APPROXIMATE ISSUE DATES AND CLASSES
OF UK AMATEUR RADIO LICENCES
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Notes
1. Callsigns, once allowed to lapse, are not normally re-issued to persons other
than the original licensee. There are exceptions to this rule but these are
rare (see notes 2 and 6). Consequently, for licences issued up to April 2000,
the approximate date of issue can be determined from the callsign. However,
from April 2000, callsigns in series later than those shown below may be issued
as out-of-sequence callsigns may now be requested.
2. In certain circumstances, a callsign may be re-issued to a person other than
the original licensee. This is only done when, for example, the new licensee
is a close relative of an original licensee who has died, or a club may take
over the callsign of a respected deceased member. In all cases the new
licensee must have passed all the necessary tests and examinations appropriate
to the grade of licence being transferred.
3. The callsign prefixes shown below relate to when the station is located in
England. Should the station be located in one of the other six parts of the UK
that has its own prefix, then that prefix will be used. The seven countries
are England (G, M and 2E), Northern Ireland (GI, MI and 2I), Scotland (GM, MM,
and 2M), Wales (GW, MW and 2W), Isle of Man (GD, MD and 2D), Jersey (GJ, MJ and
2J) and Guernsey (GU, MU and 2U).
4. Callsigns in the G2*** series were originally pre-WW2 "artificial aerial"
licences with 2*** callsigns. These AA licences were re-issued in 1946 as full
licences, with the original callsign preceded by the appropriate country
designator. Note that these AA callsigns must not be confused with callsigns
in the 2x0*** and 2x1*** series, where x is the country designator, which are
now issued to holders of Intermediate Grade licences.
5. Callsigns in the G5*** series were originally used for reciprocal licences but
these were discontinued following the introduction of the current regulations
relating to foreign nationals operating amateur radio equipment in the UK.
There are only four valid G5*** licences listed in the current UK Call Book.
See note 8 below relating to amateur radio operation by foreign nationals
holding an amateur radio licence when visiting the UK.
6. Callsigns in the G6*** series were originally issued to stations transmitting
fast scan television only. This practice was discontinued when a specific
television licence was abolished and permission to transmit television was
incorporated into all UK licences in 1977. The G6*** series was then used for
Class B licences issued between 1981 and 1983. This is the only instance of
previously issued callsigns being cancelled and subsequently re-issued to
different individuals, apart from the special cases mentioned in note 1 above.
7. Callsigns in the G9*** series are commercial licences, issued for experimental
purposes and these may not be used on the amateur bands.
8. The holders of valid amateur radio licences issued by countries which have
implemented CEPT Recommendation T/R 61-01 are permitted to operate amateur
radio equipment within the UK, subject to the various conditions set out in the
new licence conditions which came into force on 1 December 2006. Previously,
these conditions were defined in the Terms, Provisions and Limitations Booklet
BR68. Such operators must use their own callsign preceded by M/, MD/, MI/,
MJ/, MM/, MU/ or MW/, depending on the region of the UK that they are visiting.
(See the "Abbreviations Section" of this web-site for further information
concerning CEPT, T/R 61-01 and BR68).
9. Proficiency in the Morse Code is no longer a requirement for obtaining a UK
Amateur Radio Licence, following the decision taken at WRC-03, the World Radio
Conference held in Geneva from 9 June to 4 July, 2003, to abolish the mandatory
Morse requirements for the Amateur Radio Service relating to operation on
frequencies below 30MHz. The Radiocommunications Agency therefore decided to
merge existing UK Full Class A and Full Class B licence grades to form a single
Full Licence having all the privileges of the old Class A grade. The A and B
grades of the old Novice licence have also been merged to become a single
Intermediate Licence. These changes took effect on 26 July 2003, following
publication of the appropriate notice in the London, Edinburgh and Belfast
Gazettes. The regulations relating to the Foundation Class licence, which
include a rudimentary knowledge of the Morse Code, remain unchanged. (Note
that the functions and powers of the RA were transferred to the Office of
Communications (OFCOM) at the end of December 2003).
