VHF/UHF awards

The RSGB offers a range of VHF/UHF awards

50MHz (6m) awards

There are three awards for the 50MHz (6m) band. They encourage you to develop your operating skills and station to achieve the most from what can be an interesting, yet challenging, area of the band plan.

50MHz Continents and Countries Award

May be claimed by any licensed amateur who can show that they contacted amateur radio stations in the required combined number of continents and countries. The basic level of achievement is 30 countries in one continent. Further certificates may be applied for in increments of continents and countries confirmed: 1/30, 1/40, 2/50, 3/60, 4/70, 5/80 and 5/100.

Rules: All contacts were made on or after 1 June 1987 from the same DXCC country. Only those countries formally authorising operation within the 50MHz band will qualify. Award applications will not be accepted for mixed categories. Only Fixed, Temporary or Portable stations count.

50MHz Countries Award

May be claimed by any licensed amateur who can show that they contacted amateur radio stations in the required number of countries. The basic level of achievement is 10 countries. Further certificates may be applied for in increments of 10 countries worked.

Rules: All contacts were made on or after 1 June 1987 from the same DXCC country. Only those countries formally authorising operation within the 50MHz band will qualify. Award applications will not be accepted for mixed categories. Only Fixed, Temporary or Portable stations count.

50MHz Squares Award

May be claimed by any licensed amateur who can show that they contacted amateur radio stations in the required number of locator squares. The basic level of achievement is 25 locator squares. Further certificates may be also applied for larger numbers of locator squares worked.

Rules: All contacts were made on or after 1 June 1987 from the same DXCC country. Only those countries formally authorising operation within the 50MHz band will qualify. Award applications will not be accepted for mixed categories. Only Fixed, Temporary or Portable stations count.

Please note that the 50MHz check sheet (30.7KB Microsoft Excel worksheet) can be used for all 50MHz awards

For help with using the award check sheet, see our 50MHZ award check sheet guide (2-page/116KB PDF).

V/UHF Activity Award

These awards are for radio to radio (simplex) contacts on the vhf and uhf bands, particularly targeted at newcomers to the hobby but open to all classes of licensee:
Bronze: 30 Simplex contacts on 2m plus 20 Simplex contacts on 70cms using FM or SSB or a combination of these modes
Silver: 50 Simplex contacts on 2m plus 40 Simplex contacts on 70cms using any combination of FM, SSB, CW
Gold: 75 Simplex contacts on 2m, 60 Simplex contacts on 70cms, and at least 50 Simplex contacts on either of 6m or 4m, using any combination of FM, SSB, CW
Platinum: 100 Simplex contacts on three of the following bands: 6m, 4m, 2m, 70cm using at least 2 of the following modes on each band: FM, SSB, CW
Diamond: 100 Simplex contacts on all of the following bands: 6m, 4m, 2m, 70cms, plus 25 simplex contacts on 23cms using at least 2 of the following modes: FM, SSB, CW
All contacts must be since 1 June 2021, and all contacts on a band must be with different stations. A station contacted on two bands is allowed, but contacted twice on one band only counts once. All contacts must be simplex, i.e. not involving the use of a repeater or gateway of any sort. No QSLs are required, just a signed list of contacts showing call sign,  date, time, frequency, mode, RS(T) sent and received. The awards manager will randomly verify contacts using Clublog, QRZ, HRD, and other online logs where possible. It is important that frequency is provided and not just band, as this will be used to verify the simplex nature of contacts. Entering just band will disqualify a contract from the award.

VHF squares and countries awards

These awards cover 70MHz (4m), 144MHz (2m) and 432MHz (70cm). The title of each award gives the number of locator squares and countries needed to qualify for the award. For example, to obtain the 144MHz 40/10 award you must have confirmation of contact with 40 locator squares and 10 countries on 144MHz.

70MHz (4m) Band

This award may be claimed by any licensed amateur who can show that they contacted amateur radio stations within the 4m band.

There are 13 levels of achievement:

70MHz – 20/4 (20 squares and four countries)
70MHz – 25/6
70MHz – 30/8
70MHz – 35/8
70MHz – 35/10
70MHz – 40/8
70MHz – 40/10
70MHz – 45/8
70MHz – 45/10
70MHz – 50/8
70MHz – 50/10
70MHz – 55/8
70MHz – 55/10

Rules: All contacts were made on or after 31 December 1978 from the same DXCC country. Eligible countries are those listed by the ITU. Award applications are eligible in the following categories: Fixed, Temporary or Portable stations.

144MHz (2m) Band

This award may be claimed by any licensed amateur who can show that they contacted amateur radio stations within the 144m band.

There are 19 levels of achievement:

144MHz – 40/10 (40 squares and 10 countries)
144MHz – 60/15
144MHz – 80/18
144MHz – 100/20
144MHz – 125/20
144MHz – 150/20
144MHz – 175/20
144MHz – 200/30
144MHz – 225/30
144MHz – 250/35
144MHz – 275/35
144MHz – 300/40
144MHz – 325/40
144MHz – 350/45
144MHz – 375/45
144MHz – 400/50
144MHz – 425/50
144MHz – 450/50
144MHz – 475/20

Rules: All contacts were made on or after 31 December 1978 from the same DXCC country. Eligible countries are those listed by the ITU. Award applications are eligible in the following categories: Fixed, Temporary or Portable stations.

432MHz (70cm) Band

This award may be claimed by any licensed amateur who can show that they contacted amateur radio stations within the 70cm band.

There are 16 levels of achievement:

432MHz – 30/6 (30 squares and 6 countries)
432MHz – 40/10
432MHz – 50/13
432MHz – 60/15
432MHz – 70/15
432MHz – 80/15
432MHz – 90/15
432MHz – 100/15
432MHz – 110/15
432MHz – 120/18
432MHz – 130/18
432MHz – 140/20
432MHz – 150/20
432MHz – 160/20
432MHz – 170/23
432MHz – 180/25

Rules: All contacts were made on or after 31 December 1978 from the same DXCC country. Eligible countries are those listed by the ITU. Award applications are eligible in the following categories: Fixed, Temporary or Portable stations.

Please note that the squares and countries check sheet (39.5KB Microsoft Excel spreadsheet) can be used for all Squares and Countries awards

For help with using the award check sheet, see our squares and countries award check sheet guide (2-page/129KB PDF).