uk-callsigns
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| uk-callsigns [2026/06/25 15:53] – [Ofcom Licence Database] g3aka | uk-callsigns [2026/10/01 14:50] (current) – [ITU Radio Regulations for Amateur Callsigns] g3aka | ||
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| ====== UK Callsigns ====== | ====== UK Callsigns ====== | ||
| - | 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: | + | These prefixes are used for UK and Crown Dependency (CD) amateur |
| - | * Foundation M3, M6, M7 + three character suffix | + | * Foundation |
| - | * Intermediate 2#0, 2#1, M8, M9 + three letter suffix, two letter suffix 2#0/2#1 calls were issued in 2018-19 | + | * Intermediate |
| - | * 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 (Individual, |
| * Short Contest Call sign 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 | * 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 | ||
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| On 13 October 2025 Ofcom stopped issuing new Intermediate callsigns with a " | On 13 October 2025 Ofcom stopped issuing new Intermediate callsigns with a " | ||
| - | 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. | + | From 13 October |
| - | 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:// | + | Call signs that may be available for issue include |
| + | |||
| + | In addition all those callsigns that have been in the **Reserved** state for more than 5 years as indicated by the Last Modified Date field in [[https:// | ||
| + | |||
| + | Ofcom Spectrum Licensing Tel: 0300 123 1000 - [[https:// | ||
| [[https:// | [[https:// | ||
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| ====== Find Available Callsigns ====== | ====== Find Available Callsigns ====== | ||
| - | An easy way to see at a glance which callsigns are available for issue is to use the M0PYL Callsign Lookup. | + | An easy way to see at a glance which amateur radio 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. | + | |
| + | First select the required callsign type e.g. Foundation, Intermediate or Full, then enter the suffix using the ? character 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. | + | 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 Spectrum Licensing (0300 123 1000) and ask them to change it to Available status. |
| * [[https:// | * [[https:// | ||
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| 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 " | 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 " | ||
| - | Up until July 1991 UK amateur callsigns used only the G prefix. The introduction of the Novice (Intermediate) licence saw the use of the " | + | Prior to 1914 the regulator, the G.P.O, issued callsigns to amateurs comprising just three alphabetic characters e.g. NXT. From 1919 the G.P.O. issued callsigns comprising a numeral followed by two alphabetic characters e.g. 2IW. It wasn't until the 1927 ITU Conference in Washington that country prefixes were formally agreed although there had been informal use of prefixes by amateurs prior to that date such as " |
| + | |||
| + | Up until July 1991 UK and Crown Dependency | ||
| September 1989 RadCom reported the RSGB had suggested to the then regulator, the DTI, the use of the " | September 1989 RadCom reported the RSGB had suggested to the then regulator, the DTI, the use of the " | ||
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| {{ : | {{ : | ||
| - | 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 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), March 1937 T & R Bulletin |
| + | {{ : | ||
| 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 | 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 | ||
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| In 2000 Short Contest Callsigns with MZ and GZ prefixes were introduced for use in the Shetland Islands, {{ : | In 2000 Short Contest Callsigns with MZ and GZ prefixes were introduced for use in the Shetland Islands, {{ : | ||
| - | 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. | + | 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. |
| 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 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. | ||
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| ====== Ofcom Licence Database ====== | ====== Ofcom Licence Database ====== | ||
| - | Ofcom stores callsigns in their licensing database in the base format for the UK, the Regional Secondary Locator (RSL) is not regarded as part of the call sign for Regulatory purposes. | + | Ofcom stores callsigns in their licensing database in the base format for the UK, the optional |
| + | |||
| + | None of the callsigns are shown with an RSL, in consequence 2E0ABC appears as 20ABC. Ofcom has been transitioning the legacy " | ||
| Ofcom will no longer issue callsigns with the suffixes listed in the Forbidden Suffixes spreadsheet, | Ofcom will no longer issue callsigns with the suffixes listed in the Forbidden Suffixes spreadsheet, | ||
| * {{ : | * {{ : | ||
| - | In response to Freedom of Information (FoI) requests Ofcom periodically releases a spreadsheet of amateur radio call signs to their Open Data page. You can download the latest speadsheet released from [[https:// | + | In response to Freedom of Information (FoI) requests Ofcom periodically releases a spreadsheet of amateur radio call signs to their Open Data page. You can download the latest speadsheet released from **[[https:// |
| + | |||
| + | The spreadsheet shows Individual, Club and Temporary Reciprocal licence call signs that are either Allocated or Reserved along with a few call signs marked as Available but any call sign that **does not** appear in the spreadsheet (or in Forbidden) is also Available. | ||
| - | The spreadsheet shows Individual, Club and Temporary Reciprocal licence call signs that are either Allocated or Reserved along with a few call signs marked as Available but any call sign that **does not** appear in the spreadsheet (or in Forbidden) is also Available. | + | **Note:** When Ofcom' |
| - | None of the callsigns | + | **Note:** The Foundation " |
| - | Note the Foundation M3 call series shows thousands of callsigns with Reserved status despite having been in that state for well over the required 5 years. They are in fact Available for issue but those who've passed their Foundation exam will need to ring Ofcom, or use Ofcom' | + | * {{ : |
| - | The spreadsheet released in June 2026 included the missing " | + | The spreadsheet released in June 2026 included the missing " |
| * {{ :: | * {{ :: | ||
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| * {{ : | * {{ : | ||
| - | 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' | + | Callsign spreadsheet issued on 11 November 2025 four weeks after the release of Intermediate M8/M9 callsigns and all categories of amateur |
| * {{ : | * {{ : | ||
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| A list showing the approximate issue year of amateur radio callsigns up until 2000 is available at | A list showing the approximate issue year of amateur radio callsigns up until 2000 is available at | ||
| * [[https:// | * [[https:// | ||
| - | 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 |
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| [[https:// | [[https:// | ||
| + | [[itu-amateur-regulations|ITU Amateur Regulations]] | ||
| ====== Further information on early callsigns ====== | ====== Further information on early callsigns ====== | ||
uk-callsigns.1782402814.txt.gz · Last modified: by g3aka