Ham Radio Callsign Lookup & FCC License
Lookup FCC amateur radio callsigns, license classes, grid squares, NATO phonetic alphabets, Morse code, and ITU country prefix allocations.
International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Prefix Allocations
Identify station nation and DXCC entity by the leading letters of their callsign.
| Prefix Block | Country / Jurisdiction | Continent | CQ Zone | ITU Zone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
AA-AL, K, N, W |
United States | NA | 03, 04, 05 | 06, 07, 08 |
CF-CK, VA-VG, VO, VY |
Canada | NA | 01, 02, 04, 05 | 02, 03, 04, 09, 75 |
G, M, 2E |
United Kingdom | EU | 14 | 27 |
VK, AX |
Australia | OC | 29, 30 | 55, 58, 59 |
JA-JS, 7J-7N |
Japan | AS | 25 | 45 |
DA-DR |
Germany | EU | 14 | 28 |
F |
France | EU | 14 | 27 |
PY-PU |
Brazil | SA | 11 | 17, 18 |
Maidenhead Grid Distance & Azimuth Calculator
Compute great-circle distance and antenna beam heading between two 4-character Maidenhead grid squares.
Amateur Radio Operating Essentials
Whether communicating on 20-meter HF voice, high-speed Morse code (CW), or VHF emergency repeaters, clear identification and operating protocols form the bedrock of global radio communication.
NATO Phonetic Alphabet
International standard used across aviation and amateur radio to eliminate misinterpretation caused by atmospheric static and signal fading.
Maidenhead Locator System
Divides the Earth into 324 fields of 20° longitude by 10° latitude, enabling rapid VHF/UHF propagation and contest scoring.
FCC ULS Licensing
The Universal Licensing System catalogs granted frequencies and authorized transmitter power ceilings up to 1,500 Watts PEP.
About this tool
How to use it
- Enter any amateur radio callsign (e.g., W1AW, K1JT, VE3ZZ) into the search bar.
- Inspect the operator's license class, registration status, grid square locator, city, and state.
- View the NATO phonetic translation and CW Morse code representation for on-air voice and telegraphy communication.
- Switch to the ITU Prefix Directory tab to look up callsign country allocation prefixes across over 100 nations.
- Use the Maidenhead Grid Calculator to compute great-circle distance and beam antenna heading between two stations.
Why it matters
Amateur radio operators, shortwave listeners (SWLs), and contest participants need rapid callsign identification to log contacts, determine transmitter locations, align directional beam antennas, and verify license privileges. This tool combines FCC license lookup, international prefix parsing, and Maidenhead grid calculations in an instant client-side utility.
When to use it
Use during amateur radio contests, field day operations, DX chasing, verifying ham radio license grants, calculating antenna azimuth angles, or transcribing callsigns into phonetic alphabet and Morse code.
Common questions
What license classes exist in the United States FCC system?
Current US amateur radio licenses are granted in three classes: Technician (entry-level VHF/UHF), General (intermediate with extensive HF privileges), and Amateur Extra (top-tier with all amateur frequency allocations). Legacy Novice and Advanced licenses remain renewable.
What is a Maidenhead Grid Square?
A Maidenhead grid locator is a 4 or 6-character geographic coordinate system (such as FN31pr) used by radio amateurs to designate station locations without needing long latitude/longitude strings.
How does the live lookup work?
The tool checks our embedded database of notable stations and connects seamlessly to public FCC ULS data feeds when online, while remaining fully operational offline.
Can I calculate antenna heading to a contact?
Yes! Enter your home grid square and your target contact's grid square into the Grid Distance & Bearing tab to obtain direct compass bearing and distance in miles or kilometers.