Amateur radio call signs of New Zealand
Encyclopedia
Amateur radio or ham radio
call signs
are unique identifier
s for the 6,000 licensed operators in New Zealand
. Call signs
are regulated internationally by the ITU
as well as nationally by The Ministry of Economic Development. The latter is responsible for providing policy advice to Government on the allocation of New Zealand's radio spectrum to support, efficient, reliable and responsive wireless telecommunications and broadcasting infrastructure.
has assigned New Zealand 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; New Zealand is located in ITU Region 3. New Zealand is assigned ITU Zone 60.
Of these prefixes, 1 is currently assigned (ZL) for normal amateur radio operation. ZM has been assigned for special events for a time-limited period, and E5 is being assigned in the Cook Islands.
Although ZL1 to ZL4 used to be issued based on the operator's location within New Zealand, this is no longer the case.
New Zealand is assigned DXCC
entity #170. The suffixes can be from one to four letters in the A-W, AA-WZ, AAA-WZZ and AAAA-WZZZ blocks.
New Zealand assigns two-numeral call signs for the ZL and ZK prefixes as well, sometimes where the two digits represent the number of years an amateur have been active. In these cases, the first digit is technically the separating numeral and the second digit is the first character of the suffix. Obviously, this separating numeral no longer corresponds to a geographical region of the country. These are used on a temporary basis.
For instance, an amateur who has been active for 30 years and currently is assigned call sign ZL1xxx can operate as ZL3Øxxx for up to three months.
Similarly a club with call ZL4xxx which has been established for 23 years can operate as ZL23xxx for up to three months.
In 1927 the International Telecommunication Union Conference in Washington (D.C., USA) established internally agreed upon call sign prefixes - New Zealand was assigned 'OZ'. In 1929 this was expanded to the ZK-ZM letter block, with New Zealand opting for the ZL prefix for land based stations. 'OZ' by 1927 was reassigned to Denmark.
In 1969 the ZM prefix was allowed to celebrate the Captain James Cook bicentenary. In 1974 the prefix was allowed again to celebrate the Commonwealth Games, as well as in 1989 when the Games returned.
In 1981 the ZLØ prefix was allowed for visitors to New Zealand.
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 6,000 licensed operators in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. 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 Ministry of Economic Development. The latter is responsible for providing policy advice to Government on the allocation of New Zealand's radio spectrum to support, efficient, reliable and responsive wireless telecommunications and broadcasting infrastructure.
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 New Zealand the following call sign blocks for all radio communication, broadcasting or transmission:
| Call sign block | |
|---|---|
| E5A - E5Z | New Zealand - Cook Islands |
| ZKA - ZMZ | New Zealand |
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; New Zealand is located in ITU Region 3. New Zealand is assigned ITU Zone 60.
Call sign assignments for amateur radio
There are 4 possible 2-letter prefixes and 40 2-letter/1-number prefixes available to New Zealand operators based on the ITU blocks (ZK, ZL, ZM and E5). This provides for about 720,000 three-character-suffix call signs and significantly more if numerals comprise either or both of the first two characters of the suffix. A further 18.8 million 4-character call signs are potentially available, as well as considerably more when digits are assigned in the suffix.Of these prefixes, 1 is currently assigned (ZL) for normal amateur radio operation. ZM has been assigned for special events for a time-limited period, and E5 is being assigned in the Cook Islands.
Although ZL1 to ZL4 used to be issued based on the operator's location within New Zealand, this is no longer the case.
New Zealand is assigned DXCC
DX Century Club
The DX Century Club, or DXCC, is an amateur radio operating award earned by making contact with 100 or more geographic entities around the world....
entity #170. The suffixes can be from one to four letters in the A-W, AA-WZ, AAA-WZZ and AAAA-WZZZ blocks.
| Prefixes | Subseries | Purpose | # issued | DCXX Entity # |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZK | 1 - 9 | Niue and Tokelau | 74 | #188 |
| E5A-E5Z | North Cook Island, used to be ZK1/N | 193 | #191 | |
| E5A-E5Z | South Cook Island, used to be ZK1/S | (incl in N. Cook) | #191 | |
| ZL1 | A-W to AAAA-WZZZ | New Zealand | 2,134 | #170 |
| ZL2 | A-W to AAAA-WZZZ | New Zealand | 1,887 | #170 |
| ZL3 | A-W to AAAA-WZZZ | New Zealand | 880 | #170 |
| ZL4 | A-W to AAAA-WZZZ | New Zealand | 556 | #170 |
| ZL5 | A-W to AAAA-WZZZ | Antarctica | 2 | |
| ZL6 | A-W to AAAA-WZZZ | NZART | 16 | #170 |
| ZL7 | A-W to AAAA-WZZZ | Chatham Island | 2 | #034 |
| ZL8 | A-W to AAAA-WZZZ | Kermadec Islands | 1 | #133 |
| ZL9 | A-W to AAAA-WZZZ | Sub-Antarctic territories | 2 | #016 |
| ZLØ | Overseas visitors | #170 | ||
| ZL | 10 - 99 | Temporary Commemorative Callsigns | #170 | |
Use of 'ZM'
The ZM prefix can be substituted for ZL for contests and other commemorative events.Two-numeral call signs
The E5 prefix for the Cook Islands produces two-numeral call signs when the separating numeral is attached. The 'E51' prefix is most often used.New Zealand assigns two-numeral call signs for the ZL and ZK prefixes as well, sometimes where the two digits represent the number of years an amateur have been active. In these cases, the first digit is technically the separating numeral and the second digit is the first character of the suffix. Obviously, this separating numeral no longer corresponds to a geographical region of the country. These are used on a temporary basis.
