Question for anyone with an Amateur Radio Licence?

[Watson-Watt]

I hold an Amateur Radio Licence, although I have not been active for a considerable time. This morning I received a letter re a proposal to 'vary a WT Act Licence', ie additional frequency allocations.

I might have missed something in the very small print, but my call sign prefix appears to have changed from a G8 to a GE8.

I've looked at the Ofcom website and conducted a number of searches, but can't find anything to suggest that the prefix has changed.

It might well be that it is a typo and nothing more significant. If anyone can shed any light on the matter, please would you do so?

Many thanks.

[shakysen]

the only thing Iv'e heard is 146mhz to147mhz

[G4UMW]

In the past the authorities have used the GE prefix to discriminate between individual and club licences on their database. The extra character was not meant to be visible to, or used by the licensee.

And as I type this I have received the same letter with the GE prefix on my callsign!

[Watson-Watt]

Thanks for that.

There's a lot of legalese, mostly concerning 2300Mhz and 3400Mhz bands plus some reference to operating in the 5Mhz MoD band.

Those variations are unlikely to concern me for some while as I do not se myself becoming active in the near future. It was just a bit of a puzzle to see 'GE8' at the beginning of my callsign. Probably a typo but thought I'd ask.

Curiouser and curiouser.

[Watson-Watt]

Whoops!  Simultaneous post.

G4UMW, thanks for that. Things are becoming clearer.

[G4UMW]

Update - I contacted Ofcom who confirmed that the revised callsign was an error. They will update their website (eventually!) to reflect this fact.

[Watson-Watt]

G4UMW...

Thanks for the update. I'm grateful to you.

I'm somewhat out of touch with amateur radio, so I never really know what important matters have passed me by.

One day I'll probably have another go at getting back on the air, but it all seems to be data modes and repeaters of every stripe and hue now

Some serious reading on the matter is called for.

Thanks again.

[G4UMW]

Watson-Watt (now there's a name from the past!)...

You're very welcome. You may find this link of interest.

I do more listening than transmitting, mainly due to antenna restrictions where I live. Most of my transmitting activity is on QRP CW. As a former Merchant Navy Radio Officer I speak better Morse than English!

73,

Rob/G4UMW

[Watson-Watt]

Thanks for the link, Rob.

I think listening on the HF bands once again would help to ease me back into the hobby. I'll add that to the ever growing list of things to do!

73,

Nick, G8UYC (Not QTHR)

[birdie]

I do more listening than transmitting, mainly due to antenna restrictions where I live. Most of my transmitting activity is on QRP CW. As a former Merchant Navy Radio Officer I speak better Morse than English!

73,

Rob/G4UMW

Rob, Is Morse in Engrish or Chinese ?

[mhm]

I do more listening than transmitting, mainly due to antenna restrictions where I live. Most of my transmitting activity is on QRP CW. As a former Merchant Navy Radio Officer I speak better Morse than English!

73,

Rob/G4UMW

Rob, Is Morse in Engrish or Chinese ?

Engrish ?

[G4UMW]

We were taught (and used) the International Morse code - letters A-Z, figures 0-9, punctuation marks and a few accented letters (Â, Á, CH, É, Ñ, Ö, Ü). Countries whose language used a unique alphabet (Soviet Union, China, Japan etc) had their own versions of the code which were only used when communicating with other stations whose native language it was. All other comms would use the International code. Of course there were also the Q codes, which mean the same in any language...