Amateur radio call signs of Australia
Encyclopedia
Amateur radio or ham radio
call signs
are unique identifier
s for the 19,500 licensed operators in Australia
. Call signs
are regulated internationally by the ITU
as well as nationally by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) which is Australia’s regulator for broadcasting, administering spectrum use through the provisions of the Radio-communications Act 1992.
The Wireless Institute of Australia has since 2 March 2009 taken responsibility for the management of amateur station call signs.
has assigned Australia the following call sign blocks for all radio communication, broadcasting or transmission:
While not directly related to call signs, the International Telecommunication Union
(ITU) further has divided all countries assigned amateur radio prefixes into three regions; Australia is located in ITU Region 3. It is assigned ITU Zones 55, 58 and 59, with the Pacific Islands in Australian jurisdiction in Zone 60.
Australia is assigned CQ Zones 29 & 30.
Wireless experimenters were in most states by 1897, and the first list of call signs and licensees is from 1911. In 1912 the first system of a designated range for each state was issued by the PMG Department based on an XAA-XZZ block of letters. When all the three letter call signs were issued, provision was made to expland to four (eg. XAAA). In 1914 a numeral was inserted after the 'X' to indicate the state (eg. XAA became X1AA).
In 1927 the Washington Radiotelegraph Conference decreed that Australia should use the prefix range of VHA-VMZ for communication identification. However, amateur radio itself was not subject to this designation, and 'OA' became effective for amateurs from 1 February 1927. "O" was for Oceania and "A" for Australia. By 1929 Australia began the practice of using 'VK' for amateurs as well.
With a lack of official issuance, though, some radio experimenters continued with various formats such as XA-4CD, OA2-BH, VK.2AK and VK-4SU. There was even VK3D.L. and VK3—H--W.
VK#xx and VK#Axx call signs were issued to amateurs.
Changes within Australia happened according to this table:
Amateur radio
Amateur radio is the use of designated radio frequency spectrum for purposes of private recreation, non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and emergency communication...
call signs
Call Signs
Call Signs is the third studio album by Melbourne electronica band Black Cab, released in 2009.The album evokes the atmosphere of the former totalitarian state of East Germany, set to a soundtrack of post-punk and atmospheric electronics. In an interview, the band explained the album's sound was...
are unique identifier
Unique identifier
With reference to a given set of objects, a unique identifier is any identifier which is guaranteed to be unique among all identifiers used for those objects and for a specific purpose...
s for the 19,500 licensed operators in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Call signs
Call Signs
Call Signs is the third studio album by Melbourne electronica band Black Cab, released in 2009.The album evokes the atmosphere of the former totalitarian state of East Germany, set to a soundtrack of post-punk and atmospheric electronics. In an interview, the band explained the album's sound was...
are regulated internationally by the ITU
Itu
Itu is an old and historic municipality in the state of São Paulo in Brazil. The population in 2009 was 157,384 and the area is 641.68 km². The elevation is 583 m. This place name comes from the Tupi language, meaning big waterfall. Itu is linked with the highway numbered the SP-75 and are flowed...
as well as nationally by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) which is Australia’s regulator for broadcasting, administering spectrum use through the provisions of the Radio-communications Act 1992.
The Wireless Institute of Australia has since 2 March 2009 taken responsibility for the management of amateur station call signs.
Call sign blocks for telecommunication
The International Telecommunication UnionInternational Telecommunication Union
The International Telecommunication Union is the specialized agency of the United Nations which is responsible for information and communication technologies...
has assigned Australia the following call sign blocks for all radio communication, broadcasting or transmission:
| Call sign block | |
|---|---|
| AXA - AXZ | Australia |
| VHA - VNZ | Australia |
| VZA - VZZ | Australia |
While not directly related to call signs, the International Telecommunication Union
International Telecommunication Union
The International Telecommunication Union is the specialized agency of the United Nations which is responsible for information and communication technologies...
(ITU) further has divided all countries assigned amateur radio prefixes into three regions; Australia is located in ITU Region 3. It is assigned ITU Zones 55, 58 and 59, with the Pacific Islands in Australian jurisdiction in Zone 60.
Australia is assigned CQ Zones 29 & 30.
