[CQ-Contest] Prefixes in WPX

[Joe Subich, W4TV]

Don, 

I don't believe the ARRL is correct in saying you must identify 
as VE3XD/W4.  As I read Part 97.119(g) you may use any legal 
identification that indicates your location (e.g., /W4, /AA4, 
/NZ4, etc.).  However, the indicator must follow your call 
based on the requirements in the treaty that created the 
reciprocity (TIAS No. 2508).  

Here is Part 97.119(g): 

  (g) When the station is transmitting under the authority of 
      ?97.107 of this part, an indicator consisting of the 
      appropriate letter-numeral designating the station 
      location must be included before the call sign that was 
      issued to the station by the country granting the license. 
      For an amateur service license granted by the Government 
      of Canada, however, the indicator must be included after 
      the call sign. At least once during each intercommunication, 
      the identification announcement must include the geographical 
      location as nearly as possible by city and state, commonwealth 
      or possession.

Part 109

You are giving your city/state in each QSO aren't you <G>? 

73, 

   ... Joe, W4TV 
 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com 
> [mailto:cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Don Cassel
> Sent: Monday, February 04, 2008 2:34 PM
> To: cq-contest at contesting.com
> Subject: [CQ-Contest] Prefixes in WPX
> 
> 
>  
> 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
> 
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