• Classes And Exams (L)

    From Daryl Stout@432:1/112 to All on Sun Jun 13 19:23:49 2021
    Sequential Versus Vanity Callsigns
    ==================================

    Callsigns are normally issued in a sequential callsign system by
    the FCC, for each license class. Once issued a callsign, you can
    choose to keep it...or apply for a vanity callsign, after paying the appropriate fee, and submitting the required forms.

    NOTE: Effective in summer 2021, there'll be a $35 fee for each Vanity
    Callsign applied for. So if you apply for, pay for, and get a vanity callsign...then decide you don't like it, whether you apply for another
    vanity callsign, or change to a sequential callsign, it'll still cost
    you $35 each time you do it.

    When applying for a vanity callsign, you'll be required to list
    twenty-five (25) "requested" calls...as there is a chance that the ones
    you have requested are currently in use by licensed hams, or they have
    not passed the 2 year grace period after expiration.

    U.S. amateur radio callsigns are grouped by license class, starting
    with an A, K, N, or W...in the format of 1 or 2 letters, followed by
    a digit from 0 through 9...depending on the callsign district they
    were living in when they first got their license...followed by 1, 2,
    or 3 letters.

    Callsigns from Alaska begin with KL7, callsigns from Hawaii begin
    with KH6, callsigns from Puerto Rico begin with KP4, and callsigns from
    the U.S. Virgin Islands begin with KP2. If the amateur radio licensee
    from these areas is an Amateur Extra Class licensee, the first letter
    is likely an "A" instead of a "K".

    Callsigns for other U.S. territories may be a bit different per the
    license classes, noted below.

    Minimum License Class: Callsign Group: Callsign Examples:

    Novice 2 by 3 WA1BCD, KE2FGH
    Technician or General 1 by 3 K5IJK, N3LMN, W5OPQ
    Advanced 2 by 2 KA6RS, KK7TU
    Amateur Extra 1 by 2 or 2 by 1 K8VW, N9WX, W0YZ

    Since some of the sequential callsign groups have had all of the
    regular callsigns issued, the issued sequential calls fall to the
    lower license class. With a vanity callsign, you can apply for a
    callsign in this group, if you're of the appropriate license class.
    Callsigns that have been expired more than 2 years are returned to
    the "unused callsign pool", and they can be requested as a vanity
    callsign.

    The higher amateur radio license that you have, the more choices you
    have for a vanity callsign (i.e. Amateur Extra Class licensees can pick
    from any group...while General Class licensees are limited to either
    the 2 by 3 or 1 by 3 callsign group).

    Amateur Extra Calls usually begin with an A, but can also begin with
    either a K, an N, or a W. Advanced callsigns usually begin with a K,
    but they can also begin with an N or a W. Technician or General callsigns usually begin with an K, N, or a W...and Novice callsigns usually begin
    with either a K or a W.

    However, a callsign is NOT ALWAYS indicative of a ham radio operators
    actual license class. My first callsign, N5VLZ, issued in August, 1991,
    was one of the last "1 by 3" callsigns issued for Arkansas. I held that
    for 18 years, when I changed to the AE5WX callsign in June, 2009. Then,
    in December, 2012, I changed to the WX1DER callsign...which reflects the
    domain of my personal homepage, and of the BBS. And in 2019, I changed
    to the WX4QZ callsign, changing the emphasis from weather to railroad
    crossing safety. Besides, I know several Amateur Extra Class ham radio operators who still have their Novice class callsign format.

    If you are already a licensed ham radio operator, and one of your
    family members, who was also a ham radio operator (parent, grandparent, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, etc.), dies (becomes a Silent Key), you
    may provide proof of their death (such as a death certificate) to the
    FCC, along with a vanity callsign application, and request that callsign anytime within 2 years after that ham radio operators death. After that
    2 year period, anyone can apply for it.

    You must hold the appropriate license class to request that vanity
    callsign. In other words, if the callsign of a deceased relative was
    from the Amateur Extra Class group, you will have to become an Amateur
    Extra Class licensee in order to request it.

    Note that once you receive your new callsign...either from the
    sequential or vanity callsign system...your old callsign is no
    longer valid. However, as long as your license is not expired, you
    keep the privileges you had before, but you're now using the new
    callsign.

