[CQ-Contest] Russian CEPT-calls in contests

[Ktfrog007 at aol.com]

Hi,
 
It's interesting that this situation is opposite that in the US.  In  the 
CQ WW, for example, you cannot tell the zone of a stateside station by its  
call.  AB1J could be located anywhere in the lower 48.    However, if SM6LRR 
was operating here, say as W3/SM6LRR, you would  know his zone immediately.
 
73,
Kermit, AB1J
 
In a message dated 5/12/2011 6:22:32 P.M. GMT Standard Time,  
sm6lrr at gmail.com writes:
 
Russia  has now signed all papers for CEPT.

This is excellent and will simplify  the process of operating from Russia 
for
hams from  CEPT-countries.

However, there is one complicating factor I would like  to bring to your
attention.

Before, my Russian callsign was  R3/SM6LRR. Not an ideal contest call by any
means, but contesters are  flexible people and quick learners, so this call
does not cause all that  much attention or problem anymore.

My NEW call will starting from today  be RA/SM6LRR. Yes - You got it... a
call that can be used from anywhere in  a country with 9 time zones. There 
is
no chance for anyone (including all  existing contest logging software) to
actually know where I am located. I  can either be in European Russia,
Asiatic Russia or in Kalingrad  (UA2F/K).

In contests with Serial Number exchanges (like CQ-M this  weekend, CQ WPX,
SAC and many others), it is impossible to judge if a RA/  callsign is 
located
in European or Asiatic Russia - or in the enclave  Kaliningrad.

A bit confusing, right?

Things might change in the  future when the new Russian Callsign and Call
Area System has been approved  by the Ministry of Justice of the Russian
Federation....

But until  further notice; R3/SM6LRR does not exist anymore. RA/SM6LRR will
be the new  call, but the location is the same (Moscow Oblast in  European
Russia).

Have fun - see you in the contests  ;)

RA/SM6LRR,  Mats
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