Do you display your call sign?

[W7WV]

This happened to me yesterday, I thought I would share it here. Do you display your call sign on your car?

My wife and I were just getting out of our SUV at the local home improvement store and a gentleman about my age said “you must have had that call sign for a long time”? I turned to find a man about my age that had made the statement. He was referring to my license plate on our car which showed my call sign, W7WV.

I told him that as a matter of fact I have only had the call sign for a few years now. He explained that he got a ham license, along with several others, when he was young living in the Phoenix area about 1958. He was only active just a short time as a younger man.

I explained that I first got my license in the 1970’s and I too had gone inactive and only had my license back some 3 years now. I updated him on the requirements of getting his license back today, WARC bands, code speed reduction for qualifications, and many other things. He really got excited and he could not believe all the changes anymore than I could when I looked back into it.

He explained to me that his Mother still had his station that he had, all packed away all these years. He said it was all Heathkit, that he had put together himself. Some pack rat she is.

We talked quite a bit more, while my very patient wife browsed in the nursery at the home improvement store I might add, and I invited him by to see my station sometime and get more information. I also provided him information about this site, how to see if his old call sign was available, practice tests, etc.

He had that old gleam in his eyes and something tells me that this will be another returning ham radio very shortly, after many years of absence. I hope to hear from him soon and to help him get back on the air.

This conversation all started just because I had my call sign on my license plate. There is nothing on an AZ plate to tell anyone it has anything to do with amateur radio, but many do ask what it stands for. You just never know what interests it will stir up.

Yep, like you, I proudly display my ham callsign on my vehicle license plates. I also managed to get the callsign on my ID badge at work AND on my cubicle wall label.

It's gratifying to meet someone that was active (or is licensed but inactive) and get to ragchew and help rekindle the flame for them!

The last two were done because there are a LOT of hams at the facility where I work. More times than I can count someone has stopped me and said 'OH! K3FT! I've talke to you on ____ (Fill in callsign)"

{Plus it's just a good conversation starter when non-hams ask me 'What's KAY THREE FEET?' (They think the 'FT' is the shorthand for 'FEET') and that makes me laugh and I get to tell them about ham radio.}

Plus there are other places my callsign shows up, but I'll not bore youwith that.. suffice it to say.. I'm PROUD of being a ham and surely enjoy displaying what I earned and enjoy doing.

There are others at my office who do the same thing so tis not isolated.

[n5tjd]

I don't have Amateur plates on my truck, though I do qualify (I have a mobile rig in the truck). However, I do have a license plate border I got from another ham that says "Making Friends With HAM Radio."

I have let a few people take a "tour" of my mobile station, and even if they are not interested in becoming an amateur they do admit it sounds fun, by far what they find most interesting is listening to the satellites...

My shack only has a few pieces of equipement, but the most interest is in the digital modes (PSK31, and especially SSTV) and looking at my collection of QSL cards I have displayed on my wall.

[kb5yue]

Yep! I do. My Dodge pick-em-up truck has the amateur call sign licencse plates, and it has sparked some conversations and questions about amateur radio. The Texas plates indicate "Radio Opr" on the plates as well as the callsign. Who knows maybe I have spawned a growth in the HAM community somewhere. Hope so.

[KC0REY]

My Bronco II has Amateur Plates. Having them has made me a more considerate driver. I don't want anybody to say, "That darned HAM Operator just cut me off" or something similar.

[n4ems]

Right now, I do not display my call sign on my vehicles. When I lived in MI I had my old call (KC8MAS) on my car but since I moved to FL, I have not gotten a call plate.

Since I am due to renew here in the next couple of months, maybe now would be the perfect time! Sounds like a plan.

Ta Ta for Now-

Eric
N4DMJ

[KB1KIX]

don't have the plate, but I do have a nicely embroidered wool baseball cap.

OK, now that I feel like a total radio geek with a callsign hat, LOL.

Jonathan

As a teen I was a tech(WA9PBY) and had it on the plate of my trusty old '59 chev. A lot of older guys,commented: "That was a great old plane." Not knowing what they were talking about I looked it up and there it was, the PBY Catalina "flying boat". As it turned out, I found out these guys were WW2 vets and knew exactly what they were talking about. Turns out it was a great scouting plane as well as a rescue at sea craft that actually doubled as a BOMBER and was responsible for a lot of U-BOAT sinkings as well. I'm debating getting it back under the vanity program. 73 Patrick

[nx6d]

Finally, a topic near and dear to my heart!

I have had ham plates on vehicles now for the last 20 years. As a matter of fact, I like ham plates so much, I collect them!

http://wx7b.bloki.com/

WX7B

[n3ijw]

cool site David! nice work.

yes, i moved and had no contacts. One day i drove by the beach and there was a truck with a vanity plate, had a ham radio call sign on it. I walked up and asked if she was a ham, yes indeed. I asked where i could renew my license, but she didn't know (hihihi).

