India May Change Radio Prefixes

[g4tut]

India looks to change aircraft callsign prefix

An article in the London Times newspaper indicated that India was looking to change the code it used for Aircraft identification.
In other countries this has also resulted in a change to the Amateur Radio prefix.

The aircraft code VT was assigned to British India in 1944, three years before the country was divided into the independent states of India and Pakistan.

India kept VT (Viceroy’s Territory), while Pakistan was assigned AP.

Several other former British colonies and territories still use sircraft codes that begin with V, such as Australia (VH), Antigua and Bermuda (V2), and the Falkland Islands (VP-F).

There has traditionaly been a strong connection between Aircraft Code and Amateur Radio callsign prefix. For instance the United Kingdom uses G for aircraft which used to be the Amateur Radio prefix until the G series ran out in the 1990's.

When other territories of the former British Empire have changed their Aircraft Codes they have also changed their Amateur Radio prefixes:

Fiji changed it's aircraft code to DQ and it's Amateur Radio prefix changed from VR2 to 3D2. Kenya changed it's aircraft code to 5Y and it's Amateur Radio prefix changed from VQ4 to 5YA to 5ZZ.

London Times - Aircraft to shed last vestige of colonial past
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article2324601.ece

Old Amateur Radio Prefixes
http://www.ac6v.com/oldprefix.htm

The British Empire - The largest Empire the world has ever known
http://www.britishempire.co.uk/





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[KW0U]

Prefixes are an interesting subject in their own right. You can often see how politics changed over time by comparing dates of independence with assignments of particular blocks. (For example, Fiji and Swaziland both in 1970, though I never understood why they split the 3D block).

Some have transferred between countries (3C from Canada to Eqaitorial Guinea), others are rarely used (8J in Japan), many have never been in amateur radio (don't wait up for an HM from North Korea), and some are still unassigned by the ITU. Incidentally, DXCC accepts two unofficial ones, 1A or S0. To see the whole list look in the back of most log books or on Wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITU_prefix

[WA9SVD]

If a change is made, it will certainly affect the Amateurs in the country of India, if they were issued new callsigns. Other than a brief period of confusion, I don't see much problem; the ITU is likely to approve of any change made. Unless the various contest/award sponsors drag their feet, any new prefix approved by the ITU (and hence the IARU) should be quickly added to any DX entity lists.
I would think a nation has a sovreign right to change their aircraft ID as long as it's not in conflict with existing ID's.
I would assume that there is also an International organization that coordinates aircraft registration numbers, so there shouldn't be too much problem. (Aside for some of the clueless "kilocycle kops" that try to tell people they are bootlegging a call...)

[KW0U]

Quote[/b] (wa9svd @ Aug. 28 2007,06:26)]I would assume that there is also an International organization that coordinates aircraft registration numbers, so there shouldn't be too much problem. #(Aside for some of the clueless "kilocycle kops" that try to tell people they are bootlegging a call...)
Ask and you shall receive. #The International Civil Aviation Organization was smart enough to use ITU prefixes for aircraft. #More information, including their official list, is here:

http://www.icao.int/nationality/

[ka5piu]

Hello.

In the case of civil aircraft and Amateur Radio this normally follows ITU rules.
In the case of Military aircraft and of course ships, the much older maritime rules are used.
There are HM stations, but they do not follow the spirit of Amateur Radio.
Any country can ask that another coutries radio operators not work that country.
In the case of North Korea, this regulation applies.
As a HZ station, I can contact a HM station, and will get a QSO going.
But, not only is it against the law to work a HM station, for both ends, but the HM station will shut down.
North Korea is on friendly terms with China, so, as long as you can "fit in", that is to say, have a Chinese call, AND totally act like a Chinese station, an American could work North Korea, in China of course.
And, in North Korea, it is "Radio Sports" not Amateur or ham Radio.
In Saudi Arabia it is an "Expermental and Educational Station" again, no reference to anything else.
Right now, the Kingdom would prefer that some stations only be in contact with other Islamic stations.

