20 KiB
20 KiB
Call Signs and Country Prefixes
This reference summarizes amateur radio call-sign patterns, suffixes,
country prefixes, and full call signs that appear in the BNetzA 2024 exam
question catalog in data/2024-03-20-3-auflage/fragenkatalog3b.json.
Reference counts are the number of exam question records where the item
appears in a call-sign or country-prefix context. Ambiguous short items
such as K, N, W, /F, and class letters are counted only when they
are used as call-sign prefixes, call-sign suffixes, or operating suffixes,
not as ordinary words, units, or unrelated answer text.
German Call-Sign Patterns
| Code or pattern | What it identifies | What the exam tests | Explanation, when actually used | Exam references | Question IDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DA0... |
German club station example. | DA0ABC is a club station. |
Used as a shared station call sign assigned to a club or group. | 1 | BD101 |
DA5... |
German special experimental-study example. | DA5XX marks operation for special experimental studies under AFuV. |
Used for specific authorized experimental amateur radio work. | 1 | BD102 |
DL0... |
German class A club station example. | DL0XK is a class A club-station call sign. |
Used by a club station rather than a person-bound station. | 1 | BD103 |
DL1 to DL9 |
German person-bound class A call signs with two- or three-letter suffix. | DL1 to DL9 plus suffix belongs to class A. |
Used as a German full-privilege personal amateur radio call-sign pattern. | 1 | BD104 |
DN9... |
German person-bound class N call sign pattern. | DN9 belongs to class N. |
Used for German class N personal call signs. | 1 | BD105 |
DO1 to DO9 |
German person-bound class E call signs with two- or three-letter suffix. | DO1 to DO9 plus suffix belongs to class E. |
Used as a German novice/intermediate personal call-sign pattern. | 1 | BD106 |
DP0... |
German exterritorial class A station examples. | DP0GVN and DP0POL are exterritorial class A amateur stations. |
Used for German amateur stations operated at exterritorial locations. | 2 | BD107, BD108 |
| German personal format | Two-letter prefix, one digit, two- or three-letter suffix. | Person-bound German call signs are built from prefix, digit, and suffix. | Used to recognize the structure of ordinary German amateur call signs. | 1 | VD203 |
DA to DZ |
German country-prefix range with exceptions in distractors. | Correct mapping: Germany DA-DR, South Korea DS-DT, Philippines DU-DZ. |
Used to identify the country allocation at the start of a call sign. | 1 | BD302 |
MO, MOE, MOI, MOS, MOH, MO5 |
Direction-finding (foxhunt/ARDF) transmitter identifiers, not call signs. | Low-power beacons used for radio direction finding send MO, MOE, MOI, MOS, MOH or MO5. |
Used in telegraphy by ARDF/foxhunt transmitters to identify themselves while being located. | 1 | BD109 |
Operating Suffixes and Portable Prefixing
| Code or pattern | What it identifies | What the exam tests | Explanation, when actually used | Exam references | Question IDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
HB9/DL9MJ |
German class A station operating temporarily in Switzerland under CEPT. | For CEPT operation abroad, use the visited country's prefix before the home call sign. | Used when a German class A operator operates temporarily in Switzerland. | 1 | BD214 |
HB3/DO7PR |
German CEPT-Novice station operating temporarily in Switzerland. | For Swiss novice CEPT operation, HB3/ is prefixed before the German DO call. |
Used when a German novice operator operates temporarily in Switzerland under the novice arrangement. | 1 | BD213 |
DL/G3MM |
Foreign station temporarily operating in Germany under CEPT. | A UK station may temporarily operate in Germany by prefixing DL/. |
Used when a foreign operator identifies temporary operation from Germany. | 1 | BD212 |
DL/ or DO/ |
