I have been asked by a “Cadet” station, for a signal report whilst operating on 5 MHz ssb whilst on a SOTA activation. In the event of this being No 4 on that activation does the exchange of signal reports with the Cadet contact qualify the activation?
Regards
David G0EVV
That’s a good question! The rules sat “a minimum of four QSOs must be made, each of which must be with a different station.” They don’t say “ham station” and the contact is legal in this country, so I would say yes.
Brian
I think that the only database requirement is that you can log the contact. I guess you have an ID for the contact which will be some kind of non amateur call sign. Andy @GM4LLD should be able to advise what the database expects and also adjust the database if necessary to accept the Cadet station ID.
The obvious question is - was the ‘cadet’ QSO the 4th AND final QSO? i.e did you only make 4 QSO’s?
Just an observation
Glyn
It appears from the wording to be a hypothetical question.
Brian
In clarification;
This was a hypothetical question.
In this case, MZV40 was my 56th QSO of 67. But if I had only made 3 QSOs and MZV40 was my 4th would the activation count?
Regards
David G0EVV
It’s fine by me David. Cadets are allowed on that band and the original NOVs for us for 5MHz had info on how to work Cadet stations. If it’s OK for an amateur to QSO with a Cadet then it’s OK for SOTA.
The only issue is there is some code in the database that tries to make sure the callsign looks like a callsign. It might not accept all Cadet calls as they look a bit iffy! If it wont upload, let me know and I’ll insert it with my Systems Admin hammer.
Oh no, not the Systems Admin Hammer.
When the only tool you have is a hammer, all problems become nails. 
Well said, Maxwell!
Brian
He of the equations?
No, he of the SIlver Hammer.
In Conclusion,
Thanks for the commentary. The MZV40 Cadet call was accepted by the database from my activation of Great Shunner Fell.
Good sensible result.
David
But you have to be careful lest you screw it up entirely 
In that case you’d need a Brummy Spanner… what say Brian?
Hah! Oi use a Brummagen screwdriver, ar kid! If that dain’t work - Oi use a biggerer wun!
Brian
I’m here because this coming weekend is this:
Quite fancy a go. Not done 5MHz for ages and never worked a cadet station. Plus one of my fellow Tall Trees Contest Group members Ollie M7OTJ is involved.
What is a cadet station?
Geoff vk3sq
In previous years listening to the RAF cadets [trainees, usually young with no previous on-air experience] on the UK 5MHz subbands during the annual ‘Blue Ham’ event and having QSOs with them, I found that they maintained a strict military style format for exchange of information, e.g. “alpha charlie” for CQ and “strong, readable” type phrases for signal strength, to which you the amateur had to reply in. They didn’t understand amateur-specific lingo like “73”, “CQ”, “you are 5/9”, etc.
However, I notice on the Blue Ham 2025 description, the instructors want to expose them to other radio procedures like we use:
To provide the opportunity for Cadet operators to interact with different operating techniques. Radio Amateur radio operators are requested not to adopt the ‘Cadets’ radio procedure but maintain their own personal amateur radio style of operating.
Military cadets training in operating radios and procedures, Geoff, we are actually encouraged to give them experience on 60m. Their operating is brief and business-like and they do not give locations. I gather that each station rather than operator has a callsign.