[CW] AR or K after CQ?

[D. Chester]

I got into what turned into a heated debate recently over the use of AR 
following a CQ.

The other person said you should never send anything but K after a CQ, and 
that it is poor operating to use AR.

Isn't AR supposed to mean that you have made a call, and you are standing 
by, listening for a station you have not yet made contact with? For example, 
if I had a sked with W9XXX and gave him a call, I would send W9XXX W9XXX de 
K4KYV AR. Once I hear his reply and we have established contact, I would 
then send W9XXX de K4KYV K (or KN).

When I call CQ and stand by to listen, by definition, no contact has yet 
been established with the station I eventually contact. So wouldn't the 
appropriate prosign be AR? To me, K implies that we have established contact 
and I am telling him to "go ahead".

I looked this up in some of my old books both ARRL and non-ARRL.  Some of 
the more recent editions seem to prefer K, but Handy's first edition of the 
ARRL handbook from the late 20's used ._._. (AR).

I say it is a matter of preference.  Who would be the "authority" in such a 
matter?  I have heard it both ways in all the 50  years I have been 
licensed.  To me, AR has a more pleasant swing for ending a CQ, and it seems 
to better round out the transmission.  K seems too abrupt.  I have never had 
a problem getting someone to answer my CQ after sending AR.


Don k4kyv
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