Hi,
I did my fourth activation this afternoon and I had no signal for self-spotting.
I totally forgot that I configured sotamat specifically for that…
Someone finally heard my call and then everything went fine 
When I upoaded my activation to SOTA DB I didn’t use F4LVL/P but just F4LVL.
I wanted to check who chased me as I’m new to sota and cw I use it to improve in the future but I saw a lot of chaser used F4LVL/P.
Is there any cross-checking between chaser logs and activator logs, will the spotter still validate their points ?
In France we need to add /P but apparently some activator don’t is there any guidelines about that ? Always use /P or don’t care about that ? will RBN spotting work if I created an alert with /P and later during my CQ I forget that ?
Anyway 4th activation and I love sota more and more each time.
I just hope that the chaser take into account the fact that there’s wind, it’s cold, I’m using a 3D printed paddle and it’s definitely not easy… I’m feel sorry when I have troubles understanding call signs (a pileup is very disturbing for a beginner…).
And this time weirdly someone just sent a strong signal during my QSO (maybe from frustration from choosing another chaser than him) it was definitely unpleasant… but 18 QSO and a lot lot of fun !!! thanks to all the chasers it’s so rewarding to hear so many respond, thanks !!!
Your log should show the same callsign you used on the air. It does not matter if you use /P or not as long as the log matches the callsign spoken on the radio.
The reason is chasers will submit their log using the callsign you used. There will be no match if your log is not the same.
I was activating in France this year as F/M0WIV/P but I encountered a problem with digital modes as WSJT-X cannot handle such a long callsign. It would miss off the end of messages and not send the grid or SNR figure. I just operated as F/M0WIV instead.
This, a thousand times. Just log using the call you were sending, that’s all you have to do.
The rules about /P vary around the world. It’s not mandatory any more in the UK. I still use it because it feels correct and sounds correct.
Really clear !!
I need to double check my self-spotting SOTAmat configuration and also my logging app from which I export the QSOs.
I’ll go with the /P every time from now 
Thanks !
There is no " /P " cross checking of the call sign logged by chaser and the call sign logged by activator. The chaser gets the credit when the chaser submits their log, the activator gets their credit when the submit their log.
As long as both stations have the same summit reference, points will be earned - subject to the other SOTA rules.
However, as @MM0FMF mentioned, all stations should log the call sign they used for the QSO.
This… I use /P as thats the way I was taught by those older and more exprerienced than me… It sicks to this day! I also find it differentiates you from other callers, as those taking calls will usually work the /P and /M calls first!
73, Alan
I believe you can just delete your current log, and upload the corrected one, and all will be good.
73, Martin
Or click the pencil icon and edit online.
I just did that ! Thanks for the advice. I’ll be careful.
I’m relieved that the chasers will have their points anyway logging with or without the suffix !
Was nice to make contact and pull the QSO through despite the QRM station! Well done!
In France, the amateur is supposed to use his station under the conditions and obligations specified in the recommendations of T/R 61-01CEPT. No other specific additionnal french legal rules. T/R 61-01CEPT does not speak at all about /P, /M, or /MM.
I may therefore conclude that /P is not compulsory in France. However, my official individual french amateur licence, mentions that when my station is used as portable, mobile, or maritim mobile, my call sign needs to be followed by /P, /M, /MM.
A foreign CEPT amateur transmitting from France, also needs to comply with the T/R 61-01CEPT. But he does not hold a french licence mentionning the obligation of using /p when portable…I conclude that a foreign amateur transmitting portable from France is therefore not obliged to use /P when transmitting from France
Weird…
73 de Pierre F5MOG
Really nice indeed. It was the first time I had to deal with a QRM… I don’t know who can do such a thing but I saw another thread talking about that and I just decided to ignore it.
2 chases in my 2 last operation by you thanks a lot
@F5MOG really interesting analysis, thanks for the French rule explanation and the details !!
Isn’t there something about visitors having to comply with local regulations in the CEPT document?
The REF website says this, so I conclude as a foreign guest-operator you must use the /P suffix. I did thisfor my SOTA in France. The only drawback is if you use QRZ to log as QRZ only allows a prefix OR a suffix, and not both.
No, it won’t work. As far as all these systems are concerned F4LVL and F4LVL/P are different callsigns and don’t match. Always use the same callsign throughout.
I always use G4TGJ/P but on one occasion I alerted for G4TGJ by mistake. It took me a while on the activation to work out why no one was replying to my CQ. I had mobile signal and could correct the alert but I also had to self spot as it took a few minutes for RBNHole to pick up the change in the alert. I think it only reads the database every 10 minutes. I haven’t made that mistake since.
yes, true. I consider as an obligation to use /P, since this is written on my licence. But for a foreigner, I feel it is legally difficult to consider someone else´s licence as an obligation !
PE1EEC, the REF is the main french amateur association,not making the law ! The reference is ANFR, Agence Nationale des Frequences Radioélectriques.
Having said that, my personal opinion is to use /P when in portable opération. On a Sota, I give priority on a station sending /p.
73 de Pierre F5MOG
I certainly intended to operate as F/M0WIV/P in France and have in the past with voice and CW but the suffix prevents me using FT8 etc. It was the same in Spain, EA2/M0WIV/P** for example was also a non-starter.
In the circumstances dropping the /P doesn’t seem like a serious crime.
** It was almost a non-starter with my limited CW skills too!