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.
