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[CQ-Contest] NAQP CW - DXCC Prefix for NA Countries Question

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Subject: [CQ-Contest] NAQP CW - DXCC Prefix for NA Countries Question
From: Mike Bettencourt <mike.w1nv@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 2 Jan 2025 12:40:21 -0700
List-post: <mailto:cq-contest@contesting.com>
I apologize in advance for the noob contest question. I’m sure this is easily 
answerable for most of you in the know, but I wasn’t able to easily locate any 
clarifying information elsewhere.  I’m hoping to mess around a little in the 
upcoming January NAQP CW contest. Upon reviewing the rules and the sample log 
the NCJ site provides, it left me with a remaining question on some of the 
correct NA DXXC entity abbreviation/prefixes to be used for the contest. Thanks 
in advance!
 
The rules state:  "For other North American entities please use the standard 
DXCC prefix for the country in the received location field in your log. See 
multiplier list included with sample paper logs."  However, upon reviewing the 
NCJ's multiplier list, https://ncjweb.com/NAQP-Paper-Log-Form.pdf, I noticed a 
few interesting prefixes. My understanding is that the NCJ is instructing or 
recommending the participants use their provided prefix list. However, the 
NCJ's supplied list (sample log) seems to somewhat conflict with the ARRL's 
current/updated DXCC prefix list found here:  
https://www.arrl.org/files/file/DXCC/2022_DXCC_Current.pdf. The NCJ appears to 
infer that the lists are the same, and even tells you to use the “standard DXCC 
prefix for the country” but there are some slight differences between the two 
lists on just a few entities. I must be missing something. 
 
For example:
 
UN HQ - The NCJ's DXCC prefix list shows "4U1/u" whereas the ARRL list denotes 
"4U_ITU".  I know their call sign is 4U1UN, or it's at least one of theirs, as 
I've worked them a number of times. 

CUBA - The NCJ's DXCC prefix list just shows "CM" whereas the ARRL list denotes 
both "CM" and "CO."  
MEXICO - It appears as if the NCJ list is instructing contesters to use "XE" 
for all Mexican states (except to use XF4 for Revillagigedo).  However, the 
ARRL list denotes "XA" through "XI" for DXCC entity prefixes and even "XA4" 
through "XI4" for Revillagigedo.  And no, I don't plan on making contact with 
Revillagigedo during the contest (#25 DSCC most wanted), I'm just using it as 
an example. I'm going to assume I just use "XE" for all Mexican states but the 
different listings made me do a double take.  
I think the above bulleted list pretty much covers the conflicting prefixes, at 
least for me. The rest of them seem to have been a general match between the 
two lists. 
 
Can anyone clarify the above? Better yet, does anyone have a definitive, 
current and accurate prefix list other than the sample NCJ sample log that 
provides a little more clarity? Or, should I just use what the NCJ provided, 
knowing that will likely pass muster, and ignore everything else, which is what 
is simplest and what I'm leaning towards. I just wasn’t’ sure if some of the 
Q’s would get stricken if the country prefix is not exactly what the log 
verifiers are expecting. I don’t expect to really have many conflicts, if at 
all. I’m just interested in knowing the correct entry information. 
 
Thanks in advance! - Mike, W1NV
 
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