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Author Topic: How does one go about obtaining a separate Call Sign for Contesting.......  (Read 342 times)

K3NRX

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...in the USA?.....is this even possible?.....Please advise.....

V
K3NRX
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W1VT

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The most practical way is to start a contest club and obtain a club call sign.
http://www.arrl.org/club-call-signs

> According to the FCC rules, to be granted a club station license, a club should have a document of organization (minutes, bylaws, charter, etc.), a list of current officers (management), a list of members (at least four persons), and a license trustee designated by an officer of the club. An amateur can only be the trustee of one valid club station.
The club station can have multiple call signs assigned to it under one trustee but only one of the assigned call signs can be a vanity. A Club station may not hold more than one valid vanity call sign.
As long as the all the club station licenses display the same club name and use the same FRN (FCC Registration Number) and same trustee, the FCC views them as one club station with multiple call signs.
Additional information:  Never associate a personal FRN to a club station license. An individual’s social security number and personal information are attached to their FRN. The club must apply for its own FRN number as a separate entity. <=
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K5LXP

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I hear a number of folks running 1x1's during contests, that's something you could get as needed and is easy to do.  You may not get the same call all the time but I'm not sure that's critical.  I've gotten W5C for JOTA a few years in a row now though.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM
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K3NRX

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The most practical way is to start a contest club and obtain a club call sign.
http://www.arrl.org/club-call-signs

> According to the FCC rules, to be granted a club station license, a club should have a document of organization (minutes, bylaws, charter, etc.), a list of current officers (management), a list of members (at least four persons), and a license trustee designated by an officer of the club. An amateur can only be the trustee of one valid club station.
The club station can have multiple call signs assigned to it under one trustee but only one of the assigned call signs can be a vanity. A Club station may not hold more than one valid vanity call sign.
As long as the all the club station licenses display the same club name and use the same FRN (FCC Registration Number) and same trustee, the FCC views them as one club station with multiple call signs.
Additional information:  Never associate a personal FRN to a club station license. An individual’s social security number and personal information are attached to their FRN. The club must apply for its own FRN number as a separate entity. <=

Not really seeking to form a club. I was more interested in a call sign for contesting for myself only, in addition to my original.

V
K3NRX
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K3NRX

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I hear a number of folks running 1x1's during contests, that's something you could get as needed and is easy to do.  You may not get the same call all the time but I'm not sure that's critical.  I've gotten W5C for JOTA a few years in a row now though.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

Just how easy? And if I can't hold the same call, I'm not sure I'd be interested.  I have seen on many a qsl card from other countries an operator with his orignial call sign, and a call sign he uses strictly for contests.  Like I said, if it's easy, how do I go about doing it without forming a club?

V
K3NRX
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K0XM

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Our "head count" here of operators/callsigns in the USA far out weigh almost ALL other countries. Only 1 has more licensees That being Japan.
So our availability is limited, and that may be why the FCC does not issue us another call to individuals. Back in the 70's and early 80' s I knew of a few who had 2 calls, but at one point they had to give up one of them., so it has been done in the past when our numbers were not as large.
The only way is like has been said- club call (4 people, Bylaws..etc) or a Temporary 1x1 call.

Chuck K0XM
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KD6VXI

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The most practical way is to start a contest club and obtain a club call sign.
http://www.arrl.org/club-call-signs

> According to the FCC rules, to be granted a club station license, a club should have a document of organization (minutes, bylaws, charter, etc.), a list of current officers (management), a list of members (at least four persons), and a license trustee designated by an officer of the club. An amateur can only be the trustee of one valid club station.
The club station can have multiple call signs assigned to it under one trustee but only one of the assigned call signs can be a vanity. A Club station may not hold more than one valid vanity call sign.
As long as the all the club station licenses display the same club name and use the same FRN (FCC Registration Number) and same trustee, the FCC views them as one club station with multiple call signs.
Additional information:  Never associate a personal FRN to a club station license. An individual’s social security number and personal information are attached to their FRN. The club must apply for its own FRN number as a separate entity. <=

Not really seeking to form a club. I was more interested in a call sign for contesting for myself only, in addition to my original.

