Urban DXing minimalist station, Part 5:

As we always say, amateur radio is a multifaceted hobby. It offers something to everyone, and covers a very wide range of activates. From serious DXing, even more serious contesting, technical advancement, home brewing, outdoors operation, microwave and satellite communication – even bouncing signals off the Moon – to a casual interaction with amateurs for no other purpose than to say hello. And whichever activity you chose to participate in, you are free to set your own limits: to define your own goals and then, to decide how much time you wish to invest pursuing those goals.

For amateurs who are pedantic and laser focused, and who also gain pleasure from completing self imposed tasks, amateur radio offers plenty of opportunities in the form of ‘awards’. There are tens of thousands of awards out there to be won! Naturally, some of them are more prestigious than others; some awards are really there to encourage basic activity, while others are so difficult to ‘win’ that even 30 years of daily activity would not be enough.

For a minimalist urban DXer, the goal of winning one or more internationally recognized awards is something that would keep the operator engaged in a meaningful and systematic pursuit. Again, awards are not for everyone, but for those who are naturally inclined, a daily dose of dopamine is guaranteed. And even more so when contacts are made with low power, while fighting urban noise and interference of all kinds.

Here are the three most prestigious awards, in order of difficulty.

1. DXCC

DX Century Club

DXCC is Amateur Radio’s premier award that hams can earn by confirming on the air contacts with 100 countries. You can begin with the basic DXCC award and work your way up to the DXCC Honor Roll – the pinnacle of DX achievement. Ultimately, to work all 340 in total.

2. WAS

Was stands for ‘Working All States’. Precisely, all 50 US states. The award is available to all amateurs worldwide who submit proof with written confirmation of contacts with each of the 50 states. It may sound strange, but from Australia, it is easier to make 100 DXCC contacts than work all 50 US states. You’ll work you first 30 or 40 in a couple of days, but eventually, you will get stuck chasing Wyoming, North and South Dakota. Or Delaware. Heaps of fun!

3. WAZ

Probably the most difficult of all. WAZ is the ‘Work all Zones’ award. The rules are simple: the entire planet is divided in 40 zones. This is purely a geographical division – and quite unfair for Australian amateurs on East coast. Zone 34 (Egypt, Libya, South Sudan) is always a challenge, on any band. And so are Zones 2 (Labrador, Canada) and 40 (Greenland, Iceland). WAZ is hard, especially running low power into a simple antenna. The ultimate challenge: WAZ on 160m band! Getting all zones on the top band is so difficult that since 1987 only 3 Australian amateurs have actually worked all 40 Zones with another 3 working 30 zones, a minimum requirement to qualify for the award.