Call signs in Australia

Last updated January 06, 2024

Dial from a transistorised mains operated Calstan radio, circa 1960s Calstanradiodial.jpg — Dial from a transistorised mains operated Calstan radio, circa 1960s

Call signs in Australia are allocated by the Australian Communications and Media Authority and are unique for each broadcast station. The use of callsigns on-air in both radio and television in Australia is optional, so many stations used other on-air identifications. Australian broadcast stations officially have the prefix VL- and originally all callsigns used that format, but since Australia has no nearby neighbours, this prefix is no longer used except in an international context.^{[ citation needed ]}

Call sign blocks for telecommunication

The International Telecommunication Union has assigned Australia the following call sign blocks for all radio communication, broadcasting or transmission:^[1]

Call sign block
AXA–AXZ	Australia
VHA–VNZ	Australia
VZA–VZZ	Australia

While not directly related to call signs, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) further has divided all countries assigned amateur radio prefixes into three regions; Australia is located in ITU Region 3. It is assigned ITU Zones 55, 58 and 59, with the Pacific Islands in Australian jurisdiction in Zone 60.

Call signs for radio

All radio call signs begin with a single-digit number indicating the state or territory, followed by two or three letters. In most cases, two letters are used for AM stations and three for FM, but there are some exceptions, such as 5UV in Adelaide, which broadcasts on an FM frequency, and 3RPH in Melbourne, which broadcasts on an AM frequency. While some AM stations retained their old call signs when moving to FM, most add an extra letter to the call sign. For instance, when 7HO Hobart became an FM station, it adopted the callsign 7HHO.

Certain ABC radio stations, particularly outside of metropolitan areas, may use five-letter call signs for FM stations: xABCFM for ABC Classic FM, xABCRN for Radio National, and xABCRR for ABC Local Radio – the x being the state number. Also, SBS FM radio stations use a five-letter call sign, xSBSFM. (Sydney and Melbourne's AM stations use 2EA and 3EA, meaning Ethnic Australia.)

There are a number of exceptions:

For some time, two radio stations used the callsign 4CCC – a commercial station in Charleville and a community station in Warwick, both in Queensland.^[2] The Warwick station's call sign was later changed to 4SDB.^[3] In addition, a temporary community broadcaster, 4CCC Coral Coast Country Community Radio Inc, uses the name 4CCC, though it does not have a callsign.^[4]
Rebel FM, The Breeze, and Flow FM, which have many transmitters in Regional and Remote Central and Eastern Australia, use the callsigns 4RBL, 4BRZ and 8SAT respectively, regardless of which state their transmitters are located in.^[2]^[3]
Radio Station 1RPH Canberra, Australian Capital Territory has relay transmitters in New South Wales^[2]^[3]
The following Victorian stations also have relay transmitters in New South Wales: 3HOT and 3RUM.^[2]^[3]
The following New South Wales stations also have relay transmitters in Victoria: 2AAY, 2BDR and 2MOR.^[2]^[3]
The following New South Wales stations also have relay transmitters in Queensland: 2MW and 2TEN.^[2]^[3]
8KIN Alice Springs, Northern Territory has a relay transmitter in Pasminco Century Mine, Queensland, and several in South Australia.^[2]^[3]
3MBR Murrayville, Victoria has a relay transmitter in Lameroo, South Australia.^[2]^[3]
The Nhulunbuy, Northern Territory transmitter for triple J has the callsign 6JJJ.^[2]^[3]
Open narrowcast radio stations have no official call sign, though some stations use one (e.g. 3XY Radio Hellas in Melbourne).

The following are lists of Australian radio station call signs.

Australian radios usually had the positions of radio stations marked on their dials.

Australia's postcodes, introduced in 1967, use the same digit as the radio callsigns, followed by an additional three digits (eg. NSW: 2XXX, Victoria: 3XXX, etc.).

There is an urban myth that call signs were based on Australian military districts but this incorrect as the following list of military districts show: 1 = Queensland; 2 = New South Wales; 3 = Victoria; 4 = South Australia; 5 = Western Australia; 6 = Tasmania; 7 = Northern Territory; 8 = New Guinea, and Papua.^[5]

Television call signs

Television station call signs often began with two letters denoting the station itself, followed by a third letter denoting the state or territory where the station is located. For example, NBN's call sign stands for Newcastle Broadcasting, New South Wales.

