A key moment in the history of global communication.
World Map Showing Radio Amateur Prefixes.
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Description
In 1952, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) hosted the International Radio Conference in Geneva, which finalized the post-WWII allocation of new shortwave, or Ham radio, prefixes on a global scale. The process had been drawn out following World War II and the subsequent reconfiguration of territories. But by 1952, all of the new prefixes had been allocated, setting the stage for the modern call sign system that is still in use. The revision was a dramatic one, and it prompted the creation of this marvelous lithographic world map, which defined all the new prefixes established by the ITU conference. It was a crucial publication that helped facilitate a global network of amateur communication.
The map is based on a Mercator projection, with a dramatic blue background contrasting with bright white landmasses. The world is divided into prefix regions printed in red and black, including even the most distant and exotic locations. Anyone equipped with a shortwave radio and this map could literally contact any location on the planet (assuming there was a receiving unit on the other end).
In the lower right corner, an inset depicts the world in a spherical transverse projection centering on Paris. This projection is useful for mapping radio propagation and understanding how radio signals travel across the globe in the context of long-distance communication, making it of particular interest to shortwave radio operators.
The lithographed map was produced by the Union Schweizerischer Kurzwellen-Amateure (USKA), corresponding to the Swiss Amateur Radio Society. Their logo is printed in the lower right corner alongside the edition date (1957) and the HB9GJ call-sign prefix for Switzerland, allowing users to get in touch with them. It is a vibrant and unusual map that captures a pivotal moment in the history of global communication.
Context is Everything
Amateur Radio and International Regulation
In the late 1940s and early 1950s, amateur radio operators used internationally recognized call-sign prefixes assigned by their respective countries under the oversight of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). These prefixes were crucial for identifying an operator’s country of origin and ensuring orderly communication worldwide.
U.S. Amateur Radio Prefixes
In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulated amateur radio licensing and call-sign allocation.
- American amateur call signs typically began with the prefix W or K, followed by a district number (1-9, and later 0) and a series of letters.
- W-prefixes were used for most amateur stations before 1947.
- K-prefixes, introduced in 1947, were initially assigned to new licensees and U.S. territories (e.g., KX6 for Pacific islands under U.S. control).
- The district numbers corresponded to geographical call districts (e.g., W6 for California, W9 for the Midwest).
International Prefix Standards
The ITU designated national prefixes under the auspices of the International Radiotelegraph Conferences.
- The Cairo Conference of 1938 and the Atlantic City Conference of 1947 updated many international prefixes.
- Great Britain was divided into four distinct prefixes:
- G for England
- GM for Scotland
- GW for Wales
- GI for Northern Ireland
- Canada used VE for general use, while VO was specifically for Newfoundland, which joined Canada in 1949.
Post-War Developments and the Expansion of Amateur Radio
After World War II, amateur radio activity rapidly expanded. Many occupied or newly independent nations saw their prefixes reassigned as part of this increased activity.
- Germany was allocated the prefix DL, but its amateur radio activity was heavily regulated by Allied control after the war.
- A similar scenario occurred in Japan, which was assigned the JA-prefix and operated under strict post-war regulations.
The 1947 K-prefix expansion in the United States reflected the growing amateur radio population. Internationally, the number of amateur operators increased dramatically, heightening the importance of clearly defined prefixes. By the time this map was issued, the ITU had redefined prefix allocations for most of the world, ensuring uniformity in global communication.
Cartographer(s):
The Union Schweizerischer Kurzwellen-Amateure (USKA) is the national association for Swiss amateur radio operators. Established in 1933, USKA has played a central role in promoting amateur radio activities and supporting operators throughout Switzerland.
Condition Description
Tape on verso.
References