SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/ham-id-in-english

What language must you use for station identification on voice (phone)?

English.

  1. Any language recognized by the ITU
  2. English ✔
  3. English, French or Spanish

Why: When you identify by voice, your call sign must be given in English. You may talk in other languages, but the ID itself is in English.

Huh, didn't know that: The FCC encourages, but does not require, a phonetic alphabet for station ID.

The dad joke
Why did the ham take English class? He wanted to identify better.
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Sources

  1. NCVEC 2026-2030 Technician Question Pool (Element 2), errata Feb 19, 2026 https://www.ncvec.org/downloads/2026-2030%20Technician%20Pool%20and%20Syllabus%20Public%20Release%20Feb%2019%202026.pdf
  2. 47 CFR 97.119 Station identification (eCFR) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-97/subpart-B/section-97.119

Test yourself in the game

Ham RadioWhen must you transmit your assigned call sign?Ham RadioWhich agency makes and enforces the rules for amateur radio in the United States?Ham RadioWhich of these is prohibited for amateur radio operators?

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