I've been having a discussion with Mike Pollock G8KMP via email on the use of club callsigns - particularly with respect to remote operation of the clubs' Flex radio.
His position is very clear. You have two options:
- If you don't want to log every QSO you have, then use your own callsign and make no reference to any club callsign. Simple as that.
- Full licencees may alternatively use the club callsign G3ZMS, but in that case they must keep their own log at home of all contacts made regardless of context and provide a copy of that log directly to Mike every time you do so.
Personally, I will only ever use my own callsign, so if any Foundation or Intermediate level licencee wants me to 'sit in' with them to allow them to operate the Flex, then I will happily do so, and you may use my own callsign for that purpose. Obviously that only applies if I am currently logged into the radio and have given you written permission to do so in advance - which shouldn't ever be an obstacle to anyone who wants to make use of this facility.
The same rules apply if using the radio locally in the shack, but I can't really visualise that happening too often. In this situation, Foundation and Intermediate users may clearly use their own callsigns, as long as they abide by their own licencing conditions.
I'm contemplating making a proposal to the committee that the club registers a new club callsign for which there is no requirement to log or QSL, specifically for casual use on the Flex. Let me know what you think (...lights blue touch-paper and retires).
73
Berni M0XYF