V
K3NRX

You asked a question.

He gave you the correct answer.

--Shane
WP2ASS / ex KD6VXI
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N2EY

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Not really seeking to form a club. I was more interested in a call sign for contesting for myself only, in addition to my original.

It's not allowed under current FCC rules - which have been in place for many years. One callsign per licensee.

The two suggestions in this thread are work-arounds:

1) Form a club, and use the club call. The main issue with this idea is that the club has to be more than just a paper entity. Not much more, but more.

2) Get a special-event 1x1 call. The main issue with this idea is that such calls are only issued for short periods of time, and there's no guarantee you'll get the same call the next time you ask.

Yes, there was a time when a US amateur could have multiple calls for multiple locations, by having multiple station licenses in different locations. But that ended decades ago - early 1970s - when FCC changed the rules.

I'm curious - why a separate callsign for contesting?

73 de Jim, N2EY
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NA6O

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Another option: Join a contest club and borrow a club/contest call. You can also borrow someone else’s personal call, with their permission of course. We do this all the time within NCCC; there are over 50 club calls within our membership. Maybe check out PVRC.

Gary NA6O
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WA2VUY

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I believe 1x1 were not intended for  contest use. However, the creative have found special events to coincide with contests.

"Examples of the use of one-by-one call signs by amateur stations include a wide variety of celebrations such as conventions, festivals, dedications and anniversaries ...even local events qualify." <NO MENTION OF CONTESTS
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KG4RUL

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...in the USA?.....is this even possible?.....Please advise.....

V
K3NRX

The unanswered question is, why do you even need a separate contest call sign?
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KC0W

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I have seen on many a qsl card from other countries an operator with his orignial call sign, and a call sign he uses strictly for contests. 

 This is because numerous countries don't assign full time 2x1 or 1x2 callsigns. For example, Germany. During the week a guy will be (for example) DL1AAA, but during a contest you can be granted (for example) DL1A. You won't hear German 2x1 callsigns unless it's being used in a Special Event or during a contest.

 Japan is the same. Even in contests it's rare to hear Japanese 2x1's but it does happen. I believe the prefix they use for 2x1's is 7L. I have never seen (for example) JA1A, it's always (for example) 7L1A..............Unrelated, but I think a great JA callsign would be JA1PAN. Believe it or not it's unassigned.

 Romania is another country which amateurs can't have full time 2x1's but they can get them for special events or Contesting. A good example of this is.......... https://www.qrz.com/db/yr8e          


                                                                        Tom KH0/KC0W
                                                                            KH0W.com
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NA6O

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The unanswered question is, why do you even need a separate contest call sign?

Many reasons… For WPX, it’s best to have a semi-rare call. KR4 is better than K4, etc.  Or maybe your own call is twisty on SSB or too ditty on CW. For some special contests like CW Open, there are a bunch of xxCWO calls available. And so forth.

As for 1X1 calls, the one contest situation where a bunch of them tend to be used is state QSO parties.

Gary NA6O
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KG4RUL

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The unanswered question is, why do you even need a separate contest call sign?

Many reasons… For WPX, it’s best to have a semi-rare call. KR4 is better than K4, etc.  Or maybe your own call is twisty on SSB or too ditty on CW. For some special contests like CW Open, there are a bunch of xxCWO calls available. And so forth.

As for 1X1 calls, the one contest situation where a bunch of them tend to be used is state QSO parties.

Gary NA6O

So, if all of the above reasons are valid, why not just change your call to one that meets those criteria?
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N2EY

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The unanswered question is, why do you even need a separate contest call sign?

Many reasons… For WPX, it’s best to have a semi-rare call. KR4 is better than K4, etc.  Or maybe your own call is twisty on SSB or too ditty on CW. For some special contests like CW Open, there are a bunch of xxCWO calls available. And so forth.

As for 1X1 calls, the one contest situation where a bunch of them tend to be used is state QSO parties.

Gary NA6O

So, if all of the above reasons are valid, why not just change your call to one that meets those criteria?

I suspect @K3NRX doesn't want to give up a call that he's held for a long time.

73 de Jim, N2EY
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