Ham radio news!
Back when I first got back into radio, one of the first things I did was apply for and get my original callsign as a vanity call. I liked it. It was easy to send in Morse code (which is becoming my primary operating mode).
When callsigns in the US are issued, they're in a 2x3 format -- 2 letters, a number, 3 letters. There are some limitations as to what those letters and numbers can be because certain prefixes are assigned to different countries. When you get a higher class of license, you can choose a shorter call. The most common here in the US are 1x3 and 2x2 calls. There's a limited number of callsigns available for the highest class of license that are 1x2 and 2x1 format. For 1x2, the first letter must be K, N, or W. For the 2x1 callsigns, A is also an option as the first letter. These callsigns come available rarely since there are so few of them. All amateurs who apply on the day they're available are put into a pool and one is chosen at random.
And one year to the day after I passed my Amateur Extra test, I received a license grant for a 1x2 callsign!
I'm a little sad to let KA2ESK go. It was the callsign I was issued when I was first licensed and I was happy to get it back and it's served me well. But I'm really very happy to get K2FI as my new callsign. Not only is it shorter, it's GREAT for sending in Morse code, which is becoming my primary operating mode.
See you on the air!
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