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Who assigned the first prefixes K,W, F... ?
Hi,
I am currently writing a long article about the history of ham radio for my website (growing...). Can someone tell me who : - What committee or association assigned the first prefix to callsigns in the middle of 1920's, ITC (future ITU) ? - On what base (I suppose location) US stations were assigned A, K, N or W letters and who decided for the other countries ? - Who currently manage these prefixes at a worldwide scale ? ITU-R (ex CCIR) ? Thanks in advance Thierry, ON4SKY http://www.astrosurf.com/lombry |
Thierry wrote:
I am currently writing a long article about the history of ham radio for my website (growing...). Can someone tell me who : - What committee or association assigned the first prefix to callsigns in the middle of 1920's, ITC (future ITU) ? International Amateur Radio Union (which still exists today). See http://lists.contesting.com/archives.../msg00111.html .. (scroll down) Actually, prefixes had been assigned informally and without official coordination even before that. - On what base (I suppose location) US stations were assigned A, K, N or W letters and who decided for the other countries ? Until the end of World War 2, all USA stations were assigned W prefixes. K prefixes were used in U.S. possessions (Puerto Rico, Guam, Alaska, Hawaii, etc.). (remember that Alaska and Hawaii were not yet states until 1959) K prefixes were assigned to U.S. amateurs when the W calls ran out in the 1950s. I *believe* A and N were made available when "vanity calls" were first allowed in 1976. I have never seen a good explanation of why the USA received the letters A, K, N, and W. - Who currently manage these prefixes at a worldwide scale ? ITU-R (ex CCIR) ITU apportions prefixes among countries; each country's administration decides which ITU-provided prefixes to use for amateurs and how to assign them. -- Doug Smith W9WI Pleasant View (Nashville), TN EM66 http://www.w9wi.com |
Thierry wrote:
I am currently writing a long article about the history of ham radio for my website (growing...). Can someone tell me who : - What committee or association assigned the first prefix to callsigns in the middle of 1920's, ITC (future ITU) ? International Amateur Radio Union (which still exists today). See http://lists.contesting.com/archives.../msg00111.html .. (scroll down) Actually, prefixes had been assigned informally and without official coordination even before that. - On what base (I suppose location) US stations were assigned A, K, N or W letters and who decided for the other countries ? Until the end of World War 2, all USA stations were assigned W prefixes. K prefixes were used in U.S. possessions (Puerto Rico, Guam, Alaska, Hawaii, etc.). (remember that Alaska and Hawaii were not yet states until 1959) K prefixes were assigned to U.S. amateurs when the W calls ran out in the 1950s. I *believe* A and N were made available when "vanity calls" were first allowed in 1976. I have never seen a good explanation of why the USA received the letters A, K, N, and W. - Who currently manage these prefixes at a worldwide scale ? ITU-R (ex CCIR) ITU apportions prefixes among countries; each country's administration decides which ITU-provided prefixes to use for amateurs and how to assign them. -- Doug Smith W9WI Pleasant View (Nashville), TN EM66 http://www.w9wi.com |
You will notice in the first assigned prefixes, the letter tended to be the
first letter of that countries name, although this was not an absolute policy. i.e. f- france i- Italy D- Germany (Duetschland) G-Great Britain E-Eire (Ireland) J-Japan R-Russia etc..... Another funny fact which may or may not have any bearing on this subject. In high speed morse there is a premium on reducing "code weight" ( less dit and dahs mean more through-put on the circuit). Letters that partly sound alike would be easier for an operator to recognize and allow him to pay more attention or disregard the following traffic as appropriate.( pay atention to any callsign that starts with dit-dah or dah-dit). In the US prefixes the letters are subsets of each other in Morse Code: A-W dit-Dah dit-dah-dah N-K Dah-dit Dah-dit-dah 73 Dan Yemiola AI8O Thierry To answer me in private use http://www.astrosurf.com/lombry/post.htm wrote in message ... Hi, I am currently writing a long article about the history of ham radio for my website (growing...). Can someone tell me who : - What committee or association assigned the first prefix to callsigns in the middle of 1920's, ITC (future ITU) ? - On what base (I suppose location) US stations were assigned A, K, N or W letters and who decided for the other countries ? - Who currently manage these prefixes at a worldwide scale ? ITU-R (ex CCIR) ? Thanks in advance Thierry, ON4SKY http://www.astrosurf.com/lombry |