[WA9SVD]

Quote[/b] (ka5piu @ Aug. 28 2007,18:39)]Hello.

In the case of civil aircraft and Amateur Radio this normally follows ITU rules.
In the case of Military aircraft and of course ships, the much older maritime rules are used.
There are HM stations, but they do not follow the spirit of Amateur Radio.
Any country can ask that another coutries radio operators not work that country.
In the case of North Korea, this regulation applies.
As a HZ station, I can contact a HM station, and will get a QSO going.
But, not only is it against the law to work a HM station, for both ends, but the HM station will shut down.
North Korea is on friendly terms with China, so, as long as you can "fit in", that is to say, have a Chinese call, AND totally act like a Chinese station, an American could work North Korea, in China of course.
And, in North Korea, it is "Radio Sports" not Amateur or ham Radio.
In Saudi Arabia it is an "Expermental and Educational Station" again, no reference to anything else.
Right now, the Kingdom would prefer that some stations only be in contact with other Islamic stations.
Sorry, PIU, but again you are providing erroneous information.

At present time (according to the FCC Web Site, and confirmed by the ARRL) there are currently NO countries/entities/prefixes with which it is illegal for U.S. licensed Amateurs to contact, so your claim about "both directions" is FALSE.

It IS the perogative of any nation to sanction or even forbid their own Amateur Radio operators (or whatever term they use, be it Radio Sport, whatever) from International contact, but that is an internal problem within their own country. If their operators wish to violate their own country's rules or regulations, that is NOT a consideration for the Amateur community as a whole.

It is PERFECTLY legal for a U.S. operator to contact a legitimately licensed operator in North Korea, South Korea, Upper or Lower Slobovia, or anywhere else on the planet, unless the FCC saya otherwise, and at THIS time, the FCC (which applies to your, or anyone else's U.S. issued FCC Amateur Radio license, and NO other license, for any other purpose (such as truck driving) or radio operation governed by any other FCC regulated radio service or any radio license you may or may not have in another country NOT regulated by the U.S. FCC.



If you somehow wish to (weasel out) and operate under some other country's privileges with which you may (legally or illegally) operate, so be it. While you may think you have privileges far in excess of what YOU seem to think, you amy soon run afoul with the U.S. FCC, anfd you do a GREAT disservice to many others with your dissemination of inaccurate information.


Sorry, but you ALWAYS make claims of your knowledge of FCC rules, but when challenged, you never respond with the actual FCC rule, only vague, usually erroneous personal ideas or concepts.etc, and you HAVE been caaled on that by the moderators time and agian.

PLEASE:

SIMPLY, and ELOQUENTLY, WITHOUT DOUBT:

State where it is illegal for a U.S. Amateur to make contact with an Amateur Radio Operator in North Korea?

Simple, exact, and precise.


GO Ahead. STATE the source for your statement.

And even your statement about Saudi "Amatuers," whatever YOU claim their title may be. IS there any prohibition ? If there IS, then the onus is upon the Saudi stations, and not on Amateur Radio operators as a whole, unless or until the Saudi government files an International statememt that their operator are disallowed contact with other stations, and such a statement would have to specify the U.S. specifically.

If somehow your multitudinous licnesures in a gazillion countries would somehow make it illegal to contact another Amateur in a foreign land, then that is your problem. Don't try to apply your weird ideas or concepts to our regulations.

[ka5piu]

Hello.

This is the Current FCC rules on this matter.
"§97.111 Authorized transmissions.
(a) An amateur station may transmit the following types of two-way communications:

(1) Transmissions necessary to exchange messages with other stations in the amateur service, except those in any country whose administration has notified the ITU that it objects to such communications. The FCC will issue public notices of current arrangements for international communications;
(2) Transmissions necessary to meet essential communication needs and to facilitate relief actions.

