Yes, this has bothered me for a while now. Generally, the Entity is supposed to be a prefix, e.g. F/G3WGV but occasionally national regulators have issued visitor callsigns where the entity is the suffix. Technically that is contrary to the ITU regulations but it is only a recommendation. That recommendation should also preclude the use of the Entity as a suffix in the UK but Clause 26 effectively says otherwise. As OfCom’s licence conditions are supposed to give force to ITU regulations in the UK it is a curious inconsistency.
1 Like
I’ve had several people commenting on content on my QRZ page, predominantly during VHF/UHF QSOs, which tend to be a bit longer.
I believe the confusion arrives when people try and log the contact but their logging software is unable to retrieve the contact details from QRZdotcom (and other similar data sets) and they are not familiar with Regional Secondary Locators.
I never had anyone querying my callsign on HF but had this happen a few times on VHF.
I always take the time to explain things.
I have made contact with many people who do not have an entry on QRZ. I never query it, and log what has been conveyed over the air.
3 Likes
Even earlier than that, when licences were issued by the Home Office. My call sign on the initial (Class A) licence and for renewals several years later was always GM4TOE - see attached
4 Likes
I think John means that the term RSL started with the RadioCommunications Agency, not that the concept started then. I think it was the Post Office that introduced them in the 1950s.
EDIT: If posts on this very forum are correct then GI was the first followed by GM and GW. They were requested by the RSGB starting in the 1920s.
1 Like
Yes indeed. The concept of the UK and associated islands being comprised of several distinct radio countries, or “Entities” in today-speak was first introduced by the RSGB, or perhaps its predecessor, the Wireless Society of London, starting with GI in the 1920s.
The idea gained real impetus when the ARRL created the DX Century Club (DXCC) in 1937. This was in an era when working 100 separate countries was considered to be a major challenge, so it was a worthy objective to join the “club”.
With the establishment of DXCC each of the then six** radio countries of the UK became DXCC “counters” or as we now know them, Entities.
** The Channel Islands were originally a single counter, GC but were split into GJ and GU in 1977.
2 Likes
Creating a presence on QRZdotcom is obviously optional and should not be assumed to be the definition of a real callsign.
If you do use QRZdotcom it is easy to set-up aliases to direct callsigns with regional identifiers and suffixes to your main page.
73, Kevin, MW0KXN
2 Likes
As I see it the RSLs perfectly reflect the nature of the UK, distinct entities seperate but together, celebrating individuality collectively! 
My lack of aspiration to multi-task probably influenced my original comment. 
Multi tasking: Doing more than one thing badly at the same time.
4 Likes
If you really work at it, you’ll be able to do one thing badly all by itself. I mastered it quite a while ago 
Rick
5 Likes