You will notice in the first assigned prefixes, the letter tended to be the
first letter of that countries name, although this was not an absolute policy. i.e. f- france i- Italy D- Germany (Duetschland) G-Great Britain E-Eire (Ireland) J-Japan R-Russia etc..... Another funny fact which may or may not have any bearing on this subject. In high speed morse there is a premium on reducing "code weight" ( less dit and dahs mean more through-put on the circuit). Letters that partly sound alike would be easier for an operator to recognize and allow him to pay more attention or disregard the following traffic as appropriate.( pay atention to any callsign that starts with dit-dah or dah-dit). In the US prefixes the letters are subsets of each other in Morse Code: A-W dit-Dah dit-dah-dah N-K Dah-dit Dah-dit-dah 73 Dan Yemiola AI8O Thierry To answer me in private use http://www.astrosurf.com/lombry/post.htm wrote in message ... Hi, I am currently writing a long article about the history of ham radio for my website (growing...). Can someone tell me who : - What committee or association assigned the first prefix to callsigns in the middle of 1920's, ITC (future ITU) ? - On what base (I suppose location) US stations were assigned A, K, N or W letters and who decided for the other countries ? - Who currently manage these prefixes at a worldwide scale ? ITU-R (ex CCIR) ? Thanks in advance Thierry, ON4SKY http://www.astrosurf.com/lombry |
"Doug Smith W9WI" wrote in message ... Thierry wrote: I am currently writing a long article about the history of ham radio for my website (growing...). Can someone tell me who : - What committee or association assigned the first prefix to callsigns in the middle of 1920's, ITC (future ITU) ? International Amateur Radio Union (which still exists today). See http://lists.contesting.com/archives.../msg00111.html . (scroll down) Actually, prefixes had been assigned informally and without official coordination even before that. - On what base (I suppose location) US stations were assigned A, K, N or W letters and who decided for the other countries ? Until the end of World War 2, all USA stations were assigned W prefixes. K prefixes were used in U.S. possessions (Puerto Rico, Guam, Alaska, Hawaii, etc.). (remember that Alaska and Hawaii were not yet states until 1959) K prefixes were assigned to U.S. amateurs when the W calls ran out in the 1950s. I *believe* A and N were made available when "vanity calls" were first allowed in 1976. I have never seen a good explanation of why the USA received the letters A, K, N, and W. - Who currently manage these prefixes at a worldwide scale ? ITU-R (ex CCIR) ITU apportions prefixes among countries; each country's administration decides which ITU-provided prefixes to use for amateurs and how to assign them. -- Doug Smith W9WI Pleasant View (Nashville), TN EM66 http://www.w9wi.com Although K was late in the Amateur world, broadcast band stations had K calls very early, e.g., KDKA, KYW, etc. Were not the K prefixes assigned to territories KX prefixes where X indicated the place? KL7 for Alaska and KH6 for Hawaii (if I recall properly). Ed N5EI |
"Doug Smith W9WI" wrote in message ... Thierry wrote: I am currently writing a long article about the history of ham radio for my website (growing...). Can someone tell me who : - What committee or association assigned the first prefix to callsigns in the middle of 1920's, ITC (future ITU) ? International Amateur Radio Union (which still exists today). See http://lists.contesting.com/archives.../msg00111.html . (scroll down) Actually, prefixes had been assigned informally and without official coordination even before that. - On what base (I suppose location) US stations were assigned A, K, N or W letters and who decided for the other countries ? Until the end of World War 2, all USA stations were assigned W prefixes. K prefixes were used in U.S. possessions (Puerto Rico, Guam, Alaska, Hawaii, etc.). (remember that Alaska and Hawaii were not yet states until 1959) K prefixes were assigned to U.S. amateurs when the W calls ran out in the 1950s. I *believe* A and N were made available when "vanity calls" were first allowed in 1976. I have never seen a good explanation of why the USA received the letters A, K, N, and W. - Who currently manage these prefixes at a worldwide scale ? ITU-R (ex CCIR) ITU apportions prefixes among countries; each country's administration decides which ITU-provided prefixes to use for amateurs and how to assign them. -- Doug Smith W9WI Pleasant View (Nashville), TN EM66 http://www.w9wi.com Although K was late in the Amateur world, broadcast band stations had K calls very early, e.g., KDKA, KYW, etc. Were not the K prefixes assigned to territories KX prefixes where X indicated the place? KL7 for Alaska and KH6 for Hawaii (if I recall properly). Ed N5EI |
W and K prefixes.
