FISTS Awards

The ONLY data on the log should be Call, Date, Band, FISTS Nr, Points, CC number. The Rag Chewers' Award also requires the Start and Stop times of each QSO be included with the above log data.

IMPORTANT (For logs submitted via e-mail): Use a SINGLE TAB between data elements. NO SPACES. The information on your attached log is exported into Excel and checked for duplicate contacts. The data cannot be exported properly if there are spaces instead of ONE TAB. Each data element must be in a field of its own. Which means, DO NOT include any other information such as "QTH", "Name", or the letters "FISTS #", or "CC" in with any of the data.

We realize that the data will not line up in neat even columns when using a single TAB. It doesn't matter if the data on the log lines up or not because it is checked using a computer program, not by printing it out and looking at it. It just takes too much time to convert the logs with spaces in them to a log with a single TAB, so they will not be accepted.

Carefully check your log for duplicate contacts and delete them prior to sending your log for an award. Deleting Dupes from your log is your responsibility. Paper and electronic logs with excessive Dupes will be returned and not processed.

Please do not send logs that are scanned images (.jpg .gif for example) of your log pasted into Excel and Word documents. Scanned images of log pages will not be accepted. All logs must have "editable" text.

When you apply for an award, please send the complete log for that award. For example, if you have the Silver award and are applying for the Gold award, send the complete log showing all contacts used for the Gold award 500 points.

If you are mailing your award application, DO NOT SEND YOUR ORIGINAL LOG: send a copy. After the logs are checked, the logs are discarded, as it is too expensive to mail them back. If you want your log returned, include sufficient return postage.

All contacts submitted in award logs must have been made via two-way CW mode on the air using the call sign, or a previous call sign held by the person submitting the award log.

ALL Awards are FREE to FISTS members whose yearly dues are current.

Non-FISTS and FISTS members who's dues are not current are eligible for awards, but please enclose $4 to help defray expenses, . . . or instead, . . . why not Join FISTS see http://www.fists.org/howdoi.html#join or Renew your membership at http://www.fists.org/howdoi.html#renew and get ALL your FISTS Awards FREE while your dues are current?

All FISTS members, worldwide, can submit their awards to:

A "Dupe" check sheet can be viewed online or downloaded here. To view it online, just click the link. To download, "right mouse click" on the link and "save as" to your hard drive.

To make your own Dupe Sheet, take a blank sheet of 8.5 by 11 paper and turn it sideways so that the long side is at the top. Write the numbers 1 through 9 along the top edge of the paper spreading them out so you have plenty of room between each number. Now, go through your award log and write the FISTS number for each QSO under the numbered column that corresponds with the first number of each FISTS number. DO NOT USE THE CALL SIGNS. Each time you enter a new number in a column, check down through that column to see if that FISTS number has been previously entered. If it has, then it is a dupe and should NOT be used for your Award Log. This "Dupe" sheet needs to be sent with your award log when applying for awards with over 100 contacts.

What is a CC Number?

This is one of the most asked FISTS Questions! CC stands for Century Certificate. A CC number is the number on the certificate you get when you earn the Basic Century Award. Each certificate has a sequentially issued number on it. That number is your CC number. People exchange CC numbers on the air because the Platinum awards are earned by "collecting" them. You need not have a CC number to collect CC numbers, but it makes it more fun if you can give one out, too.

The Century Award Series

YOU don't have to be a FISTS member at the time of the contact, but THE PERSON you are claiming for Century Award points must have a FISTS number AT THE TIME OF THE CONTACT. For example, if you QSO with someone who is not a FISTS member, but they join FISTS after the QSO, you must work them again for credit. You cannot count the QSO you had before they joined FISTS toward the Century Award.

The person you contact does not have to be an Active Member at the time of your contact. Their number still counts. It would be impossible for our Awards Manager to cross-check dates of renewals to the contact dates, so we make it simple and say "everyone counts". We would hope that if someone cares enough to give out their FISTS number on the air, they will care enough to support the club, but their number counts regardless whether they are a member in good standing or not.

A QSL card is not needed to claim the contact for Century Awards. A worksheet is available in PDF format (you need the FREE Adobe Reader to view/use it). Use it to help keep track of stations worked, and it can be used for ALL of the Century Awards.

Basic Century Award

The Century Award is earned by working 100 points of FISTS members. FISTS operating from the same country that you are in are worth one point. FISTS operating from a different country, as defined by DXCC rules, are worth two points. FISTS affiliated club stations are worth three points.

The following FISTS National Club Stations are worth 5 points towards FISTS awards;

Silver Century Award

The Silver Century Award has the same rules as the Basic Century and is for a total of 250 points. Points used to claim the Basic Century may be used toward the Silver Century Award. Send a log showing all 250 points used for the Silver Award.

