Ofcom release database of issued UK amateur radio callsigns

Well it'll certainly help those who want a specific callsign - not overly happy if old G calls get in the hands of newbie applicants though as it's bound to create more confusion than the minor confusion that inherited callsigns cause initially.

But I guess picking up an older disused G or M call is better than stuck with call sign that reflects the unnecessarily devolved qualifying structure that has evolved since the whole novice/foundation/intermediate levels can into effect and unfortunately, people are stuck with.

What's "novice" and do some homework on what call a person can ask for.

There's old BR68'er bull right there.......the last time I heard the term 'Novice' used was by the old Radiocommunications Agency way back in the day.

Weren't they a happy and helpful bunch too!


Anyway, callsigns - what does it matter?

If a so called 'newbie' wants a G sign then why not?
They'd have to be fully licenced to obtain one on application so when do they stopped being referred to as a 'newbie'?
Is it all down to years of being licenced? How many contacts they have in their logs? Some other farcical measure?

No, they stop being a 'newbie' when they feel confident enough not to have to class themselves as such. Then someone's bound to argue an 'elitist' stance - "Oh, you haven't been an Amateur for as long as me then....."

Confusion, my ass, just more examples of 'elitism'.

If someone is proud enough to honour the memory of their late Father, Grandfather, Uncle and even indeed the similar maternal line by 'inheriting' their callsign then why not? Good on them I say, no different than having the same name as your family line.

However I do find it a bit weird that someone would want to take up a SK call when they have no relationship with them whatsoever. They haven't allowed that yet have they?

If this is Ofcom using up old unissued callsigns then again, why not?


I don't care what you're called, what your callsign is, what type or mode of radio you use, that's entirely your personal choice.


For me there's only two types of people in the world - Nice people....and Assh*les.

Neither of those differentiate how long you've been one or the other......but you soon find out.

Enjoy your radio, no matter what.


All the best,
Victor

It certainly has moved on Mark which is great too see as well as hear.  

Unfortunately though small pockets still exist.

Well, I'll simply put my concerns this way :-

Sure, things have moved on since the days I grew up with in ham radio pre to gaining my post G era UK callsign (ironically, my FCC actively current callsign predates my UK callsign by six months at first issue), but whilst I was never a fan of the A/B divide over what ultimately was defined to comply with an ITU requirement for HF use, I was then only interested in the dark magic allocations so never cared about the perception of my 'half license' as it was called by the A's. To be blunt, they were reinventing the wheel where the B's were doing stuff that actually reflected the heart of why ham radio stood over time rather than become a mere chat system (although, sadly, that's becoming more the norm - devolving into a chat system by nature). So the A's were, in many cases, irrelevant to me as far as their perception stood.

But the major issue for me is that when G calls were issued and M calls originally, you were fully licensed VHF/UHF ops or HF/VHF/UHF ops who succeeded by hard work and having to figure stuff out without half-measure limited gardens walls the Found/Inter/Novice tickets gave easy access to play before you'd proven you were fit to have the whole toolbox unsupervised. So o consider that G & M calls should therefore be only available to those who've (by whichever route) achieved their full ticket.

I still get grief about my (by perception of my former B ticket that predated the losing of CW/Morse test for HF) legacy callsign that I proudly maintain - because it reflects when in time and where I started in active ham radio.

So I'm not anti-recycling of dead G & M calls but it's a case of they should only go the those who've reached their full ticket status - it gives the newcomers one extra carrot to want to go the distance, as if the whole toolbox freedom wasn't enough.

As for the references to GPO & RA days - at least then, there were some standards maintained and the toolbox was more valued as more than a glorified super CB 'user service' which many hams (including older ones veteran enough to know better) use it as.

In fact, I swear sometimes that the minority who actually practise what we qualified for are mostly found on TG, rarely on phone bar contesting.

Anyway, devolvement aside, I'd just like to see the classic G&M calls go to those who've put in the effort to either go full distance or (if it becomes feasible again) those who are prepared to go prove their worth without the hand-holding that's N/F/I type sub classes that we don't need, sub classes divisions are as pointless and causes of friction no better or worse than the A/B situation of old.

If I had to chose between the old management and how it's all maintained now, then I'm firmly nailing my colours to the old school days where I got the best and worst experiences from - but god knows, those mostly SK hams were bloody good teachers and activists who ensured that purpose and responsibility for a potentially very dangerous toolbox was understood and respected for what it was.

But what would I know about such things, having merely lived on the sidelines of a lot of rapid change whilst seeing that the hard path also taught you to respect what you eventually got and used it purposely for what it potentially could be without today's disregard-heavy disinterest beyond a super CB chat system.

No, that reference isn't a knock at CB, just reflecting a distinct difference inherent to the purpose of why they both still exist.

"N/F/I type sub classes" ????? no novice it went some time ago keep up.
Also remember this is a CB forum at the end of the day.

elitism at its best.

He sounds just like a guy round my way.
Don't talk to him on the radio well he won't talk to M6 or M7's.
Bought a CB off him 35 years ago.








Sorry Victor.