Call sign assignments within Australia
The usual prefix for Australian amateur call signs is VK. The numeral that separates the prefix from the suffix indicates the state/territory in which the operator is licensed.| Numeral | State/territory | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ø | Antarctica | ||
| 1 | Australian Capital Territory | ||
| 2 | New South Wales | ||
| 3 | Victoria | ||
| 4 | Queensland | ||
| 5 | South Australia | ||
| 6 | Western Australia | ||
| 7 | Tasmania | ||
| 8 | Northern Territory | ||
| 9 | Australian External Territories | VK9C | Cocos Island |
| VK9N | Norfolk Island | ||
| VK9W | World | ||
| VK9X | Christmas Island | ||
| VK9L | Lord Howe Island | ||
| VK9M | Mellish Reef | ||
Operator class call signs
- Advanced Licences - indicated by the following structure: VK# xx, VK# Axx, VK# Bxx, VK# Cxx, VK# Dxx, VK# Exx, VK# Fxx, VK# Gxx, VK# Ixx, VK# Jxx, VK# Kxx, VK# Sxx, VK# Txx, VK# Uxx, VK# Wxx, VK# Xxx, VK# Yxx, VK# Zxx, VK# RAN, VK2RAS, VK# WIA-WIZ (WIA), VK# GGA-GGZ (Guides Aust), VK# SAA-SDZ (Scouts Assoc.), VK7OTC, VK# IYA - IYZ (International years)
- Standard Licences - VK# Hxx, VK# Lxx, VK# Mxx, VK# Nxx, VK# Pxx, VK# Vxx
- Foundation Licences - (four-letter suffixes beginning with 'F') VK# Fxxx
- Repeater call signs - VK# Rxx
- Beacon call signs - VK# RSx, VK# RTx
AX prefix
A special event prefix of 'AX' can be substituted for 'VK' on occasions of national significance (eg. Sydney Olympic Games) and each year on Australia Day, Anzac day and world telecommunications day.VI prefix
A special event prefix of 'VI' can be substituted for 'VK' on occasions of state/territory significance.Overseas visiting amateurs
Visiting amateurs who qualify can use their home call sign, and attach a '/VK' after it. If a visiting amateur is issued an Australian call sign, they can combine both (eg. VK1AAA/WA7AAA).Call sign history
David Burger has written the definitive history of call sign allocation in the country.Wireless experimenters were in most states by 1897, and the first list of call signs and licensees is from 1911. In 1912 the first system of a designated range for each state was issued by the PMG Department based on an XAA-XZZ block of letters. When all the three letter call signs were issued, provision was made to expland to four (eg. XAAA). In 1914 a numeral was inserted after the 'X' to indicate the state (eg. XAA became X1AA).
In 1927 the Washington Radiotelegraph Conference decreed that Australia should use the prefix range of VHA-VMZ for communication identification. However, amateur radio itself was not subject to this designation, and 'OA' became effective for amateurs from 1 February 1927. "O" was for Oceania and "A" for Australia. By 1929 Australia began the practice of using 'VK' for amateurs as well.
With a lack of official issuance, though, some radio experimenters continued with various formats such as XA-4CD, OA2-BH, VK.2AK and VK-4SU. There was even VK3D.L. and VK3—H--W.
1947 Atlantic City convention and subsequent
As of 19 September 1947 Australia adopted the ITU international call sign protocol and recognized amateur radio stations as valid licensees. The ITU issued Australia with the AXA-AXZ, VHA-VNZ and VZA-VZZ blocks.VK#xx and VK#Axx call signs were issued to amateurs.
Changes within Australia happened according to this table:
| Callsign | Date | State/territory/note |
|---|---|---|
| VK#Zxx | 1954 | limited to VHF and above |
| VKØ | 1955? | Antarctica |
| P29 | 1972 | Papua New Guinea changed from VK9 |
| VK#Nxx | 1975 | Novice licence |
| VI, AX | 1979 | first use, also VL, VM, VN and VZ allowed |
| VK#Jxx | 1995 | Intermediate licence |
| VK#xx | 2004 | 2-letter suffix, advanced operators |
| VK#Fxxx | 2006 | 4-letter suffix, foundation licence |
| VK9 | 2006 | individual islands formally identified by suffix |
Call sign history in the territories
- Christmas Island – ZC3 (pre-1940), Japan (1940 to 1944), 9V (1945 to 1958), VK9X (from 1958).
- Cocos Keeling island – ZC2 (pre-1940), VK9Y (1955 to 1992), VK9C (from 1992).
- Papua New Guinea – VK4 / VK9 / P29 (from 1972).
- Nauru – VK9 then C2 (since 31 January 1968).
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