[CQ-Contest] Prefixes in WPX

[Paul J. Piercey]

What is the reason for the inconsistency? As per 97.119(g) below, a foreign
operator must sign W4/G3AAA but a Canadian must sign VO1HE/W4. I think all
location modifiers should be before the callsign.

I tend to agree with Joe. The US has an abundance of prefixes that are not
designated "special" so you can probably choose any of them for the
particular call area (not that call areas mean anything anymore). In Canada,
we would need permission to use a different prefix, even as a modifier. For
example, under US rules, you could sign VE3XD/VD1 (or perhaps VD1/VE3XD) if
you were operating from VO.

For your purposes, Don, I don't know what the benefit would be to use
anything but W4 if you have to sign with a /W4 modifier. In this case,
wouldn't your prefix still be VE3? The W4 would be a location modifier but,
as it doesn't come before your callsign, should it count as a prefix?


73 -- Paul VO1HE  

> -----Original Message-----
> From: cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com 
> [mailto:cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Joe 
> Subich, W4TV
> Sent: February 4, 2008 23:27
> To: 'Don Cassel'; cq-contest at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Prefixes in WPX
> 
> 
> 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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