    A list of the latest callsigns issued can be found in the ham
    radio bulletins door on The Thunderbolt BBS. The list is obtained
    from HamData.Com -- which gets its data from the FCC database. Note
    that during a government shutdown, this data will NOT be updated,
    since the FCC is closed.
    --- SBBSecho 3.14-Win32
    * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (432:1/112)
  • From Daryl Stout@432:1/112 to All on Tue Sep 13 00:05:44 2022
    (CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS MESSAGE)

    After The License Exam
    ======================

    When you're done with the exam, return the test booklet, and the answer
    sheet to the VE Team. They will grade it IMMEDIATELY (or as soon as is possible), and tell you whether you have passed or failed the test...
    although they can NOT tell you what to study the next time, if you failed;
    nor they can they tell you which questions you missed. Once your test
    booklet and answer sheet have been turned into the VE Team, you may NOT
    have them back.

    As noted above, THERE IS NO DISGRACE IN FAILING an exam. If the VE Team
    has the time and resources, and you're willing to pay an additional test
    fee, they will let you retest, but with a different set of questions. Not
    every ham radio operator has passed their license exam on the first try...
    and some have taken nearly a dozen tries to pass an exam element.

    If you pass the exam, and you do not yet have a callsign or a license; depending on processing time, your new callsign and/or license class
    should be available on the Internet at the QRZ Ham Radio website at http://www.qrz.com in about 10 to 14 days...but sometimes, it may take a
    bit longer...or it may be a bit sooner. However, during a Government
    Shutdown, it will be delayed until the governement (and FCC) reopen...and
    there likely will be a huge backlog of data to be processed...so, your
    patience in this regard is appreciated.

    Some VE Teams will scan in all the exam session documents, and put them
    into a PDF file, and upload them to a private URL (hidden from the public),
    to the VEC. If sent in on a weekend, it'll be processed the first business
    day (usually a Monday, unless that day's a holiday). By the end of that
    day, or by late the next day, the callsign/license will be in the FCC
    database.

    Once the callsign is there, you can begin operating. Look for the link entitled "FCC Reports"...and look for your name (last name first).
    Archived entries are available, in case you can't access the Internet for
    a period of time after you pass the test.

    You can also go to the HamData website, http://www.hamdata.com to check
    for new callsigns. Look under the link "Latest FCC Information".

    The FCC no longer mails out a "paper copy" of ones amateur radio license. Instead, about 1 to 2 weeks after the exam session, the licensee will be notified via email that their license is available via the FCC ULS...and
    they are provided logon credentials (usually the FRN and a temporary
    password, which should be changed after initial logon). As noted, as of
    April 19, 2022...examinees will have to pay a $35 fee for a new, renewed,
    or upgraded ham radio license, or a callsign change (sequential or vanity), whether for individual or a club.

    Once logged on, they can print an "Official Copy" of their license,
    plus a "Reference Copy" to take to a future license exam session, should
    they decide to upgrade their license. The FCC no longer mails out paper
    copies of the licenses.

    Once the copy of your new license is in hand, you may DESTROY the old license, and the applicable CSCE for the new one, unless you'd like to
    keep the CSCE as a novelty. Be sure to SIGN the new license before you
    make a copy of it, and/or laminate it; as the license is NOT valid without
    your signature.

    If you have not seen your callsign or upgrade in the FCC ULS 2 weeks
    after you took the test, you should call either the exam session liaison,
    or the VEC. In the case of an ARRL/VEC test session, they can be reached
    from 7am to 4pm U.S. Central Time, Monday through Friday (except holidays),
    at (860) 594-0300 -- this is a long distance call. However, the FCC is NOT available during a Government Shutdown.

    Be sure to keep your U.S. Mailing Address CURRENT...as your license may
    be SUSPENDED/REVOKED by the FCC, if mail they send to you is returned as undeliverable.

    If you have a Certificate Of Successful Completion Of Examination
    (CSCE), with a current license and callsign...that shows you've upgraded
    to a higher license class, you may begin using your new license class privileges IMMEDIATELY...with the special identifiers, as follows:

    UPGRADING TO: VOICE IDENTIFIER: DIGITAL IDENTIFIER:

    Technician Temporary KT /KT

    NOTE: This ONLY applies if upgrading from the "old Novice" license;
    otherwise, no identifier is required...since Technician is the entry
    class license...and you would NOT have a callsign to start with. The
    digital identifier is for either Morse Code, or on a digital mode,
    such as packet, PSK31, etc. -- the phone identifier is for voice.

    General Temporary AG /AG

    Amateur Extra Temporary AE /AE

    The use of these special ID's follow your callsign on the new bands
    for which your CSCE shows that you've upgraded to. If you previously
    had privileges on a certain band without the CSCE (for instance, you
    upgraded from Technician to General), you're not required to use the
    ID on frequencies above 50 Megahertz. However, using the Technician to
    General upgrade example, if you want to use the frequencies for the
    General Class licensee, you are REQUIRED to use the new identifier.

