[UK-CONTEST] Vanity Calls

[Chris G3SJJ]

Gerry, no-one is moaning but but there has been a deviation from the 
normal procedure and it is reasonable to question it, so that we know 
what the official position is. I have a slight interest since I was 
involved in the original negotiations and setting up of Special Contest 
Callsigns back in the early 1990s! Progress on such things was even 
slower in those days!

As I said, if there was going to be some flexibility then I would like 
to take advantage and use GU8D during our celebration weekend being held 
on Guernsey and just happening to coincide with SSB Field Day!

What worried me was the potential scenario of one of the event 
organisers, not understanding the agreed SCC system, (which may have 
been the case since it looks as though they didn't approach the Society 
first) communicating with someone at Ofcom who also didn't understand 
the agreed system, resulting in a chaotic agreement which could have had 
all kind of ramifications, eg the 10th Anniversary celebrations of GU8D 
being also eligible. I was all ready to send of a copy of our programme 
of events!

As it happens I am told the request was refered to the RSGB by Ofcom and 
was agreed that it should be issued for this occasion only and that G*8R 
will revert back to being part of the SCC sequence after the event. That 
is good.

Chris G3SJJ





gerrylynch at freenetname.co.uk wrote:
>
>
>
> On Jul 25 2008, Chris G3SJJ wrote:
>
> > Thanks Colin. I suspected it was incorrect. I think we need a statement
> > from Ofcom to say that either it was a mistake or that the 1x1 series
> > issued to Special Contest Callsigns has been given a wider 
> alloaction,or
> > that the list of approved contests has been cancelled and the callsign
> > can be used for other things!
>
> Why? Because someone has convinced Ofcom to show reasonable 
> flexibility on the subject of special callsigns? Surely that is 
> something we should be celebrating, as the same flexibility will 
> likely be shown to other amateurs in the future. If people start 
> moaning, Ofcom will just stop any allocation of special event 
> callsigns outside the normal GB sequence and I don’t see how that 
> benefits anyone. I’m really surprised at you, Chris.
>
> GS8R is outside the normal run of 1x1 contest callsigns as those are 
> only allocated with standard national indicators rather than the 
> special/club national indicators; there is absolutely no reason why 
> they shouldn’t allocate both GM8R and GS8R to different people; the 
> callsigns are in different series.
>
> I also hope the RSGB isn’t going to make a noise with Ofcom because 
> this wasn’t arranged through them. Ofcom has to treat people with 
> equity whether they are working through the RSGB, outside it or are 
> not even members of the RSGB. As an RSGB member I generally trust them 
> to look after my interests in dealing with Ofcom but I’d worry if they 
> were letting possessiveness and politicking get in the way of 
> respecting a common sense decision that holds out the promise of 
> greater flexibility in special callsign allocation for all UK amateurs.
>
> By the way, if you really want to get Ofcom’s diversity officer into a 
> tizzy, point out to them that short and vanity callsigns are available 
> to anyone with a dead distant relation who was a radio amateur; those 
> without family connections are stuck with the callsign the computer 
> spat out for them many decades ago. This not only discriminates on the 
> basis of family background, but probably indirectly discriminates on 
> the grounds of social class and race. Watch them squirm after you 
> point that out to them.
>
> Anyway, I’m off to resonate a 10m beam.
>
> 73
>
> Gerry EJ/GI0RTN on EU-006, waiting for the off tomorrow!
>