The third letter for TV stations in a state is the first letter of the state:

N – New South Wales
V – Victoria
Q – Queensland
S – South Australia
W – Western Australia
T – Tasmania

The third letter for TV stations in a territory is the first letter of the capital city:

C – Australian Capital Territory (Canberra)
D – Northern Territory (Darwin)

Additionally, the letter P can also be used (for Papua New Guinea, a former territory of Australia^{[ citation needed ]})

There are some exceptions:^[6]

ABC Television's station in the Australian Capital Territory, ABC, has the "C" in its call sign standing for Canberra, whereas its station in the Northern Territory, ABD, has the "D" in its call sign standing for Darwin.
SBS television stations all use SBS in their call signs, regardless of the state.
Imparja Television uses IMP, even though they are based in Alice Springs in the Northern Territory.
CBN and WIN also use CBN and WIN as their respective call signs for their transmitters in the Australian Capital Territory.
CTC also uses its callsign for stations located in New South Wales.
GLV/BCV, AMV and VTV also use their respective call signs in for their transmitters in border areas of southern New South Wales (e.g., Balranald, Deniliquin, Albury North).
NBN, NEN and NRN stations also use their respective call signs for their transmitters located in south-east Queensland (e.g., the Gold Coast).
Central Digital Television transmitters have the call sign CDT despite only a small fraction of its licence area covering parts of Tasmania.
Seven Central transmitters in regional and remote central and eastern Australia use QQQ even outside Queensland.
There is an Aboriginal Community Television station with the call sign ACT in the Northern Territory.

Amateur radio

Amateur radio in Australia has its own set of call signs, managed by the Australian Maritime College, normally starting with the prefix VK, the state identifier, and then 1,2,3, or 4 letters.

As of July 29, 2020 - the following AR callsign structure is in place in Australia:^[7]^[8]

Advanced VK$aa, VJ$a, VK$a, VL$a

Advanced/Standard/Foundation VK$aaa-VK$zzz

Repeater / Beacon VK$Raa-VK$Rzz

It is also no longer necessary to change one's callsign should the amateur move states within Australia or advance to a higher licence class.

Amateur radio or ham radio call signs are unique identifiers for the 19,500 licensed operators in Australia. Call signs are regulated internationally by the ITU as well as nationally by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) which is Australia's regulator for broadcasting, administering spectrum use through the provisions of the Radio-communications Act 1992. ACMA is also responsible for amateur radio licensing. The Wireless Institute of Australia had the responsibility for the management of amateur station call signs from 2 March 2009 until February 2019 .^[9]

Amateur radio call sign assignments within Australia

The usual prefix for Australian amateur call signs is VK. The numeral that separates the prefix from the suffix indicates the state/territory in which the operator is licensed.^[10]

Numeral	State/territory
0	Antarctica
1	Australian Capital Territory
2	New South Wales
3	Victoria
4	Queensland
5	South Australia
6	Western Australia
7	Tasmania
8	Northern Territory
9	Australian External Territories	VK9C	Cocos Island
		VK9N	Norfolk Island
		VK9W	World
		VK9X	Christmas Island
		VK9L	Lord Howe Island
		VK9M	Mellish Reef

Since 1 November 2009 callsigns in the VK9 region have been treated the same as all other call areas, and individual islands are no longer designated by a special letter.^[11]

Operator class call signs

With the exception of repeaters and beacons, the ACMA removed the relationship between the first letter of a call and the type of licence as of July 29, 2020. Should someone move state they no longer need to change their call for one with their new states number in, they can retain their existing callsign.^[12]

Prior to this change, the following structure was in place:

Advanced Licences – indicated by the following structure: VK# xx, VK# Axx, VK# Bxx, VK# Cxx, VK# Dxx, VK# Exx, VK# Fxx, VK# Gxx, VK# Ixx, VK# Jxx, VK# Kxx, VK# Oxx, VK# Sxx, VK# Txx, VK# Uxx, VK# Wxx, VK# Xxx, VK# Yxx, VK# Zxx, VK# RAN, VK2RAS, VK# WIA–WIZ (WIA), VK# GGA–GGZ (Guides Aust), VK# SAA–SDZ (Scouts Assoc.), VK7OTC, VK# IYA–IYZ (International years)
Standard Licences – VK# Hxx, VK# Lxx, VK# Mxx, VK# Nxx, VK# Pxx, VK# Vxx
Foundation Licences – (four-letter suffixes beginning with 'F') VK# Fxxx
Repeater call signs – VK# Rxx
Beacon call signs – VK# RSx, VK# RTx

AX prefix

A special event prefix of 'AX' can be substituted for 'VK' on occasions of national significance (e.g. Sydney Olympic Games) and each year on Australia Day, Anzac day and World Information Society Day.

