Amateur Radio

First issued 1956

pairs 1956-1974

Plate serial is owners FCC ID.

South Carolina is in Call Area 4 (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia). I believe if one relocates to SC from another region, they may keep their call sign.

FCC issued original prefix of K after WWII (K4AAA to K4ZZZ), then W prefix (W4AAA to W4ZZZ), then Wx (WA4xxx ...)

In 1976, Federal Communications Commission revised issuance categories http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/index.htm?job=call_signs_1&id=amateur

1956 (pair) state name and year embossed; serial number screenprinted 

black/yellow

1957 (pair) state name and year embossed; serial number screenprinted 

white/blue


1958 (pair) state name and year embossed; serial number screenprinted

blue/white

1959 (pair)

white/blue

1960 (pair)

blue/white

1961 (pair) 

red/white

1962 (pair) 

white/red

1963 (pair) 

white/green

1964 (pair) 

white/black

1965 (pair) 

black/white

1966 (pair)

white/blue

1967 (pair) 

blue/white

1968 (pair) 

white/black

1969 (pair) 

white/blue

1970 (pair) 

white/green

1971 (pair) 

white/brown

1972 (pair)

white/black

1973 (pair) 

white/blue

1974 (pair) 

white/green

1975 (single) 

white/maroon

1976-1978 passenger stickers 

Bicentennial base

1979 

black/white

1980 

blue/white

1981 

red/white

1982 marked NOV. 30th

green/white

1983 "EXP. NOV. 30th 83" bottom

black/white

1984 "EXP. NOV. 30 84" top 

white/blue

1985 "EXP. NOV. 30 85" 

red/white

1986 "EXP. 11/30" bottom corners 

green/white

1987 "EXP. 11/30" bottom corners 

black/white

1988 "EXP. RADIO AMATEUR 11/30" bottom 

blue/white

1989-1990 stickered (1989 non-pass; 1990 passenger) 

red/white

1991-2009 stickered (1991 non-pass sticker; 1992+ passenger stickers) 

black/white

2010-2015 same design as 1991-2009, but flat. Most call letters that included the number 0 did not use the slash.

 prior embossed variation valid with renewal

black/white

2015-current

Redesign effective 5/1/2015

Full replacement complete by 4/30/2017

Radio tower image added c.November 2017. Doubtful that prior (2015 design) issues will be replaced with updated design automatically.