Differences

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--- uk-callsigns [2025/10/29 22:21] – [ITU Radio Regulations for Amateur Callsigns] Added ITU-R 19.45-19.48 g3aka
+++ uk-callsigns [2025/11/27 14:05] (current) – [Ofcom Licence Database] g3aka
@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
   * Full  G0, G1, G2, G3, G4, G5, G6, G7, G8, M0, M1, M5 + three letter suffix, two letter suffix calls issued prior to 2020
   * Short Contest Callsign with single character suffix, format Gnx or Mnx where n=0-9 and x=A-Z
-  * Special Event Station GBn, MBn where n= 0-99999 suffix may be 1-4 characters or no suffix at all e.g. GB50 issued in 2002
+  * Special Event Station MB5 issued in 2015 now format is GBnccccl, MBn where n=numeral, c=numeral, letter or null, l=letter suffix may be 1-4 characters or no suffix at all e.g. GB50 issued in 2002
   * Analog Voice Repeaters GB3 + two letter suffix
   * Digital Voice Repeaters GB7 + two letter suffix
@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 {{ :2024_uk_regional_secondary_locators.jpg?nolink&400 |}}
+On 13 October 2025 Ofcom stopped issuing new Intermediate callsigns with a "2" prefix.  Exist holders of "2" prefix callsigns were allowed to select their existing suffix from the M8 (for 2#0) or M9 (for 2#1) call series alternatively they could select any available callsign they liked from the M8 or M9 series.
+From 13 October holders of Full callsigns who'd been licenced for more than 5 years were allowed to change to any available Full series prefix callsign e.g. G3, G5, M5 and Foundation holders were allowed to change to another call in the M3, M6 or M7 call series.  A number of bugs in Ofcom's online system meant a delay of a couple of weeks before that could be done.
+Calls available for issue include those callsigns that have been in the Reserved state for more than 5 years as indicated by the Last Modified Date field in [[https://wiki.oarc.uk/uk-callsigns#ofcom_licence_database|Ofcom's callsign spreadsheet]] (A blank date field also means it's more than 5 years old).  To get one of these callsigns amateurs need to ring Ofcom or use Ofcom's online chat and ask them to change the status to available.
+[[https://www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/resources/documents/manage-your-licence/amateur/amateur-radio-phase-2-and-3-review.pdf|Ofcom Guide to Changing your Callsign Online]]
+{{ :2025-10-13_amateur_radio_callsign_formats.jpg?nolink&400 | Ofcom Amateur Radio Callsign Formats}}
 ====== RSL History ======
@@ Line 27: / Line 36: @@
 {{:1927-02-12_g-6nx_qsl_card.jpg?nolink&200|}} {{:1927-05-31_gc-6nx_qsl_card.jpg?nolink&200|}} {{:1938-03-06_gm6nx_qsl_card.jpg?nolink&200|}}
-In 1927 UK formally obtained the country prefixes of M, G, and 2 from the ITU (G had been used by UK amateurs prior to 1927). The ITU also issued the UK with V and Z prefixes which were used in the Dominions and Empire. From Spring 1927 the UK used G prefix callsigns for England, Wales and CD's, GC prefix for Scotland, GI for Northern Island and GW for the Irish Free State.
+In 1927 UK formally obtained the country prefixes of M, G, and 2 from the ITU (G had been used by UK amateurs prior to 1927). The ITU also issued the UK with V and Z prefixes which were used in the Dominions and Empire. From Spring 1927 the UK used G prefix callsigns for England, Wales and CD's, GC prefix for Scotland (prefix believed to to voluntary rather than mandatory), GI for Northern Ireland and GW for the Irish Free State.
-The use of the GC prefix in Scotland ceased after a few years and Scotland reverted back to G prefix, it is not currently clear why.
+Prefixes were discussed in the July 1936 issue of the RSGB T & R Bulletin. At the time amateurs in the UK and Crown Dependencies had just two prefixes, either G which covered Great Britain & CDs and GI for Northern Ireland.  The GC prefix used briefly in Scotland in the mid-1920's had reverted back to G around 1929 and the former GW prefix, used for the Irish Free State, had been replaced by EI.
