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Call signs and what they mean
Prefixes, numbers, suffixes and how a call is assigned.
Prefixes, numbers, suffixes and how a call is assigned.
A call sign is the unique identifier the FCC assigns to a licensed station. Nobody on the air can verify who you are by sight, so everyone relies on it, and the rules require you to say it. It is also how contacts are logged and confirmed.
In the pattern the exam lessons use, a call sign is a prefix of one or two letters, one number, and a suffix of one to three letters. (Some countries' prefixes include a digit, but the idea is the same.) The prefix tells you which country issued it, because the ITU gives each country blocks of prefixes. The number usually marks a region. The suffix is you.
The FCC groups US calls by how many letters sit either side of the number. Count them: two letters, a number and three letters (such as KF1XXX) is Group D.
| Example prefix | Where | Example prefix | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| K, N, W, AA–AL | United States | G | United Kingdom |
| KH6 | Hawaii | JA | Japan |
| KL7 | Alaska | VK | Australia |
| KP4 | Puerto Rico | VE | Canada |
Countries often hold several prefix blocks, so the table is only a sample. Seeing a prefix you do not know? Callbooks and lookups tells you who holds a call and where.
When you are first licensed, the FCC assigns the next available call in sequence. Short calls, with fewer letters, have mostly been taken for years, so new licensees tend to receive longer ones. If you want a specific call, any licensee can request a vanity call: see Vanity and special-event calls.
Two things surprise newcomers. Your call sign is not tied to where you live, so you keep it when you move, even if the number no longer matches your area. And it is not tied to your class: you keep it when you upgrade.
Identify with your FCC-assigned call, at least every 10 minutes during a contact and at the end. A tactical name such as "Race Headquarters" can be used during an event, but it does not replace your call. When operating from another call area or country you may add an indicator, such as KL7CC/W3. On phone, "slash", "stroke" and "slant" are all acceptable ways to say the slash. See The phonetic alphabet for spelling a call so it is understood in noise, and Operating abroad for visiting other countries.