Gold Century Award

The Gold Century Award has the same rules as the Basic Century, but it is for a total of 500 points. Points used to claim the Basic Century & Silver Century may be used toward the Gold Century Award. Send a log showing all 500 points used for the Gold Award.

Diamond Century Award

The Diamond Century Award has the same rules as the Basic Century, but it is for a total of 1000 points. Points used to claim the Basic, Silver, and Gold Centurys may be used toward the Diamond Century. Send a log showing all 1000 points used for the Diamond Award.

NOTE -- If you earn your Basic, Silver, Gold, or Diamond award using QRP, (5 watts or less), please state so at the time of your application for that award. Your call will be printed on the award as, " Your Call - QRP ".

Platinum Award

This award, which used to be called the Century of the Centuries, is earned by working 100 different Century Certificate holders. The Century Certificate (CC) number must be obtained during an on-air CW QSO. Each CC number is only counted once, for a total of 100 numbers, regardless of location or band.

You do not have to have a QSL card to claim the contact for the Platinum Awards.
A worksheet is available in PDF format (you need the FREE Adobe Reader to view/use it). Use it as a check sheet to help keep track of stations worked, and it can be used for ALL of the Platinum Awards.

Platinum 250 Award

The 250 Platinum Award is for 250 Century Award holder Contacts. Send a log showing all 250 CC numbers used for the Platinum 250 Award.

Platinum 500 Award

The 500 Platinum Award is for 500 Century Award holder Contacts. Send a log showing all 500 CC numbers used for the Platinum 500 Award.

Worked All States Award

The WORKED ALL STATES award is earned by working FISTS members in all 50 states. The station worked must be a FISTS member at the time of the contact.

Contacts must be made from the same location, or from locations no two of which are more than 50 miles apart which is affirmed by signature of the applicant on the application.

A checksheet is available in in PDF format (you need the FREE Adobe Reader to view/use it).

Rag Chewers Award

This award is earned by making 100 two-way CW QSO's, each lasting at least 30 minutes, with another FISTS member on or after the date of September 1, 1998. Duplicate member contacts are valid, but they must be made on different dates.

1 X QRP Award

The 1 X QRP Award is earned by working 100 points of FISTS members while you are operating QRP, 5 watts or less. Same point rules as the Basic Century Award.

2 X QRP Award

The 2 X QRP Award is earned by working 100 points of FISTS members while you and the other station contacted are both operating QRP, 5 watts or less. Same point rules as the Basic Century Award.

Nightmare Alpha-Numeric FISTS Award

Start date for this award is January 1, 2003. All contacts claimed for this award must be made after the starting date.

This award will be a lot of fun as well as a challenge. The award was created by Jack Bock, K7ZR #2656 (Silent Key).

1) Contacts must be 2-way CW on-air contacts made on and after Jan 1, 2003.
2) Contacts can be made at any time, any place at any speed.
3) Contacts must be with a person or club with a FISTS number.
4) Contacts can be with FISTS from any country.

The object is to work stations whose call signs fit into the squares on a grid. There are 260 squares (26 letters and 10 numerals) 'Counters' are the last numeral of the call sign and the first letter of the suffix. For example, K7ZR goes in the 7 column at the Z row. WZ8C fits in the 8 column on the C row. P31ABC would be in the 1 column on the A row. By convention, use the numeral of a portable designator if there is one - WB9CIS /M3 would be in the 3 column on the C row. Also put the date (month/day) in the square with the call sign for reference.

You can make your own grid sheet by taking a piece of 8.5" x 11" lined writing paper and drawing 10 each 3/4" vertical columns labeling them "1" through "0". Then go to the left-hand margin and label 26 of the horizontal stripes "A" through "Z".

To get your NANFA certificate, send your completed grid (filled in with the call signs and dates) along with your log containing the same contact info used for the Basic Century Award. If you work the award using QRP or Mobile state so on your award application. Your award certificate will then be printed with "Your Call - QRP" or "Your Call - Mobile".

The Millionaire Award

So, you want to be a millionaire? You'll feel like a million bucks when you hang this piece of wallpaper in your shack! This award is simple and obtainable, as well as challenging. You earn it by working a total of a million in FISTS membership numbers. The basic award is for one million points with endorsement stickers for additional increments of one million. The highest endorsement sticker available is 25 million points.

For example, if you work member number 11500 and member number 10000 and then work #379, you'd have a total of 21,879 points.

We hope to encourage newer FISTS members to get on the air, since they have bigger FISTS membership numbers they will be sought after.

