In May 2025, the moment finally arrived: After dedicated preparation, I successfully passed the German Class A license exam at the Federal Network Agency in Dortmund. With that, I was able to change my callsign from DO8YDP to DL8YDP – a long-awaited goal achieved.
This change is especially meaningful to me because I was able to reclaim the former callsign of my late father. DL8YDPwas assigned to him from the 1980s until his passing in 2021. It is a great honor for me to now continue using this legacy callsign.
However, the joy of this achievement was sadly overshadowed by the loss of my mother Ulrike, who passed away just a few days earlier, on May 13th, 2025. I found myself torn, as I had also considered adopting her former callsign DL5YDN. In the end, I chose to carry on my father’s legacy with DL8YDP – though the decision was not easy.
Success in the N-License Course
I am particularly proud that on the same day I passed my own exam, five of my students from the N-license training course of our local club Vlotho N52 also passed their exams in Dortmund – three earned the Class E license, and two received the Class N license. It was a great moment to personally congratulate them as their instructor.
Five new licensed radio amateurs in one day – fantastic!
(Several other course participants have successfully passed their exams at different times and locations – congratulations to them as well!)
New QSL Card
With the new callsign comes a new QSL card. The design is – in certain elements- inspired by the QSL cards my parents once used – a small tribute to an amateur radio tradition that now continues into the next generation.
Thank you to everyone who supported me on this journey!
73 de DL8YDP