so i just passed my general last month and ive been looking into getting a vanity call. my uncle was a ham for decades and his old call is available (he became a silent key a couple years ago, still miss him) and i really want to get it as kind of a tribute thing. i went through the FCC ULS site and filed the application but now im just sitting here not sure what happens next or how long this takes.

from what i read theres like a window period where multiple people can apply for the same call and then its basically a lottery if more than one person wants it? or did i misunderstand that. and does being a family member of the previous holder give me any advantage or is that not a thing anymore. i thought i read something about that years ago but couldnt find current info.

also does my license class affect which calls i can even apply for, like can a general get any 2x3 or only certain ones. just trying to understand the whole process before i get my hopes up too much

hey congrats on the General and sorry about your uncle, that's a really nice reason to want the call.

so yeah the way it works now — there's a 31 day waiting period after a call becomes available before anyone can apply for it. once that window opens anyone eligible can throw in an application and if multiple people apply for the same call during that first filing window they all get considered at once and it does essentially come down to a random selection. so yes, partly luck unfortunately.

the family preference thing — i believe that went away a while back when the FCC restructured the vanity rules, so i wouldnt count on that giving you a leg up. someone else can correct me if im wrong on that.

as for license class, yes that matters. as a General you can apply for calls that are appropriate for your license class. a 2x3 format (like W1ABC) is fair game for General and above. the 1x2 and 2x1 format calls are restricted to Extras only. so check what format your uncle's old call was — if it's a 1x2 or 2x1 you'd need to upgrade first before you could even apply for it.

good luck, i hope you get it. would be a really meaningful thing to carry on his call.

went through this exact process last year. the 31 day window thing is real and the waiting is kind of brutal lol. i used a site called AE7Q to track available calls and see how many applicants were going for the same one, super useful for figuring out your odds before you commit.

one thing i'd add — make sure your application on the ULS actually went through and shows as pending, sometimes people think they submitted and it didnt actually go. just double check the status in the system.