One of the most exciting facets of Amateur Radio operating is
awards chasing. It's a major motivating force of so many QSOs
that occur on the bands day after day. Indeed it's a vital
aspect that--if you want it-- makes each and every radio contact
a key element in your present or future Amateur Radio success.
So transform those QSOs into beautiful certificates or plaques
for your ham-shack wall!
Aside from the fun of operating itself, awards chasing is also a
good way to maximum performance from your station, become
familiar with propagation, and even learn about the geography,
history or culture of places near and far. The League sponsors
some of the more popular operating awards (if you are in the US
and Possessions, Canada and Puerto Rico, you must be a full-
fledged League member to participate), and this brochure gives a
brief summary of what ARRL has to offer.
RCC
Novice, Technician or Extra--start off right, where just about
every awards hunter begins, with the Rag Chewers Club
certificate, which encourages friendly, meaningful contacts,
rather than the impersonal hello-goodbye QSO. "Chew the rag" for
at least 1/2 hour, and report that QSO to HQ, and enclose a
business-size SASE. Your Rag Chewers Club certificate will be
sent to you by return mail. Your first contact as a licensed
amateur could earn your first award!
WAS
The Worked-All-States award is just what it says: Work and
confirm all 50 states. Aside from the basic certificates for any
combination of bands/modes, specialty certificates are issued
for a variety of different bands and modes such as Satellite,
160-meters, SSTV, RTTY, and VHF band, and 75-meter 2-Letter Extra
Class. Endorsement stickers available include SSB, CW, Novice,
QRP, Packet, EME, and any single band. Cards are checked by a
volunteer ARRL HF Awards Manager affiliated with ARRL Special
Service Clubs (although QSL cards can be checked at HQ, absent an
awards manager). To encourage increased activity and station
improvement throughout the band, the 5-BAND WAS certificate (and
plaque) is available for working all states on 5 amateur bands
(except 10/18/24 MHz). Cards for 5BWAS can be checked by your
local HF Awards Manager or at ARRL HQ.
A-1 OP
Only the best operators can qualify for the A-1 Operator Club,
amateurs who have met the highest operating standards (details on
request). But you can't apply; you must be recommended
independently by two amateurs who already belong to the A-1
Operator Club. Who knows? Fine-tune your operating skills, and
one of these days you may be pleasantly surprised when the
mailman delivers an A-1 Operator Club certificate.
DXCC
The premier operating award in all of Amateur Radio is the DX
Century Club. The basic certificate (which can be obtained in
several categories--mixed modes, phone, CW, RTTY, satellite, 160,
80, 40, 10, 6 and 2 meters) is awarded for working and confirming
at least 100 countries on the ARRL DXCC Countries List.
Endorsements are available in specific increments beyond the 100-
country level, culminating in the coveted DXCC Honor Roll, for
those at or near working them all! DXCC qualifiers are also
eligible for a DXCC lapel pin, available at a nominal charge.
For those who enjoy the thrill of the hunt on more than one band,
the 5-Band DXCC can be earned for working 100 countries on 80,
40, 20, 15, and 10-meter bands. 5BDXCC is a good test of the
DXer's operating abilities, but is well within the reach of all
of those willing to work for it. 5BDXCC qualifiers receive a
handsome certificate and are eligible for a very attractive
plaque. The 5-Band DXCC award is endorsable for the 160, 17, 12,
6 and 2-meter bands.
OTC
The coveted OTC certificate can be yours if you have been
licensed at least 20 years. Drop a note to HQ with the date of
your first license, and your call (both then and now), along with
a business-size SASE. HQ will verify this information and send
your Old Timers Club certificate promptly.
VUCC
The VHF/UHF Century Club is the League's newest award, for
working and confirming V/UHF contacts in 2 degrees x 1 degree
grid square locators on all V/H/SHF bands from 50 MHz to 300 GHz.
Satellite and Laser contact count, too. Individual certificates
are issued per band to those meeting initial qualifying levels,
with an extensive endorsement program beyond the initial
certificate. All cards must be checked by ARRL VHF Awards
Managers--contact HQ for the Awards Manager near you. A VUCC
lapel pin is available at a nominal charge.
Extra Class Certificate
For those of you who have learned and earned your way to the top,
why hide the evidence in your wallet? Send a photocopy of your
license and a nominal fee of $3.00 for the ARRL Amateur Extra
Class Radio Operator certificate.
ARRL Friendship Award
The purpose of this award is to encourage friendly contact between radio amateurs (hams) and thereby discover new friends through personal communication with others. The ARRL Friendship Award is available to any ARRL member who submits log extracts that show two-way communications with 26 stations whose callsigns end with each of the 26 letters of the alphabet. (For example: W4RA, K0ORB, W3ABC...K1ZZ.) An SASE will bring you the rules and application.
WAC
Sponsored by the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU), the
Worked-All-Continents award is issued for working and confirming
all six continents (Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South
America, Oceania) on a variety of different bands and modes. A
5-Band WAC certificate and a 6-Band sticker are also available.
For US amateurs, cards are checked at ARRL HQ.
CP
Evaluate your Morse code ability through the ARRL Code
Proficiency program. Copy one of the W1AW's twice-monthly
qualifying runs (sent at speeds from 10-40 WPM on virtually all
bands--see W1AW Schedule), and submit one minute of solid copy
and an SASE to HQ. Your submission will be checked directly
against the official W1AW text, and if you pass, you'll get your
initial Code Proficiency certificate. From then on, endorsements
stickers are issued for speeds up to 40 WPM. Non-hams and hams
alike are eligible for the Code Proficiency program.
Contests
The League sponsors exciting on-the-air contests for developing
operating skills from 160-meters to 10 GHz, and participation
certificates are available for all levels of activity, from
casual participation to all-out war! Contests are also the
"fast-track" way to make those needed QSOs for ARRL awards. See
QST for details on all League-sponsored contests.
Plaques
Those who qualify for either 5BWAS and/or 5BDXCC are eligible for
a handsome plaque. Further information, including required fee,
is included in the 5BWAS or 5BDXCC application materials.
ARRL Membership Recognition. Special plaques and pins are
awarded for those who have attained 50- and 60-year continuous
membership in the ARRL (pins and certificates are awarded for 25-
and 40-year membership).
ARRL International DX Contest Awards Program. Win beautiful
plaques for specific achievements in the ARRL DX Contest.
Details appear in QST.
For WAS, DXCC, VUCC, and WAC, official application forms are
required. Send your request with a business-size self addressed