I just got my plate for my car. I love paying extra for it too. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif

Just got my ticket 2 weeks ago.............waiting on my new plates now. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[ai4ep]

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif I would NEVER have a tag made with my call sign on it, since I am soo CHEAP !

[w5klb]

Don't have a license plate with my call sign but I do have my call sign on the back windshield of my pickup in 4 inch reflective white letters. You can't miss it-it's highly visible even at night.

Yep, I like to "advertise" and talk up the hobby quite a bit.

[ae4fa]

Yes! AE4FA and below it " AMATEUR RADIO" are displayed proudly on the back of my truck - yeah, the one with the big, ugly bugcatcher antenna on it.

Great conversation starter . . .

And, here in SC, the additional cost is a whopping $2ºº! All the other vanity plates run from $17ºº up.

[K3XR]

Have call plates on two of the three vehicles I own. #K3XR and K3XR-2. #That is the max you can apply for in Pa. Often meet other hams as a result.

DAN, K3XR

[K7FE]

I currently have my K7FE call sign plates on my Nevada vehicle and my California vehicle. #Some times they are parked beside each other and people ask me how I was able to have the same plate characters. #I point out that they are from different States.

#My first "7" call plate was obtained in 1961 and for a quite a few years I also held a "second station" call sign, WA6ZAX for use when in California. #I did have call plates for the "6" call also on several California cars. #

I love it when someone sends a quick "Hi" with their horn in Morse code as they pass by. #(.... #..)

73,
Terry, K7FE

[WA2ZDY]

I don't have my call advertised ANYWHERE the public, especially my neighbours, can see it.

I learned long ago that they can CLAIM all they want that you come through their phone/tv/stereo, but if they have your callsign, you're pretty well dead in the water.

Why GIVE it to them?

Any hams who pass me on the road will recognise the antennas for what they are.

[K3UD]

Yes, I have it displayed in large white letters on the back of my Chevy Astro Van. My wife cut the letters freehand from a piece of white Monocote (Model Airplane covering) and did a real nice job.

I get a lot of questons asking what it means, and sometimes I get to meet other hams who see it and introduce themselves.

73
George
K3UD

[ai4ep]

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif no need in a rear tag with CALL SIGN on it...by the time they can read it they are tailgating and afixing to PASS ya any way

and so far as one on the FRONT.. by the time they can read it they are too close and going on by at 70 + miles per hour.

I have seen them on other folks VEHICLES, but what FREQUENCY do they stay on to yell at them on ?

Plus even if they are on the repeater or fm simplex, they dont have time to talk ( get gas, out at wally-world, back home, any thing for an excuse )... so why try ?

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif buncha no-code snobs ! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif ... think they own the world with their $79 4 watt 2 meter HT !! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif

---ai4ep--- have a good day !! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Sad when someone is so concerned about what the 'neighbors might think or do' that they choose to hide their activities under a blanket of anonymity. :(

ANYONE, ANYWHERE, can 'claim' anything they like but that means little.

I have lived in separate houses, apartments, 'restricted antenna areas', etc.. and not once.. in 35 years have ANY of my neighbors 'claimed' anything beyond asking me what my car tag meant. One guy DID mention that he was getting some TVI, but it was in a 'I'm confused about this, I see you have ham radio tags, maybe you can help me figure it out!" questioning tone. (BTW.. I did help him. It was a problem with cable TV installation. He got help, I made a friend! HI)

I guess folks who have the mindset of being afraid of what the neighbors MIGHT do must also keep all their activites totally hidden and quiet lest the neighbors find out and MAYBE ask a question. Ahh well.

Don't understand it myserf.. but guess there's a reason.

I display my callsign wtih pride. I earned it, I enjoy people knowing what I'm 'into' and besides.. as many have noted.
I've met a LOT of hams/ex-hams over the years. Some I knew/know.. some were off the air but through conversation they got BACK ON THE AIR!

Plus.. you never know what you'll learn. I met one guy who saw my plates. We started talking. Turns out he was a Merchant marine CW op like me and we spent the next 2 hours talking about that!

So, advertising is GOOD!

73
K3FT

[k6pme]

I just paid $324 to register a vehicle. Vanity plates are more. I think not!

[ke4mej]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (K3FT @ June 23 2004,08:17)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Sad when someone is so concerned about what the 'neighbors might think or do' that they choose to hide their activities under a blanket of anonymity. #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Very true, in my opinion, and an excellent post on the subject, K3FT!

I don't have callsign plates because my vehicle is a motorcycle, and this state doesn't have callsign plates for bikes...but i &quot;advertise&quot; as many other ways as i can.

I'm retired Army, so i have also lived and operated in tight quarters...at one point even had a 40 meter dipole in the attic of government housing. #The way it was positioned, it stretched above the ceilings of my neighbors on both sides! #I've always made a point of talking to my neighbors about my radio activities, and i tell them to let me know if i ever cause any RFI. #I've only had two complaints through the years. #One was in the government housing at Fort Benning - i was 59 on the neighbor's cordless phone. #After i showed her the Part 95 notice on her phone, she never said another word even though i know i gave her fits sometimes...i was net control for a MARS net three nights a week at that point. #Guess it helped that i handled a lot of messages for her to her husband in Korea.

