On 25 December 2025, I finally received my General Grade License from WPC, Government of India.
This milestone feels very special because my journey began on 1 February 2022, when I got my Restricted Grade Ham Radio License and made countless QSOs over the years. It took almost three years of consistent effort to finally upgrade to General Grade.
A New Callsign System by WPC
WPC has recently introduced a new callsign format, giving operators the freedom to choose their preferred suffix—something we never had before.
- General Grade: Prefix range from VU22 to VU29
Example: If I want UT as the suffix, I can choose from VU22UT, VU23UT, VU24UT… VU29UT. - Restricted Grade: Prefix range from VU32 to VU39
Earlier, operators had no option to choose their suffix. Most combinations were already allotted under the old system.
For example, in 2022, even after giving many preferences, I was issued VU3EFL—a suffix that didn’t relate to my name or initials.
With the upgraded system, we now have the freedom to pick a callsign that truly represents us. A callsign is unique worldwide, and once issued, it stays with us for life, so it feels great to finally have a choice.
Lessons Learned While Preparing for the General Grade Exam
The biggest challenge—and the biggest learning—was Morse code.
- Do not count dits and dahs
- Instead, learn to recognize letters by their sound
- Receiving Morse is harder than sending, so focus more on listening practice
- A consistent daily routine of at least 30 minutes is essential
- Even missing one day can slow your progress
- It feels difficult at first, but steady practice makes it easy and enjoyable
This discipline and routine truly helped me succeed.
Gratitude for the Ham Community
After receiving my General Grade license, I was overwhelmed by the warm wishes from my ham radio friends.
It means a lot to have a community of people connected by such a unique and inspiring hobby.
Once we decide on a goal, we must stay committed until we achieve it.
The day I received my Restricted Grade license, I had already decided to start preparing for General Grade—and after three years of effort, I finally made it.
Thank you so much to everyone who supported and encouraged me through this journey.
73s
VU27UT
