02-27-2003, 09:51 PM
Sent to me by Paul the author on request by me.
I have some strong feeling of giving away Silet Key call signs. I do not think it should be done. Reform all you want but dont give away call signs of silent keys. You should leave it the way it is and only the family can give the call away to friends or family!
REFORM of AMATEUR PREFIXES.
HOW THIS ALL STARTED
Half-seriously, in late 2002, I wrote to the Editor of RadCom (the monthly journal of the RSGB Ltd), suggested a radical reorganisation of amateur call signs in the UK.
The reactions to my suggestion were universally bad. The editor printed a couple of the more polite replies. Elsewhere, people were voicing opinions not only on my views, but on my sanity. People on an internet discussion group were posting unsubstantiated statements about me which were totally untrue, and which amounted to defamation in Scottish law.
The most sympathetic reactions only went as far as, “I agree that the call-sign system is in a mess, but I am not going to give up my call-sign!”
A good friend, whilst acknowledging that I had come up with food for thought, complained with a smile that he had just had 5000 QSL cards printed!
Faced with this much opposition and hostility to someone who dared to “think outside the box”, with so many people stuck firmly in the mud, facing backwards, I did what anyone would do - I STUCK TO MY GUNS! I’m right, and one day I will be vindicated!
This is how the campaign for Reform of Amateur Prefixes was born. Will you join me in this struggle?
HOW THINGS LOOK AT THE END OF 2002
Most other countries in the world have numerical call-areas. Explaining our system to a foreign amateur at the end of 2002 is a nightmare! Our call-signs begin with Gs, Ms, and 2s, have all sorts of second letters, and represent a bewildering array of license classes.
1. A.
2. A/B. Granted this class does not officially exist any more, but some of its denizens have kept their M5 call-signs, whilst others have accepted new M0s
3. B.
4. Novice A.
5. Novice B.
6. Foundation.
Within this system, the numbers can mean just about anything - some 3s are A class, some 3s are Foundation; some 0s are A class, some 0s are Novice A; a few old-timers have a two-letter suffix with a number which otherwise would belong to another class.
OK, so the plan is to amalgamate A, A/B, and B into “Full”, and Novice A and Novice B into “Intermediate”, but when we do the call-sign salad will still be there.
I AM NOT “GM6MEN”
“People are justifiably proud of their call-signs”, was a comment in one objection to my initial proposals. Following amateur convention, the writer signed his named and appended the call-sign of his station, as if it were an OBE.
Let me say I share his pride. When I was young, I had two rather idle ambitions; one was to ride a motorcycle, and the other was to have my own radio station. They were not big ambitions, but I never thought I would achieve either. Now a BMW R1150R is my daily transport. As for radio, since I gained (self-taught) distinctions in both parts of the RAE, I have operated my station on thirteen amateur bands, using FM, AM, CW, SSB, RTTY, ATV, and Packet. I have talked round the world on satellites, on the ionosphere using antennas I built myself, on internet gateways. I have lugged microwave gear up mountains. I have had one or two minor “firsts”, and have a handful of awards. I haven’t got them hanging up, but in my own way I’m very proud.
Nevertheless, I am not GM6MEN, any more than I “am” MM3BCP or GM1GHZ. GM6MEN is the call sign of the station of which I am the licensee (check your own license, if you don’t believe me). It is only a call-sign, when all is said and done. I like it, I am used to it, I would miss it if it went. NEVERTHELESS, for the greater good, I would sacrifice it!
If it was replaced by another call-sign, that would not blot out the fun and the achievements I have enjoyed up to now. How could it?
IS THIS GUY SERIOUS?
Yes. But one of our problems as a group of people is that we take ourselves too seriously. I take the subject seriously - not myself.
WHY DO HAMS LOOK DOWN ON EACH OTHER?
This beats me, but they do!