-Prefixes were discussed in the July 1936 issue of the RSGB T & R Bulletin. At the time amateurs in the UK and Crown Dependencies had just two prefixes, either G which covered Great Britain & CDs and GI for Northern Ireland.  The GC prefix used briefly in Scotland having reverted back to G and the former GW prefix, used for the Irish Free State, had been replaced by EI.
 The view was expressed in the Bulletin that both Scotland and the Channel Islands should be counted as a separate entities with a unique prefix but it was not felt the Isle of Man deserved a unique prefix and Wales was regarded as an integral part of England, so should have the same prefix. However, within a few months the RSGB would shift its position regarding a Welsh prefix
@@ Line 55: / Line 62: @@
 In 2014 Ofcom proposed making it clear in the licence that the RSL was optional, this generated opposition from the RSGB so Ofcom decided not to add clarity to the licence at that time but Ofcom continued to consider that amateurs with M or G callsigns could either omit the RSL or give the RSL for the region they were visiting if they wished.
-In 2014/15 an attempt was made by Cornish amateurs to get the "K for Kernow" RSL issued for use in Cornwall. While Ofcom appeared to be supportive of the idea and issued a temporary "K" RSL during 2016 the RSGB did not support a permanent "K" RSL and it did not happen
+In 2014/15 an attempt was made by Cornish amateurs to get the "K for Kernow" RSL issued for use in Cornwall. While Ofcom appeared to be supportive of the idea and issued a temporary "K" RSL during 2016 but the RSGB did not support a permanent "K" RSL and it did not happen
 [[https://web.archive.org/web/20160408145201/https://gb2gm.org/k-for-kernow/ : Poldu report on RSL]]
@@ Line 62: / Line 69: @@
 In 2023 Ofcom again proposed changing the licence words to make it clear the RSL was optional.
-In August 2025 RSGB Director Stewart Bryant G3YSX posted an explanation:
+In August 2025 RSGB Director Stewart Bryant G3YSX posted this explanation:
-{{ :2025-08-15_steward_bryant_g3ysx_rsls_and_suffixes.jpg?nolink&400 |}}
+{{ :2025-08-15_steward_bryant_g3ysx_rsls_and_suffixes.jpg?nolink&750 |}}
 ====== Special Event RSL's ======
@@ Line 83: / Line 90: @@
 From 1 September 2009 to 20 October 2010, special event stations commemorating the centenary of the Girl Guide movement could request callsigns in the GG100xx or GG100xxx series.
-From 29 April 2011 to 09 May 2011 the prefixes "GR", "MR" & "2R" were allowed, via pnline application for an NoV, to be used by individuals as special temporary calls to celebrate the Royal Wedding of H.R.H Prince William to Miss Catherine Middleton.
+From 29 April 2011 to 09 May 2011 the prefixes "GR", "MR" & "2R" were allowed, via online application for an NoV, to be used by individuals as special temporary calls to celebrate the Royal Wedding of H.R.H Prince William to Miss Catherine Middleton.
 Club special calls for this event were of the standard "GB" type, although, due to administrative errors, some Clubs applied and were issued the NOV but were not allowed to use it.
