so ive been kicking around getting a vanity call since i got my general about 6 months ago. my current call is ok i guess but not really memorable and kinda long. been looking at the uls and seeing what might be available but man there's so many options i dont even know where to start. plus i heard the wait times are pretty long right now? anyone gone through this recently and can share what the process was like. also do you actually use your vanity call or do people still just use your original sometimes

I went through the vanity process last year and it took about 18 days which wasn't too bad. The key is to really think about what you want before you apply because you're stuck with it for a while. I picked something with my initials that was easy to say phonetically. The FCC website walks you through it step by step and its pretty straightforward once you get started. One tip - check the ULS database regularly because new calls become available as people let licenses expire or become silent keys.

totally worth it in my opinion. went from a terrible 2x3 call to a nice short 1x2 and the difference on the air is huge. people actually remember my call now and its so much easier in contests. the waiting part sucks but just pick like 25 calls in order of preference and submit the application. worst case you dont get your first choice but youll probably get something decent from your list