10. Stations located in the Channel Islands were originally issued with callsigns
having the prefix "GC", which has now been replaced by GJ (Jersey) and GU
(Guernsey, Alderney and Sark). The prefix "GC" is now used to denote club
stations located in Wales.
11. Further information relating to licensing conditions, permitted frequency bands,
grades of licences in the UK etc, is included on the "Amateur Radio" page.
Full Licences (formerly Class A)
G0AA to G0ZZ Not issued G0AAA to G0AZZ 1984 to 1985
G1AA to G1ZZ Not issued G0BAA to G0BZZ 1985
G2AA to G2ZZ 1920 to 1939 G0CAA to G0CZZ 1985
G3AA to G3ZZ 1937 to 1938 G0DAA to G0DZZ 1985 to 1986
G4AA to G4ZZ 1938 to 1939 G0EAA to G0EZZ 1986
G5AA to G5ZZ 1921 to 1939 G0FAA to G0FZZ 1986
G6AA to G6ZZ 1921 to 1939 G0GAA to G0GZZ 1986 to 1987
G7AA to G7ZZ Not issued G0HAA to G0HZZ 1987
G8AA to G8ZZ 1936 to 1937 G0IAA to G0IZZ 1987 to 1988
G9AA to G9ZZ Not issued G0JAA to G0JZZ 1988
G2AAA to G2ZZZ Artificial Aerial Licences G0KAA to G0KZZ 1988 to 1989
See note 4 above issued between 1920 and 1939 G0LAA to G0LZZ 1989 to 1990
with callsigns in the 2AAA to G0MAA to G0MZZ 1990 to 1991
2ZZZ series but re-issued as G0NAA to G0NZZ 1991
Full Licences in 1946 G0OAA to G0OZZ 1991
G3AAA to G3AZZ 1946 to 1947 G0PAA to G0PZZ 1991
G3BAA to G3BZZ 1947 G0QAA to G0QZZ Not issued
G3CAA to G3CZZ 1947 G0RAA to G0RZZ 1991 to 1992
G3DAA to G3DZZ 1947 to 1948 G0SAA to G0SZZ 1992 to 1993
G3EAA to G3EZZ 1948 G0TAA to G0TZZ 1993
G3FAA to G3FZZ 1948 to 1949 G0UAA to G0UZZ 1993 to 1994
G3GAA to G3GZZ 1949 to 1950 G0VAA to G0VZZ 1994 to 1995
G3HAA to G3HZZ 1950 to 1951 G0WAA to G0WZZ 1995
G3IAA to G3IZZ 1951 to 1952 G0XAA to G0XZZ 1995
G3JAA to G3JZZ 1952 to 1954 G0YAA to G0YZZ 1995
G3KAA to G3KZZ 1954 to 1956 G0ZAA to G0ZZZ 1995 to 1996
G3LAA to G3LZZ 1956 to 1957 M0AAA to M0AZZ 1996 to 1997
G3MAA to G3MZZ 1957 to 1958 M0BAA to M0BZZ 1997 to 1998
G3NAA to G3NZZ 1958 to 1960 M0CAA to M0CZZ 1998 to 2000
G3OAA to G3OZZ 1960 to 1961 M0DAA to M0PZZ 2000 onwards
G3PAA to G3PZZ 1961 to 1962 M0QAA to M0QZZ Not issued
G3QAA to G3QZZ Not issued M0RAA to M0ZZZ 2000 onwards
G3RAA to G3RZZ 1962 to 1963 M4AAA to M4PZZ Next series
G3SAA to G3SZZ 1963 to 1964 M4QAA to M4QZZ Not issued
