[CQ-Contest] Misleading callsigns

[Steve Reed]

Misleading callsigns are of more fundamental concern to me than their 
impact on logging and post-contest scoring.  One reason why CQWW is the 
premier DX contest is a points and multiplier structure that rewards 
contacts that are "difficult" (distant, rare, from a rate-unfavourable 
area, etc).  Unless you happen to be exotic DX, perhaps in KH2 (K2?), 
participants must look for and work specific stations to make a winning 
score.  The success of CQWW relies on the ability to be able to determine 
in real time the locations of stations heard.  Without this it would become 
a strategy-poor rate-only contest.  I applaud rules which require calls to 
best represent their location.

Occasional ambiguity in prefix - e.g. VP8, GB, TO, KG4 - can be considered 
part of the test, but wholesale "mixing" of US prefixes is unhelpful.  I am 
gearing up for ARRL 10m.  I hope to make some QSOs with West Coast stations 
but propagation will make this a challenge this year.  I want to be able to 
identify W6/W7 without wasting time listening for full exchanges.  I guess 
I have to accept that the contiguous US is one big callsign entity with no 
geographical sub-division but I can't help thinking this is a retrograde 
step for contests.

Steve G0AEV
Where G0 = just anywhere in England.  But it's a small country... ... 
 Incidentally, for K7QQ's information, KH6DX/M is **not** in England: 
M/KH6DX (or properly M0/KH6DX) is.  Good logging software can tell the 
difference.

-----Original Message-----
From:	Kelly Taylor [SMTP:ve4xt at mb.sympatico.ca]
Sent:	Saturday, December 07, 2002 2:25 PM
To:	cq-contest at contesting.com
Subject:	[CQ-Contest] Misleading callsigns

Some interesting research:

ARRL 10 meter and ARRL DX contests both require your callsign to accurately
reflect your DXCC entity.

>From http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2003/intldx.html (it's the same for
10m)

6. Miscellaneous:

6.1. Your call sign must indicate your DXCC station location (KH6XYZ/W1 in
Maine, KG4/W1INF at Guantanamo Bay, etc).

So W8XYZ would not need to sign /W6 but KH6DX would.

The ARRL 160 rules are silent on this. I'm not sure, but I don't think CQ
cares either way.

Be that as it may, we can't force the other guy to obey the rules. His
failure to obey rules does not constitute a void contact for us. So log the
call he sent, change the mult field appropriately. If your logger doesn't
permit changing the mult field, perhaps its time to find another logger or
pester the author for a patch.

I'm not on the side of those who would enforce mindless copying of what was
sent (try putting 5nn into CT), but if you append /W6 for someone, are you
not unfairly giving that person credit for following a rule that he did 
not?
Despite the fact you can and should translate 5nn into 599 (as that IS the
intent), you should still strive for your log to accurately reflect what
transpired in a QSO, rules transgressions and all.

It should also be noted that while it may be a violation of a contest's
rules, in Canada and the U.S., this doesn't violate any laws, as FCC  and
Canadian regulations do not distinguish the various DXCC entities under 
U.S.
or Canadian jurisdiction. If you live outside U.S. or Canadian 
jurisdiction,
your mileage may vary.

Bottom line: DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. Just make sure your log is accurate and
let those who are empowered to enforce the rules enforce the rules. I
certainly wouldn't waste any contest time arguing with someone about it.

73, kelly
ve4xt



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