ARABIH

The IARU issues Worked-All-Continents certificates to amateur radio stations around the world that work all six continental areas.

Qualification for the WAC award is based on an examination by the International Secretariat, or a member-society, of the IARU of QSL cards that the applicant has received from other amateur stations in each of the six continental areas of the world. All contacts must be made from the same country or separate territory within the same continental area of the world.

All QSL cards (no photocopies) must show the mode and/or band for any endorsement applied for.

Contacts made on 10/18/24 MHz or via satellites are void for the 5-band certificate and 6-band endorsement. All contacts for the QRP endorsement must be made on or after January 1, 1985 while running a maximum power of 5 watts output or 10 watts input.

For amateurs in the United States and in an area without IARU representation, the WAC application forms are available in MS Word and Adobe PDF format. Once completed, applications should be directed to the WAC Awards Manager, ARRL, 225 Main Street, Newington, CT USA 06111. After verification, the cards will be returned and the award sent soon afterward. Also, approved DXCC card checkers can verify WAC program applications. For the latest list of DXCC card checkers visit www.arrl.org/awards/dxcc. There is a $13.00 fee for US applicants. Sufficient return postage, or, a self-addressed stamped envelope, is required for the return of QSL cards. US amateurs must have current ARRL membership.  At the present time credits in the ARRL LogBook of The World (LoTW) system cannot be claimed for WAC credit. Applicants who have a current DXCC award in the DXCC computer system can apply for WAC by completing the WAC application form and sending it to the address noted above, listing credits to be claimed on the application form. In this case QSL cards are not required. Send questions to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

For all other amateurs, applicants must be members of their national amateur radio societies affiliated with IARU, and apply through the society.

At the IARU Administrative Council meeting in October, 2009, a procedure was adopted to deal with the situation of non-existent or non-functioning member-societies.  Under this newly adopted procedure, if the IARU regional organization determines that there is no evidence of the continued existence of the society for a period of 5 years then the regional organization may request that the Administrative Council publish a notice in the IARU Calendar its belief that the society has ceased to exist and calling for the submission of any evidence to the contrary within 180 days of such publication.  If no evidence of the continued existence is presented to the AC within the 180-day period then that Member-Society shall be deemed to no longer exist.  After that, if there is an amateur organization within the country that believes it can perform the duties of an IARU Member-Society then it can apply for IARU membership.

Three IARU Member-Societies in Region 3 will be listed in the IARU Calendar number 189 that fall within this category of non-existent or non-functioning societies.  They are:  Papua New Guinea (PNGARS), French Polynesia (CORA) and Burma (BARTS).  IARU Calendar number 189 will likely be published about the same time this E-Letter is received.