advanced_amateur_info:changing_call_sign [Atlanta Ham Radio Wiki]

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====== Changing Your Call Sign ======

I passed my amateur extra in May 2024. One of the things I was interested in doing after passing my exam was to get a vanity call sign. As much as I would love the coveted 1x2 or 2x1, I decided to settle on a 2x2 call sign.

====== Researching Call Signs ======

Plenty of sites explain how to get a vanity call sign—I'm not going to get into that, but I will share two great resources to help you find the perfect call sign. 
  *   [[https://www.radioqth.net/vanity/available|Radio QTH's Available Call Signs]] - get tool for finding available callsigns.
  *   [[https://www.ae7q.com/query/|AE7Q's Callsign Query Tool]] - searchable database of call signs and when 1x2 & 2x1 are available.

====== Feel The Pain ======

Your call sign is your identity.  I only had my initial call sign for a little over two years, and changing it was not a great experience. I learned a lot along the way - much of it is not documented. All-in-all, I'm glad I did it. 

If you used your old call sign as your username for some services, please note you may be unable to change the username.  

The FCC will issue your new callsign after 18 days. //**In the wee hours of day 19**//, the FCC will batch process the callsign changes and you will get an email from the FCC and your callsign will be official.

====== Making the Changes ======
<callout type="tip" title="Hold Your Horses" icon="true">You might want to get started right away, but you need to wait a few days.\\  Many services validate your call sign from internal dumps of the FCC database. It could take them a few days to update their database. </callout>

===== Radios =====
If you have digital radios, you will need to update the callsign information for DMR, DStar, and other digital modes. 

One thing I learned is that DStar uses 8 characters.  When programming my DV memories, I had to make sure I had two spaces for a 2x2 (KQ4JP^^B)

===== Automatic Updaters =====
==== ARRL ====
The ARRL will change your call sign automatically a couple of days after the FCC issues your new call sign.

==== QRZ ====
Your QRZ call sign will change automatically.  Your old log book will be preserved and referencable, and a new log book will be created. All of your QRZ awards will remain. 

==== eQSL ====
eQSL updated my call sign automatically, but you will need to update your QSL card.

===== Digital Services =====
==== DStar ====
You have to register your new callsign.\\
[[https://regist.dstargateway.org/Dstar.do]]\\
After registering my new call sign, I received an email a couple of hours later that told me that my old call sign registration would be deleted. 

==== DMR ====
You will need to open a support ticket with RadioID to update your DMR-ID.\\
[[https://radioid.net/support]]\\
They have a support workflow that will facilitate the change. The ticket was resolved in only a few hours. 

==== Brandmeister ====
Brandmeister has [[https://help.brandmeister.us/dashboard/callsign-change|KB Article]] that walks you through changing your call sign on the Brandmeister network. Basically, you need to register for a new account. They will deactivate and delete your old Callsign+ID

==== TGIF ====
Log into the TGIF portal and go to your [[https://tgif.network/profile.php?tab=SelfCare|Self Care]] page. Choose the Edit Profile, and at the bottom of the page, click the **Callsign Change** button.

==== PiStar & Hotspots ====
Make the necessary callsign changes. Reboot for good measure. 

===== Club Affiliations =====
==== Local Clubs ====
I belong to a couple of local Amateur Clubs. Changing your call with your club is a pretty simple process. Contact your membership coordinator or secretary and have them update your Class and Call sign. 

==== Email Reflectors & Social Media ====
Our Clubs use an email reflector on Groups.IO.  Changing your profile is pretty simple.  If you have dedicated social media accounts, you will need to update them as well. 

==== Other Affiliations ====
I had to update my State ARES and AUXCOMM memberships.\\
I have a membership with a local GMRS repeater club that needs to be updated. 

==== SWAG ====
  * Order new ID badges
  * Order new Shirts, Hats, Patches
  * Update and order QSL cards

===== Software =====
  * JS8CALL
  * VarAC
  * Winlink - [[https://www.winlink.org/content/how_change_your_callsign_account|Change Callsign Instructions]]
  * WSJT-X - Note: might want to archive the old ADIF 
  * VARA License - Email Developer
  * Logging Software/Master Station Log
  * APRS
  * POTA - Add new callsign to your profile
  * SOTA - [[https://sotawatch.sota.org.uk/en/|SOTA Log in]] -> update your profile