Worked All States
Encyclopedia
Worked All States, or WAS, is an amateur radio
operating award given to those amateur radio operator
s who successfully complete two-way
amateur radio communications with other amateur radio station
s 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.
. 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.
, 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.
, 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.
must have been made after January 3, 1959, and contacts with stations in Hawaii
must have been made after August 21, 1959.
Amateur radio
Amateur radio is the use of designated radio frequency spectrum for purposes of private recreation, non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and emergency communication...
operating award given to those amateur radio operator
Amateur radio operator
An amateur radio operator is an individual who typically uses equipment at an amateur radio station to engage in two-way personal communications with other similar individuals on radio frequencies assigned to the amateur radio service. Amateur radio operators have been granted an amateur radio...
s who successfully complete two-way
Two-way communication
Two-way communication - uses communication to negotiate with the public, resolve conflict, and promote mutual understanding and respect between the organization and its public. Two-Way Communication in Public Relations...
amateur radio communications with other amateur radio station
Amateur radio station
An amateur radio station is an installation designed to provide radiocommunications in the amateur radio service for an amateur radio operator. Radio amateurs build and operate several types of amateur radio stations, including fixed ground stations, mobile stations, space stations, and temporary...
s located in each of the 50 United States of America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(contact with the District of Columbia may be used for Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
). The award is sponsored by the American Radio Relay League
American Radio Relay League
The American Radio Relay League is the largest membership association of amateur radio enthusiasts in the USA. ARRL is a non-profit organization, and was founded in May 1914 by Hiram Percy Maxim of Hartford, Connecticut...
. 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 modesModulation
In electronics and telecommunications, modulation is the process of varying one or more properties of a high-frequency periodic waveform, called the carrier signal, with a modulating signal which typically contains information to be transmitted...
. Written proof of the contacts, usually in the form of QSL
QSL
QSL is one of the Q codes used in radiocommunication and radio broadcasting. A Q code message can stand for a statement or a question . In this case, QSL? means "do you confirm receipt of my transmission?" while QSL means "I confirm receipt of your transmission". Some also take it to mean "Query...
cards, or online records through ARRL's Logbook of The World
Logbook of The World
Logbook of the World is a web-accessed database provided by the American Radio Relay League to implement a contact verification service among amateur radio operators. Using LoTW, radio amateurs can claim and verify contacts made with other amateurs, generally for claiming credit for operating...
(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 satellitesOSCAR
OSCAR is an acronym for Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio. OSCAR series satellites use amateur radio frequencies to facilitate communication between amateur radio stations. These satellites can be used for free by licensed amateur radio operators for voice and data communications...
, Radioteletype
Radioteletype
Radioteletype is a telecommunications system consisting originally of two or more electromechanical teleprinters in different locations, later superseded by personal computers running software to emulate teleprinters, connected by radio rather than a wired link.The term radioteletype is used to...
(RTTY), or Slow-scan television
Slow-scan television
Slow-scan television is a picture transmission method used mainly by amateur radio operators, to transmit and receive static pictures via radio in monochrome or color.A technical term for SSTV is narrowband television...
(SSTV). Specialty awards are also available for contacts entirely on specific amateur radio bands: (144 MHz
2 meters
The 2-meter amateur radio band is a portion of the VHF radio spectrum, comprising frequencies stretching from 144.000 MHz to 148.000 MHz in International Telecommunication Union region Regions 2 and 3 and from 144.000 MHz to 146.000 MHz in ITU Region 1...
, 432 MHz
70 centimeters
The 70-centimeter amateur radio band is a portion of the UHF radio spectrum. This band is used by amateurs engaged in emergency communications where portable and mobile radios are frequently used. Many such radios have dual-band capabilities, operating on both the 70-centimeter and 2-meter bands.-...
, 222 MHz
1.25 meters
The 1.25 meter, 220 MHz or 222 MHz band is a portion of the VHF radio spectrum internationally allocated for amateur radio use on a primary basis in ITU Region 2, and it comprises frequencies from 220 MHz to 225 MHz...
, 50 MHz
6 meters
The 6-meter band is a portion of the VHF radio spectrum allocated to amateur radio use. Although located in the lower portion of the VHF band, it nonetheless occasionally displays propagation mechanisms characteristic of the HF bands. This normally occurs close to sunspot maximum, when solar...
, or 160 meters
160 meters
Just above the mediumwave broadcast band, 160 meters is the lowest radio frequency band allocation available to amateur radio operators in most countries. Seasoned operators often refer to 160 meters as the Top Band...
). 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
Radiotelephone
A radiotelephone is a communications system for transmission of speech over radio. Radiotelephone systems are not necessarily interconnected with the public "land line" telephone network. "Radiotelephone" is often used to describe the usage of radio spectrum where it is important to distinguish the...
) award is available as well for using USB
Single-sideband modulation
Single-sideband modulation or Single-sideband suppressed-carrier is a refinement of amplitude modulation that more efficiently uses electrical power and bandwidth....
, LSB
Single-sideband modulation
Single-sideband modulation or Single-sideband suppressed-carrier is a refinement of amplitude modulation that more efficiently uses electrical power and bandwidth....
, AM
Amplitude modulation
Amplitude modulation is a technique used in electronic communication, most commonly for transmitting information via a radio carrier wave. AM works by varying the strength of the transmitted signal in relation to the information being sent...
, FM
Frequency modulation
In telecommunications and signal processing, frequency modulation conveys information over a carrier wave by varying its instantaneous frequency. This contrasts with amplitude modulation, in which the amplitude of the carrier is varied while its frequency remains constant...
, or any other voice mode.
Endorsements
Endorsement stickers can be earned on both the basic and specialty awards. Endorsement categories are CWContinuous wave
A continuous wave or continuous waveform is an electromagnetic wave of constant amplitude and frequency; and in mathematical analysis, of infinite duration. Continuous wave is also the name given to an early method of radio transmission, in which a carrier wave is switched on and off...
, US Novice class, QRP
QRP operation
In amateur radio, QRP operation means transmitting at reduced power levels while aiming to maximize one's effective range while doing so. The term QRP derives from the standard Q code used in radio communications, where "QRP" and "QRP?" are used to request, "Reduce power," and ask "Should I reduce...
, Packet
Packet radio
Packet radio is a form of packet switching technology used to transmit digital data via radio or wireless communications links. It uses the same concepts of data transmission via Datagram that are fundamental to communications via the Internet, as opposed to the older techniques used by dedicated...
, EME
EME (communications)
Earth-Moon-Earth, also known as moon bounce, is a radio communications technique which relies on the propagation of radio waves from an Earth-based transmitter directed via reflection from the surface of the Moon back to an Earth-based receiver....
, 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.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 AlaskaAlaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
must have been made after January 3, 1959, and contacts with stations in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
must have been made after August 21, 1959.