Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- uk-callsigns [2026/03/09 14:02] – [Ofcom Licence Database] g3aka
+++ uk-callsigns [2026/03/30 14:52] (current) – [Ofcom Licence Database] g3aka
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 ====== UK Callsigns ======
-These prefixes are used for UK and Crown Dependency (CD) amateur callsigns, unless otherwise stated suffixes may be one, two or three characters in length:
+These prefixes are used for UK and Crown Dependency (CD) amateur call signs, unless otherwise stated suffixes may be one, two or three characters in length:
   * Foundation M3, M6, M7 + three character suffix
   * Intermediate 2#0, 2#1, M8, M9 + three letter suffix, two letter suffix 2#0/2#1 calls were issued in 2018-19
   * 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 Call sign 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 (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
@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
   * Beacons GB3 + three letter suffix
   * Gateways/Data Stations MB7 + two or three letter suffix
-If a callsign starts with 2 a Regional Secondary Locator must be inserted immediately after the 2 e.g. 2E0ABC for a station in England. For G and M callsigns the use of a RSL is entirely optional
+If a call sign starts with 2 a Regional Secondary Locator must be inserted immediately after the 2 e.g. 2E0ABC for a station in England. For G and M call signs the use of a RSL is entirely optional. The Ofcom licence lists these RSLs:
 {{ :2024_uk_regional_secondary_locators.jpg?nolink&400 |}}
@@ Line 26: / Line 26: @@
 ====== 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]]
+An easy way to see at a glance which callsigns are available for issue is to use the M0PYL Callsign Lookup.
+Use ? As a wildcard, e.g. entering P?? in the suffix will highlight all Available callsigns with a suffix starting with P.
+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]]
@@ Line 46: / Line 49: @@
 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 there was a shift in position regarding a Welsh prefix
 {{ :1936-11_t_r_bulletin_what_is_a_country.jpg?nolink&400 |}}
-In 1937 at the request of the RSGB the regulator, the General Post Office (G.P.O), introduced prefixes GM for Scotland and GW for Wales.
+In 1937 at the request of the RSGB the regulator, the General Post Office (G.P.O), introduced prefixes GM for Scotland and GW for Wales (prior to 1930 GW calls had been issued to stations in the Irish Free State)
 In 1946 the G.P.O agreed to an RSGB request to create the prefix GC for the Channel Islands, December 1946 T & R Bulletin
@@ Line 64: / Line 67: @@
 In 2000 Short Contest Callsigns with MZ and GZ prefixes were introduced for use in the Shetland Islands, {{ :2000-12_radcom_new_z_rsl.jpg?linkonly | RSGB December 2000 RadCom announcement}}
-In 2008 Ofcom said they did not regard the RSL as being part of the core UK callsign and in 2013 stated the words in the licence actually meant the Main Station RSLI should be used when visiting other regions but they were happy for amateurs to continue with existing practice of changing RSL if they wished.
+In 2008 Ofcom said they did not regard the RSL as being part of the core UK callsign and in 2013 stated the words in the licence actually meant the Main Station RSL should be used when visiting other regions but they were happy for amateurs to continue with existing practice of changing RSL if they wished.  RSGB published this explanation by Ofcom on their website [[https://web.archive.org/web/20150928061916/http://rsgb.org/main/archive/consultation-archive/ofcom-consultations/licence-review-preparation/regional-secondary-locator/|External Link]]
 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.
@@ Line 77: / Line 80: @@
 In August 2025 RSGB Director Stewart Bryant G3YSX posted this explanation:
 {{ :2025-08-15_steward_bryant_g3ysx_rsls_and_suffixes.jpg?nolink&750 |}}
+The Leicester Radio Society G3LRS has a call sign history page that contains much interesting information and provides a table produced by Phil Taylor M0VSE which lists every RSL letter used, see [[https://web.archive.org/web/20260124154225/https://www.g3lrs.org.uk/training/callsign-types.html | LRS UK Call Signs]]
 ====== Special Event RSL's ======
@@ Line 103: / Line 108: @@
 Source: [[https://web.archive.org/web/20140909091215/http://highfields-arc.co.uk/call/callfacts.htm | Highfields Amateur Radio Club]]
-{{ :2024_rsl_list.jpg?nolink&500 |}}
 ====== Ofcom Licence Database ======
@@ Line 112: / Line 116: @@
   * {{ :2024-12-05_forbidden_callsign_suffixes.zip | Ofcom Forbidden callsign suffixes 5 December 2024}}
-Callsign spreadsheet issued 20 February 2026. Note the M3 call series shows thousands of callsigns witth Reserved status despite having been in that state for well over 5 years.   They are in fact Available for issue but those who've passed their Foundation exam will need to ring Ofcom, or use the Ofcom's Online Chate facility, to ask hem to change the status to Available which Ofcom will do instantly for you.
+Ofcom had until recently been consistantly putting correct callsign spreadsheets on their Open Data page (in the past the quality of these spreadsheets had been variable), see [[https://www.ofcom.org.uk/about-ofcom/our-research/opendata | Ofcom Open Data]] and look under Spectrum->Amateur.
+Callsign spreadsheet issued 20 February 2026 - Error spotted, callsigns with a "Z" in the suffix have been omitted, cause unknown. Ofcom have been informed.
+Note the M3 call series shows thousands of callsigns witth Reserved status despite having been in that state for well over 5 years.   They are in fact Available for issue but those who've passed their Foundation exam will need to ring Ofcom, or use the Ofcom's Online Chate facility, to ask them to change the status to Available which Ofcom will do instantly for you.
   * {{ :2026-02-20_amateur_callsigns_sorted.xlsx | Ofcom Callsign Spreadsheet 20 February 2026}}
@@ Line 147: / Line 154: @@
 {{ :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 2024 Ofcom signalled an intent to revoke licences that hadn't been revalidated in the previous 5 years.  In 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 in 2029/2030 Ofcom eventually do what they have indicated then there will be a sudden drop in licence numbers.
+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 dramatic drop in licence numbers.
 **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.
+As of October 2025 if you upgrade, change your callsign or alter any licence information 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 ======