German prefix added before a foreign home call sign, depending on class. | A CEPT visitor in Germany prefixes the home call with DL/ or DO/. |
Used by foreign CEPT operators while temporarily operating from Germany. | 1 | VB110 |
/T or /Trainee |
Training operation suffix. | Trainees use the trainer or club call with /T or /Trainee, depending on the case. |
Used to identify supervised training operation. | 3 | BD209, BD210, BD211 |
/R or /Remote |
Remote-operation suffix. | /R or /Remote can mark remote operation. |
Used as optional information that the station is being operated remotely. | 1 | BD208 |
/p |
Portable or temporarily fixed station. | /p may be used in Germany, but is not mandatory for portable or temporarily fixed operation. |
Used to tell others the station is portable or temporarily away from the registered fixed site. | 3 | BA107, BD206, BD207 |
/m |
Mobile station or station on inland waterways. | /m can mean mobile in a land vehicle or aboard a vessel on inland waters. |
Used to identify mobile operation. | 2 | BD203, BD204 |
/mm |
Maritime mobile on a vessel at sea. | DC4LW/mm means the station is aboard a watercraft at sea. |
Used for maritime mobile amateur operation outside inland-waterway cases. | 1 | BD205 |
/am |
Aeronautical mobile. | VE8ZZ/am is a Canadian amateur station operated aboard an aircraft. |
Used when an amateur station is operated from an aircraft. | 2 | BD201, BD202 |
Country Prefixes
| Code or prefix | Country or area | What the exam tests | Explanation, when actually used | Exam references | Question IDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4X |
Israel. | 4X, F, OZ map to Israel, France, Denmark. |
Used as the country prefix at the start of Israeli call signs. | 2 | BD307, BD311 |
AL |
United States prefix range item. | Appears as a distractor in the USA, New Zealand, Argentina prefix question. | Used as part of the US AA-AL prefix allocation, though not the main exam answer. |
1 | BD312 |
BY |
China. | China, Canada, Australia are BY, VE, VK. |
Used as a Chinese amateur radio prefix. | 4 | BD313, BD316, BD317, BD318 |
CE |
Chile. | South American examples include PY, CE, LU; also appears as a distractor. |
Used as a Chilean amateur radio prefix. | 2 | BD312, BD317 |
CT |
Portugal. | Appears as a distractor among countries bordering Germany. | Used as a Portuguese amateur radio prefix. | 1 | BD314 |
DS-DT |
South Korea. | In the DA-DZ allocation question, DS-DT belongs to South Korea. |
Used to identify South Korean call signs in that prefix range. | 3 | BD302, BD316, BD318 |
DU-DZ |
Philippines. | In the DA-DZ allocation question, DU-DZ belongs to the Philippines. |
Used to identify Philippine call signs in that prefix range. | 1 | BD302 |
EA |
Spain. | Spain appears as EA; Switzerland, Spain, Belgium are HB9, EA, ON; EA6VQ is a Spanish station calling CQ. |
Used as a Spanish amateur radio prefix. | 5 | BD308, BD310, BD311, BD314, BE104 |
EI |
Ireland. | EA, EI, EK, EM, ES map to Spain, Ireland, Armenia, Ukraine, Estonia. |
Used as an Irish amateur radio prefix. | 2 | BD308, BD311 |
EK |
Armenia. | EK maps to Armenia in the five-prefix sequence. |
Used as an Armenian amateur radio prefix. | 1 | BD308 |
EM |
Ukraine. | EM maps to Ukraine in the correct sequence and appears as a distractor elsewhere. |
Used as a Ukrainian amateur radio prefix. | 2 | BD308, BD311 |
ES |
Estonia. | ES maps to Estonia in the five-prefix sequence. |
Used as an Estonian amateur radio prefix. | 1 | BD308 |
EU |
Belarus. | Appears as a distractor in the Spain, Luxembourg, Poland question. | Used as a Belarusian amateur radio prefix. | 1 | BD311 |
F |
France. | France appears in border-country and prefix-mapping questions. | Used as a French amateur radio prefix. | 3 | BD305, BD307, BD314 |
GM |
Scotland. | Appears as a distractor among countries bordering Germany. | Used for Scotland within the UK call-sign system. | 1 | BD314 |