VI prefix

A special event prefix of 'VI' can be substituted for 'VK' on occasions of state/territory significance.

VJ, VK & VL Contest Only

Advanced class operators had the option to apply for a limited number of special 2x1 call signs. These 2x1 call signs may ONLY be used during contests. Prefixes of 'VJ', 'VK' and 'VL' were issued on October 13, 2021 for one year with an option to renew on expiry. For example, the 2x1 format of two letters (2 => VK), one numeral (x => 3), one letter (1 => Z) licence VK3Z was assigned to VK3ZGP with an official notification dated October 13, 2021.

Note: The Australian Maritime College (responsible for issuing and management of Amateur 2x1 licences) provides the current 2x1 Callsign Register via 2X1 Contest Callsigns page.

Overseas visiting amateurs

Visiting amateurs who qualify under a two-party joint agreement between Australia and their home country can use their home call sign, and attach a '/VK' after it. If a visiting amateur is issued an Australian call sign, they can combine both (e.g. VK1AAA/WA7AAA).^[13] Visiting amateurs holding a "full" callsign from a CEPT agreement (TR61/01) signing country PREFIX their home callsign with VKn/ (where n is the number for the state or territory they are in) and may operate for up to 3 months within Australia after which time application for a reciprocal licence under CEPT agreement TR61/02 is required.

Call sign history

David Burger has written the definitive history of call sign allocation in the country.^[14]

Wireless experimenters were in most states by 1897, and the first list of call signs and licensees is from 1911. In 1912 the first system of a designated range for each state was issued by the PMG Department based on an XAA–XZZ block of letters. When all the three letter call signs were issued, provision was made to expand to four (e.g. XAAA). In 1914 a numeral was inserted after the 'X' to indicate the state (e.g. XAA became X1AA).

In 1927 the Washington Radiotelegraph Conference^[15] decreed that Australia should use the prefix range of VHA–VNZ for communication identification. However, amateur radio itself was not subject to this designation, and 'OA' became effective for amateurs from 1 February 1927. "O" was for Oceania and "A" for Australia. By 1929 Australia began the practice of using 'VK' for amateurs as well.

With a lack of official issuance, though, some radio experimenters continued with various formats such as XA-4CD, OA2-BH, VK.2AK and VK-4SU. There was even VK3D.L. and VK3H-W.

1947 Atlantic City convention and subsequent

As of 19 September 1947 Australia adopted the ITU international^[16] call sign protocol and recognised amateur radio stations as valid licensees. The ITU issued Australia with the AXA–AXZ, VHA–VNZ and VZA–VZZ blocks.

VK#xx and VK#Axx call signs were issued to amateurs.

Changes within Australia happened according to this table:

Callsign	Date	State/territory/note
VK#Zxx	1954	limited to VHF and above
VK0	1955	Antarctica
P29	1972	Papua New Guinea changed from VK9
VK#Nxx	1975	Novice licence
VI, AX	1979	first use, also VL, VM, VN and VZ allowed
VK#Jxx	1995	Intermediate licence
VK#xx	2004	2-letter suffix, advanced operators
VK#Fxxx	2006	4-letter suffix, foundation licence
VK9	2006	individual islands formally identified by suffix
VK9	2009	treated the same as all other call areas

State indicators

Letters and numbers used by Australian stations:

State	Radio	Television
Australian Capital Territory	1*	C (after Canberra)
New South Wales	2*	N
Victoria	3	V
Queensland	4	Q
South Australia	5	S
Western Australia	6	W
Tasmania	7	T
Northern Territory	8	D (after Darwin)
Papua New Guinea	9	P (Prior to independence in 1975), e.g., 9PM Port Moresby
Territorial Islands Lord Howe, Norfolk, Christmas, etc.	2 or 6**	W**
Antarctica	0

* Originally, radio callsigns in the ACT had the format 2xx(x), like those in New South Wales. However, newer stations in the territory have been allocated callsigns with the format 1xxx. See List of radio station callsigns in the Australian Capital Territory for more information.

** Formerly 9. Radio stations in Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island now use the same call sign format as New South Wales. Radio and television stations in Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island now use the same call sign format as Western Australia.