You may only claim member numbers for credit once per band, but use as many bands as you want. If you use the WARC bands please be sure your contact is a legit QSO. We don't want FISTS to have the reputation of being the ones to spoil the WARCs with hit and run, contest like QSO's. Exchange FISTS numbers on the air and have a little chat - about the weather, your key, your rig, family...

Two-way CW contacts only. You do not need to get a QSL confirmation of the QSO - just keep a running total of the FISTS membership number points. Only contacts made on or after January 1, 2006 are valid.

To claim the award with a paper/written log, include a log sheet that has the contacted call sign, band & date worked and FISTS number - with the numbers totaled - and DUPE sheets for each of the bands used. Since you may work a FISTS number on different bands for credit, separate dupe sheets for each band are necessary to help the Awards Manager verify your log.

Each band should be shown as 80, 40, 20, etc, NOT the frequency used such as 10.118, 10.119, 14.058, 7.033, etc.

Reason -- If you work a member twice on 20 meters, i.e. 14.058 and 14.033, and show the actual frequencies used, the dupe checking computer program will not show it as a Dupe. If the band is listed as 20 and 20 then it will show that as a Duplicate.

Send paper logs/dupe sheets submissions to: Awards Manager Dennis Franklin, K6DF, 4658 Capitan Drive , Fremont, CA 94536-5448

Logs submitted electronically do not need to include dupe sheets. Email logs to Dennis via the link on the bottom of the main FISTS page. Attach your log of all contacts for the award to the e-mail. The ONLY files that can be accepted are; Excel, Word, and Text files. Put FISTS in the title of your email.

For ALL award submissions, Include your call sign, name and address, FISTS membership number, and the name of the award you are applying for. DO NOT send logs that are scanned images of your log pasted into Excel and Word documents. Scanned images of log pages will not be accepted.

Please answer someone's CQ at the speed they are sending and USE SPACES between your letters and words. The most common, yet most easily remedied, problem is SPACING. You can be sending perfectly formed code, but if it's all run together, it still sounds like gibberish and gives you a bad fist.

The 2009 CW / Phone Award

Purpose: The purpose of this award is to promote activity on the CW amateur bands, to encourage the exchange of information that might lead to rag chewing and also to encourage interaction between FISTS members and non-FISTS members. It also provides a goal for those who need a reason to get on the air and make some QSOs!

Goal: To chat with hams who live in 100 different telephone area code districts. The area codes may be anywhere in the world, and the hams include all legally licensed operators. Contacts must be valid two-way Morse code contacts made on any of the legal ham bands.

Exchange: Any information may be exchanged during the course of the QSO, but the minimum information must include Name, QTH, signal report and area code.

Points: Each area code equals one point, with 100 points needed to earn the award. Each area code must be counted only once. An area code is defined as the area code for the telephone number of the phone the person uses most often. One area code is allowed per callsign. You must use the same area code for all QSO's that you make during the course of the year unless your station is physically moved to another area code.

For example, if you work someone and they give you the area code of their home phone, you cannot work them again and receive the area code of their cell phone or work phone for another point. Mobiles use the same area code as they use while operating fixed. One area code per callsign only, unless you move your place of residence.

Log Submission: A dupe sheet must be included with the log. Information to be included on the award log submission is Date of contact, Name, RST, QTH and area code. Awards can be postal mailed to Dennis K6DF, 4658 CAPITAN DR FREMONT CA 94536-5448. Contact Dennis via for information on emailing logs to him.

Perpetual Prefix Award

The Perpetual Prefix Award, is a basic open-ended award for working 25 unique prefixes in each of the ten call number zones (zero-nine). Each prefix is one point, regardless of country. The contact must be a valid two-way CW QSO between two licensed amateur radio operators. No relays or repeater contacts allowed. Any type of Morse code device may be used.

Contacts may be made with active, lapsed, and non-FISTS. At least one of the contacts in each of the call number districts (0-9) must be a FISTS member.

Complete Call, Name, Date, Band, QTH, and the FISTS Nr. for the 1 required FISTS contact in each call district.

For the purpose of this Prefix Award, the call number zone will be the number in the legally assigned call sign, regardless of location. Mobile/portable contacts are permitted, but the call number zone is the one in the call sign, not any modifier used because of location.

K6DF operating from Alaska with the call sign K6DF/KL7 will be entered as a "K" prefix in the "6" call zone.

DL4ABC operating from Wales with the call sign MW/DL4ABC would be a "DL" prefix in the "4" call zone.

If you work AB1CD, and count the AB prefix in the 1 call zone, then work them again after they get the vanity call A1CD, you may count them again as an A prefix in the 1 call zone. For this award, the prefix is what counts, not the operator or location.

There is no time limit to earn this basic award and successful applicants working the total of 250 prefixes will receive a Perpetual Prefix Award certificate.