HB0 |
Liechtenstein. | Appears as a distractor among countries bordering Germany. | Used as a Liechtenstein amateur radio prefix. | 1 | BD314 |
HB3 |
Switzerland novice CEPT prefix. | German novice CEPT operation in Switzerland uses HB3/DO7PR. |
Used before a German novice home call when operating temporarily in Switzerland under the relevant arrangement. | 2 | BD213, BD214 |
HB9 |
Switzerland. | Switzerland appears as HB9; used in CEPT and DX examples. |
Used as a Swiss amateur radio prefix. | 5 | BD213, BD214, BD310, BD314, BE114 |
I |
Italy. | Appears as a distractor among countries bordering Germany. | Used as an Italian amateur radio prefix. | 1 | BD314 |
JA |
Japan. | Asian-prefix distractors and China, Canada, Australia choices include JA. |
Used as a Japanese amateur radio prefix. | 4 | BD313, BD316, BD317, BD318 |
K |
United States. | USA call signs can start with K; also appears in country-prefix distractors. |
Used as a US amateur radio prefix. | 4 | BD312, BD315, BD316, BD318 |
LA |
Norway. | Appears as a distractor in Europe-prefix questions. | Used as a Norwegian amateur radio prefix. | 2 | BD311, BD314 |
LU |
Argentina. | USA, New Zealand, Argentina are W, ZL, LU; also a South America distractor. |
Used as an Argentine amateur radio prefix. | 4 | BD311, BD312, BD317, BD318 |
LX |
Luxembourg. | Spain, Luxembourg, Poland are EA, LX, SP. |
Used as a Luxembourg amateur radio prefix. | 2 | BD311, BD314 |
LZ |
Bulgaria. | Appears as a distractor in European-prefix questions. | Used as a Bulgarian amateur radio prefix. | 2 | BD311, BD314 |
N |
United States. | USA call signs can start with N; also appears in distractors. |
Used as a US amateur radio prefix. | 4 | BD312, BD313, BD315, BD316 |
OE |
Austria. | Austria, Netherlands, Sweden are OE, PA, SM; Austria, Belgium, Czechia are OE, ON, OK. |
Used as an Austrian amateur radio prefix. | 3 | BD303, BD304, BD314 |
OK |
Czechia. | OE, ON, OK map to Austria, Belgium, Czechia. |
Used as a Czech amateur radio prefix. | 2 | BD303, BD314 |
ON |
Belgium. | Switzerland, Spain, Belgium are HB9, EA, ON; OE, ON, OK includes Belgium. |
Used as a Belgian amateur radio prefix. | 3 | BD303, BD310, BD314 |
OZ |
Denmark. | 4X, F, OZ map to Israel, France, Denmark; also border-country question. |
Used as a Danish amateur radio prefix. | 2 | BD307, BD314 |
PA |
Netherlands. | France, Netherlands, Poland are F, PA, SP; Austria, Netherlands, Sweden are OE, PA, SM. |
Used as a Dutch amateur radio prefix. | 2 | BD304, BD305 |
PY |
Brazil. | VE, VK, PY map to Canada, Australia, Brazil; PY also appears in long-path context. |
Used as a Brazilian amateur radio prefix. | 5 | AH216, BD309, BD312, BD317, BD318 |
SM |
Sweden. | Sweden, Poland, South Africa are SM, SP, ZS; OE, PA, SM includes Sweden. |
Used as a Swedish amateur radio prefix. | 4 | BD304, BD306, BD311, BD314 |
SP |
Poland. | Poland appears in border-country and mapping questions. | Used as a Polish amateur radio prefix. | 5 | BD305, BD306, BD310, BD311, BD314 |
S0 |
Western Sahara. | Appears as a distractor in the Spain, Luxembourg, Poland question. | Used as a Western Sahara prefix in prefix lists. | 1 | BD311 |
SZ |
Greece prefix-series item. | Appears as a distractor in the Switzerland, Spain, Belgium question. | Used within Greek amateur radio prefix series. | 1 | BD310 |
UA |
Russia. | Appears in UA3RUS, a distractor in the USA-only call-sign question. |
Used as a Russian amateur radio prefix. | 1 | BD315 |
US |
Ukraine. | Appears in US2ABC, a distractor in the USA-only call-sign question. |
Used as a Ukrainian amateur radio prefix series. | 1 | BD315 |
VE |
Canada. | Canada appears as VE; VE8ZZ/am is Canadian aeronautical mobile. |
Used as a Canadian amateur radio prefix. | 7 | BD202, BD309, BD312, BD313, BD315, BD316, BD317 |
VK |
Australia. | Australia appears as VK; CQ VK/ZL asks for Australia or New Zealand. |