+From 9-11 October 2015 special event station MB5RC was run by Kenwood UK at the RSGB Convention
 Source: [[https://web.archive.org/web/20140909091215/http://highfields-arc.co.uk/call/callfacts.htm | Highfields Amateur Radio Club]]
-{{ :2024_rsl_list.jpg?nolink&400 |}}
+{{ :2024_rsl_list.jpg?nolink&500 |}}
 ====== Ofcom Licence Database ======
@@ Line 97: / Line 106: @@
   * {{ :2024-12-05_forbidden_callsign_suffixes.zip | Ofcom Forbidden callsign suffixes 5 December 2024}}
-Callsign spreadsheet issued prior to the release of M8/M0 callsigns, gives Status, Last Modified Date and Original Start Date
+Callsign spreadsheet issued on 11 November 2025 four weeks after the release of Intermediate M8/M9 callsigns and all categories of amateur being able to change their callsign. Callsign changes supposedly could take place from the 13 November 2025 but Ofcom's software glitches meant Foundation were unable to do so for another two weeks
+  * {{ :2025-11-11_amateur_callsigns_sorted.zip | Ofcom Callsign Spreadsheet 11 November 2025}}
+Callsign spreadsheet issued prior to the release of M8/M9 callsigns, gives Status, Last Modified Date and Original Start Date
   * {{ :2025-09-11_amateur_callsigns_sorted.zip | Ofcom Callsign Spreadsheet 11 September 2025}}
-All Amateur callsigns in Ofcom's database includes Special Event Station callsigns (GB/M9 calls) and Special Research Permits e.g. high power
+All Amateur callsigns in Ofcom's database includes Special Event Station callsigns (GB/MB calls) and Special Research Permits e.g. high power
   * {{ :2024-09-17_every-radio-callsign-spreadsheet.zip | Ofcom Callsign Spreadsheet 17 September 2024}}
-Callsign spreadsheet issued before the February 2024 re-issue of all licences. Ofcom's licence re-issue forced an update of the Last Modified Date Field for all valid licences. Sorting on the Last Modified Date field can give you an indication of how many amateurs had actually revalidated their licences since 2006 as revalidation forces a change to Last Modified Date
+Callsign spreadsheet issued before the February 2024 re-issue of all licences. Ofcom's licence re-issue forced an update of the Last Modified Date Field for all valid licences. Sorting on the Last Modified Date field can give you an indication of how many amateurs had actually revalidated their licences since 2006 (~63,000) as revalidation forces a change to Last Modified Date
   * {{ :2024-01-11_amateur_callsigns_sorted.zip | Ofcom Callsign Spreadsheet 11 January 2024}}
@@ Line 111: / Line 123: @@
 A list showing the approximate issue year of amateur radio callsigns up until 2000 is available at
   * [[https://web.archive.org/web/20250723200622/https://ukspec.tripod.com/rf/ukcalls.html|RF-Man Amateur Radio Callsigns]]
-The Original Start Date for callsigns issued after 1977 is available in the Ofcom Callsign Spreadsheet dated 11 September 2025. Due to an administrative glitch by the then Regulator that date field is not reliable prior to 1977
+The Original Start Date for callsigns issued after 1977 is available in the Ofcom Callsign Spreadsheet dated 11 September 2025. Due to an administrative glitch by the then Regulator that date field is not reliable prior to 1977.
+====== Licence Revocation ======
+**For failure to revalidate every 5 years**
+As of November 2025 Ofcom had only ever revoked amateur licences on one occassion for failure to revalidate in the previous 5 years.   It occurred in October-November 2015 when Ofcom did a test run of their month-long revocation procedure.  For the test a small batch of licences that had not been revalidated in the previous 8 years were put into the 30-day revocation appeals process, the licence holder was contacted and if after 30 days they hadn't said they wished to keep the licence then Ofcom revoked it.  In total 530 licences were revoked out of the aproximately 14,500 licences that had not been revalidated in the previous 8 years - {{ :2015-12-04_list_of_revoked_amateur_callsigns.pdf | list of the callsigns that were revoked}}
+Ofcom found the revocation procedure was labour-intensive and expensive they never repeated the exercise, no further licences were revoked.
+In the May 2017 issue of Practical Wireless the Editor Don Field G3XTT mentioned that Ofcom had quietly dropped the idea of revoking unvalidated licences.
+{{ :2017-05_pw_revalidation_g3xtt_editorial.jpg?nolink&400 |}}
+In 2024 Ofcom signalled an intent to revoke licences that hadn't been revalidated in the previous 5 years.  It the same year Ofcom automatically revalidated every single licence, this meant no licence would need revalidation until 2029 at the earliest.
+In January 2024 there had been some 63,000 unvalidated licences, many hadn't even been validated once in the previous 18 years. If Ofcom do what they have indicated then there will be a sudden drop in licence numbers in 2029/30.
+**When there's a licence upgrade or a Callsign change**
+As of October 2025 if you upgrade or change your callsign then your lower-level licences will be put into the 30 day revocation procedure during which time should you wish to keep the licence you can appeal the decision to revoke. At the end of that period if no appeal is submitted the licence will be revoked.
 ====== ITU Radio Regulations for Amateur Callsigns ======