What use is an F-call?

The name of this segment is meaningful if you are aware of Amateur Radio Licensing in Australia, but if this is all new to you, then I might as well have said, What use is a Flux Capacitor?

Let's start with some generic information. Unlike CB radio, where the license is based on the equipment itself, a so-called Type Approval, that is, if you use a certified CB Radio, you're licensed to use it, Amateur Radio works differently.

In Amateur Radio, the approval is related to a person, they are licensed to be an Amateur and that in turn affords them privileges and responsibilities.

In Australia, there are three basic license types, Foundation, Standard and Advanced. Each license has different requirements and obligations and grants you different privileges. When you obtain a license, you can apply for a callsign that is related to your level of license. The license that can get you on-air in a weekend is the Foundation License and the callsign associated with that starts with VK, which means Australia, a number, related to your location followed by the letter "F" and then three letters.

So, my callsign, VK6FLAB tells you that I'm in Australia, the 6 represents Western Australia, the letter "F" denotes a Foundation license and the letters "LAB" are in my case a random collections of letters, assigned to me by the Australian Communications and Media Authority, or ACMA.

The Letter "F" in my call is where the name "F-call" comes from.

Some amateurs use their name in their acronym, or use letters that have some significance to them, or they use a license that has historic or memorial value.

If you listen to Amateur Bands, you'll hear many different call signs, each with different rules and requirements; each country has a sub-set of the alphabet to play with and can allocate within their range as they see fit.

Listen out for call signs, write them down and look them up. They'll tell you lots about where the station is and who it is that is behind the microphone.


I'm Onno VK6FLAB.