For as long as I can remember - since the day in fact when someone introduced me to the term “G6 prat” to describe a new “B” license-holder - I have been aware that there is a minority of amateurs who look down on those who have fewer “qualifications” than they have. For most of the time this minority has had a “down” on anyone who had not passed the morse test, particularly on those who were also relative newcomers, and particularly on anyone who had not passed the morse test who questioned its usefulness. This minority was more than a mere handful, and what they lacked in numbers they made up for in vociferousness. They made their contempt for their “less qualified” fellow-amateurs known on the air, on packet bulletin-boards, on internet discussion groups, in letters to RadCom, in private conversation over pints of ale, and, for all I know, on the back of toilet doors!
They were always on the look-out for someone new about whom to form a prejudice. Hence as late as 2002, someone was heard to remark - on air - “I’m not going to speak to any foundation licensees, they’re not real amateurs!”
I am glad to say that this minority is dwarfed by hams of genuine goodwill, but nonetheless they are a thorn in the body of the hobby. I for one wish they would go away, but I would not banish them from the kindly influence of the rest of us, and I continue to hope that their prejudices will be nullified eventually by their opening their eyes and preparing to be tolerant and helpful (but I am not going to hold my breath!http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif.
However, my planned reform of the call-sign system in this country will, by removing the apparent differences in our call signs, make it difficult to form such an instant prejudice. Our only criterion for forming an opinion about another amateur would be, “Is he or she doing his best?” Our privileges were granted to us for “self-training”, after all.
“IT CAN’T BE DONE”
It is commonly thought to be impossible to reorganise the entire amateur call sign system of a whole country. Here are several reasons why this view is nonsense:
1. Lithuania
2. Latvia
3. Estonia
4. Belarus
5. Ukraine
6. Georgia
7. Armenia
8. Azerbaijan
9. Kazakhstan
10. Uzbekistan
11. Kirghizstan
12. Turkmenistan
13. Tajikistan
You may be able to think of some more.
ANALYSIS OF CALL SIGN SERIES as at 31/12/2002
Prefix Availability
M0 Partially allocated
M1 Partially allocated
M2 Available
M3 Partially allocated
M4 Available
M5 Partially allocated
M6 Available
M7 Available
M8 Available
M9 Available
G0 Fully allocated
G1 Fully Allocated
G2 Fully allocated, but partially available due to “natural wastage” (this is one of the oldest allocations, and many of the licensees are now “silent key”)
G3 Fully allocated
G4 Fully allocated
G5 Partially allocated - the old “foreign amateur” allocation
G6 Fully allocated
G7 Fully allocated
G8 Fully allocated
G9 Available (as I recall, however, this range used to be reserved for non-amateur experimental stations)
PROPOSED NUMERICAL AREAS
No. Allocation
0 Unallocated sector as at “day 1” could be used for, say, the Orkneys, Shetlands, Outer Hebrides, Scilly Isles, &c. Sector in use could be phased in, if necessary, after a 5 year moratorium on the re-use of call-signs that were in use at the time of change-over.
1 Ditto.
2 Scotland, region 1. Potential for 17000+ population (M2). #G2, if needed, could be phased in after 5 years moratorium on re-use of old prefix allocation. Call signs which were currently un-used at day 1 would be allocated first, followed, if eventually proved necessary, by those which were still in use before day 1.
3 Channel Islands. #The population is reasonably small, and the first letter of the suffix could be used to preserve the difference between the current Guernsey and Jersey calls.
4 Scotland, region 2 (M4). #G4, if needed, could be phased in after 5 years moratorium on re-use of old prefix allocation.
5 Isle of Man (M5 as available, G5, as available)
6 Northern Ireland (M6)
7 Wales (M7)
8 England, region 3. Potential for 17000+ population (on M8 alone; G8, if needed, could be phased in after 5 years moratorium on old call-signs).
9 England, regions 1 and 2. Potential for 17000+ population (M9) and 17000+ population (G9).
IS THERE ANY NEED FOR A SECOND LETTER IN THE PREFIX?
Probably not. There are enough number and letter combinations to go round, and by the time the system is in place, it would be possible for any listener to recognise the license class of the operator by consulting, for example, a web-site.
