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   Doughnut Lollipop 【記録係】:blobfoxgooglymlem: (tk@bbs.kawa-kun.com)'s status on Wednesday, 11-Jun-2025 12:26:08 JST Doughnut Lollipop 【記録係】:blobfoxgooglymlem:
   Anyone know the history of why there are so many call sign prefixes in the US? Did each of them mean something different?
   
   #AmateurRadio #HamRadio
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     W6KME (w6kme@mastodon.radio)'s status on Wednesday, 11-Jun-2025 22:58:34 JST W6KME

     in reply to

     @tk It's complicated. Originally, everyone picked their own, but by 1927 the need was there for international coordination and the ITU assigned letters to countries. Those apply to loads of things beside amateur radio-airplane tail numbers use the same system for example. We have multiple initial letters simply because the US has had the need for so many calls.

     Good article here-
     https://www.eham.net/article/38849

     Haelwenn /элвэн/ :triskell: and Doughnut Lollipop 【記録係】:blobfoxgooglymlem: like this.
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     Ntos Fops (ntoskrnl@furry.engineer)'s status on Wednesday, 11-Jun-2025 23:00:56 JST Ntos Fops

     in reply to

     • W6KME

     @W6KME @tk Oooo that was a fantastic read! Our school club (W4AQL) was founded in the 1910s and back then has callsigns such as 4YA and 4AV which is so weird to think about now since they don't fit the modern format :D

     Doughnut Lollipop 【記録係】:blobfoxgooglymlem: likes this.
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     Christopher M0YNG (m0yng@mastodon.radio)'s status on Wednesday, 11-Jun-2025 23:01:49 JST Christopher M0YNG

     in reply to

     • W6KME
     • Ntos Fops

     @ntoskrnl @W6KME @tk even the UK has 3 (G, M, 2)

     It's basically a legacy of colonial racism.

     Because everything that was a British colony at the time is V-something.

     "We need so many callaigns" doesn't work when India has to share with Australia, Canada, etc.

     (Yes, I know it's more than just the initial letter, but why does the UK have three initial letters and then we share one initial letter across multiple countries?)

     Doughnut Lollipop 【記録係】:blobfoxgooglymlem: likes this.
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     Michael / Chgowiz 🎲🎲 (chgowiz@dice.camp)'s status on Wednesday, 11-Jun-2025 23:02:41 JST Michael / Chgowiz 🎲🎲

     in reply to

     @tk In a nutshell - WW1 and WW2.

     There's videos on the topic, but I read about it mostly from Gordon West's General study guide.

     Doughnut Lollipop 【記録係】:blobfoxgooglymlem: likes this.