Yes its interesting how the ham call sign assignment has evolved over the
years. Interestingly enough, back when I requested this 1x2 callsign (1976?)
there were no licensing fees. I've lived in the south for 30 years and
have never had to change my callsign... good thing cuz nowadays I'd never
get an equivalent 1x2 call.

I've talked to some pretty fascinating people over the years (been a ham
for over 35)... one guy who flew with Doolittle's Tokyo raiders
(he was a standby pilot and didn't actually go that day)... Tom Christian,
great great (whatever) grandson of Fletcher Christian on Pitcairn Island...
a guy who used to talk with Lee DeForest all time during the early days
of radio.... phew...


Ron Natalie wrote:
Morgans wrote:


Is there a special significance to 5? I know nothing about hams,
other than
they are sometimes too salty, and sometimes give me gas.g


Oringially, the digit gave you a rough estimation of where the ham
lived. However, while the FCC still issues them based on your
address, you're not required to change them when you move and you
can order a "vanity call" with any number in it. I've never lived
in 1-land, but I have a N1RN vanity call. Some of you will note that's
also a valid N number registration. I actually had it reserved for
several years but I decided I'd never get around to using it and stopped
renewing it. There's a glider somewhere in the midwest that has that
number on it now.