World Amateur Radio Prefixes

Radio callsigns for the world are set by the ITU – the UN Agency which coordinates all radio activity.

The ITU allocates a block or blocks of prefixes to each country, and all callsigns must begin with the specified prefix.

This applies to all radio amateurs, aircraft, ships, broadcast, commercial stations etc.

This must be the most comprehensive list I've ever seen in my 18yrs as a Radio Ham.

Many thanks to Rod Dinkins, AC6V, for taking the time to put this together.

Ham Radio World Prefix List

UK Amateur Radio Call Signs

There are a large number of different prefixes used for UK, British amateur radio callsigns or call signs. From a knowledge of these ham radio call signs it is possible to learn something about the licencee - the type of amateur radio or ham radio licence held and also when it was issued.

As the types of ham radio licence available have changed over the years, and different call sign series were issued for each one, it may be difficult to identify what the callsigns mean without a table and explanation.

Current UK amateur radio licences.

Within the UK, there are three types of amateur radio licence that can be obtained, namely the Foundation Licence, Intermediate Licence and the Full Licence. Each of these ham radio licences offers different privileges in a form of incentive amateur radio licence scheme through which all new UK radio hams must progress to achieve the full licence.

The different ham radio licences reflect the experience of the operators, the Foundation Licence offering entry level privileges while the Full licence offers the highest power levels and the greatest number of bands.

Ham Calls in The UK

Brazil Hams Help Atlantic Search

The radio amateur Andrew Sampaio, PY0FF helps in search for Air Airbus 330-200, the company Air France, which disappeared after from Rio de Janeiro, on Sunday at 19h (21). According to him, the aircraft had lost contact with control towers and radar in Brazil, about 270 km from the coast.

Also according Andre, this distance is relatively short and lies within the range of reach of the Brazilian Air Force (FAB). He said he lives in Fernando de Noronha (PE) and the time was good, with clear skies throughout the morning in the region.

Andre said that, shortly after the time that contact with the plane was stopped, messages were sent via amateur radio to vessels sailing the region. The amateur radio, the message information on the disappearance of the aircraft and the crew asked to be on the lookout for any sign of the aircraft. So far, according to Andre, no information was passed by boats.

Full Story and video:
http://g1.globo.com/Noticias/Mundo/0,,MUL1177952-5602,00-RADIOAMADOR+DE+FERNANDO+DE+NORONHA
+AUXILIA+NAS+BUSCAS+PELO+VOO+AF.html

Brazilian Amateurs Assist Search