My other RFI complaint from a neighbor was recent...he asked me what he could do to stop the interference to his cable TV. #I grabbed the scanner and started walking around the neighborhood, and sure enough, there was some very strong leakage. #It took a few calls to the local cable company to convince them i knew what i was talking about, but finally, another problem solved.

Whew, sorry, didn't mean to be so long winded - but the &quot;hiding in the shadows&quot; post kind of bothered me!

73
Chuck

[kd7eze]

Since you can't have 2 license plates on your vehicle, I don't have a callsign plate. I am a firefighter, and I have firefighter plates. However, I do proudly display my callsign on both the front and back of my truck. Also, the 10 or so antennas probably gives one some clue as to what I do. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[N7AAO]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (K3FT @ June 21 2004,10:33)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Yep, like you, I proudly display my ham callsign on my vehicle license plates. I also managed to get the callsign on my ID badge at work AND on my cubicle wall label.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
I have a name-pin that I had made at a hamfest stuck in my cubicle wall just under my nameplate. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to request having my call sign on the &quot;official&quot; nameplate or my badge. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

--David, N7AAO

[N7AAO]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (K3FT @ June 23 2004,08:17)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I display my callsign wtih pride. I earned it.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Me too! I worked hard for my Extra, you're darned right I am proud of it, and while I'm not pushy about it (as in street-corner evangelists), neither am I shy about it.

Since I am known around the office as a ham, I tend to be the one that gets questions about radios... usually about how to get the ball game to come in better in this RFI-laden environment (PCs and monitors in nearly every cubicle, fluorescent lighting, stuff like that).

[K4JSR]

Am I proud of my ham call? Naw! Not even a little bit.
That is why my three sons are named (in order):
James
Stephen
Richard

I am fortunate that I live in the Great State of Georgia where
ham radio license tags are free! This has not always been the
case, but when I went in for my new tag this year there was
no tag charge! Yes, I had to pay my ad valorem tax on the
vehicle, but *NO* fees for the tag itself!
I would invite all of you to move to Georgia for this benefit
but I do not want the added traffic jamming or QRM! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
To those of you who live in states that like to tax everything,
including ham tags, my deepest sympathy.
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif

73, Cal K4JSR

[k9zmd]

Didn't have a ham plate in Washington in the 80's, but did have the call sign displayed in the back window of my car. #That is, until the day my wife was unnerved by the guy who followed her down the road, honking &quot;hi&quot; on his horn &amp; wildly waving a microphone out the side window!

The only question I've ever gotten about my current ham radio plate was, &quot;Say, are you a veterinarian?&quot; #

Just for info, California's ham plates cost much less than vanity plates, and there is no added cost at renewal time. #

Gary, K9ZMD
Palmdale, CA

[KC5SAS]

I have a ham plate on my car. I'm a firefighter and EMT and could get plates for either of those certifications but I got the Ham plate several years before getting into FF and EMS so I've kept it. I plan on ordering a bracket to go on the plate which will say &quot;Monitoring 146.52&quot; which I monitor either on the radio or on a scanner in the car when I'm driving.
Steve

[KG4RUL]

I look on Call Letter Plates as the most exclusive 'Vanity Plate' that one can have. #Only one in the whole country and likely, in the whole world!

Dennis #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[w5zzq]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (WX7B @ June 21 2004,19:06)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Finally, a topic near and dear to my heart!

I have had ham plates on vehicles now for the last 20 years. As a matter of fact, I like ham plates so much, I collect them!

http://wx7b.bloki.com/

WX7B[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Nice site. I too have the plates with my call on it. I'm proud of mine.....Larry http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[KI4FCP]

I have mine and NC only charges 10 bucks for ham tags versus 35 for other vanity plates

[K7FE]

Yes. # # # # # See here # # #Mobil (http://www.vcars.org/)
73,
Terry, K7FE

[AB8RU]

well In Michigan we can get either the Famous blue plate or the Great Lakes Splendor that says Amateur Operator I started old blue but new call I decided to pay the $5.00 extra for the Splendor plate I do get hams coming up to me.

Still the center coil for 10M. people thinks its a 11M. stick.

I just tell em I am a Ham also MI people Download MV-74 to PDF file away you go. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[KD5VHF]

I don't have the plates yet but I did just put a custom &quot;bumper sticker&quot; with my call and local repeater freq.s on the back window of my truck. I had a good experience with this place Custom Bumper Stickers (http://www.makestickers.com/home.asp) . I ordered them last Thursday morning and had the sticker on my truck for field day. That is what I call SERVICE both from the company and the post office. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.eham.net/data/profile/kd5vhf/photo.thumb.jpeg

[AB9HR]

I don't know. Maybe it is just me but I live in Chicago, and I don't care to have a callsign on my plates. That is inviting someone to come take my gear and pawn it off for a couple bucks.