[CQ-Contest] Prefixes in WPX

[Joe Subich, W4TV]

> 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. 

The "inconsistency" is due to the specific language in the 
original US/Canada treaty establishing reciprocity.  W4TV/VE3 
was the common form at the time the treaty was negotiated. 
The other form, G/W4TV is mandated in the CEPT agreement which 
came along many (15?) years after the "automatic" W/VE system. 

73, 

   ... Joe, W4TV 
 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Paul J. Piercey [mailto:p.piercey at nl.rogers.com] 
> Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2008 7:15 AM
> To: 'Joe Subich, W4TV'; 'Don Cassel'; cq-contest at contesting.com
> Subject: RE: [CQ-Contest] Prefixes in WPX
> 
> 
> 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
> > > 
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > CQ-Contest mailing list
> > > CQ-Contest at contesting.com
> > > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
> > 
> > _______________________________________________
> > CQ-Contest mailing list
> > CQ-Contest at contesting.com
> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
> > 
>