For instance, an amateur who has been active for 30 years and currently is assigned call sign ZL1xxx can operate as ZL3Øxxx for up to three months.
Similarly a club with call ZL4xxx which has been established for 23 years can operate as ZL23xxx for up to three months.
History of call sign allocation
In 1924, New Zealand was granted the prefix 'Z', and in 1925 the number of licensed amateur reached 100.In 1927 the International Telecommunication Union Conference in Washington (D.C., USA) established internally agreed upon call sign prefixes - New Zealand was assigned 'OZ'. In 1929 this was expanded to the ZK-ZM letter block, with New Zealand opting for the ZL prefix for land based stations. 'OZ' by 1927 was reassigned to Denmark.
In 1969 the ZM prefix was allowed to celebrate the Captain James Cook bicentenary. In 1974 the prefix was allowed again to celebrate the Commonwealth Games, as well as in 1989 when the Games returned.
In 1981 the ZLØ prefix was allowed for visitors to New Zealand.
See also
- Amateur radio international operationAmateur radio international operationAmateur radio international reciprocal operating agreements permit Amateur Radio Operators from one country to operate a station whilst traveling in another without the need to obtain additional licenses or permits....
- Call signsCall SignsCall 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...
- List of New Zealand radio station callsigns
- ITU prefix - amateur and experimental stations
- Amateur radio call signs of KoreaAmateur radio call signs of KoreaAmateur radio or ham radio call signs are unique identifiers for the over 4,000 licensed operators in South Korea with none known in North Korea. Call signs are regulated internationally by the ITU as well as nationally in South Korea by the Korea Communications Commission in the Ministry of...
- Amateur radio call signs of CanadaAmateur radio call signs of CanadaAmateur radio or ham radio call signs are unique identifiers for the 68,000 licensed operators in Canada. Call signs are regulated internationally by the ITU as well as nationally by Industry Canada, which regulates all aspects of amateur radio in the country...
- Amateur radio call signs of RussiaAmateur radio call signs of RussiaAmateur radio or ham radio call signs are unique identifiers for the 24,000 licensed operators in Russia. Call signs are regulated internationally by the ITU as well as nationally by The Ministry of Information Technologies and Communications of the Russian Federation...
- Amateur radio call signs of IrelandAmateur radio call signs of IrelandAmateur radio or ham radio call signs are unique identifiers for the licensed operators in Ireland. Call signs are regulated internationally by the ITU as well as nationally by the An Coimisiún um Rialáil Cumarsáide The latter is responsible for providing policy on the allocation of Ireland's...
- Amateur radio call signs of Great BritainAmateur radio call signs of Great BritainAmateur radio or ham radio call signs are unique identifiers for the 60,000 licensed operators in Great Britain. Call signs are regulated internationally by the ITU as well as nationally by Britain's 'The Office of Communication', known as Ofcom...
- Amateur radio call signs of AustraliaAmateur radio call signs of AustraliaAmateur radio or ham radio call signs are unique identifiers 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 which is Australia’s regulator for broadcasting,...
- Amateur radio call signs of BarbadosAmateur radio call signs of BarbadosAmateur radio or ham radio call signs are unique identifiers for the 315 licensed operators in Barbados. Call signs are regulated internationally by the ITU as well as nationally by the Telecommunications Unit in the Ministry of Energy and Public Utilities....
- Amateur radio call signs of OceaniaAmateur radio call signs of OceaniaAmateur radio or ham radio call signs are unique identifiers for more than 2,500 licensed operators in the western Pacific. Call signs are regulated internationally by the ITU as well as nationally by island national entities, some of which are independent countries and others are under colonial...
- Amateur radio call signs of AntarcticaAmateur radio call signs of AntarcticaAmateur radio or ham radio call signs are unique identifiers for licensed operators in Antarctica. Call signs are regulated internationally by the ITU as well as nationally by governing bodies within each country who may have nationals operating in Antarctica. Call signs may also be issued by a...
- Amateur radio callsigns of MexicoAmateur radio callsigns of MexicoAmateur radio or ham radio call signs are unique identifiers for the 60,000 licensed operators in Mexico. Call signs are regulated internationally by the ITU as well as nationally by the Comision Federal de Telecomunicaciones...
- Amateur radio callsigns of the Middle EastAmateur radio callsigns of the Middle EastAmateur radio or ham radio call signs are unique identifiers for about 9,100 licensed operators in the Middle East. Call signs are regulated internationally by the IInternational Telegraph Union and nationally by local government and international agencies in Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, The...
- Amateur radio call signs of AfricaAmateur radio call signs of AfricaAmateur radio or ham radio is practised by operators holding nationally allocated call signs in African countries or foreign administered territories and other nations or DXCC entities...
- Amateur radio call signs of ArgentinaAmateur radio call signs of ArgentinaAmateur radio or ham radio call signs are unique identifiers for the 37,000 licensed operators in Argentina. Call signs are regulated internationally by the ITU as well as nationally by the Comisión Nacional de Comunicaciones of the Argentine government....
- Amateur radio license