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An Overview of
Current UK amateur radio licence
The UK has three types of
amateur radio licence, the Foundation Licence, Intermediate Licence
and the Full Licence. These three amateur radio licences offer
different privileges, and novices are expected to eventually
progress to full license holders. The different licences
reflect the ability and experience of the operators, the Foundation
Licence offering entry level privileges, the intermediate being in
the middle, while the Full licence offers use of the highest UK
power levels available and the greatest number of bands.
Amateur Radio
License's Summary of Class Restrictions
Foundation licence Maximum of 10 watts on most
allocated bands. Band allocations limited.
Intermediate licence Maximum of 50 watts.
Full
licence
Maximum UK licence power can be used and all UK amateur radio
band allocations available.
UK amateur radio call
signs - Issue dates of Licenses
1. Foundation
Licence
Call sign description Issue dates and details
M3 + 3
letters
M6 + 3 letters Available from 13 May
2008
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
2. Intermediate
Licence
Call sign description Issue dates and details
2E0 + 3 letters Issued from 1991 onwards as
Intermediate licence. Issued as Novice class A licence from 1991 for
use on all Novice allocations
2E1 + 3 letters Issued from 1991 onwards as
Intermediate licence. Issued as Novice class B licence from 1991for
use on Novice allocations above 30 MHz
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
3. Full Licence
Call sign description Issue dates and details
G2 + 2 letters 1920 - 1939
G3 + 2 letters 1937 - 1938
G4 + 2 letters 1938 - 1939
G5 + 2 letters 1921 - 1939
G6 + 2 letters 1921 - 1939
G8 + 2 letters 1936 - 1937
G1 + 3 letters 1983 - 1988 - originally issued as
Class B licence
G2 + 3 letters 1920s to 1939. Originally issued as
"Artificial Aerial" licence
G3 + 3 letters Issued between 1946 and 1971.
Originally issued to amateur radio licence and Class A amateur radio
licence holders.
G4 + 3 letters Issued between 1971 and 1985.
Originally issued to amateur radio class A licence
holders.
G5 + 3 letters Originally issued to foreign
nationals as a form of reciprocal ham radio licence. They were
withdrawn and either they used existing home calls with additional
UK prefix / callsign, or if applicable they could apply for UK
licence.
G6 + 3 letters 1981 - 1983. Originally issued as a
class B licence
G7 + 3 letters 1989 - 1996. Originally issued as a
class B licence
G8 + 3 letters 1964 - 1981. Originally issued as a
class B licence
G0 + 3 letters 1986 - 1996. Originally issued as a
class A licence
M1 + 3 letters 1996 - . Originally issued as a
class B licence.
M3 + 3 letters Foundation licence
holders.
M0 + 3 letters 1996 - . Originally issued as a
class A licence
UK amateur prefixes
(Countries)
Prefix's indicate the
country and the type, (eg Wales Club, England
Individual.)
A further complication is
that the prefix's are different for the M or G callsigns and those
in the 2X* series.
Call sign prefix Country
2E England
2D Isle of Man
2I Northern Irelend
2J Jersey
2M Scotland
2U Guernsey
2W Wales
Countries for 2X* series
call signs
The call signs in the G and
M series follow the same format. The second letter of the prefix
indicates the country and purpose of the licence.
Prefix Country / purpose
G & M, no second
letter England
GB Special event stations
GC & MC Wales - club licence (optional
alternative prefix)
GD & MD Isle of Man
GH & MH Jersey - club licence (optional
alternative prefix)
GI & MI Northern Ireland
GJ & MJ Jersey
GM & MM Scotland
GN & MN Northern Ireland - club licence
(optional alternative prefix)
GP & MP Guernsey - club licence (optional
alternative prefix)
GS & MS Scotland - club licence (optional
alternative prefix)
GT & MT Isle of Man - club
licence
GU & MU Guernsey
GX & MX England - club licence (optional
alternative prefix)
GW & MW Wales
Countries and purposes for
G and M series call signs
Normally Special callsigns are
prefixed with GB.
GB call signs
The GB prefix is used for a
variety of special ham radio licences ranging from repeaters and
beacons to data mailboxes and special event stations. It is possible
to tell the use of the station and licence from the format of the
callsign.
GB call sign format Purpose
GB3 + 2 letters Repeaters
GB3 + 3 letters Beacons
GB7 + 2 letters Data repeaters
GB7 + 3 letters Data mailboxes
GB + other digits not mentioned
above Special event
stations
For events such as contests it is
possible to obtain vanity or short callsigns consisting of the
prefix plus one letter.
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