Call sign history in the territories

Christmas Island: ZC3 (pre-1940), Japan (1940 to 1944), 9V (1945 to 1958), VK9X (since 1958).
Cocos Keeling island: ZC2 (pre-1940), VK9Y (1955 to 1992), VK9C (since 1992).
Papua New Guinea: VK4/VK9/P29 (since 1972).
Nauru: VK9 then C2 (since 31 January 1968).

Related Research Articles

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) allocates call sign prefixes for radio and television stations of all types. They also form the basis for, but may not exactly match, aircraft registration identifiers. These prefixes are agreed upon internationally, and are a form of country code. A call sign can be any number of letters and numerals but each country must only use call signs that begin with the characters allocated for use in that country.

Call signs are frequently still used by North American broadcast stations, in addition to amateur radio and other international radio stations that continue to identify by call signs worldwide. Each country has a different set of patterns for its own call signs. Call signs are allocated to ham radio stations in Barbados, Canada, Mexico and the United States.

The Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) was formed in 1910, and is the first and oldest national amateur radio society in the world. It represents the amateur radio operators of Australia as the AR "peak body" in dealings with the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), the authority under the government of Australia that administers communications within and external to Australia. The WIA publishes a bi-monthly journal for its membership called Amateur Radio. The organisation is the national society representing Australia in the International Amateur Radio Union.

In broadcasting and radio communications, a call sign is a unique identifier for a transmitter station. A call sign can be formally assigned by a government agency, informally adopted by individuals or organizations, or even cryptographically encoded to disguise a station's identity.

ABT is a television station operated by the publicly-owned Australian Broadcasting Corporation, with a transmission area covering southern Tasmania. ABT began broadcasting on VHF channel 2 on 4 June 1960, with studios in inner-city Hobart and transmitter at Mount Wellington. The "AB" in the call sign stands for "Australian Broadcasting", as in Australian Broadcasting Commission. The "T" in the call sign stands for Tasmania.

ABC Television in Brisbane comprises national programming on the ABC television network in or from Brisbane, Queensland which broadcasts on a number of channels under the ABC call sign. There is some local programming from the Brisbane studio.

Call signs in New Zealand are no longer generally used to identify broadcast stations. However, New Zealand's radio stations were once known by their call signs and would usually broadcast their call signs as a number followed by X, Y, or Z, and another letter. Call signs are regulated internationally by the ITU and nationally by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), formerly the Ministry of Economic Development. The ministry is also responsible for providing policy advice to Government on the allocation of New Zealand's radio spectrum to support, efficient, reliable and responsive wireless telecommunications and broadcasting infrastructure.

Mount Helen FM was a community radio station, serving the Hunter Valley and Liverpool Plains areas of New South Wales. It operated studios in Willow Tree and Muswellbrook, and operated from transmitters serving both areas.

Call signs in the Middle East are unique identifiers for telecommunications and broadcasting in the Middle East. Call signs are regulated internationally by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and nationally by local government and international agencies in Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, The Palestinian Authority, occupied territories and other nations or DXCC entities.

Amateur radio call signs are allocated to amateur radio operators around the world. The call signs are used to legally identify the station or operator, with some countries requiring the station call sign to always be used and others allowing the operator call sign instead.

Call signs in Russia are unique identifiers for telecommunications and broadcasting. Call signs are regulated internationally by the ITU as well as nationally by Ministry of Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation. The latter is responsible for providing policy on the allocation of Russia's radio spectrum to support efficient, reliable and responsive wireless telecommunications and broadcasting infrastructure.

Call signs in Mexico are unique identifiers for telecommunications, radio communication, radio broadcasting and transmission. They are regulated internationally by the ITU as well as nationally by the Federal Telecommunications Institute, which regulates broadcast stations, wireless telecommunications and spectrum use.

Call signs in Korea are unique identifiers for telecommunications and broadcasting on the Korean peninsula. Call signs are regulated internationally by the ITU as well as nationally in South Korea by the Korea Communications Commission in the Ministry of Information and Communication. Not much is known outside of North Korea how amateur radio is regulated, although a foreign amateur was asked to appear before the "Radio Regulation Board" in 2002. Also, North Korea's Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries recently issued an operating permit, which was countermanded by the Ministry of Telecommunications and Posts.