I'll stand to corrected but my recollection is that a further partition existed within the USA in the 50s and earlier. W was issued to stations, at least commercial stations, East of the Mississippi and K was issued to station west of the Mississippi!! Any confirmation???? DD Thierry wrote: Hi, I am currently writing a long article about the history of ham radio for my website (growing...). Can someone tell me who : - What committee or association assigned the first prefix to callsigns in the middle of 1920's, ITC (future ITU) ? - On what base (I suppose location) US stations were assigned A, K, N or W letters and who decided for the other countries ? - Who currently manage these prefixes at a worldwide scale ? ITU-R (ex CCIR) ? Thanks in advance Thierry, ON4SKY http://www.astrosurf.com/lombry |
W and K prefixes.
I'll stand to corrected but my recollection is that a further partition existed within the USA in the 50s and earlier. W was issued to stations, at least commercial stations, East of the Mississippi and K was issued to station west of the Mississippi!! Any confirmation???? DD Thierry wrote: Hi, I am currently writing a long article about the history of ham radio for my website (growing...). Can someone tell me who : - What committee or association assigned the first prefix to callsigns in the middle of 1920's, ITC (future ITU) ? - On what base (I suppose location) US stations were assigned A, K, N or W letters and who decided for the other countries ? - Who currently manage these prefixes at a worldwide scale ? ITU-R (ex CCIR) ? Thanks in advance Thierry, ON4SKY http://www.astrosurf.com/lombry |
W and K prefixes.
I'll stand to corrected but my recollection is that a further partition existed within the USA in the 50s and earlier. W was issued to stations, at least commercial stations, East of the Mississippi and K was issued to station west of the Mississippi!! Any confirmation???? DD Thierry wrote: Hi, I am currently writing a long article about the history of ham radio for my website (growing...). Can someone tell me who : - What committee or association assigned the first prefix to callsigns in the middle of 1920's, ITC (future ITU) ? - On what base (I suppose location) US stations were assigned A, K, N or W letters and who decided for the other countries ? - Who currently manage these prefixes at a worldwide scale ? ITU-R (ex CCIR) ? Thanks in advance Thierry, ON4SKY http://www.astrosurf.com/lombry |
W and K prefixes.
I'll stand to corrected but my recollection is that a further partition existed within the USA in the 50s and earlier. W was issued to stations, at least commercial stations, East of the Mississippi and K was issued to station west of the Mississippi!! Any confirmation???? DD Thierry wrote: Hi, I am currently writing a long article about the history of ham radio for my website (growing...). Can someone tell me who : - What committee or association assigned the first prefix to callsigns in the middle of 1920's, ITC (future ITU) ? - On what base (I suppose location) US stations were assigned A, K, N or W letters and who decided for the other countries ? - Who currently manage these prefixes at a worldwide scale ? ITU-R (ex CCIR) ? Thanks in advance Thierry, ON4SKY http://www.astrosurf.com/lombry |
W and K prefixes.
I'll stand to corrected but my recollection is that a further partition existed within the USA in the 50s and earlier. W was issued to stations, at least commercial stations, East of the Mississippi and K was issued to station west of the Mississippi!! Any confirmation???? DD Thierry wrote: Hi, I am currently writing a long article about the history of ham radio for my website (growing...). Can someone tell me who : - What committee or association assigned the first prefix to callsigns in the middle of 1920's, ITC (future ITU) ? - On what base (I suppose location) US stations were assigned A, K, N or W letters and who decided for the other countries ? - Who currently manage these prefixes at a worldwide scale ? ITU-R (ex CCIR) ? Thanks in advance Thierry, ON4SKY http://www.astrosurf.com/lombry |
W and K prefixes.
I'll stand to corrected but my recollection is that a further partition existed within the USA in the 50s and earlier. W was issued to stations, at least commercial stations, East of the Mississippi and K was issued to station west of the Mississippi!! Any confirmation???? DD Thierry wrote: Hi, I am currently writing a long article about the history of ham radio for my website (growing...). Can someone tell me who : - What committee or association assigned the first prefix to callsigns in the middle of 1920's, ITC (future ITU) ? - On what base (I suppose location) US stations were assigned A, K, N or W letters and who decided for the other countries ? - Who currently manage these prefixes at a worldwide scale ? ITU-R (ex CCIR) ? Thanks in advance Thierry, ON4SKY http://www.astrosurf.com/lombry |
Thanks.
