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Worked All States

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Richard Weil (talk | contribs) at 03:39, 27 August 2012 (Added a section on the history of the WAS award.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Worked All States, or WAS, is an amateur radio operating award given to those amateur radio operators who successfully complete two-way amateur radio communications with other amateur radio stations located in each of the 50 United States of America (contact with the District of Columbia may be used for Maryland). The award is sponsored by the American Radio Relay League. It is available to radio amateurs worldwide although US applicants must be ARRL members.

Basic award

The basic WAS award is earned by submission of proof of two-way amateur radio contact using any combination of radio bands or transmission modes. Written proof of the contacts, usually in the form of QSL cards, or online records through ARRL's Logbook of The World (LoTW), must be submitted to qualify. The award certificate is dated and individually numbered.

Specialty awards

Specialty awards are available for establishing two-way contact with stations in all 50 states using amateur radio satellites, Radioteletype (RTTY), or Slow-scan television (SSTV). Specialty awards are also available for contacts entirely on specific amateur radio bands: (144 MHz, 432 MHz, 222 MHz, 50 MHz, or 160 meters). Each of these specialty awards is numbered individually.

An unnumbered award is available for working all US states using a digital mode other than RTTY. An unnumbered phone (radiotelephone) award is available as well for using USB, LSB, AM, FM, or any other voice mode.

Endorsements

Endorsement stickers can be earned on both the basic and specialty awards. Endorsement categories are CW, US Novice class, QRP, Packet, EME, and any single amateur radio band. Endorsements also require submission of written proof of two-way contacts with stations located in each of the 50 United States of America using the mode or band for which the endorsement is offered.

5-Band WAS

In addition to the awards described above, a 5-Band WAS award is available. 5BWAS, as it is known, is awarded to amateur radio operators who successfully complete two-way contact with each of the fifty United States on five amateur radio bands (excluding the 30 meter, 17 meter, and 12 meter bands). There are no band or mode endorsements associated with 5BWAS.

History

The Worked All States Club was first announced in QST magazine in January, 1936, during the same period as the DXCC award was being developed. Except for not offering endorsements, the rules were substantially similar to those used today. However, an operator was required to be in the same location for all contacts. (Currently one can move up to 50 miles away.) Unlike DXCC, the award did not start fresh after World War II and earlier contacts remained valid. Over time the certificate has undergone changes to make it more colorful. Among radio amateurs worldwide the award remains very popular.

Alaska and Hawaii

Both Alaska and Hawaii gained statehood after the beginning of the Worked All States award program. As a result, contacts with stations in Alaska must have been made after January 3, 1959, and contacts with stations in Hawaii must have been made after August 21, 1959.

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