Call signs in Asia are rarely used to identify broadcast stations. In most Asian countries, broadcast stations use other forms of identification. Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, the Philippines and Taiwan are exceptions to this rule. Amateur radio stations in India, Pakistan, Korea and Japan are allocated call-signs.

Call signs in Europe are not formally used for broadcast stations.

Call signs in Canada are official identifiers issued to the country's radio and television stations. Assignments for broadcasting stations are made by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), while amateur stations receive their call signs from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. Conventional radio and television broadcasting stations assignments are generally three, four or five letters long and almost exclusively use "C" call signs; with a few exceptions noted below, the "V" calls are restricted to specialized uses such as amateur radio.

Call signs in United Kingdom include a three letter country code, and a series of letters and numbers.

Broadcast call signs are call signs assigned as unique identifiers to radio stations and television stations. While broadcast radio stations will often brand themselves with plain-text names, identities such as "cool FM", "rock 105" or "the ABC network" are not globally unique. Another station in another city or country may have a similar brand, and the name of a broadcast station for legal purposes is normally its internationally recognised ITU call sign. Some common conventions are followed around the world.

References

↑ "International Telecommunication Union country call sign assignments". Archived from the original on 6 July 2011.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations, Australian Communications and Media Authority, Internet Edition April 2008.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations Internet Edition, Australian Communications and Media Authority, January 2013.
↑ "Current Temporary Community Broadcasting Licences" (PDF). Australian Communications and Media Authority. 7 January 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 July 2008. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
↑ Gavin Long, Australia in the War of 1939–1945, https://www.awm.gov.au/histories/second_world_war/AWMOHWW2/Army/Vol1/
↑ Australian Communications and Media Authority (April 2021). "Section 7: Television Callsign order (by state)" (PDF). Radio and television broadcasting stations: Internet edition (PDF). ACMA. pp. 204–205. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 June 2021. Retrieved 20 June 2021. Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.
↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 2 August 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
↑ "Changes to amateur radio call sign policy | ACMA".
↑ "WIA". Archived from the original on 27 March 2010. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
↑ "Amateur Callsign Structure (Australia)". Archived from the original on 30 March 2010. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
↑ "Changes to the VK9 licensing arrangements". Archived from the original on 12 October 2008. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
↑ Authority, Australian Communications and Media (29 July 2020). "Changes to amateur radio call sign policy | ACMA". www.acma.gov.au.
↑ "Overseas amateurs visiting Australia ACMA". Archived from the original on 3 May 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
↑ "Callsign History - Australia - Engineering and Technology History Wiki". ethw.org.
↑ "Washington Radiotelegraph Conference 1927" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 March 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
↑ "1947 Atlantic City ITU convention" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 July 2012.

External links

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[1] "International Telecommunication Union country call sign assignments". Archived from the original on 6 July 2011.

[ACMA200804-2] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations, Australian Communications and Media Authority, Internet Edition April 2008.

[ACMA201301-3] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations Internet Edition, Australian Communications and Media Authority, January 2013.

[4] "Current Temporary Community Broadcasting Licences" (PDF). Australian Communications and Media Authority. 7 January 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 July 2008. Retrieved 29 January 2013.

[5] Gavin Long, Australia in the War of 1939–1945, https://www.awm.gov.au/histories/second_world_war/AWMOHWW2/Army/Vol1/

[6] Australian Communications and Media Authority (April 2021). "Section 7: Television Callsign order (by state)" (PDF). Radio and television broadcasting stations: Internet edition (PDF). ACMA. pp. 204–205. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 June 2021. Retrieved 20 June 2021. Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.

[7] "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 2 August 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

[8] "Changes to amateur radio call sign policy | ACMA".

[9] "WIA". Archived from the original on 27 March 2010. Retrieved 6 January 2016.

[10] "Amateur Callsign Structure (Australia)". Archived from the original on 30 March 2010. Retrieved 6 January 2016.

[11] "Changes to the VK9 licensing arrangements". Archived from the original on 12 October 2008. Retrieved 20 June 2019.

[12] Authority, Australian Communications and Media (29 July 2020). "Changes to amateur radio call sign policy | ACMA". www.acma.gov.au.

[13] "Overseas amateurs visiting Australia ACMA". Archived from the original on 3 May 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2016.

[14] "Callsign History - Australia - Engineering and Technology History Wiki". ethw.org.

[15] "Washington Radiotelegraph Conference 1927" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 March 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2016.

[16] "1947 Atlantic City ITU convention" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 July 2012.

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