses, this website, and my various logbooks. To be honest, I think I would miss it if I changed it. I guess that's what happened when you keep saying your callsign on the air! I decided to keep my callsign.
It did something else for me too. I had delayed doing some ham radio things that I wanted to do, like getting amateur radio license plates for my Jeep, or some nice shirts with my callsign embroidered on them for the local club meetings and Field Day. With my decision made, I went ahead and submitted the paperwork required for my license plates.
I feel really good about the decision. So, for the foreseeable future, I'll remain KM4EPR.
As I considered sending in the information, I realized that I had grown kind of attached to my callsign. I had a nice set of QSL cards, my licenses, this website, and my various logbooks. To be honest, I think I would miss it if I changed it. I guess that's what happened when you keep saying your callsign on the air! I decided to keep my callsign.
It did something else for me too. I had delayed doing some ham radio things that I wanted to do, like getting amateur radio license plates for my Jeep, or some nice shirts with my callsign embroidered on them for the local club meetings and Field Day. With my decision made, I went ahead and submitted the paperwork required for my license plates.
I feel really good about the decision. So, for the foreseeable future, I'll remain KM4EPR.
Helpful Links
AE7Q's Amateur Radio Database: http://www.ae7q.com/query/
RadioQTH Vanity Callsign Search: http://www.radioqth.net/
RadioQTH Vanity Callsign Search: http://www.radioqth.net/