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uk-callsigns [2025/11/21 14:13] – [RSL History] g3akauk-callsigns [2026/02/25 19:45] (current) – [Find Available Callsigns] g3aka
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   * Full  G0, G1, G2, G3, G4, G5, G6, G7, G8, M0, M1, M5 + three letter suffix, two letter suffix calls issued prior to 2020   * 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   * Short Contest Callsign with single character suffix, format Gnx or Mnx where n=0-9 and x=A-Z
-  * 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  +  * Special Event Station MB5 issued in 2015 now format is GBnccccl, MBn where n=numeral (0-9), c=character (a-z,0-9 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   * Analog Voice Repeaters GB3 + two letter suffix
   * Digital Voice Repeaters GB7 + two letter suffix   * Digital Voice Repeaters GB7 + two letter suffix
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 {{ :2025-10-13_amateur_radio_callsign_formats.jpg?nolink&400 | Ofcom Amateur Radio Callsign Formats}} {{ :2025-10-13_amateur_radio_callsign_formats.jpg?nolink&400 | Ofcom Amateur Radio Callsign Formats}}
 +
 +====== Find Available Callsigns ======
 +
 +An easy way to see at a glance which callsigns are available for issue is to use the M0PYL Callsign Lookup. Note: All callsigns marked as Reserved with a Last Modified Date of either blank or more than 5 years old are available for issue, you just need to ring Ofcom and ask them to change it to Available status.  The Last Modified Date can be obatined from the [[https://wiki.oarc.uk/uk-callsigns#ofcom_licence_database|Ofcom Database Spreadsheet]]
 +  * [[https://m0pyl.lorier.net/callsigns/|M0PYL Callsign Lookup]] 
 +
 ====== RSL History ====== ====== RSL History ======
  
-The prefixes of UK callsigns have changed considerably over the past century, the regional prefixes we have today only exist because at various times the RSGB made representations to the regulator to create them. Prior to the 1990's the term "Regional Secondary Locator" (RSL) wasn't used, either "Callsign Prefix" or "Callsign Zone" were used instead.+The prefixes of UK callsigns have changed considerably over the past century, the optional regional prefixes we have today only exist because at various times the RSGB made representations to the regulator to create them. Prior to the 1990's the term "Regional Secondary Locator" (RSL) wasn't used, either "Callsign Prefix" or "Callsign Zone" were used instead.
  
-Up until July 1991 UK amateur callsigns used only the G prefix. The introduction of the Novice (Intermediate) licence saw the use of the 2 prefix, it may well be this change triggered the use of the term "Regional Secondary Locator" instead of Prefix.+Up until July 1991 UK amateur callsigns used only the G prefix. The introduction of the Novice (Intermediate) licence saw the use of the "2" prefix which, due to ITU callsign regulations ([[https://wiki.oarc.uk/uk-callsigns#itu_radio_regulations_for_amateur_callsigns|ITU-RR Article 19.68]]), required the use of a letter (A-Z) between the "2" and the next numeral to prevent a two digial numeral appearing at the start of the callsign e.g. "20". It may well be this change triggered the use of the term "Regional Secondary Locator" instead of Prefix.
  
 September 1989 RadCom reported the RSGB had suggested to the then regulator, the DTI, the use of the "M" prefix for Novice callsigns but "2" was eventually chosen by the new regulator, the Radiocommunications Agency (RA) in 1991 September 1989 RadCom reported the RSGB had suggested to the then regulator, the DTI, the use of the "M" prefix for Novice callsigns but "2" was eventually chosen by the new regulator, the Radiocommunications Agency (RA) in 1991
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 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.  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. 
  
-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 & Crown Dependencies 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.  
  
 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 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
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 Ofcom will no longer issue callsigns with the suffixes listed in the Forbidden Suffixes spreadsheet, however, in the past some of them have been issued Ofcom will no longer issue callsigns with the suffixes listed in the Forbidden Suffixes spreadsheet, however, in the past some of them have been issued
   * {{ :2024-12-05_forbidden_callsign_suffixes.zip | Ofcom Forbidden callsign suffixes 5 December 2024}}   * {{ :2024-12-05_forbidden_callsign_suffixes.zip | Ofcom Forbidden callsign suffixes 5 December 2024}}
 +
 +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 October 2025 but Ofcom's software glitches meant Foundation were unable to do so for a further 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 Callsign spreadsheet issued prior to the release of M8/M9 callsigns, gives Status, Last Modified Date and Original Start Date
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   * {{ :2024-09-17_every-radio-callsign-spreadsheet.zip | Ofcom Callsign Spreadsheet 17 September 2024}}    * {{ :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}}   * {{ :2024-01-11_amateur_callsigns_sorted.zip | Ofcom Callsign Spreadsheet 11 January 2024}}
  
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 **For failure to revalidate every 5 years** **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}}+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, Ofcom did nothing about the other ~14,000 unvalidated licences and so they remain as valid (but unvalidated) licences to this day -  
 +  * {{ :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. Ofcom found the revocation procedure was labour-intensive and expensive they never repeated the exercise, no further licences were revoked.
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 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 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.+In January 2024 there had been some 63,000 unvalidated licences, many hadn't even been validated once in the previous 18 years. If in 2029/2030 Ofcom eventually do what they have indicated then there will be a sudden drop in licence numbers.
  
 **When there's a licence upgrade or a Callsign change** **When there's a licence upgrade or a Callsign change**
uk-callsigns.1763734432.txt.gz · Last modified: by g3aka