G3TAA to G3TZZ 1964 to 1965 M4RAA to M4ZZZ Next series
G3UAA to G3UZZ 1965 to 1966
G3VAA to G3VZZ 1966 to 1967
G3WAA to G3WZZ 1967 Full Licences (formerly Class A/B)
G3XAA to G3XZZ 1967 to 1968
G3YAA to G3YZZ 1968 to 1969 M5AAA to M5PZZ 1999 to 2003
G3ZAA to G3ZZZ 1969 to 1971 M5QAA to M5QZZ Not issued
G4AAA to G4AZZ 1971 to 1972 M5RAA to M5ZZZ 1999 to 2003
G4BAA to G4BZZ 1972 to 1973
G4CAA to G4CZZ 1973 to 1974
G4DAA to G4DZZ 1974 to 1975
G4EAA to G4EZZ 1975 to 1976 Intermediate Licences (formerly
G4FAA to G4FZZ 1976 to 1977 Novice Class A)
G4GAA to G4GZZ 1977 to 1978
G4HAA to G4HZZ 1978 to 1979 2E0AAA to 2E0PZZ 1991 onwards
G4IAA to G4IZZ 1979 to 1980 2E0QAA to 2E0QZZ not issued
G4JAA to G4JZZ 1980 to 1981 2E0RAA to 2E0ZZZ 1991 onwards
G4KAA to G4KZZ 1981
G4LAA to G4LZZ 1981
G4MAA to G4MZZ 1981 When a Full licence is held on
G4NAA to G4NZZ 1981 behalf of a Club, the callsign
G4OAA to G4OZZ 1981 prefixes listed below may be used
G4PAA to G4PZZ 1981 to 1982 instead of the normal prefix.
G4QAA to G4QZZ Not issued The use of these "club" prefixes
G4RAA to G4RZZ 1982 to 1983 is optional. See note 10 above.
G4SAA to G4SZZ 1983
G4TAA to G4TZZ 1983 GX replaces G and MX replaces M
G4UAA to G4UZZ 1983 GT replaces GD and MT replaces MD
G4VAA to G4VZZ 1983 to 1984 GN replaces GI and MN replaces MI
G4WAA to G4WZZ 1984 GH replaces GJ and MH replaces MJ
G4XAA to G4XZZ 1984 GS replaces GM and MS replaces MM
G4YAA to G4YZZ 1984 GP replaces GU and MP replaces MU
G4ZAA to G4ZZZ 1984 GC replaces GW and MC replaces MW
Full Licences (formerly Class B)
G8AAA to G8ZZZ 1964 to 1967 G7AAA to G7AZZ 1988
G8BAA to G8BZZ 1967 to 1968 G7BAA to G7BZZ 1988
G8CAA to G8CZZ 1968 to 1969 G7CAA to G7CZZ 1988
G8DAA to G8DZZ 1969 to 1970 G7DAA to G7DZZ 1988 to 1989
G8EAA to G8EZZ 1970 to 1971 G7EAA to G7EZZ 1989 to 1990
G8FAA to G8FZZ 1971 to 1972 G7FAA to G7FZZ 1990
G8GAA to G8GZZ 1972 to 1973 G7GAA to G7GZZ 1990 to 1991
G8HAA to G8HZZ 1973 G7HAA to G7HZZ 1991
G8IAA to G8IZZ 1973 to 1974 G7IAA to G7IZZ 1991
G8JAA to G8JZZ 1974 to 1975 G7JAA to G7JZZ 1991
G8KAA to G8KZZ 1975 G7KAA to G7KZZ 1991
G8LAA to G8LZZ 1975 to 1976 G7LAA to G7LZZ 1991 to 1992
G8MAA to G8MZZ 1976 to 1977 G7MAA to G7MZZ 1992
