[CW] AR or K after CQ?

[KA8VIT]

Hi Don,

This has been "debated" here before, but here's my take on it.

We were taught "AR" is used the same way that "Over" is in voice
comms.  e.g. I'm done with *this* transmission and sending it
back to you.

"K" is an invitation to transmit to any station (and KN to the called
station only), We were also taught that K isn't a proper prosign

The format I use when calling CQ is...

CQ CQ CQ DE KA8VIT KA8VIT KA8VIT AR K

Some will argue that you shouldn't use the AR and K together but
since there is no other callsign to put between them yet they wind
up together.

The prosigns should come before the calls...

SO HW CPY NW DON ? AR K4KYV DE KA8VIT K  (or KN but
I like to leave the door open for round tables).

OK DON 73 ES CUL SK K4KVY DE KA8VIT GN dit dit

Flame suit on <smile>.

73 - Bill KA8VIT



D. Chester wrote:
> 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
>   

-- 

Bill Chaikin, KA8VIT
USS COD Amateur Radio Club - W8COD
WW2 Submarine USS COD SS-224 (NECO)

ka8vit at ka8vit.com
http://ka8vit.com
http://www.usscod.org