Worked All Zones
Encyclopedia
Worked All Zones, or WAZ, 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 40 geographic zones of the world, as defined by the award sponsor, CQ Amateur Radio
. It is available to radio amateurs world-wide. The basic award is for making such contacts using any combination of amateur radio bands and modes.
The WAZ award began in 1934 and slightly predates the somewhat similar DXCC award. It was apparently developed by K.V.R. Lansingh, W6QX, editor of R/9 magazine. Since the late 1940s it has been associated with CQ magazine
. Two major fall contests, one for SSB
(voice) and the other for CW
(Morse code
) are annually held, allowing amateurs to work as many zones as possible during each weekend.
, AM
, SSB
, amateur satellites
, Radioteletype
(RTTY), a digital mode other than RTTY, or Slow-scan television
(SSTV).
Specialty awards are also available for contacts entirely on specific amateur radio bands: 6m (50 MHz), 10m (28 MHz), 12m (24 MHz), 15m (21 MHz), 17m (18 MHz), 20m (14 MHz), 30m (10 MHz), 40m (7 MHz), 80m (3.5 MHz), and 160m (1.8 MHz). There is also a specialty WAZ award for using the EME
moonbounce mode of propagation
.
Endorsements are available for making all contacts from a mobile station or using low power.
Amateur radio operating award
An amateur radio operating award is earned by an amateur radio operator for establishing two-way communication with other amateur radio stations. Awards are sponsored by national amateur radio societies, radio enthusiast magazines, or amateur radio clubs, and aim to promote activity on the amateur...
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
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...
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 40 geographic zones of the world, as defined by the award sponsor, CQ Amateur Radio
CQ Amateur Radio
CQ Amateur Radio is a magazine for amateur radio enthusiasts. The magazine has a worldwide readership base for its English language edition. A Spanish language edition is published in Spain with some translations of articles from the English language edition and some original European content...
. It is available to radio amateurs world-wide. The basic award is for making such contacts using any combination of amateur radio bands and modes.
The WAZ award began in 1934 and slightly predates the somewhat similar DXCC award. It was apparently developed by K.V.R. Lansingh, W6QX, editor of R/9 magazine. Since the late 1940s it has been associated with CQ magazine
CQ magazine
CQ magazine can refer to several different publications:* Congressional Quarterly* CQ Amateur Radio* CQ ham radio...
. Two major fall contests, one for SSB
SSB
- Organizations :* '* Societas Sanctae Birgittae, the Society of Saint Bridget* Society of the Sisters of Bethany, an Anglican religious order* Statistics Norway, , Norwegian government statistics bureau...
(voice) and the other for CW
CW
-Arts:* Carl Wheezer, a character in Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius* Creative writing* Cryptic Writings, an album by Megadeth-Companies:* Cable & Wireless, a British telecommunications company* Colonial Williamsburg...
(Morse code
Morse code
Morse code is a method of transmitting textual information as a series of on-off tones, lights, or clicks that can be directly understood by a skilled listener or observer without special equipment...
) are annually held, allowing amateurs to work as many zones as possible during each weekend.
Specialty awards
Specialty awards are available for establishing two-way contact with stations in all 40 zones using certain transmission modes including: CWMorse code
Morse code is a method of transmitting textual information as a series of on-off tones, lights, or clicks that can be directly understood by a skilled listener or observer without special equipment...
, 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...
, SSB
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....
, amateur satellites
OSCAR
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), a digital mode other than 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: 6m (50 MHz), 10m (28 MHz), 12m (24 MHz), 15m (21 MHz), 17m (18 MHz), 20m (14 MHz), 30m (10 MHz), 40m (7 MHz), 80m (3.5 MHz), and 160m (1.8 MHz). There is also a specialty WAZ award for using the 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....
moonbounce mode of propagation
Radio propagation
Radio propagation is the behavior of radio waves when they are transmitted, or propagated from one point on the Earth to another, or into various parts of the atmosphere...
.
Endorsements are available for making all contacts from a mobile station or using low power.
5-Band WAZ
A special award is available for confirming contacts on five HF bands. (10, 15, 20, 40 and 80 meters) There are no band or mode endorsements associated with 5BWAZ.External links
- CQ Magazine's WAZ rules accessed 04 October 2010.