The 25th Anniversary of FISTS CW Club Operating Achievement Award

From all the comments received, many members enjoyed operating during the 25th Anniversary celebration in 2012. Trying to earn the various awards available for the 25th Anniversary was a real challenge. Hopefully all enjoyed a good time by renewing old friendships as well as making some new CW friends along the way . . .

Whereas logs were received for Versions 1 and 2 Prefix Awards, no "qualifying" logs were received for the Version 3 Award as of the deadline date of Jan 31, 2013. Therefore, no Version 3 Prefix Award Plaques will be issued.

Instead . . .

"Outstanding Achievement Plaques" will be issued to the Top Ten submitted logs as shown below.


Dr. Ian Jones G4MLW	Darren McDonald G0OTT	Russ Halbert K0LUW	Milan Pavel OK1KW	Ray Myers WB0PYF

Stan Reas K4UK	Peter Rosamond G4LHI	Alan Schriver KA5VZG	Rocky Cookus AE7US	Erkki Simila OH7QR

Congratulations to All Recipients!

The FISTS Military Appreciation Award

The North American FISTS CW Club announces a new operating achievement award, the USA FISTS Military Appreciation Award. To earn the award, make 2-way CW QSOs with 100 FISTS members who are U.S. military veterans or currently serving in the U.S. military.

Each FISTS number may be worked only once for one point. Remember, it is the FISTS NUMBER that counts, not the callsign. If a person changes their call, you cannot work them again for credit, because they will still have the same FISTS number.

This is an open-ended award with no closing date, but contacts must be made on or after January 15, 2010. Contacts may be made on any legal CW band. Since the military record of FISTS members is not in the database, it is hoped that this award will encourage rag-chewing. If contacts are made on the WARC bands, please do it during a QSO and not in a number chasing manner.

To submit your log via email, send an e-mail to Awards Manager, K6DF, at with your call sign, name and address, FISTS membership number, and the name of the award you are applying for. Attach your log of all contacts for the award to the e-mail. The ONLY files that can be accepted are; Excel, Word, and Text files. DO NOT send logs that are scanned images (jpg) of your log pasted into Excel and Word documents.

If you are mailing your award application to K6DF via his call book address, do not send your original log; send a copy.

Novice/Tech Activity Awards

To encourage operating activity on the Novice/Tech portions of the CW bands, FISTS is offering two new awards. Here are the rules for the new awards:

One operating achievement award is ONLY for Novice/Techs who work 25 FISTS members of any license class in the Novice/Tech parts of the band (CW, of course). The Novice/Tech does not have to be a FISTS member.

The second one is for FISTS members (General and higher) who work 50 points of Novice/Techs in the Novice/Tech CW sub-bands. N/T's who are FISTS are worth 2 points, non-FISTS N/T's are worth 1 point.

Basic info will be required for the contacts to be legit, including the date, band, RST, name, QTH, Call worked, license class and FISTS number, if applicable. The starting date for this award is MAY 18, 2009.

The Operator Certificate will be issued for making a minimum of 10 contacts per day, (FISTS or non-FISTS stations), of scheduled use of the FISTS USA Club Call during the time you are the Control Operator of the call.

Example: If you signed up to use the Club Call for 5 days total, you must make a minimum total of 50 QSOs with the Club Call in order to qualify for the Operator Certificate. These 50 contacts may be spread out over the 5 days in any manner.

1. Contact the FISTS USA Club Call once each month of the calendar year. (Total of 12 QSOs)
Example: You work W2YMX using the Club Call in January, you may also work W2YMX using the Club Call again in February, plus other stations in the remaining 10 months. A contact needs to be made with the Club Call every month of the year under option #1. Using Option #1, the same station using the Club Call may be worked more than once providing it is in different months.

2. Contact 12 different authorized stations using the FISTS USA Club Call during a calendar year. (Total of 12 QSOs)
Example: If you work W2YMX, N1PT and KB1DSB using the Club Call in January, you may not work those stations using the Club Call again in any other month during the year if you are going to claim the Achievement Certificate under option #2. Using Option #2, you can only work a station authorized to use the Club Call once during the calendar year.

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General Information	Dupe Check Sheet	What is a CC Number?	The Century Award Series	Questions
Basic Century	Silver	Gold	Diamond	WAS
Platinum	Platinum 250	Platinum 500	Rag Chewers	Nightmare NANFA
1 X QRP	2 X QRP	Millionaire	CW Area Code	25th Ann Results
	Military	NT Award	Club Call KN0WCW	Perpetual Prefix

FISTS Awards Manager		FISTS Coordinator
Dennis Franklin, K6DF 4658 Capitan Drive Fremont, CA 94536-5448		Nancy Kott WZ8C PO Box 47 Hadley, MI 48440-0047