Amateur 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 (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.[1]
Contents |
The International Telecommunication Union has assigned Australia the following call sign blocks for all radio communication, broadcasting or transmission:[2]
| Call sign block | |
|---|---|
| AXA - AXZ | Australia |
| VHA - VNZ | Australia |
| VZA - VZZ | Australia |
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.[3]
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.[4]
| 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 |
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.
A special event prefix of 'VI' can be substituted for 'VK' on occasions of state/territory significance.
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).[5]
David Burger has written the definitive history of call sign allocation in the country.[6]
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[7] decreed that Australia should use the prefix range of VHA-VNZ 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.
As of 19 September 1947 Australia adopted the ITU international[8] 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 |