But if it becomes necessary, we have a choice of twenty-six second letters to denote license classes (if we really must; but an important part of this reform is to nullify the snobbery and hostility of a vociferous minority which has fouled our hobby for many years!http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif, repeaters, digipeaters, gateways, special event stations, club stations, dx-peditions, contest stations, &c. &c.
HOW WILL THIS AFFECT THE QSL BUREAU?
Having a five-year period during which no existing call-sign can be used would give enough time for bureaux around the world to clear cards currently circulating in the system. During that five-year period, sub-managers can easily be allocated to the new call-signs. The actual volume of cards handled will not increase, other than by the process of new licensees being granted new call-signs, as happens currently.
AM I OPEN TO ARGUMENT?
These proposals are not chiselled in stone. If anyone comes up with a better solution to the call-sign muddle, either as amendments to my suggestions, or as a totally different systematic approach, then I will be glad that there has been a response to this stimulus.
I will gladly take on board any amendment for which I can see merit. If I don’t take it on board, I fully endorse the right of whomever came up with it to argue it elsewhere!
I am not open to “argument” which says simply, “This is patent drivel”, or “This is the product of such muddled thinking that it is not worthy of a reply”! Anyone who says such things has no argument, only their own prejudices!
I am open to argument which says, “This is patent drivel, because a., b., c., and d, which are evidenced by e., f., g. and h.” I might wish for a tadge more politeness from the opponent, but I endorse his or her right to back up their opinion with arguable facts.
“Let a thousand flowers bloom. Let a thousand schools of thought contend!”
Mao Zedong
At the end of the day, when my proposals are eventually taken seriously, they will inevitably be considered by people in some committee or other. They will take my thoroughbred racehorse of a suggestion and re-draft it as a camel - but at least a camel can run, and can run through the Sahara!
“AND FINALLY, ESTHER……..”
My sincere good wishes to all, supporter or opponent. May you enjoy “playing radio”.
Paul Thompson # # (“I am not a number - I am a free man!”)
I have some strong feeling of giving away Silet Key call signs. I do not think it should be done. Reform all you want but dont give away call signs of silent keys. You should leave it the way it is and only the family can give the call away to friends or family!
REFORM of AMATEUR PREFIXES.
HOW THIS ALL STARTED
Half-seriously, in late 2002, I wrote to the Editor of RadCom (the monthly journal of the RSGB Ltd), suggested a radical reorganisation of amateur call signs in the UK.
The reactions to my suggestion were universally bad. The editor printed a couple of the more polite replies. Elsewhere, people were voicing opinions not only on my views, but on my sanity. People on an internet discussion group were posting unsubstantiated statements about me which were totally untrue, and which amounted to defamation in Scottish law.
The most sympathetic reactions only went as far as, “I agree that the call-sign system is in a mess, but I am not going to give up my call-sign!”
A good friend, whilst acknowledging that I had come up with food for thought, complained with a smile that he had just had 5000 QSL cards printed!
Faced with this much opposition and hostility to someone who dared to “think outside the box”, with so many people stuck firmly in the mud, facing backwards, I did what anyone would do - I STUCK TO MY GUNS! I’m right, and one day I will be vindicated!
This is how the campaign for Reform of Amateur Prefixes was born. Will you join me in this struggle?
HOW THINGS LOOK AT THE END OF 2002
Most other countries in the world have numerical call-areas. Explaining our system to a foreign amateur at the end of 2002 is a nightmare! Our call-signs begin with Gs, Ms, and 2s, have all sorts of second letters, and represent a bewildering array of license classes.
1. A.
2. A/B. Granted this class does not officially exist any more, but some of its denizens have kept their M5 call-signs, whilst others have accepted new M0s
3. B.
4. Novice A.
5. Novice B.
6. Foundation.
Within this system, the numbers can mean just about anything - some 3s are A class, some 3s are Foundation; some 0s are A class, some 0s are Novice A; a few old-timers have a two-letter suffix with a number which otherwise would belong to another class.
