Operating Rules and Procedures

• A normal amateur radio call sign contains three sections:
  1. one or two characters identifying the nationality of the operator (at least one character will be a letter : letter-number, number-letter or letter-letter combination is possible)
  2. a single digit (i.e. a number)
  3. a group of not more than four characters, the last of which must be a letter
• There are many exceptions to the above rules (often for special event call signs) however for exam purposes only the above normal rules are relevant
• Some examples of correct call signs:
  [The dashes (–) in these examples are included simply to highlight the separate call sign sections, they are not part of the call sign]
  • EI–6–XYZ
  • 2E–3–ØRGD
  • M–6–A
• And some incorrect call signs:
  • 2E–A–BCD  — no number in section ii.
  • EI–4–RGD7  — ends in a number
  • 2–6–A  — no letter in section i.

Course Guide Topics

1. Composition of Call Signs
2. Irish Call Signs
3. National Call Sign Prefixes
4. ITU Radio Regions
5. Band Plans – Introduction
6. Region 1 Band Plan – HF
7. Region 1 Band Plan – VHF/UHF
8. Distress Signals
9. Emergency and Natural Disaster Communications
10. Format of CQ Calls
11. Q Codes
12. Operational Abbreviations
13. Phonetic Alphabet
14. RST Code