diff --git a/openrtx/include/core/input.h b/openrtx/include/core/input.h
index 65fc5b8d..dbcb50f0 100644
--- a/openrtx/include/core/input.h
+++ b/openrtx/include/core/input.h
@@ -68,6 +68,15 @@ bool input_scanKeyboard(kbd_msg_t *msg);
  */
 bool input_isNumberPressed(kbd_msg_t msg);
 
+/**
+ * This function returns true if at least one character is pressed on the
+ * keyboard.
+ *
+ * @param msg: the keyboard queue message
+ * @return true if at least a char is pressed on the keyboard
+ */
+bool input_isCharPressed(kbd_msg_t msg);
+
 /**
  * This function returns the smallest number that is pressed on the keyboard,
  * 0 if none is pressed.
@@ -77,4 +86,13 @@ bool input_isNumberPressed(kbd_msg_t msg);
  */
 uint8_t input_getPressedNumber(kbd_msg_t msg);
 
+/**
+ * This function returns the smallest number pressed on the keyboard and
+ * associated to character. If no button is pressed, zero is returned.
+ *
+ * @param msg: the keyboard queue message
+ * @return the smallest number associated to a char.
+ */
+uint8_t input_getPressedChar(kbd_msg_t msg);
+
 #endif /* INPUT_H */
diff --git a/openrtx/include/interfaces/keyboard.h b/openrtx/include/interfaces/keyboard.h
index 47adb7b5..23bf6ae3 100644
--- a/openrtx/include/interfaces/keyboard.h
+++ b/openrtx/include/interfaces/keyboard.h
@@ -67,10 +67,15 @@ enum key
 
 /**
  * Mask for the numeric keys in a key map
- * Numeric keys: bit0->bit11 = 0xFFF
+ * Numeric keys: bit0->bit9 = 0x3FF
  */
-#define KBD_NUM_MASK 0x0FFF
+#define KBD_NUM_MASK 0x03FF
 
+/**
+ * Mask for the chars keys in a key map
+ * Char keys: bit0->bit11 = 0xFFF
+ */
+#define KBD_CHAR_MASK 0x0FFF
 /**
  * We encode the status of all the keys with a uint32_t value
  * To check which buttons are pressed one can bit-mask the
diff --git a/openrtx/src/core/input.c b/openrtx/src/core/input.c
index 30148d99..7ce5e8cb 100644
--- a/openrtx/src/core/input.c
+++ b/openrtx/src/core/input.c
@@ -86,6 +86,11 @@ bool input_isNumberPressed(kbd_msg_t msg)
     return msg.keys & KBD_NUM_MASK;
 }
 
+bool input_isCharPressed(kbd_msg_t msg)
+{
+    return msg.keys & KBD_CHAR_MASK;
+}
+
 uint8_t input_getPressedNumber(kbd_msg_t msg)
 {
     uint32_t masked_input = msg.keys & KBD_NUM_MASK;
@@ -94,3 +99,12 @@ uint8_t input_getPressedNumber(kbd_msg_t msg)
 
     return __builtin_ctz(msg.keys & KBD_NUM_MASK);
 }
+
+uint8_t input_getPressedChar(kbd_msg_t msg)
+{
+    uint32_t masked_input = msg.keys & KBD_CHAR_MASK;
+    if (masked_input == 0)
+        return 0;
+
+    return __builtin_ctz(msg.keys & KBD_CHAR_MASK);
+}
diff --git a/openrtx/src/ui/default/ui.c b/openrtx/src/ui/default/ui.c
index 8b8afecf..1c36e7a9 100644
--- a/openrtx/src/ui/default/ui.c
+++ b/openrtx/src/ui/default/ui.c
@@ -1095,7 +1095,7 @@ static void _ui_textInputKeypad(char *buf, uint8_t max_len, kbd_msg_t msg,
 {
     long long now = getTick();
     // Get currently pressed number key
-    uint8_t num_key = input_getPressedNumber(msg);
+    uint8_t num_key = input_getPressedChar(msg);
 
     bool key_timeout = ((now - ui_state.last_keypress) >= input_longPressTimeout);
     bool same_key = ui_state.input_number == num_key;
@@ -1476,7 +1476,7 @@ void ui_updateFSM(bool *sync_rtx)
                         else if(msg.keys & KEY_UP || msg.keys & KEY_DOWN ||
                                 msg.keys & KEY_LEFT || msg.keys & KEY_RIGHT)
                             _ui_textInputDel(ui_state.new_callsign);
-                        else if(input_isNumberPressed(msg))
+                        else if(input_isCharPressed(msg))
                             _ui_textInputKeypad(ui_state.new_callsign, 9, msg, true);
                         break;
                     }
@@ -1682,7 +1682,7 @@ void ui_updateFSM(bool *sync_rtx)
                         else if(msg.keys & KEY_UP || msg.keys & KEY_DOWN ||
                                 msg.keys & KEY_LEFT || msg.keys & KEY_RIGHT)
                             _ui_textInputDel(ui_state.new_callsign);
-                        else if(input_isNumberPressed(msg))
+                        else if(input_isCharPressed(msg))
                             _ui_textInputKeypad(ui_state.new_callsign, 9, msg, true);
                         break;
                     }
@@ -2263,7 +2263,7 @@ void ui_updateFSM(bool *sync_rtx)
                             {
                                 _ui_textInputDel(ui_state.new_callsign);
                             }
-                            else if(input_isNumberPressed(msg))
+                            else if(input_isCharPressed(msg))
                             {
                                 _ui_textInputKeypad(ui_state.new_callsign, 9, msg, true);
                             }