[CQ-Contest] Prefixes in WPX
Paul J. Piercey
p.piercey at nl.rogers.com
Tue Feb 5 19:34:10 EST 2008
OK, If I am W4HE and I travel to Ontario, am I W4HE/VE3 or W4HE/VA3? Both
are valid, standard prefixes for Ontario. Which one would I have to choose?
XM4 is not allocated for day to day use in Canada. It is a special prefix.
Don's situation is different because, I assume, NV4 is a regularly, albeit
perhaps rarely, issued prefix. Same as KA4, W4, N4, AB4, etc. As long as he
picks one and sticks with it, what is the issue?
73 -- Paul VO1HE
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Sandy Taylor [mailto:ve4xt at mts.net]
> Sent: February 6, 2008 00:10
> To: vo1he at rac.ca; 'Don Cassel'; 'Robert Naumann'; 'Joe
> Subich, W4TV'; cq-contest at contesting.com
> Subject: RE: [CQ-Contest] Prefixes in WPX
>
> Since a few people seem to be taking the "why does it
> matter?" approach, let me ask this question:
>
> I go to my cottage and sign VE4XT/XM4.
>
> Gee, did I just make up my own prefix, or is it all OK since
> XM4 is in the allocation for Canadian callsigns?
>
> Didn't think so. Don't see why Don's situation is any different.
>
> 73, Kelly
> Ve4xt
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Paul J. Piercey [mailto:p.piercey at nl.rogers.com]
> Sent: February-05-08 5:21 PM
> To: 'Sandy Taylor'; 'Don Cassel'; 'Robert Naumann';
> vo1he at rac.ca; 'Joe Subich, W4TV'; cq-contest at contesting.com
> Subject: RE: [CQ-Contest] Prefixes in WPX
>
> As long as he just used one prefix, what difference would it
> make? I think it would raise a few eyebrows in the WPX log
> checking room if two dozen contacts were flagged with the
> same root call and variety of prefixes.
>
>
> 73 -- Paul VO1HE
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Sandy Taylor [mailto:ve4xt at mts.net]
> > Sent: February 5, 2008 19:30
> > To: 'Don Cassel'; 'Robert Naumann'; vo1he at rac.ca; 'Joe
> Subich, W4TV';
> > cq-contest at contesting.com
> > Subject: RE: [CQ-Contest] Prefixes in WPX
> >
> > That may also be correct, Don, however, the rules also specify
> > operation in accordance with local laws and regulations.
> >
> > Since you pointed out the FCC regulation in question as
> requiring /w4
> > operation, it would seem clear that taken on the whole, a /nv4
> > designation would contravene not only FCC rules, but by
> extension, WPX
> > rules as well.
> >
> > I think the rules for the WPX contest are intended to safeguard the
> > integrity of the WPX award system as well. It prevents, I
> think, a VE
> > from going to the border of, say, Minnesota and Wisconsin
> and working
> > his buddy as VExXYZ/NQ0, .../NV0, .../K0, .../KT0 etc.
> until all the
> > possible prefix combinations are worn thin, crossing the border and
> > working him again as VExXYZ/NQ9, .../NV9, .../KT9, .../KQ9,
> etc. and
> > then having the friend file application for a WPX award...
> >
> > 73,Kelly
> > Ve4xt
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com
> > [mailto:cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Don Cassel
> > Sent: February-05-08 8:48 AM
> > To: 'Robert Naumann'; vo1he at rac.ca; 'Joe Subich, W4TV';
> > cq-contest at contesting.com
> > Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Prefixes in WPX
> >
> > That's correct but the rules also say...
> >
> > "The portable prefix must be an authorized prefix of the
> country/call
> > area of operation. "
> >
> > So that would permit NV4 to be used as a prefix in W4 land.
> > However, it appears the FCC overrides this rule, at least
> that is the
> > answer I'm getting from LOTW staff.
> >
> > Interesting discussion and thanks for all of the replies.
> >
> > 73, Don VE3XD
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Robert Naumann [mailto:w5ov at w5ov.com]
> > Sent: February-05-08 8:46 AM
> > To: vo1he at rac.ca; 'Joe Subich, W4TV'; 'Don Cassel';
> > cq-contest at contesting.com
> > Subject: RE: [CQ-Contest] Prefixes in WPX
> >
> > When in doubt, check the rules.
> >
> > >From http://www.cqwpx.com/rules.htm:
> >
> > "In cases of portable operation, the portable designator will then
> > become the prefix. <snip> You may not make up your own prefix".
> >
> > 73,
> >
> > Bob W5OV
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Paul J. Piercey [mailto:p.piercey at nl.rogers.com]
> > Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2008 6:15 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
> > >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > 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
> >
>
More information about the CQ-Contest
mailing list