OK, so the plan is to amalgamate A, A/B, and B into “Full”, and Novice A and Novice B into “Intermediate”, but when we do the call-sign salad will still be there.
I AM NOT “GM6MEN”
“People are justifiably proud of their call-signs”, was a comment in one objection to my initial proposals. Following amateur convention, the writer signed his named and appended the call-sign of his station, as if it were an OBE.
Let me say I share his pride. When I was young, I had two rather idle ambitions; one was to ride a motorcycle, and the other was to have my own radio station. They were not big ambitions, but I never thought I would achieve either. Now a BMW R1150R is my daily transport. As for radio, since I gained (self-taught) distinctions in both parts of the RAE, I have operated my station on thirteen amateur bands, using FM, AM, CW, SSB, RTTY, ATV, and Packet. I have talked round the world on satellites, on the ionosphere using antennas I built myself, on internet gateways. I have lugged microwave gear up mountains. I have had one or two minor “firsts”, and have a handful of awards. I haven’t got them hanging up, but in my own way I’m very proud.
Nevertheless, I am not GM6MEN, any more than I “am” MM3BCP or GM1GHZ. GM6MEN is the call sign of the station of which I am the licensee (check your own license, if you don’t believe me). It is only a call-sign, when all is said and done. I like it, I am used to it, I would miss it if it went. NEVERTHELESS, for the greater good, I would sacrifice it!
If it was replaced by another call-sign, that would not blot out the fun and the achievements I have enjoyed up to now. How could it?
IS THIS GUY SERIOUS?
Yes. But one of our problems as a group of people is that we take ourselves too seriously. I take the subject seriously - not myself.
WHY DO HAMS LOOK DOWN ON EACH OTHER?
This beats me, but they do!
For as long as I can remember - since the day in fact when someone introduced me to the term “G6 prat” to describe a new “B” license-holder - I have been aware that there is a minority of amateurs who look down on those who have fewer “qualifications” than they have. For most of the time this minority has had a “down” on anyone who had not passed the morse test, particularly on those who were also relative newcomers, and particularly on anyone who had not passed the morse test who questioned its usefulness. This minority was more than a mere handful, and what they lacked in numbers they made up for in vociferousness. They made their contempt for their “less qualified” fellow-amateurs known on the air, on packet bulletin-boards, on internet discussion groups, in letters to RadCom, in private conversation over pints of ale, and, for all I know, on the back of toilet doors!
They were always on the look-out for someone new about whom to form a prejudice. Hence as late as 2002, someone was heard to remark - on air - “I’m not going to speak to any foundation licensees, they’re not real amateurs!”
I am glad to say that this minority is dwarfed by hams of genuine goodwill, but nonetheless they are a thorn in the body of the hobby. I for one wish they would go away, but I would not banish them from the kindly influence of the rest of us, and I continue to hope that their prejudices will be nullified eventually by their opening their eyes and preparing to be tolerant and helpful (but I am not going to hold my breath!http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif.
However, my planned reform of the call-sign system in this country will, by removing the apparent differences in our call signs, make it difficult to form such an instant prejudice. Our only criterion for forming an opinion about another amateur would be, “Is he or she doing his best?” Our privileges were granted to us for “self-training”, after all.
“IT CAN’T BE DONE”
It is commonly thought to be impossible to reorganise the entire amateur call sign system of a whole country. Here are several reasons why this view is nonsense:
1. Lithuania
2. Latvia
3. Estonia
4. Belarus
5. Ukraine
6. Georgia
7. Armenia
8. Azerbaijan
9. Kazakhstan
10. Uzbekistan
11. Kirghizstan
12. Turkmenistan
13. Tajikistan
You may be able to think of some more.
