[CQ-Contest] Prefixes in WPX

[Don Cassel]

Here's an interesting situation. I was planning on using the call NV4/VE3XD
in the RTTY WPX (and maybe the CW and SSB also) here in Florida. In advance
of the contest I applied to LOTW to have the call added to my profile. The
ARRL folks responded that the rules required that I could only use VE3XD/W4
which I was able to confirm on the FCC web site at
http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/index.htm?job=about_4&id=amateur.

It seems likely that this rule goes back to when all calls began with W or
sometime soon after the beginning of time. But today it would seem that
using NV4 or some other variation of A4, K4, N4 that is a legal U.S. prefix
would acceptable as it serves to identify the district that the operation is
in. Apparently not as this rule has not been updated to reflect currently
available prefixes. 

A secondary issue was the use of the prefix/suffix. Apparently us Canadians
must use a suffix (VE3XD/W4) but other reciprocal countries such as
Europeans use a prefix like W4/G1ABC. Now I know that it has been the
practice for Canadian amateurs to use a suffix when in the U.S. and that is
what I generally do. But in a prefix contest it makes more sense (to me at
least) to use a prefix W4/VE3XD. As a practical matter I often find hams
coming back to my call before I've given the /W4 and then I need to repeat
the full call to correct them. This never happens when used as a prefix.

I'd be interested in comments on this and what others have experienced.

73, Don VE3XD/W4