Rest the question (theoretical) to know where 'd begin K and W, on the Mississippi or not... I think that I could find the info somewhere on the web. 73 Thierry, ON4SKY "Doug Smith W9WI" wrote in message ... Thierry wrote: I am currently writing a long article about the history of ham radio for my website (growing...). Can someone tell me who : - What committee or association assigned the first prefix to callsigns in the middle of 1920's, ITC (future ITU) ? International Amateur Radio Union (which still exists today). See http://lists.contesting.com/archives.../msg00111.html . (scroll down) Actually, prefixes had been assigned informally and without official coordination even before that. - On what base (I suppose location) US stations were assigned A, K, N or W letters and who decided for the other countries ? Until the end of World War 2, all USA stations were assigned W prefixes. K prefixes were used in U.S. possessions (Puerto Rico, Guam, Alaska, Hawaii, etc.). (remember that Alaska and Hawaii were not yet states until 1959) K prefixes were assigned to U.S. amateurs when the W calls ran out in the 1950s. I *believe* A and N were made available when "vanity calls" were first allowed in 1976. I have never seen a good explanation of why the USA received the letters A, K, N, and W. - Who currently manage these prefixes at a worldwide scale ? ITU-R (ex CCIR) ITU apportions prefixes among countries; each country's administration decides which ITU-provided prefixes to use for amateurs and how to assign them. -- Doug Smith W9WI Pleasant View (Nashville), TN EM66 http://www.w9wi.com |
Thanks.
Rest the question (theoretical) to know where 'd begin K and W, on the Mississippi or not... I think that I could find the info somewhere on the web. 73 Thierry, ON4SKY "Doug Smith W9WI" wrote in message ... Thierry wrote: I am currently writing a long article about the history of ham radio for my website (growing...). Can someone tell me who : - What committee or association assigned the first prefix to callsigns in the middle of 1920's, ITC (future ITU) ? International Amateur Radio Union (which still exists today). See http://lists.contesting.com/archives.../msg00111.html . (scroll down) Actually, prefixes had been assigned informally and without official coordination even before that. - On what base (I suppose location) US stations were assigned A, K, N or W letters and who decided for the other countries ? Until the end of World War 2, all USA stations were assigned W prefixes. K prefixes were used in U.S. possessions (Puerto Rico, Guam, Alaska, Hawaii, etc.). (remember that Alaska and Hawaii were not yet states until 1959) K prefixes were assigned to U.S. amateurs when the W calls ran out in the 1950s. I *believe* A and N were made available when "vanity calls" were first allowed in 1976. I have never seen a good explanation of why the USA received the letters A, K, N, and W. - Who currently manage these prefixes at a worldwide scale ? ITU-R (ex CCIR) ITU apportions prefixes among countries; each country's administration decides which ITU-provided prefixes to use for amateurs and how to assign them. -- Doug Smith W9WI Pleasant View (Nashville), TN EM66 http://www.w9wi.com |
K-W : see end of page at http://earlyradiohistory.us/recap.htm
All is explained. I didn't read read this page... Thierry "Dave Shrader" wrote in message ... W and K prefixes. I'll stand to corrected but my recollection is that a further partition existed within the USA in the 50s and earlier. W was issued to stations, at least commercial stations, East of the Mississippi and K was issued to station west of the Mississippi!! Any confirmation???? DD Thierry wrote: Hi, I am currently writing a long article about the history of ham radio for my website (growing...). Can someone tell me who : - What committee or association assigned the first prefix to callsigns in the middle of 1920's, ITC (future ITU) ? - On what base (I suppose location) US stations were assigned A, K, N or W letters and who decided for the other countries ? - Who currently manage these prefixes at a worldwide scale ? ITU-R (ex CCIR) ? Thanks in advance Thierry, ON4SKY http://www.astrosurf.com/lombry |
K-W : see end of page at http://earlyradiohistory.us/recap.htm
All is explained. I didn't read read this page... Thierry "Dave Shrader" wrote in message ... W and K prefixes. I'll stand to corrected but my recollection is that a further partition existed within the USA in the 50s and earlier. W was issued to stations, at least commercial stations, East of the Mississippi and K was issued to station west of the Mississippi!! Any confirmation???? DD Thierry wrote: Hi, I am currently writing a long article about the history of ham radio for my website (growing...). Can someone tell me who : - What committee or association assigned the first prefix to callsigns in the middle of 1920's, ITC (future ITU) ? - On what base (I suppose location) US stations were assigned A, K, N or W letters and who decided for the other countries ? - Who currently manage these prefixes at a worldwide scale ? ITU-R (ex CCIR) ? Thanks in advance Thierry, ON4SKY http://www.astrosurf.com/lombry |