Used as an Australian amateur radio prefix. | 4 | BD309, BD313, BE110, EH217 |
VU |
India. | BY, JA, VU are Asian prefixes in the correct answer. |
Used as an Indian amateur radio prefix. | 1 | BD318 |
W |
United States. | USA, New Zealand, Argentina are W, ZL, LU; W, VE, XE share one continent; USA calls also include W.... |
Used as a US amateur radio prefix. | 3 | BD312, BD315, BD316 |
XE |
Mexico. | North American-prefix distractor with W, VE, and N. |
Used as a Mexican amateur radio prefix. | 1 | BD316 |
ZL |
New Zealand. | USA, New Zealand, Argentina are W, ZL, LU; CQ VK/ZL asks for Australia or New Zealand. |
Used as a New Zealand amateur radio prefix. | 2 | BD312, BE110 |
ZS |
South Africa. | Sweden, Poland, South Africa are SM, SP, ZS; also appears as a distractor. |
Used as a South African amateur radio prefix. | 2 | BD306, BD312 |
Full Call Signs Mentioned
| Call sign | What it identifies | What the exam tests | Explanation, when actually used | Exam references | Question IDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DD4UQ |
German call-sign example. | Phonetic spelling and Fieldday contest example. | Used as a normal station call sign; with /P it is portable. |
2 | BA101, BE116 |
DK1KC |
German phonetic spelling example. | Spell as Delta Kilo 1 Kilo Charlie. | Used as a station call sign that must be identified clearly on air. | 1 | BA102 |
DK5WP |
German phonetic spelling example. | Spell as Delta Kilo 5 Whiskey Papa. | Used as a station call sign that must be identified clearly on air. | 1 | BA103 |
DL1FLO |
German phonetic spelling example. | Spell as Delta Lima 1 Foxtrot Lima Oscar. | Used as a station call sign that must be identified clearly on air. | 1 | BA104 |
DL4YBZ |
German phonetic spelling example. | Spell as Delta Lima 4 Yankee Bravo Zulu. | Used as a station call sign that must be identified clearly on air. | 1 | BA105 |
DM4EAX |
German phonetic spelling example. | Spell as Delta Mike 4 Echo Alfa X-ray. | Used as a station call sign that must be identified clearly on air. | 1 | BA106 |
DN9RO/p |
German portable phonetic spelling example. | Spell the call and /p as portable. |
Used when a class N station is portable or temporarily fixed. | 1 | BA107 |
DN9STV |
German class N phonetic spelling example. | Spell as Delta November 9 Sierra Tango Victor. | Used as a class N station call sign. | 1 | BA108 |
DO9XJZ |
German class E phonetic spelling example. | Spell as Delta Oscar 9 X-ray Juliett Zulu. | Used as a class E station call sign. | 1 | BA109 |
IG9/DL4HR |
German station operating with IG9/ prefix in the spelling example. |
Spell the slash as stroke. | Used when a home call is prefixed for operation from another country or area. | 1 | BA110 |
DA0ABC |
German club station example. | Recognize it as a club station. | Used as a shared club-station call sign. | 1 | BD101 |
DA5XX |
German special experimental-study example. | Recognize special experimental-study operation. | Used for authorized experimental amateur radio studies. | 1 | BD102 |
DL0XK |
German class A club station example. | Recognize a class A club station. | Used by a club station in normal or contest operation. | 1 | BD103 |
DP0GVN |
German exterritorial class A station example. | Recognize exterritorial class A operation. | Used for German amateur operation from an exterritorial site. | 1 | BD107 |
DP0POL |
German exterritorial class A station example. | Recognize exterritorial class A operation. | Used for German amateur operation from an exterritorial site. | 1 | BD108 |
DG2RON/T |
German training-operation example. | Trainee uses DG2RON/T for Morse or digital training. |
Used when a trainee operates under supervision. | 1 | BD211 |
DL0MOL/T |
Club-station training-operation example. | Trainee may use DL0MOL/T or DL0MOL/Trainee. |
Used for supervised training at a club station. | 1 | BD210 |
DL1PZ/Trainee |
Speech training-operation example. | Trainee may use DL1PZ/Trainee. |
Used for supervised speech-radio training. | 1 | BD209 |
DC4LW/mm |
German maritime-mobile station example. | Recognize operation aboard a vessel at sea. | Used when operating from a vessel at sea. | 1 | BD205 |
VE8ZZ/am |
Canadian aeronautical-mobile station example. | Recognize Canadian aircraft operation. | Used when operating an amateur station from an aircraft. | 1 | BD202 |
DL/G3MM |
UK station temporarily operating in Germany. | CEPT visitor prefixes home call with German prefix. | Used by a foreign operator temporarily in Germany. | 1 | BD212 |
HB9/DL9MJ |
German class A station temporarily in Switzerland. | Correct CEPT call-sign form in Switzerland. | Used by a German operator temporarily operating from Switzerland. | 1 | BD214 |
HB3/DO7PR |
German CEPT-Novice station temporarily in Switzerland. | Correct novice CEPT call-sign form in Switzerland. | Used by a German novice operator temporarily operating from Switzerland. | 1 | BD213 |
EA6VQ and DF1KW |
Spanish caller and German answering station. | Correct way to answer a CQ call in English. | Used when replying directly to a station that called CQ. | 1 | BE104 |
4U1ITU |
ITU station example calling specific prefixes. | CQ VK/ZL asks only Australia or New Zealand. |
Used as a calling station that restricts replies to wanted areas. | 1 | BE110 |
N4EAX |
US station calling Germany. | CQ DL means the station seeks a German amateur. |
Used when a station calls for a particular country prefix. | 1 | BE113 |
HB9AFN |
Swiss station calling DX. | CQ DX on 20 m seeks another continent in the exam example. |
Used when a station requests long-distance or intercontinental replies. | 1 | BE114 |
HZ1HZ and K8PYD |
Station and QSL manager example. | QSL via K8PYD means send the card through the QSL manager. |
Used when a station delegates QSL-card handling to another call sign. | 1 | BG109 |
K3LR, W3DZZ, K4EAX |
Correct USA-only answer set. | All three are US call signs. | Used as examples of US call-sign prefixes K and W. |
1 | BD315 |
W0FKK, N6CAL, VE5VK |
Mixed USA and Canada distractor set. | VE5VK is Canadian, so the set is not USA-only. |
Used to distinguish US prefixes from Canadian VE. |
1 | BD315 |
US2ABC, AB0GC, W4EAX |
Mixed distractor set. | US2ABC is not a US call sign in this question context. |
Used to avoid assuming every call starting with US means USA. |
1 | BD315 |
K1TTT, KA7KLE, UA3RUS |
Mixed USA and Russia distractor set. | UA3RUS is not a US call sign. |
Used to distinguish US K or KA calls from Russian UA. |
1 | BD315 |
Lookup and Identification Rules
| Topic | What it identifies | What the exam tests | Explanation, when actually used | Exam references | Question IDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| International prefix regulation | Prefixes for amateur radio call signs. | Prefixes are internationally regulated in the Radio Regulations. | Used as the legal basis for recognizing country allocations. | 1 | VA406 |
| Unknown country prefix lookup | Where to find an unknown country prefix. | Use the ITU country-prefix list, amateur radio handbooks, and call-sign lists. | Used when a heard call sign has an unfamiliar prefix. | 1 | BD301 |
| International callbook | Address lookup for foreign amateurs. | Foreign addresses can be found in an international callbook or internet sources. | Used when sending a direct QSL card. | 2 | BG109, BG110 |
| QSL-card call signs | Minimum QSL-card call-sign data. | QSL cards should include own call sign and the other station's call sign. | Used to document a completed QSO correctly. | 1 | BG105 |
| Listening without a call sign | Receiving amateur transmissions. | Receiving amateur radio transmissions does not require amateur service admission. | Used to distinguish SWL reception from transmitting. | 1 | VD102 |