(3) Transmissions necessary to exchange messages with a station in another FCC-regulated service while providing emergency communications;

(4) Transmissions necessary to exchange messages with a United States government station, necessary to providing communications in RACES; and

(5) Transmissions necessary to exchange messages with a station in a service not regulated by the FCC, but authorized by the FCC to communicate with amateur stations. An amateur station may exchange messages with a participating United States military station during an Armed Forces Day Communications Test.

(b) In addition to one-way transmissions specifically authorized elsewhere in this Part, an amateur station may transmit the following types of one-way communications:


(1) Brief transmissions necessary to make adjustments to the station;
(2) Brief transmissions necessary to establishing two-way communications with other stations;

(3) Telecommand;

(4) Transmissions necessary to providing emergency communications;

(5) Transmissions necessary to assisting persons learning, or improving proficiency in, the international Morse code;

(6) Transmissions necessary to disseminate information bulletins;

(7) Transmissions of telemetry.

"

Notice in the top, it says" (1) Transmissions necessary to exchange messages with other stations in the amateur service, except those in any country whose administration has notified the ITU that it objects to such communications. The FCC will issue public notices of current arrangements for international communications; "?
The North Korean government has on file with the ITU a request that no US Radio Amatrurs make contact with North Korea.
Furthermore, North Korea does not allow singular persons to operate such radios.
"All radiosports shall be conducted only under the direct supervision of the designated state officals.
There is no mention of Amateur Radio, Except the direct orders to the no contact list.
This board will not allow me to post in the original Korean text, otherwise I would do same.
So, who is doing the disservice, someone who does not even know the FCC rules, or I?

[WA9SVD]

That's right. But the FCC has NOT issued any directive concerning contacting individuals in ANY other country on the face of the earth. At present time, there is NO COUNTRY of the FCC's "banned" list. PROVE the FCC is wrong. Prove the ARRL's claim is wrong.

PLEASE show the FCC notice that U.S. Amateurs are not allowed to make contact with stations in North Korea. If North Korea does not allow it's Amateurs to make contact with Amateurs in other countries, that is an internal matter. But quote the FCC notice, or else you are merely blowing smoke and making false claims.

[ka5piu]

Hello.

It took me a while to get an answer from the FCC.
North Korea has no Amateur Radio service.
This is defined as a political and or commercial service, and the North Koreans will say so.
In fact, the Required station ID is a prerecorded bit with both music and a statement of how totally good the chairman is.
In one recording it flat out states that by conversing with the station you agree that you are an enemy of the United States.
Not that this really happens, usually they just play the recording over a few times and go off the air.
But, if you want to put in writing a statement that you disagree with US policy, they will send you a QSL card.
So, perhaps, yes, a simple contact might be fine, everyone of of his or her opinion.
Me, I find the price to be too high for a QSL.
And, that is why it is so hard to explain things without the original text before oneself.
I will ask a Korean-American ham to translate the recordings and send them to the ARRL.

[WA9SVD]

And you have just confirmed what I stated: There IS no ban (by the FCC) for North Korean stations, and at the present time, there are NO countries on the FCC "banned" list.

Now if North Korean stations do not or cannot make contact with U.S. stations, or there's some sort of political exchange required, that's a very different matter, and I agree, if one has to make a political statement of ANY kind, to work a station anywhere, for ANY reason, the price is too high. If North Korea does not wish to license Amateur operators, or does not allow them to operate, or has severe political/legal restrictions, that is an internal matter, and right or wrong, that is their sovreign right.

[KW0U]

Looks like the last post has it right. The US has no banned countries, and N. Korea has banned the world. Hopefully that will change someday. (Incidentally it is possible to get a NK QSL--for short wave listening! I heard their station, sent a card--without any political statement--and got back a bag with a banner and turgid books about the "worker's paradise".)

[VO1GXG]

Don't forget Newfoundland which was assigned VO by the brits and we still use it .