Edward A. Feustel wrote:
etc. Were not the K prefixes assigned to territories KX prefixes where X indicated the place? KL7 for Alaska and KH6 for Hawaii (if I recall properly). More or less, no. Before WW2, Puerto Rico was K4; Alaska K7; and Hawaii K6. There were some two-letter prefixes in the Pacific, and the Phillippines (which were then a U.S. possession) got KA1 calls. -- Doug Smith W9WI Pleasant View (Nashville), TN EM66 http://www.w9wi.com |
Edward A. Feustel wrote:
etc. Were not the K prefixes assigned to territories KX prefixes where X indicated the place? KL7 for Alaska and KH6 for Hawaii (if I recall properly). More or less, no. Before WW2, Puerto Rico was K4; Alaska K7; and Hawaii K6. There were some two-letter prefixes in the Pacific, and the Phillippines (which were then a U.S. possession) got KA1 calls. -- Doug Smith W9WI Pleasant View (Nashville), TN EM66 http://www.w9wi.com |
Thierry wrote:
Rest the question (theoretical) to know where 'd begin K and W, on the Mississippi or not... I think that I could find the info somewhere on the web. http://www.earlyradiohistory.us/kwtrivia.htm The dividing line between W and K was originally the eastern borders of the states of New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana. This was set at a time when most radio stations were used to communicate with ships. W callsigns communicated with ships in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico; K callsigns communicated with ships in the Pacific Ocean. When broadcasting stations came along, they received essentially the same kind of license used by maritime shore stations, and call letters assigned the same way. As there came to be far more broadcasting stations than maritime shore stations, they began to run out of W callsigns. At that point it made more sense to move the dividing line east, and the Mississippi River was apparently a good choice. This applies only to broadcasting and commercial maritime stations though. Hams within the United States (not in offshore territories) *always* received W callsigns until after World War 2, and even after, there was never a geographic W/K dividing line for hams. -- Doug Smith W9WI Pleasant View (Nashville), TN EM66 http://www.w9wi.com |
Thierry wrote:
Rest the question (theoretical) to know where 'd begin K and W, on the Mississippi or not... I think that I could find the info somewhere on the web. http://www.earlyradiohistory.us/kwtrivia.htm The dividing line between W and K was originally the eastern borders of the states of New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana. This was set at a time when most radio stations were used to communicate with ships. W callsigns communicated with ships in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico; K callsigns communicated with ships in the Pacific Ocean. When broadcasting stations came along, they received essentially the same kind of license used by maritime shore stations, and call letters assigned the same way. As there came to be far more broadcasting stations than maritime shore stations, they began to run out of W callsigns. At that point it made more sense to move the dividing line east, and the Mississippi River was apparently a good choice. This applies only to broadcasting and commercial maritime stations though. Hams within the United States (not in offshore territories) *always* received W callsigns until after World War 2, and even after, there was never a geographic W/K dividing line for hams. -- Doug Smith W9WI Pleasant View (Nashville), TN EM66 http://www.w9wi.com |
Dave Shrader wrote:
I'll stand to corrected but my recollection is that a further partition existed within the USA in the 50s and earlier. W was issued to stations, at least commercial stations, East of the Mississippi and K was issued to station west of the Mississippi!! For broadcast stations only. In the very earliest days of radio, the dividing line was the eastern borders of New Mexico/Colorado/Wyoming/Montana. They switched to the Mississippi River in the 1920s. http://www.earlyradiohistory.us/kwtrivia.htm -- Doug Smith W9WI Pleasant View (Nashville), TN EM66 http://www.w9wi.com |
Dave Shrader wrote:
I'll stand to corrected but my recollection is that a further partition existed within the USA in the 50s and earlier. W was issued to stations, at least commercial stations, East of the Mississippi and K was issued to station west of the Mississippi!! For broadcast stations only. In the very earliest days of radio, the dividing line was the eastern borders of New Mexico/Colorado/Wyoming/Montana. They switched to the Mississippi River in the 1920s. http://www.earlyradiohistory.us/kwtrivia.htm -- Doug Smith W9WI Pleasant View (Nashville), TN EM66 http://www.w9wi.com |
There was one exception to the W - East K - West rule.