ANALYSIS OF CALL SIGN SERIES as at 31/12/2002
Prefix Availability
M0 Partially allocated
M1 Partially allocated
M2 Available
M3 Partially allocated
M4 Available
M5 Partially allocated
M6 Available
M7 Available
M8 Available
M9 Available
G0 Fully allocated
G1 Fully Allocated
G2 Fully allocated, but partially available due to “natural wastage” (this is one of the oldest allocations, and many of the licensees are now “silent key”)
G3 Fully allocated
G4 Fully allocated
G5 Partially allocated - the old “foreign amateur” allocation
G6 Fully allocated
G7 Fully allocated
G8 Fully allocated
G9 Available (as I recall, however, this range used to be reserved for non-amateur experimental stations)
PROPOSED NUMERICAL AREAS
No. Allocation
0 Unallocated sector as at “day 1” could be used for, say, the Orkneys, Shetlands, Outer Hebrides, Scilly Isles, &c. Sector in use could be phased in, if necessary, after a 5 year moratorium on the re-use of call-signs that were in use at the time of change-over.
1 Ditto.
2 Scotland, region 1. Potential for 17000+ population (M2). #G2, if needed, could be phased in after 5 years moratorium on re-use of old prefix allocation. Call signs which were currently un-used at day 1 would be allocated first, followed, if eventually proved necessary, by those which were still in use before day 1.
3 Channel Islands. #The population is reasonably small, and the first letter of the suffix could be used to preserve the difference between the current Guernsey and Jersey calls.
4 Scotland, region 2 (M4). #G4, if needed, could be phased in after 5 years moratorium on re-use of old prefix allocation.
5 Isle of Man (M5 as available, G5, as available)
6 Northern Ireland (M6)
7 Wales (M7)
8 England, region 3. Potential for 17000+ population (on M8 alone; G8, if needed, could be phased in after 5 years moratorium on old call-signs).
9 England, regions 1 and 2. Potential for 17000+ population (M9) and 17000+ population (G9).
IS THERE ANY NEED FOR A SECOND LETTER IN THE PREFIX?
Probably not. There are enough number and letter combinations to go round, and by the time the system is in place, it would be possible for any listener to recognise the license class of the operator by consulting, for example, a web-site.
But if it becomes necessary, we have a choice of twenty-six second letters to denote license classes (if we really must; but an important part of this reform is to nullify the snobbery and hostility of a vociferous minority which has fouled our hobby for many years!http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif, repeaters, digipeaters, gateways, special event stations, club stations, dx-peditions, contest stations, &c. &c.
HOW WILL THIS AFFECT THE QSL BUREAU?
Having a five-year period during which no existing call-sign can be used would give enough time for bureaux around the world to clear cards currently circulating in the system. During that five-year period, sub-managers can easily be allocated to the new call-signs. The actual volume of cards handled will not increase, other than by the process of new licensees being granted new call-signs, as happens currently.
AM I OPEN TO ARGUMENT?
These proposals are not chiselled in stone. If anyone comes up with a better solution to the call-sign muddle, either as amendments to my suggestions, or as a totally different systematic approach, then I will be glad that there has been a response to this stimulus.
I will gladly take on board any amendment for which I can see merit. If I don’t take it on board, I fully endorse the right of whomever came up with it to argue it elsewhere!
I am not open to “argument” which says simply, “This is patent drivel”, or “This is the product of such muddled thinking that it is not worthy of a reply”! Anyone who says such things has no argument, only their own prejudices!
I am open to argument which says, “This is patent drivel, because a., b., c., and d, which are evidenced by e., f., g. and h.” I might wish for a tadge more politeness from the opponent, but I endorse his or her right to back up their opinion with arguable facts.
“Let a thousand flowers bloom. Let a thousand schools of thought contend!”
Mao Zedong
At the end of the day, when my proposals are eventually taken seriously, they will inevitably be considered by people in some committee or other. They will take my thoroughbred racehorse of a suggestion and re-draft it as a camel - but at least a camel can run, and can run through the Sahara!
“AND FINALLY, ESTHER……..”
My sincere good wishes to all, supporter or opponent. May you enjoy “playing radio”.
Paul Thompson # # (“I am not a number - I am a free man!”)