Callsigns · Taiwan

Callsign Prefixes in Taiwan

Amateur Radio Callsign Structure & Area Codes in Chinese Taipei

All amateur radio callsigns in Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) use the prefix B, assigned by the ITU. Taiwanese callsigns can be identified by the second character, which is drawn from the set M, N, O, P, Q, U, V, W, or X. The third character is a single digit indicating the licensed geographic area.

The most common prefix is BV (used by CTARL members and the majority of licensed amateurs). BX is used for repeater stations and certain license classes. Callsigns starting with BO0 cover the offshore islands of Kinmen and Matsu, while those ending in 9 cover Penghu, Green Island, Orchid Island, and other outlying territories.

Quick Reference

1st character: B
2nd character: M N O P Q U V W X
3rd character: area code digit 0–9
Suffix length determines license class
BX: repeaters & 1st/2nd-class stations
BV, BU, BM etc.: licensed amateurs

Area Codes (3rd Character)

The numeric third character indicates the operator's licensed geographic area on the main island. Digits 0 and 9 have special meanings.

0

Temporary / Celebration Station

1

Keelung · Yilan

2

Taipei

3

Taoyuan · Hsinchu

4

Miaoli · Taichung

5

Changhua · Nantou · Yunlin

6

Chiayi · Tainan

7

Kaohsiung

8

Pingtung · Taitung · Hualien

9

Outer Islands & Areas Outside the Main Island

Callsign Formats by License Class

The prefix letter and length of the suffix together determine both the license class and station type. ? represents the numeric area code digit.

BX Prefix

Format	Station Type	Example
`BX?A`	Repeater Station	BX4A
`BX?AA`	1st Class Station	BX3AA
`BX?AAA`	2nd Class Station	BX2AAB

B(M N O P Q U V W) Prefix

Format	Station Type	Example
`B_?A`	Special / Club Station	BV2A, BV2B
`B_?AA`	1st Class Station (Extra)	BV4QA, BU7GA
`B_?AAA`	3rd Class Station	BM6AAA, BN1ABC

Special Designations

Format	Designation	Example
`BV?Y / BV?YAB`	CTARL Club Station	BV2Y, BV5YK, BV8YA
`B_?YL`	YL Station	BV4YL, BV7YL
`B_?XYL`	XYL Station	—
`BW-?-12345`	CTARL SWL (member ID)	—

Special Callsigns for Outlying Islands

Designated callsigns for special island and offshore operations. Stations prefixed BO0 cover Kinmen and Matsu; BV9x / BQ9x cover islands surrounding the main island of Taiwan.

Callsign	Island / Islet	Latitude	Longitude	Status / Operation Date
BO0K	Kinmen Island	24.417°N	118.333°E	Active
BO0M	Matsu Island	26.200°N	119.800°E	Active
BQ9P	Pratas Island (Dongsha)	20.692°N	116.712°E	5–13 Apr 2000
BV9A	Penghu Islands	23.569°N	119.561°E	Active
BV9C	Keelung Island (Jilong Yu)	25.195°N	121.777°E	3–4 Jun 2000
BV9G	Green Island (Lüdao)	22.722°N	121.799°E	2–5 Jun 2000
BV9H	Huaping Island	25.444°N	121.965°E	—
BV9K	Guishan Islet (Turtle Island)	24.842°N	121.944°E	—
BV9L	Liuqiu Island (Little Liuchiu)	22.336°N	120.367°E	Active
BV9M	Mianhua Islet	25.489°N	121.101°E	—
BV9O	Orchid Island (Lanyu)	22.050°N	121.539°E	Active
BV9P	Pratas Island (Dongsha)	20.692°N	116.712°E	Active
BV9S	Itu Aba Island (Taiping Island, Spratly)	10.383°N	114.366°E	—
BV9W	Pengchia Islet (Pengjia Yu)	25.632°N	122.072°E	5–7 Jul 2000

Operation dates and status reflect information from the CTARL reference page (circa 2000–2015). Current activation status may differ.

License Examination

Taiwan issues three classes of amateur radio license, each with different examination requirements and operating privileges.

Class	Questions	Pass Score	CW Requirement
1st Class (Extra)	50	40	None
2nd Class	40	32	25 characters/min — Rx only, 3 min
3rd Class	35	25	None

Examination schedule: The 3rd Class examination is held every Monday. Other class examinations are held every Friday.

3rd Class power limit: Maximum output power is 25 W.

Authorized Frequency Bands

Legal amateur radio frequency allocations and maximum power limits in Chinese Taipei, by license class.

1st Class Stations (Extra Class)

Band	Frequency	Max Power
160 m	1.800 – 1.900 MHz	1500 W
80 m	3.500 – 3.5125 MHz	200 W
80 m	3.550 – 3.5625 MHz	200 W
40 m	7.000 – 7.025 MHz	1500 W
40 m	7.025 – 7.100 MHz	200 W
30 m	10.130 – 10.150 MHz	200 W
20 m	14.000 – 14.350 MHz	1500 W
17 m	18.068 – 18.168 MHz	1500 W
15 m	21.000 – 21.025 MHz	1500 W
	21.025 – 21.200 MHz	200 W
	21.200 – 21.450 MHz	1500 W
12 m	24.890 – 24.990 MHz	1500 W
10 m	28.100 – 29.700 MHz	1500 W
6 m	50.000 – 50.0125 MHz	1500 W
6 m	50.110 – 50.1225 MHz	1500 W
2 m	144.000 – 146.000 MHz	200 W
70 cm	430.000 – 432.000 MHz	200 W
24 cm	1260.000 – 1265.000 MHz	200 W
Microwave	2.440 – 2.450 GHz	200 W
	47.000 – 47.200 GHz	200 W
	75.500 – 76.000 GHz	200 W
	142.000 – 144.000 GHz	200 W
	248.000 – 250.000 GHz	200 W

2nd Class Stations

Band	Frequency	Max Power
160 m	1.800 – 1.900 MHz	600 W
80 m	3.500 – 3.5125 MHz	200 W
80 m	3.550 – 3.5625 MHz	200 W
40 m	7.000 – 7.025 MHz	600 W
40 m	7.025 – 7.100 MHz	200 W
30 m	10.130 – 10.150 MHz	200 W
20 m	14.000 – 14.350 MHz	600 W
17 m	18.068 – 18.168 MHz	600 W
15 m	21.000 – 21.025 MHz	600 W
	21.025 – 21.200 MHz	200 W
	21.200 – 21.450 MHz	600 W
12 m	24.890 – 24.990 MHz	600 W
10 m	28.100 – 29.700 MHz	600 W
6 m	50.000 – 50.0125 MHz	600 W
6 m	50.110 – 50.1225 MHz	600 W
2 m	144.000 – 146.000 MHz	200 W
70 cm	430.000 – 432.000 MHz	200 W
24 cm	1260.000 – 1265.000 MHz	200 W
Microwave	2.440 – 2.450 GHz	200 W
	47.000 – 47.200 GHz	200 W
	75.500 – 76.000 GHz	200 W
	142.000 – 144.000 GHz	200 W
	248.000 – 250.000 GHz	200 W

3rd Class Stations

Band	Frequency	Max Power
6 m	50.000 – 50.0125 MHz	25 W
6 m	50.110 – 50.1225 MHz	25 W
2 m	144.000 – 146.000 MHz	25 W
70 cm	430.000 – 432.000 MHz	25 W

Frequency allocations and power limits are based on the CTARL historical reference page (last updated June 2015). Current NCC regulations may differ. Please verify with the current NCC (National Communications Commission) rules before operating.