    If you upgrade to the Extra Class license BEFORE your General Class
    paper license copy is in hand, or in the FCC database, you keep your
    Technician Class license, and the CSCE's for the General and Extra
    Class upgrade, as proof of your upgrades. Again, using the upgrade to
    Extra Class as an example, you use the special identifier for it,
    instead of the General Class license identifier.

    Once your new license grant appears in the FCC ULS database, or on
    the QRZ or Hamdata websites noted above), you're no longer required to
    use the special identifier. This usually takes 1 to 2 weeks after the
    day you passed the exam. Failure to use the identifier before your
    license upgrade appears in the FCC database would make it appear that
    you are operating on amateur radio bands outside your privileges, and
    you could get a Notice Of Violation from the FCC if that occurs.

    (CONTINUED NEXT MESSAGE)
    --- SBBSecho 3.15-Win32
    * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (432:1/112)
  • From Daryl Stout@432:1/112 to All on Tue Dec 13 00:04:32 2022
    (CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS MESSAGE)

    After The License Exam
    ======================

    When you're done with the exam, return the test booklet, and the answer
    sheet to the VE Team. They will grade it IMMEDIATELY (or as soon as is possible), and tell you whether you have passed or failed the test...
    although they can NOT tell you what to study the next time, if you failed;
    nor they can they tell you which questions you missed. Once your test
    booklet and answer sheet have been turned into the VE Team, you may NOT
    have them back.

    As noted above, THERE IS NO DISGRACE IN FAILING an exam. If the VE Team
    has the time and resources, and you're willing to pay an additional test
    fee, they will let you retest, but with a different set of questions. Not
    every ham radio operator has passed their license exam on the first try...
    and some have taken nearly a dozen tries to pass an exam element.

    If you pass the exam, and you do not yet have a callsign or a license; depending on processing time, your new callsign and/or license class
    should be available on the Internet at the QRZ Ham Radio website at http://www.qrz.com in about 10 to 14 days...but sometimes, it may take a
    bit longer...or it may be a bit sooner. However, during a Government
    Shutdown, it will be delayed until the governement (and FCC) reopen...and
    there likely will be a huge backlog of data to be processed...so, your
    patience in this regard is appreciated.

    Some VE Teams will scan in all the exam session documents, and put them
    into a PDF file, and upload them to a private URL (hidden from the public),
    to the VEC. If sent in on a weekend, it'll be processed the first business
    day (usually a Monday, unless that day's a holiday). By the end of that
    day, or by late the next day, the callsign/license will be in the FCC
    database.

    Once the callsign is there, you can begin operating. Look for the link entitled "FCC Reports"...and look for your name (last name first).
    Archived entries are available, in case you can't access the Internet for
    a period of time after you pass the test.

    You can also go to the HamData website, http://www.hamdata.com to check
    for new callsigns. Look under the link "Latest FCC Information".

    The FCC no longer mails out a "paper copy" of ones amateur radio license. Instead, about 1 to 2 weeks after the exam session, the licensee will be notified via email that their license is available via the FCC ULS...and
    they are provided logon credentials (usually the FRN and a temporary
    password, which should be changed after initial logon). As noted, as of
    April 19, 2022...examinees will have to pay a $35 fee for a new, renewed,
    or upgraded ham radio license, or a callsign change (sequential or vanity), whether for individual or a club.

    Once logged on, they can print an "Official Copy" of their license,
    plus a "Reference Copy" to take to a future license exam session, should
    they decide to upgrade their license. The FCC no longer mails out paper
    copies of the licenses.

    Once the copy of your new license is in hand, you may DESTROY the old license, and the applicable CSCE for the new one, unless you'd like to
    keep the CSCE as a novelty. Be sure to SIGN the new license before you
    make a copy of it, and/or laminate it; as the license is NOT valid without
    your signature.

    If you have not seen your callsign or upgrade in the FCC ULS 2 weeks
    after you took the test, you should call either the exam session liaison,
    or the VEC. In the case of an ARRL/VEC test session, they can be reached
    from 7am to 4pm U.S. Central Time, Monday through Friday (except holidays),
    at (860) 594-0300 -- this is a long distance call. However, the FCC is NOT available during a Government Shutdown.

    Be sure to keep your U.S. Mailing Address CURRENT...as your license may
    be SUSPENDED/REVOKED by the FCC, if mail they send to you is returned as undeliverable.

