How does SOTA handle chasing when using a club station? I’m going to be getting access to a club station with a 150’ tower and amp pushing 1500w and would like to be able to chase on occasion. Is there a method to log using the club callsign at the station, but my callsign as the operator? I know POTA has that option available using the Operator and Station_Callsign ADIF fields where both the club and operator get credit.
This is covered in the GR, 3.2.5 participants. You enter the callsign used in your log. Note, however, 3.7.1.1, which applies to both activators and chasers. You cannot claim points gained from using a club station unless you adhere to the privileges appropriate to your own license. For instance if you are a technician you cannot claim for contacts made in the general or extra sub-bands, or using modes unavailable to a technician, and if you make contacts under supervision that you could not have made without supervision, then the points are deemed to have been earned by the supervisor and not you. The same applies in any country with multi-level licensing.
So if using a club callsign when chasing I would still log to SOTA using my personal general callsign? In my personal log I would log is as the station callsign of the club and operator as N1RBD.
You log into the database using a username which may be your callsign or not. But you log into YOUR account.
Everytime you enter a chase entry you need to be logged into an account and you type the callsign you used. So if you had a QSO with me from your home station you would log into your account and enter MM0FMF for the callsign of the activator and N1RBD for the callsign of the chaser. You have done this many times. If you chase from club station and used the club’s call not your own then you log into YOUR account and enter the club’s call not your own. The logs appear in your account, you get the points and when someone looks at your log they see the callsign you were using. Simples!
As Brian says, you cannot use the club call to boost your licence level. So if your own licence limits you to 100W you cannot run 1500W at the club and log the chase with the club call. The limits of your licence are what you must stick to regardless of the club licence limits if the club callsign has more persmissions.
You sign in to the database using your identity and then fill in the club callsign under “callsign used”.
I’m a General and am aware of the power rules when relating to operating a club station.
Ok, that clears it up. The chasing is related to my ACCOUNT and not the CALLSIGN.
Richard,
A good example to see is the log of KT5X who operates and signs with WS0TA.
Dean ~ K2JB
Perhaps obvious, but the other option is just operate using your own call at the club station, as long as the club trustee approves. Perhaps your club doesn’t allow this. The majority of my chasing is done at a club station (where I am the trustee, and I approve!) but I just use my own call since that’s the one familiar to activators.
Aside from permission, the other reason you might choose not to do this is QTH confusion. In my case the club station is within the same gridsquare as my home station so I don’t feel there is likely confusion. Some activators might wonder why I’m suddenly weaker on the weekends (when I’m at home with no beam), but otherwise the location is effectively the same.
Right now I don’t do HF from my home QTH because I am in an apartment so that really isn’t an issue. I mostly do activations but am wanting to do some chasing while I’m at the club station doing DXing.
If you use your own callsign at your club’s station, you simply add /P after your callsign (eg: you are operating portable, away from your home QTH)… just as you would if you were activating a summit, a park, or chasing using your own equipment somewhere other than at your home QTH…
I have chased from my club’s station using my callsign VK3GTV/P
Cheers
Col
Is your club station a field unit or a base station?
I’ll have to think on the definition of PORTABLE.
DEFINITELY a base. FlexRadio Maestro.
You can think about it all you like. Someone signing CALL/P indicates they are probably not at the registered station address. It may indicate the station equipment can be moved but not immediately such as a crank up tower on a trailer or a fishing pole supporting a wire or just wire thrown in it a tree or may not. But just because someone signs CALL/P does nothing to specify anything about the station equipment.
So N1RBD could be at home in Duluth or not. N1RBD/P is probably not at home in Duluth and trying to deduce more from N1RBD/P to the location and setup is not possible unless N1RBD/P tells you so in the QSO.
Same goes for /M. It does not mean the station is moving. Which why only the really ill-informed say they are “static mobile”. At best you can imply the station equipment is installed in a vehicle.
So Richard, if you operate from the club you can use N1RBD or N1RBD/P whether you use a radio that is bolted to the floor or floating above the desk or whatever.
I want one that will float next to and follow me while I’m out hiking up to a summit!