[UK-CONTEST] Short Calls

[Tom Wylie]

This question comes up from time to time.    Away back in the 1980s, I 
badgered the then Radio Communications Agency and the RSGB for short 
calls for Contests but at that time seemed to hit my head off a brick wall.

The current situation is that Short Contest Calls are given to Clubs and 
not to individuals.   It is a licence requisite that in case of 
emergency or interference, that OFCOM or whoever is in charge can 
contact the station, therefore we are required
to give OFCOM details of where we are operating from, not a major 
problem, I used to do it by FAX.

It is the RSGB policy that short or special calls may not be used in 
RSGB Contests to avoid any one club having an advantage
over another by virtue of its call.   You will note that GB etc calls 
are not allowed in RSGB Contests.

It is also the case that other "special" calls should not be used in 
Contests either by the interpretation of the rules.
Special calls were allowed so that clubs could pass ad hoc greetings 
messages without the formality of obtaining a GB call
for a special event.    GX and GS etc calls should only be used when the 
club is passing greetings messages and should
not normally be used for general work, expeditions or Contests.

Short calls can be used in WW Contests and I use one regularly in 
CQWWSSB,  CQWWCW and CQWWRTTY.

Whilst we may not like all the rules, we have two choices -

Obey the rules and dont moan or

Join the HFCC and try to have them changed.

But, remember, some of the rules are made by OFCOM and not the RSGB who 
may have little or no say.

To send GM4A/P is crazy as it has the same number of characters as 
GM4FDM - which defeats the reson for having a short call in the first 
instance.

By all means, loby the RSGB  HFCC to increase the number of Contests 
where short calls can be used, but I would
disagree with allowing them in RSGB Contests for the reasons stated.

Tom
GM4FDM