KDKA 73, Dick, W1KSZ On Sat, 28 Feb 2004 22:42:27 GMT, Dave Shrader wrote: W and K prefixes. I'll stand to corrected but my recollection is that a further partition existed within the USA in the 50s and earlier. W was issued to stations, at least commercial stations, East of the Mississippi and K was issued to station west of the Mississippi!! Any confirmation???? DD Thierry wrote: Hi, I am currently writing a long article about the history of ham radio for my website (growing...). Can someone tell me who : - What committee or association assigned the first prefix to callsigns in the middle of 1920's, ITC (future ITU) ? - On what base (I suppose location) US stations were assigned A, K, N or W letters and who decided for the other countries ? - Who currently manage these prefixes at a worldwide scale ? ITU-R (ex CCIR) ? Thanks in advance Thierry, ON4SKY http://www.astrosurf.com/lombry |
There was one exception to the W - East K - West rule.
KDKA 73, Dick, W1KSZ On Sat, 28 Feb 2004 22:42:27 GMT, Dave Shrader wrote: W and K prefixes. I'll stand to corrected but my recollection is that a further partition existed within the USA in the 50s and earlier. W was issued to stations, at least commercial stations, East of the Mississippi and K was issued to station west of the Mississippi!! Any confirmation???? DD Thierry wrote: Hi, I am currently writing a long article about the history of ham radio for my website (growing...). Can someone tell me who : - What committee or association assigned the first prefix to callsigns in the middle of 1920's, ITC (future ITU) ? - On what base (I suppose location) US stations were assigned A, K, N or W letters and who decided for the other countries ? - Who currently manage these prefixes at a worldwide scale ? ITU-R (ex CCIR) ? Thanks in advance Thierry, ON4SKY http://www.astrosurf.com/lombry |
Richard W. Solomon, W1KSZ wrote:
There was one exception to the W - East K - West rule. KDKA KDKA wasn't the only exception. Indeed, there's another K-station in Pittsburgh, KQV. Some other examples include KFIZ in Fond du Lac, Wis. and KTGG in Spring Arbor, Mich.. (the latter only a few years old; reportedly a FCC clerk thought "MI" stood for "Missouri") There was a WPXJ-TV in Minden, Louisiana (near Shreveport) for awhile, but when the error was caught it got changed to KPXJ. I can't think of any W-stations in the West, unless you count those located between the old and new dividing lines that were compliant the old way but aren't now. -- Doug Smith W9WI Pleasant View (Nashville), TN EM66 http://www.w9wi.com |
Richard W. Solomon, W1KSZ wrote:
There was one exception to the W - East K - West rule. KDKA KDKA wasn't the only exception. Indeed, there's another K-station in Pittsburgh, KQV. Some other examples include KFIZ in Fond du Lac, Wis. and KTGG in Spring Arbor, Mich.. (the latter only a few years old; reportedly a FCC clerk thought "MI" stood for "Missouri") There was a WPXJ-TV in Minden, Louisiana (near Shreveport) for awhile, but when the error was caught it got changed to KPXJ. I can't think of any W-stations in the West, unless you count those located between the old and new dividing lines that were compliant the old way but aren't now. -- Doug Smith W9WI Pleasant View (Nashville), TN EM66 http://www.w9wi.com |
In article ,
Doug Smith W9WI wrote: Thierry wrote: I am currently writing a long article about the history of ham radio for my website (growing...). Can someone tell me who : - What committee or association assigned the first prefix to callsigns in the middle of 1920's, ITC (future ITU) ? International Amateur Radio Union (which still exists today). See http://lists.contesting.com/archives.../msg00111.html . (scroll down) Actually, prefixes had been assigned informally and without official coordination even before that. - On what base (I suppose location) US stations were assigned A, K, N or W letters and who decided for the other countries ? Until the end of World War 2, all USA stations were assigned W prefixes. K prefixes were used in U.S. possessions (Puerto Rico, Guam, Alaska, Hawaii, etc.). (remember that Alaska and Hawaii were not yet states until 1959) K prefixes were assigned to U.S. amateurs when the W calls ran out in the 1950s. I *believe* A and N were made available when "vanity calls" were first allowed in 1976. I have never seen a good explanation of why the USA received the letters A, K, N, and W. - Who currently manage these prefixes at a worldwide scale ? ITU-R (ex CCIR) ITU apportions prefixes among countries; each country's administration decides which ITU-provided prefixes to use for amateurs and how to assign them. Didn't the early radio letter prefixes follow international Aircraft identifier prefixes in use at the time? -- Chuck Reti WV8A Detroit MI |
