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New License Plate Design Coming Soon For Amateur Radio Operators, Emergency Communications

FROM CHRISTOPHER HALL

From time to time while driving, you may have noticed amateur radio distinctive license plates on passenger cars and trucks as your paths cross. The current Alabama Amateur Radio license plate will soon have a new look. The theme of the 2020 Alabama Amateur Radio license plate is “The Thin Gold Line.”

Red is the color assigned to Fire Fighters, Emergency Medical services and Emergency Management known as the “Thin Red Line.” Blue is assigned to Law Enforcement commonly known as the “Thin Blue Line.”

Gold is the color assigned to Emergency Communicators including 911 and other Public Safety Dispatchers, Emergency Management Radio Operators, Communication Technicians, Communication Unit Leaders and Amateur Radio Operators. The plate was designed to recognize those who often get overlooked during emergencies but have a very vital role in emergency response… the person on the other end of the radio…

Gold is used for the Morse Code on the plate as well as the voice pattern in the center of the plate. At the far left is the bright yellow diamond which is the international symbol for Amateur Radio. The triangle at the top is the electronic schematic symbol for the antenna. The spiral in the center is the electronic schematic symbol for an inductor. The image at the bottom is the electronic schematic symbol for ground.

At the top, under “ALABAMA” is Morse code for “AL2C.” AL2C is the FCC issued call sign for the Alabama Bicentennial Amateur Radio Club. This club facilitated special-event radio operations commemorating Alabama’s 200th birthday from 2017 through the end of 2019.

In the center of the plate is the Amateur Radio Operator’s FCC issued call sign.

In the the center of the plate, in the subdued background, is an actual voice pattern saying “QST.”

When said as a statement, QST means “I have traffic for you.” When asked as a question, QST means “Do you have traffic for me?”

At the bottom of the plate under “AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS” is Morse code for “ARL FIVE ZERO” The ARL is a series of pre-numbered short messages used in “Radiograms” to reduce the time spent sending and receiving emergency and routine messages that are sent and received on a regular repeated basis. “ARL FIVE ZERO” literally means “Greetings from Amateur Radio!”

The plate was designed by Christopher Hall, K4LIA. Hall has served as ARES Emergency Coordinator for Autauga County since 2006. He works with county Emergency Management Agencies in Central Alabama. Hall serves as State Government Liaison for the Alabama Section, American Radio Relay League since 2014. He is also State AUXCOMM Coordinator and works closely with the Alabama Emergency Management Agency Strategic Technology Reserve. AUXCOMM ensures auxiliary communications needs and requirements are fulfilled during training exercises and real-world scenarios. Hall fills each of these positions in a volunteer capacity.

A very special thank you to Casey Benefield, NZ2O whose technical and creative expertise made this design possible. Benefield is the past President of Alabama ALERT and currently serves as lead of ALERT special projects. Many thanks to all who gave their input and moral support during the design of this plate.

The new plate will be available beginning in April, 2020. By Alabama statute, all license plates must be redesigned every five years. Hall has worked closely with Alabama Department of Revenue on the design of this plate and the Amateur Radio license plate in current use. For more information on the license plate, click here:

For information on how to get your amateur radio license, email Chris at k4lia@hotmail.com. 73!