Special Contest Call Signs Now Available From IC

On the recommendation of RAC in October, 2005, IC made changes to its policy on Amateur Radio call signs, RIC-9. One of the changes was to permit Canadian Amateurs to apply for and use special call signs, in the format CF1A, specifically and exclusively for certain contests.

The policy explicitly requested RAC to recommend the contests to which this policy should apply. After a consultation with Canadian contesters, RAC has recommended to IC the following nine contests:

- ARRL DX Contests, CW and SSB

- CQ WPX Contests, SSB and CW

- RAC Canada Day Contest

- IARU HF Championship

- CQ WW DX Contests, SSB and CW

- RAC Canada Winter Contest.

RIC-9 imposes certain limitations on the duration for which these call signs will be authorised (60 days) and requires a fee of $60 for each authorisation. An authorisation will be limited to one or more sections of a particular contest, provided they fall within that 60-day limit.

RAC has further consulted with IC and developed a template letter that applicants can use to request a call sign. It is absolutely essential to review Table 1 of RIC-9 and choose call signs that correspond to the province, territory or area where you intend to operate. You may use one letter to make multiple applications for an entire year. Please use this letter for your applications (RTF format).

Please be warned that there is no guarantee that a special call sign that is authorised for one period will not be issued to a different person or group for another period.

If you have questions about how this works, please contact RAC Vice President for Regulatory Affairs Richard Ferch VE3IAY.

	Log Into Members' Section
Register	Mbr. No.:	Password:		Forgot your password?