G8NAA to G8NZZ 1977 G7NAA to G7NZZ 1992 to 1993
G8OAA to G8OZZ 1977 to 1978 G7OAA to G7OZZ 1993
G8PAA to G8PZZ 1978 G7PAA to G7PZZ 1993
G8QAA to G8QZZ Not issued G7QAA to G7QZZ Not issued
G8RAA to G8RZZ 1978 G7RAA to G7RZZ 1993 to 1994
G8SAA to G8SZZ 1978 to 1979 G7SAA to G7SZZ 1994 to 1995
G8TAA to G8TZZ 1979 G7TAA to G7TZZ 1995
G8UAA to G8UZZ 1979 G7UAA to G7UZZ 1995
G8VAA to G8VZZ 1979 to 1980 G7VAA to G7VZZ 1995 to 1996
G8WAA to G8WZZ 1980 G7WAA to G7WZZ 1996
G8XAA to G8XZZ 1980 G7XAA to G7XZZ 1996
G8YAA to G8YZZ 1980 to 1981 G7YAA to G7YZZ 1996
G8ZAA to G8ZZZ 1981 G7ZAA to G7ZZZ 1996
G6AAA/T to G6ZZZ/T 1964 to 1977 See note 6 above M1AAA to M1AZZ 1996
G6AAA to G6AZZ 1981 M1BAA to M1BZZ 1996 to 1997
G6BAA to G6BZZ 1981 M1CAA to M1CZZ 1997 to 1998
G6CAA to G6CZZ 1981 M1DAA to M1DZZ 1998 to 1999
G6DAA to G6DZZ 1981 M1EAA to M1EZZ 1999 to 2000
G6EAA to G6EZZ 1981 M1FAA to M1PZZ 2000 to 2003
G6FAA to G6FZZ 1981 M1QAA to M1QZZ Not issued
G6GAA to G6GZZ 1981 M1RAA to M1ZZZ 2000 to 2003
G6HAA to G6HZZ 1981
G6IAA to G6IZZ 1981
G6JAA to G6JZZ 1981
G6KAA to G6KZZ 1981
G6LAA to G6LZZ 1981 Intermediate Licences (formerly
G6MAA to G6MZZ 1981 Novice Class B)
G6NAA to G6NZZ 1981
G6OAA to G6OZZ 1981 2E1AAA to 2E1AZZ 1991 to 1992
G6PAA to G6PZZ 1981 to 1982 2E1BAA to 2E1BZZ 1992 to 1993
G6QAA to G6QZZ Not issued 2E1CAA to 2E1CZZ 1993 to 1994
G6RAA to G6RZZ 1982 2E1DAA to 2E1DZZ 1994 to 1995
G6SAA to G6SZZ 1982 2E1EAA to 2E1EZZ 1995 to 1996
G6TAA to G6TZZ 1982 2E1FAA to 2E1FZZ 1996 to 1997
G6UAA to G6UZZ 1982 2E1GAA to 2E1GZZ 1997 to 1999
G6VAA to G6VZZ 1982 2E1HAA to 2E1HZZ 1999 to 2000
G6WAA to G6WZZ 1982 2E1IAA to 2E1PZZ 2000 to 2003
G6XAA to G6XZZ 1982 2E1QAA to 2E1QZZ Not issued
G6YAA to G6YZZ 1982 2E1RAA to 2E1ZZZ 2000 to 2003
G6ZAA to G6ZZZ 1982 to 1983
G1AAA to G1AZZ 1983
G1BAA to G1BZZ 1983
G1CAA to G1CZZ 1983 to 1984
G1DAA to G1DZZ 1984
G1EAA to G1EZZ 1984
G1FAA to G1FZZ 1984
G1GAA to G1GZZ 1984
G1HAA to G1HZZ 1984
G1IAA to G1IZZ 1984 It was common practice for
G1JAA to G1JZZ 1984 stations upgrading from the old
G1KAA to G1KZZ 1984 to 1985 Class B licence to a Foundation
G1LAA to G1LZZ 1985 Class licence to keep the suffix
G1MAA to G1MZZ 1985 letters of the Class B licence.