    If you have a Certificate Of Successful Completion Of Examination
    (CSCE), with a current license and callsign...that shows you've upgraded
    to a higher license class, you may begin using your new license class privileges IMMEDIATELY...with the special identifiers, as follows:

    UPGRADING TO: VOICE IDENTIFIER: DIGITAL IDENTIFIER:

    Technician Temporary KT /KT

    NOTE: This ONLY applies if upgrading from the "old Novice" license;
    otherwise, no identifier is required...since Technician is the entry
    class license...and you would NOT have a callsign to start with. The
    digital identifier is for either Morse Code, or on a digital mode,
    such as packet, PSK31, etc. -- the phone identifier is for voice.

    General Temporary AG /AG

    Amateur Extra Temporary AE /AE

    The use of these special ID's follow your callsign on the new bands
    for which your CSCE shows that you've upgraded to. If you previously
    had privileges on a certain band without the CSCE (for instance, you
    upgraded from Technician to General), you're not required to use the
    ID on frequencies above 50 Megahertz. However, using the Technician to
    General upgrade example, if you want to use the frequencies for the
    General Class licensee, you are REQUIRED to use the new identifier.

    If you upgrade to the Extra Class license BEFORE your General Class
    paper license copy is in hand, or in the FCC database, you keep your
    Technician Class license, and the CSCE's for the General and Extra
    Class upgrade, as proof of your upgrades. Again, using the upgrade to
    Extra Class as an example, you use the special identifier for it,
    instead of the General Class license identifier.

    Once your new license grant appears in the FCC ULS database, or on
    the QRZ or Hamdata websites noted above), you're no longer required to
    use the special identifier. This usually takes 1 to 2 weeks after the
    day you passed the exam. Failure to use the identifier before your
    license upgrade appears in the FCC database would make it appear that
    you are operating on amateur radio bands outside your privileges, and
    you could get a Notice Of Violation from the FCC if that occurs.

    (CONTINUED NEXT MESSAGE)
    --- SBBSecho 3.15-Win32
    * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (432:1/112)
  • From Daryl Stout@432:1/112 to All on Tue Dec 27 03:10:51 2022
    (CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS MESSAGE)

    If you have a Certificate Of Successful Completion Of Examination
    (CSCE), with a current license and callsign...that shows you've upgraded
    to a higher license class, you may begin using your new license class privileges IMMEDIATELY...with the special identifiers, as follows:

    UPGRADING TO: VOICE IDENTIFIER: DIGITAL IDENTIFIER:

    Technician Temporary KT /KT

    NOTE: This ONLY applies if upgrading from the "old Novice" license;
    otherwise, no identifier is required...since Technician is the entry
    class license...and you would NOT have a callsign to start with. The
    digital identifier is for either Morse Code, or on a digital mode,
    such as packet, PSK31, etc. -- the phone identifier is for voice.

    General Temporary AG /AG

    Amateur Extra Temporary AE /AE

    The use of these special ID's follow your callsign on the new bands
    for which your CSCE shows that you've upgraded to. If you previously
    had privileges on a certain band without the CSCE (for instance, you
    upgraded from Technician to General), you're not required to use the
    ID on frequencies above 50 Megahertz. However, using the Technician to
    General upgrade example, if you want to use the frequencies for the
    General Class licensee, you are REQUIRED to use the new identifier.

    If you upgrade to the Extra Class license BEFORE your General Class
    paper license copy is in hand, or in the FCC database, you keep your
    Technician Class license, and the CSCE's for the General and Extra
    Class upgrade, as proof of your upgrades. Again, using the upgrade to
    Extra Class as an example, you use the special identifier for it,
    instead of the General Class license identifier.

    Once your new license grant appears in the FCC ULS database, or on
    the QRZ website noted above), you're no longer required to use the
    special identifier. This usually takes 1 to 2 weeks after the day you
    passed the exam. Failure to use the identifier before your license
    upgrade appears in the FCC database would make it appear that you are
    operating on amateur radio bands outside your privileges, and you
    could get a Notice Of Violation from the FCC if that occurs.

    Government Shutdowns And Licenses
    =================================

    Unfortunately, at times, a budgetary impasse within Congress, or if
    the President does not sign a budget into law (either via a Continuing Resolution (CR)), or a full budget prior to the government fiscal year
    that starts October 1, portions of the U.S. government "shut down". Any
    work considered essential to the protection of life and property will
    continue, but "non-essential" departments are shuttered, and their
    workers are sent home. Those who still work (such as with the TSA at
    airports, and the U.S. Coast Guard) do so without pay. Except for the government contractors, all will receive back pay when the government
    shutdown ends, and the agencies reopen.