In article ,
Doug Smith W9WI wrote: Thierry wrote: I am currently writing a long article about the history of ham radio for my website (growing...). Can someone tell me who : - What committee or association assigned the first prefix to callsigns in the middle of 1920's, ITC (future ITU) ? International Amateur Radio Union (which still exists today). See http://lists.contesting.com/archives.../msg00111.html . (scroll down) Actually, prefixes had been assigned informally and without official coordination even before that. - On what base (I suppose location) US stations were assigned A, K, N or W letters and who decided for the other countries ? Until the end of World War 2, all USA stations were assigned W prefixes. K prefixes were used in U.S. possessions (Puerto Rico, Guam, Alaska, Hawaii, etc.). (remember that Alaska and Hawaii were not yet states until 1959) K prefixes were assigned to U.S. amateurs when the W calls ran out in the 1950s. I *believe* A and N were made available when "vanity calls" were first allowed in 1976. I have never seen a good explanation of why the USA received the letters A, K, N, and W. - Who currently manage these prefixes at a worldwide scale ? ITU-R (ex CCIR) ITU apportions prefixes among countries; each country's administration decides which ITU-provided prefixes to use for amateurs and how to assign them. Didn't the early radio letter prefixes follow international Aircraft identifier prefixes in use at the time? -- Chuck Reti WV8A Detroit MI |
Thierry -- see Ham history at URL:
http://ac6v.com/history.htm -- Incognito By Necessity (:-( If you can't convince them, confuse them. - - -Harry S Truman --------------------------------------------------------------- "Thierry" To answer me in private use http://www.astrosurf.com/lombry/post.htm wrote in message ... Hi, I am currently writing a long article about the history of ham radio for my website (growing...). Can someone tell me who : - What committee or association assigned the first prefix to callsigns in the middle of 1920's, ITC (future ITU) ? - On what base (I suppose location) US stations were assigned A, K, N or W letters and who decided for the other countries ? - Who currently manage these prefixes at a worldwide scale ? ITU-R (ex CCIR) ? Thanks in advance Thierry, ON4SKY http://www.astrosurf.com/lombry |
Thierry -- see Ham history at URL:
http://ac6v.com/history.htm -- Incognito By Necessity (:-( If you can't convince them, confuse them. - - -Harry S Truman --------------------------------------------------------------- "Thierry" To answer me in private use http://www.astrosurf.com/lombry/post.htm wrote in message ... Hi, I am currently writing a long article about the history of ham radio for my website (growing...). Can someone tell me who : - What committee or association assigned the first prefix to callsigns in the middle of 1920's, ITC (future ITU) ? - On what base (I suppose location) US stations were assigned A, K, N or W letters and who decided for the other countries ? - Who currently manage these prefixes at a worldwide scale ? ITU-R (ex CCIR) ? Thanks in advance Thierry, ON4SKY http://www.astrosurf.com/lombry |
You can get confirmation and a great History of radio at URL:
http://earlyradiohistory.us/kwtrivia.htm and http://www.northwinds.net/bchris/index.htm More at URL: http://ac6v.com/antique.htm#BC http://earlyradiohistory.us/buildbcb.htm -- Incognito By Necessity (:-( If you can't convince them, confuse them. - - -Harry S Truman "Dave Shrader" wrote in message ... W and K prefixes. I'll stand to corrected but my recollection is that a further partition existed within the USA in the 50s and earlier. W was issued to stations, at least commercial stations, East of the Mississippi and K was issued to station west of the Mississippi!! Any confirmation???? DD Thierry wrote: Hi, I am currently writing a long article about the history of ham radio for my website (growing...). Can someone tell me who : - What committee or association assigned the first prefix to callsigns in the middle of 1920's, ITC (future ITU) ? - On what base (I suppose location) US stations were assigned A, K, N or W letters and who decided for the other countries ? - Who currently manage these prefixes at a worldwide scale ? ITU-R (ex CCIR) ? Thanks in advance Thierry, ON4SKY http://www.astrosurf.com/lombry |