G1NAA to G1NZZ 1985 Hence G7*** would be issued with
G1OAA to G1OZZ 1985 M3*** and M1+++ would be issued
G1PAA to G1PZZ 1985 with M3+++ when upgrading. This
G1QAA to G1QZZ Not issued was only possible where the
G1RAA to G1RZZ 1985 to 1986 resulting M3 call had not been
G1SAA to G1SZZ 1986 previously issued. Now that the
G1TAA to G1TZZ 1986 old Class A and Class B licences
G1UAA to G1UZZ 1986 have been merged into a single
G1VAA to G1VZZ 1987 Full Licence, this type of upgrade
G1WAA to G1WZZ 1986 to 1987 is no longer necessary.
G1XAA to G1XZZ 1987 See Note 9 above.
G1YAA to G1YZZ 1987
G1ZAA to G1ZZZ 1987 to 1988
Foundation Class Licences Data Repeaters
M3AAA to M3PZZ 2002 onwards GB7AA to GB7ZZ When licensed
M3QAA to M3QZZ Not issued
M3RAA to M3ZZZ 2002 onwards
Normal Voice and TV Repeaters Data Mailboxes, Clusters & Servers
GB3AA to GB3ZZ When licensed GB7AAA to GB7PZZ When licensed
GB7QAA to GB7QZZ Not issued
GB7RAA to GB7ZZZ When licenced
Single Frequency "Store and Forward"
Voice Relays and "Experimental" Services
MB7AA to MB7ZZ When licensed Special Event Stations
Licences are normally issued for
Beacons a limited period appropriate to
the special event. The callsign
GB3AAA to GB3PZZ When licensed prefix is always GB, regardless
GB3QAA to GB3QZZ Not issued of the location within the UK,
GB3RAA to GB3ZZZ When licensed and the suffix consists of one or
more figures, followed by up to
three letters. Prefixes GB3 and
Special Contest Callsigns GB7 are not used for special event
stations and suffixes in the QAA
Clubs can apply for special callsigns to QZZ series are not issued.
for use during contests. These consist
of the country prefix followed by a
single figure and a single letter.
Other Special Callsigns
G9AAA to G9ZZZ Commercial (non-amateur) callsigns. See Note 7 above.
Special Commemorative Callsign Prefixes
From 4-6-77 to 12-6-77, all UK licensees were allowed to use the prefix GE instead
of the normal country prefix, to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of Her Majesty,
Queen Elizabeth II.
During the whole month of June 2002, all UK licensees were allowed to use the
prefix GQ, MQ or 2Q, as appropriate, instead of the normal country prefix, to
commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.
Also during this period, the special callsign "GB50" was used by a commemorative
station set up at Windsor Castle, England. This callsign was unique as it did not
contain any suffix letters.
Additional Suffixes used with all classes of licence except GB callsigns
The following additional suffixes may be appended to callsigns to indicate the
stated operating conditions if the operator desires.
/A Operation from a temporary address. (See note below).
/M Mobile operation from a land vehicle or vessel on non-tidal waters. As
from 1 December 2006, this suffix no longer includes operation when using
hand-held equipment as a pedestrian. Operation from any type of aircraft
or airborne vehicle is not permitted.
/MM Maritime mobile operation from a vessel on tidal waters or at sea. Although
all UK amateur licences allow this type of operation, permission must be
obtained from the vessel's master who has the authority to order radio
silence when necessary. Furthermore, when in international waters, only
those frequency bands permitted in the ITU region being visited may be used.
/P Portable operation from a temporary fixed location or address but see note
below regarding operation from a temporary address. Until 1 December 2006,
this included operation from buildings other than those forming part of the
licensee's registered address, tents and caravans but did not include the
use of hand-held equipment being carried by the operator.
The following additional suffixes were used in the past but are no longer valid.
/A Operation from a temporary address. The new lifetime licence, which came
into effect on 1 October 2006, re-introduced the use of the /A suffix.
/MA Operation from a moored or anchored vessel on tidal waters or at sea.
/T Fast scan television operation.
******************
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