    One of the agencies affected by the shutdown is the FCC. During this
    time, they will NOT process any applications for new, renewal, or
    upgraded amateur radio licenses, callsign changes, etc. The VE Teams
    can send the results to their particular VEC, but the VEC can't key
    the data to the FCC until the shutdown ends.

    Now, if one's license enters the 90 day window prior to expiration,
    they can file the renewal, and continue to operate, even if their
    license expires during the shutdown. However, if they wait until the
    shutdown ends to file the renewal, it'll have to get to the FCC within
    two (2) days, or the license will be expired. Once a license expires,
    the amateur radio operator is QRT (off the air). And, as noted above,
    if the license lapses (expires more than 2 years), they have to start
    all over, by passing the Technician Class exam, and getting a new ham
    radio callsign.

    (CONTINUED NEXT MESSAGE)
    --- SBBSecho 3.15-Win32
    * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (432:1/112)
  • From Daryl Stout@432:1/112 to All on Mon Mar 13 00:05:07 2023
    (CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS MESSAGE)

    If you have a Certificate Of Successful Completion Of Examination
    (CSCE), with a current license and callsign...that shows you've upgraded
    to a higher license class, you may begin using your new license class privileges IMMEDIATELY...with the special identifiers, as follows:

    UPGRADING TO: VOICE IDENTIFIER: DIGITAL IDENTIFIER:

    Technician Temporary KT /KT

    NOTE: This ONLY applies if upgrading from the "old Novice" license;
    otherwise, no identifier is required...since Technician is the entry
    class license...and you would NOT have a callsign to start with. The
    digital identifier is for either Morse Code, or on a digital mode,
    such as packet, PSK31, etc. -- the phone identifier is for voice.

    General Temporary AG /AG

    Amateur Extra Temporary AE /AE

    The use of these special ID's follow your callsign on the new bands
    for which your CSCE shows that you've upgraded to. If you previously
    had privileges on a certain band without the CSCE (for instance, you
    upgraded from Technician to General), you're not required to use the
    ID on frequencies above 50 Megahertz. However, using the Technician to
    General upgrade example, if you want to use the frequencies for the
    General Class licensee, you are REQUIRED to use the new identifier.

    If you upgrade to the Extra Class license BEFORE your General Class
    paper license copy is in hand, or in the FCC database, you keep your
    Technician Class license, and the CSCE's for the General and Extra
    Class upgrade, as proof of your upgrades. Again, using the upgrade to
    Extra Class as an example, you use the special identifier for it,
    instead of the General Class license identifier.

    Once your new license grant appears in the FCC ULS database, or on
    the QRZ website noted above), you're no longer required to use the
    special identifier. This usually takes 1 to 2 weeks after the day you
    passed the exam. Failure to use the identifier before your license
    upgrade appears in the FCC database would make it appear that you are
    operating on amateur radio bands outside your privileges, and you
    could get a Notice Of Violation from the FCC if that occurs.

    Government Shutdowns And Licenses
    =================================

    Unfortunately, at times, a budgetary impasse within Congress, or if
    the President does not sign a budget into law (either via a Continuing Resolution (CR)), or a full budget prior to the government fiscal year
    that starts October 1, portions of the U.S. government "shut down". Any
    work considered essential to the protection of life and property will
    continue, but "non-essential" departments are shuttered, and their
    workers are sent home. Those who still work (such as with the TSA at
    airports, and the U.S. Coast Guard) do so without pay. Except for the government contractors, all will receive back pay when the government
    shutdown ends, and the agencies reopen.

    One of the agencies affected by the shutdown is the FCC. During this
    time, they will NOT process any applications for new, renewal, or
    upgraded amateur radio licenses, callsign changes, etc. The VE Teams
    can send the results to their particular VEC, but the VEC can't key
    the data to the FCC until the shutdown ends.

    Now, if one's license enters the 90 day window prior to expiration,
    they can file the renewal, and continue to operate, even if their
    license expires during the shutdown. However, if they wait until the
    shutdown ends to file the renewal, it'll have to get to the FCC within
    two (2) days, or the license will be expired. Once a license expires,
    the amateur radio operator is QRT (off the air). And, as noted above,
    if the license lapses (expires more than 2 years), they have to start
    all over, by passing the Technician Class exam, and getting a new ham
    radio callsign.

    (CONTINUED NEXT MESSAGE)
    --- SBBSecho 3.14-Win32
    * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (432:1/112)