My name is Mark Smith and I am a full amateur radio license holder. My Ofcom registered call sign is M0INI.
M0INI
This is my full license call sign. Although my license allows me to run up to 1000 Watts, I have no real interest in doing so as my interest lies in antenna design and QRP (reduced/low power). On HF, I typically use only 10 Watts, so I could simply use my M6 foundation beginner license and call sign. Additionally I have a NoV for 5MHz. I frequently visit the Republic of Ireland, so please listen out for me on the Irish repeaters using my full call as EI/M0INI/M.
M6INI
This was my first call sign that I had when I first passed my foundation exam, allowing me to get onto the amateur radio bands. Many people know me as M6INI on the UK repeaters, although with the license changes in 2024, I may be forced to discontinue using this callsign.
The Missing Link
As my interest lies in low power work, when I passed my intermediate exam, I did not apply for a call sign as the call sign would start with “2E0”. As my other interest is in the original classic Mini car, you can see this did not fit with my “MINI” call sign format. Also, I would only be taking up a call sign for no reason that perhaps someone else may want, so I did the noble thing and waited until I passed my full license before applying for my full call sign. I have no intention of applying for a “2E0” range call sign, as it gains me nothing.
26TM998
I think that you may have guessed that this is not an Ofcom call sign, and you are correct. It is an unofficial voluntary CB call sign from the Tango Mike group. Unlike some amateurs, I have never forgotten my grass roots of radio and my first use of the CEPT CB channels, using this call sign for 11m DX. The 26 is for England, TM is the group you are with, and the 998 is the cubic capacity of the engine in my Mini HL Cabriolet. On only 4 Watts FM, the furthest I worked was southern Spain, on the UK FM channel 36 whilst mobile. This sparked my interest in long distance QRP (low power) DX (distance), and furthering my interest from CB into licensed amateur radio allowing me access to more favourable frequencies.
Spark Transmitter
In a tribute to Marconi, my handle on the CB is “Spark Transmitter” using both the UK FM channels and the CEPT FM channels with my Intek M-790 Plus. You may wonder why now with the UK allowing AM and SSB on the CEPT channels do I not use my HF set. Well, it would quite frankly not work well as the antenna is horizontally setup, and I already have a AM/FM (albeit not SSB) CB rig. I might update the rig one day if SSB takes off on 11m. Anyway, when this rig is on, it is usually monitoring on UK FM channel 14. You got a copy on me? Please note: That I do not have access to 27.555MHz.