Call sign information in the United States
There was a conversation on the WIN system with hams
talking about call signs with lots of errors.
This is provided to clarify understanding of U.S. Call Signs.
All references of 1 by 2, 2 by 1, 2 by 2, 1 by 3 and 2 by 3
are talking about the letters in the call sign.
The regional number separates the 2 sets of letters.
Geographical Area for the numbers. | |
1 -- CT, ME, MA, NH, RI and VT
|
GROUP | LICENSE CLASS | CALL SIGN FORMAT |
Group A | Extra Class | 1-by-2 call signs beginning with the prefix letter K, N or W; 2-by-1 call signs beginning with the prefix letters AA to AK, KA to KZ, NA to NZ and WA to WZ ...and 2-by-2 call signs beginning with the prefix letters AA to AK. Certain two letter prefixes are not available to mainland U.S. radioamateurs. |
Group B | Advanced Class | 2-by-2 call signs beginning with the prefix letters
KA to KZ, NA to NZ and WA to WZ -- but not AA-AK. |
Group C | Technician, Tech Plus and General Class | 1-by-3 call sign formats beginning with K, N or W -- but not the prefix letter "A". |
Group D | Novice | 2-by-3 call sign formats beginning with KA to KZ and WA to WZ -- but not NA-NZ. |
There are exceptions but this information is for the basic set of call signs.