How to get a Call Sign
For certain bands you must complete a series of exams to qualify to operate legally and obtain a specific call sign but this isn't the case for the 11M Band using Single Side Band.
It is possible to obtain a vanity call sign from the ARRL or FFC if there is a specific call sign you would like to obtain. A Vanity call sign is a special Amateur Radio call sign specifically chosen by a person or club who is currently an Amateur Radio licensee (similar in purpose to Vanity license plates on cars).
Vanity call signs usually include alphabetical characters of personal significance (e.g., licensees initials, parts of names, hobbies, etc), or sometimes are simply chosen because they are shorter calls, or sometimes they have double or triple duplicate characters (e.g., W1WWW).
There are however a number of 11M DX Clubs who are happy to issue a call sign to a new member. Joining a club is a great way to meet others with the same interest and many clubs have some kind of forum or Facebook group etc whee you can share ideas and stories with other members of the club.
I jinxed the Charlie Tango DX Group based in the UK around a year ago and was immediately impressed by the warm welcome I received. I asked a few questions about getting set up and asking for information about buying an aerial and a few of the members were only too happy to help.
The Charlie Tango group also run a weekly net which attracts hundreds of members to get together on the airwaves from up and down the country. There are those within the club who go out most weekends to do extreme activations from hard to reach places up in the hills or other sites where good signals are expected.
There are also a number of other DX Groups who would be happy to issue with your own call sign and although I have no experience of them, a simple search of DX Groups in google gave me the list below of clubs that are always looking for new members.
Charlie Tango Group - http://www.charlietango.co.uk/
Uniform Kilo Group - http://www.uniformkilogroup.uk/apply/
Foxtrot Bravo Group - http://www.freebanding.co.uk/
Oscar Kilo Group - http://www.okdxgroup.co.uk/okdx.htm
Sierra Fox Group - http://sierrafox2.tripod.com/
Foxtrot Bravo Group - http://www.freebanding.co.uk/
Oscar Kilo Group - http://www.okdxgroup.co.uk/okdx.htm
Sierra Fox Group - http://sierrafox2.tripod.com/
Other Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment