Hello & Questions for Senior Members

[KC3YHW]

Hello All from Sussex County, DE! I am a complete novice in today’s HAM world and looking to engage in the community. I am actively studying the Technician license content and considering which multiband radio to purchase.

All said, in 1980 I earned a 1st Class FCC General Radiotelephone Operators License (General Radiotelephone Certificate) with a Shipboard Radar Endorsement, which I renewed in January 1985. Honestly, I haven’t used this license and so accordingly have started studying the associated content again.

I actually thought the licenses expired long ago, HOWEVER, when I looked up my license on the FCC website, I found it and it stated I am registered as a Commercial User with a Call Sign of “PG0510785”, which matches my license number on the certificate. Below is a full copy of the data I found on the FCC site:

Call Sign PG0510785
Radio Service CM - Commercial Operator
Status Active
Auth Type Regular
Grant 01/02/1985
Expiration (entry was blank)
Effective 01/02/1985
Cancellation (entry was blank)
Licensee Information
FRN (entry was blank)
Type Individual

After finding the data on the FCC website, I examined the physical license that I have in possession more closely and it states “the license is valid for the lifetime of the holder unless suspended by the FCC”, which both surprised & delighted me…

Can any of the senior members confirm that I am not missing something and that although I have a lot of catching to do, I am already in possession of a General License? If so, how can I obtain a 2 x 3 Call Sign as opposed to PG510785?

Thanks in advance for any assistance rendered!

[WP3C]

@KC3YHW

Radiotelephone Operators

Hello @KC3YHW and welcome to the community

Alfredo WP3C

[N2DUP]

@KC3YHW It appears you didn’t get an answer to your question about your commercial radiotelephone license. Unfortunately, your first class radio telephone operators license is not the same thing as a General class ham license. Your First Class license does not give you permission to transmit, only work on radio equipment. I was the holder of a former third class permit with a radar endorsement, however, the FCC canceled all of those long ago. Only First Class permit holders got to keep their licenses – second and third class permits were canned by the FCC. Your PG number is only a certificate number for FCC records, not a call sign. I recently decided to obtain a restricted radiotelephone operators permit, which is the catchall now if you don’t have a First Class permit, and also have a PG cert number, too, as I recall. You might want to try to associate the FRN on your ham license with your First Class permit. All your individual permits and licenses with the FCC should be under your FRN. I currently have my ham, GMRS, Part 90 business and restricted permit all under my FRN.

In the meantime, with your experience obtaining the First Class permit back in the 1980s, some freshening up of concepts and tech would allow you to study for the General class ham license and Ham Radio Prep can help you get that upgrade!

73 de N2DUP