You can get confirmation and a great History of radio at URL:
http://earlyradiohistory.us/kwtrivia.htm and http://www.northwinds.net/bchris/index.htm More at URL: http://ac6v.com/antique.htm#BC http://earlyradiohistory.us/buildbcb.htm -- Incognito By Necessity (:-( If you can't convince them, confuse them. - - -Harry S Truman "Dave Shrader" wrote in message ... W and K prefixes. I'll stand to corrected but my recollection is that a further partition existed within the USA in the 50s and earlier. W was issued to stations, at least commercial stations, East of the Mississippi and K was issued to station west of the Mississippi!! Any confirmation???? DD Thierry wrote: Hi, I am currently writing a long article about the history of ham radio for my website (growing...). Can someone tell me who : - What committee or association assigned the first prefix to callsigns in the middle of 1920's, ITC (future ITU) ? - On what base (I suppose location) US stations were assigned A, K, N or W letters and who decided for the other countries ? - Who currently manage these prefixes at a worldwide scale ? ITU-R (ex CCIR) ? Thanks in advance Thierry, ON4SKY http://www.astrosurf.com/lombry |
"Chuck Reti" wrote in message ... In article , Doug Smith W9WI wrote: Didn't the early radio letter prefixes follow international Aircraft identifier prefixes in use at the time? Hi, I didn't checked all texts, but it seems that all users were assigned a call under the responsibility of ITC (ITU) and national authority, including ships, coastal stations, amateurs, and military, thus the air force too (if I remember well what I read) in publications released in 1905-1912 (see maybe be the Radio act 1912). Thierry, ON4SKY http://www.astrosurf.com/lombry -- Chuck Reti WV8A Detroit MI |
"Chuck Reti" wrote in message ... In article , Doug Smith W9WI wrote: Didn't the early radio letter prefixes follow international Aircraft identifier prefixes in use at the time? Hi, I didn't checked all texts, but it seems that all users were assigned a call under the responsibility of ITC (ITU) and national authority, including ships, coastal stations, amateurs, and military, thus the air force too (if I remember well what I read) in publications released in 1905-1912 (see maybe be the Radio act 1912). Thierry, ON4SKY http://www.astrosurf.com/lombry -- Chuck Reti WV8A Detroit MI |
Thanks.
Thierry "Incognito" wrote in message news:TuI0c.7479$Zp.2885@fed1read07... Thierry -- see Ham history at URL: http://ac6v.com/history.htm -- Incognito By Necessity (:-( If you can't convince them, confuse them. - - -Harry S Truman --------------------------------------------------------------- "Thierry" To answer me in private use http://www.astrosurf.com/lombry/post.htm wrote in message ... Hi, I am currently writing a long article about the history of ham radio for my website (growing...). Can someone tell me who : - What committee or association assigned the first prefix to callsigns in the middle of 1920's, ITC (future ITU) ? - On what base (I suppose location) US stations were assigned A, K, N or W letters and who decided for the other countries ? - Who currently manage these prefixes at a worldwide scale ? ITU-R (ex CCIR) ? Thanks in advance Thierry, ON4SKY http://www.astrosurf.com/lombry |
Thanks.
Thierry "Incognito" wrote in message news:TuI0c.7479$Zp.2885@fed1read07... Thierry -- see Ham history at URL: http://ac6v.com/history.htm -- Incognito By Necessity (:-( If you can't convince them, confuse them. - - -Harry S Truman --------------------------------------------------------------- "Thierry" To answer me in private use http://www.astrosurf.com/lombry/post.htm wrote in message ... Hi, I am currently writing a long article about the history of ham radio for my website (growing...). Can someone tell me who : - What committee or association assigned the first prefix to callsigns in the middle of 1920's, ITC (future ITU) ? - On what base (I suppose location) US stations were assigned A, K, N or W letters and who decided for the other countries ? - Who currently manage these prefixes at a worldwide scale ? ITU-R (ex CCIR) ? Thanks in advance Thierry, ON4SKY http://www.astrosurf.com/lombry |
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