I clearly remember the "gates". I was in the second group. My first two choices (W9CW and W9DS) went in the first gate; I got choice #3. (and am VERY happy I didn't get #2!) A few years ago at Dayton
PULLEEZE! Those 1977 call signs were NOT *vanity* call signs. They were issued on request to those who had passed the Extra Class exam when the exam still meant something. As far as I am concerned, t
Yes, you're right. And those of us who got them didn't have to pay anything extra and do not have to pay any vanity call fees. I don't recall the words "vanity call" being used by anyone back then. I
In the second round of the "2 letter call" program they were free and you could put in for up to 26 choices. No VanityHQ web sites. No web sites, so all we had to go by was the call book and QST Sile
I'd like to make a point that a lot of calls today do not qualify as vanity calls either, despite what the FCC calls them. If your name is Abel B. Charlie, and you request the call of K1ABC, that to
1. Beginning July 1, 1976 a person holding an extra class and a 1x2 may request a specific 1x2. A person holding an an extra who was first licensed at least 25 years ago may request a 1x2 call. 2. Be
You are right Hank. I put in for 12 different calls the end of 1977...the deadline for the last time you could get a 1 X 2 call because you were a true-blue-gosh-darn-American-Extra was December 31,
ex-WA1STN replied to ex-KW6C's suggestion that 1x2s issued prior to the substantial overhaul of USA call sign system in 1978 were "vanity" calls: The criteria to ask for something other-than-what-you
Whether you got the "preferred" call in 1977 or 30 years alter, the reason was the same. Maybe to have a short call for contesting, possibly to shed a laborious to pronounce call (I was WB0WFF), perh