I was licenses as a ham radio operator in 2001 as KG4LST. I upgraded my license to General class and then to Amateur Extra class in 2017. I started thinking about changing my callsign to something more mature. At the time I really wanted a 1x2 callsign that started with a W. Realizing how unlikely I was to get any 1x2 at all, let alone get one that had any significance, I decided to see what might actually be a feasible change. When I was a young ham, I thought the FCC would automatically change my callsign when I upgraded. So in the back of my mind I thought that I would become K4LST or KG4LS...I didn't really know how it worked. So in doing my research for a vanity call, I checked on K4LST and found that it was not available in 2019. Still liking the idea of a W call, I checked W4LST and found it also was not available. I ended up choosing W4LSG because it was vaguely similar. When my application was processed and my tech call KG4LST showed expired, I panicked. I thought I was being silly and that I would probably eventually get use to W4LSG. Three years later, I am not liking it very much. It actually looks great written. But, I think it was just too different from my original callsign and therefore has no real significance to me. Like operating under someone else's callsign.
I've been looking around again to see what is available. I've actually considered going back to KG4LST because it's so familiar. But still wanting a more mature callsign, I checked on K4LST again. It just became available in August of 2022. Sadly the OM (Joe Luna of Smyrna TN) that previously held it passed away in 2019. So I decided to put in my application to the FCC and change to that. I hope it's a better fit for me. It's a callsign that seems like the natural progression from KG4LST. My application is pending, but I think I'll get it. I hope it fits and I can commit to keep it. If it doesn't feel like the correct callsign for me, I guess I'll go back to my original callsign and just leave it alone. It seems so easy for some to change their callsign and never look back. Truth be told, I identified very heavily with my first callsign and it has felt a bit like an identity crisis since the change. I haven't seen many hams talk about this, missing their old call, or anything like that. I suppose this could be unique to me. In any case, I shall give a try to a 1x3 homage to my original call and see how it goes.
73 de K4LST sk
