[CQ-Contest] IARU HQ Callsigns

Tue Jul 9 15:32:10 EDT 2013

In my not so humble opinion, rules should not be created in a vacuum 
with disregard to the reality of staffing HQ stations within different 
countries. As can be seen, a radio/telecommunication authority can 
dictate prefixes determined by physical boundaries. They are the 
ultimate authority on this subject. But let's take a look at the 
existing rules to see the consequences...

Here is the section of the IARU rules that stipulate the parameters for 
HQ Stations:

*4.3.* IARU Member Society HQ Station

*4.3.1.* May have only one transmitted signal per band mode (160 CW, 160 
Phone, 80 CW, 80 Phone, 40 CW, 40 Phone, 20 CW, 20 Phone, 15 CW, 15 
Phone, 10 CW, 10 Phone) at the same time.

*4.3.2.* All stations involved in an HQ operation must be in a single 
ITU zone.

*4.3.3. *Only one HQ station callsign per member society per frequency 
band is permitted.

*4.3.4. *All operators must observe the amateur radio regulations of 
their country at all times.

The last two rules appear to setup a "conflict of interest" where, for 
example, if a 20 meter CW and SSB station cannot be recruited within the 
district requirements of the country licensing authority, the only 
option is to fore go one or the other operating stations. This 
diminishes the number of HQ stations that might be able to participate.

Looking further into the rules, Section 8 defines the multipliers for 
scoring:*

8. *Multipliers: The total number of ITU zones plus IARU member society 
HQ stations worked on each band (not mode). IARU officials represent a 
maximum of four multipliers per band (AC, R1, R2 and R3).

*8.1.*IARU member society HQ stations and officials do not count for 
zone multipliers.

*8.2. *To qualify as the special multiplier, Administrative Council and 
Regional Executive Committee stations must only be operated by the 
individual station licensee as a single operator entry or as a multi 
operator, single transmitter entry with significant participation by the 
licensee.

The definition of Multipliers does not grant an additional multiplier 
just because two different call signs might be used on one band. It 
explicitly defines "HQ stations worked on each band (not mode)." Contest 
software can identify HQ station because they send something other than 
their ITU zone. This makes the call sign irrelevant from a scoring 
perspective.

So my questions are these...

Am I overlooking some scoring difference in the contest?
As a contest participant, would you like more HQ stations on the air or 
rather restrict the number because of rule 4.3.3?
What is the purpose served by rule 4.3.3?
Is this a big enough deal to ask the ARRL CAC to review the IARU rules?

73 de Bob - KØRC in MN

P.S. Here is the link to the full rules: 
http://www.arrl.org/iaru-hf-championship

------------------------------------------------------------------------
On 7/9/2013 11:41 AM, Jesus EC1KR wrote:
> Dear Bob.
>
> As Manager of the ARI you should know well the rules of international
> Contests, but as we can see you not know.
>
> In Italy, Japan, Argentina, Spain, etc... all have restrictions to use the
> same QRZ from all districts, we have no luck with other countries, but this
> is not the reason for not enforcing the rules, and you have 1 year to found
> good locations in same districts.
>
> The rule is very simple, the same QRZ in a band and modes (SSB/CW), because
> if you do not use the same indicative in a band you can confuse at
> participants working several times a multiplier.
>
> The competition organizers (ARRL) should act and clearly define what the
> rule is correct, because for some countries the rules are in a manner and to
> other countries are of another. Please, rules the same for everyone.
>
> Regards and good contest.
>
> Jesus EC1KR
> Organizer HQ EA IARU 2013
>
> -----Mensaje original-----
> De: CQ-Contest [mailto:cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com] En nombre de Bob
> I.2.WIJ
> Enviado el: martes, 09 de julio de 2013 15:49
> Para: cq-contest
> Asunto: Re: [CQ-Contest] IARU HQ Callsigns
>
> Hi Tree and all,
>
> since dear friend Jesus has difficult to type the
> name of Italy and ARI, I do for him.
>
> ARI like our Japanese friends of JARL
> is "violating" the 4.3.3. rule since many years
> and we also have never been notified.
> In Italy we have restrictions in callsign assignement
> and we have to strictly be compliant with Call Areas.
> This is the list of the Station Callsign
> we will use in the next IARU HF Championship
>
> 160 CW IO4HQ
> 160SSB IO4HQ
> 80 CW IO1HQ
> 80SSB IO4HQ
> 40 CW IO1HQ
> 40SSB IO4HQ
> 20 CW IO5HQ
> 20SSB IO1HQ
> 15 CW IO9HQ
> 15SSB IO8HQ
> 10 CW IO9HQ
> 10SSB IO9HQ
>
>
> Maybe it is time to rethink that rule which intent
> has nothing to do with the multiplier count.
>
> I wish a very good contest to all and have fun!
>   73
> --
> Bob, I2WIJ
> A.R.I. HF Contest Manager
>
>
>
>> ________________________________
>> Da: Bob I.2.WIJ <i2wij at yahoo.com>
>> A: Roberto Soro <i2wij at yahoo.com>
>> Inviato: Martedì 9 Luglio 2013 15:35
>> Oggetto: ttt
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> you are right dear Tree. Is being breached a basic rule of the contest,
> other HQs in EU are failing
> this rule.  You must use the same call in a band and TWO MODES (SSB/CW).
> Greetings. 73 de Jesus EC1KR
> Organizer HQ EA IARU 2013 -----Mensaje original-----
> De: CQ-Contest [mailto:cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com] En nombre de Tree
> Enviado el: martes, 09 de julio de 2013 4:21
> Para: cq-contest at contesting.com
> Asunto: [CQ-Contest] IARU HQ Callsigns Saw this recently posted: >The Radio
> Club Argentino LU4AA and the LUCG (LU Contest Group) put together
>> a team for the upcoming IARU HF Championship next weekend and several
>> stations will be giving out the RCA multiplier. > >Stations as follows -
> hosts in parenthesis - : > >10 SSB: LR1D >10 CW LR2H >15 SSB LR0H >15 CW
> LR0F ... This appears to conflict with the following rule for the IARU
> contest: "4.3.3. Only one HQ station callsign per member society per
> frequency band
> is
> permitted." The rules can be found here:
> http://www.arrl.org/iaru-hf-championship I would interpret a "frequency
> band" as being all of 10 meters for example. This is likely the case because
> of the way the multiplier rule is worded: "Multipliers: The total number of
> ITU zones plus IARU member society HQ
> stations worked on each band (not mode)." In the case above - I am sure the
> intent of the rules would not have been
> to count LR1D and LR2H as two multpliers in the contest.   Tree N6TR
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