GAPA, Amateur Radio Digital Awards

Operated by The Grid and Prefix Awards Group.  Manager: Ernie, wm2u
print a copy in .pdf format. Please  click here to view some of the theme certificates that are available.

Index

Starting Out ~ PREFIX ~ rev: 15th October 2023
The starting point for all of the grid awards is the Basic Requirement. You earn this by working digital mode stations in different prefixes around the world, and can claim the total number of grid squares confirmed.
The Grid and Prefix Awards Group [GAP Awards]
1) The Grid and Prefix Awards Group [GAP Awards] is proud to recognizes the achievements of Amateur Radio Operators worldwide, for confirming two way communications by offering its new Digital Prefix Awards Program. 
2) To apply for your Basic Requirement certificate, all applicants must submit a copy of their prefix list in alpha-numeric order, in the mode they are claiming. This therefore is the total of all different prefixes found in that Mode taken from all Bands. The prefixes count only once for the Basic Requirement.
3) You can also earn this award in the Mixed category. Mixed includes all of the digital modes listed in #4 below, including any combination thereof. (Note that CW is not included in Mixed, either.) If you want to include digital modes not listed above, please make a request as listed above.
4) This award is available in various modes as specific in table #1 below. (Regardless of method of generation, CW is not considered a valid mode for this award.) Please note that all the sub modes of these various modes are included in the parent mode, ie.PSK includes BPSK, QPSK, PSK63, PSK10 etc., and JTx includes all JT, FT and variants. Each mode has its own particular number of required prefixes/grid for the Basic Requirement, as noted in the table#1. You only need to qualify for one Basic Requirement which makes you a member' of GAPA, then all awards are open to you.  If you feel that you qualify for a non-listed digital mode, please request that we review your information.
  • Special Note: Previous rules for the TARA Prefix Awards [now GAP Awards]  required earning the Basic Requirement (then called the Basic Certificate) prior to claiming a Mixed award. We have eliminated that rule and simplified the requirements.
All QSO's must be confirmed either by QSL card, eQSL, QRZ Logbook or LoTW and will produce them to the GAPA-PX Award manager upon request. Do NOT send QSL cards unless requested to do so.
If your application includes columns that show confirmation in one of the above confirmation methods, that will be taken as a signed certification of QSO confirmation. If your application does not include those columns please copy the certification statement shown at the end of this text and include it at the bottom of your email application.

Don't forget to include your full name, address, call sign and snail mail address with any and all applications.
There is no start date so dig deep into your log and claim those past digital contacts.
This is an Amateur achievement award, not a location award, so your contacts count from where ever YOU made them.
The table below shows a short list of digital modes with the required number of confirmed and different prefixes needed to claim your Basic Requirement.
The Endorsement increment for each is also shown.

The fee schedule for these awards can be viewed at awards pricing The PayPal minimum fee of $5.50 set up by TARA on the 20th November 2015 will be continued here.
Please checkout the example of excel  file and see how you can file your claims easily. ie Prefix, Band, Continent.
My files are kept in Excel. I will check it make changes where necessary. A copy of your 'master' files will be emailed to you on request.  

Each time you apply for an endorsement to increase the number of Prefixes claimed, simply submit a new copy of your excel sheet. In the case of Band and Mode basic certificates, please send these each to their own excel page/sheet and on making further endorsements simply submit your updated Band or Mode list.
These should be emailed  to the GAPA-PX Award Manager at :WM2U

Mode Basic
Requirement		 Endorsement
Increments
Mixed 400 50
Rtty 300 50
SSTV 50 50
PSK 300 50
MT63 50 50
Throb 50 50
MFSK 200 50
JTx 300 50
Hell... 100 50
Olivia 50 50
     
All successful applicants will have their respective Prefix achievements, permanently  displayed on the GAPA OnLine Award Record. OLAR

Regardless of the method of generation, CW is not considered a valid mode for this award.
The certificate(s) will be mailed out unfolded in a 9x12 envelope.
Any licensed Amateur world wide can claim this award. You do not need to be a member of a club to apply.
Check out the certificate available. click here
Applications for Basic Requirement
  • Send a copy of your prefix list.  Please checkout the table above. The requirements are different for each mode. Read the requirements as outlined above.
  • The MIXED MODE rule has changed. Consider it has a catch-all of any mode thus producing a grand total of ALL your prefixes from whatever mode or band. In fact if you collect only one mode such as PSK you can also make a Mixed Award out of just your PSK. This is allows you to add any previous confirmed QSO's or future QSO's that you might make.
  • Please see this example of excel file. The Dark Blue Tabs are the Prefix entries the others are Grid Award.
  • You can include any number of Prefix, Band and/or Continent endorsements in a single application/claim package. Make sure that you send your latest, updated Prefix, Band and/or Continent list when claiming endorsements.  This way it cuts down the amount of paperwork in the files and/or computer memory. :)
  • Operating Modes include: RTTY, PSK, JT65, RTTY, THROB, MFSK, HELL, and more... Please note that all the sub modes of these various modes are included in the parent mode. ie. in PSK, BPSK, QPSK, PSK63, PSK10 etc.  JT65 (JT9 subs etc.)
Application for Endorsements:
  • For each Prefix endorsement upgrade please submit an updated copy of your prefix list. (increments of 50)
  • To claim Band and Continent endorsements for the Basic Requirement Mode that you hold, a separate, updated list showing your claimed prefixes. ie List of all your 20 meter prefixes, and/or a list of all European prefixes etc. Submit any number of different endorsement applications/claims in one package.
    Note: the Band and Continent Endorsements are a one time endorsement. You can claim these for the specified number of confirmed contacts as shown below.
    Note: in answer to a participants question; If you work the same Call on different Bands that call counts on each Band claim.
  • Enter the complete call letters in alphabetical order, and make sure that any portable prefix listed on the application as a prefix, ie G3/WM2U even if local laws require its use as a suffix, such as VE3ABC/W3.  G3/WM2U would count as G3.If you work J66ABC and then J6/WM2U you are allowed to count these as two separate prefixes. J6 and J66.
    Proper authorized prefixes only. Maritime and interim license class prefixes do not count. ie /AG, /AE etc.
  • Any portable prefixes without numbers must be designated zero (0). AIR counts as AI0.
  • In the case of separate countries which have the same prefix but are identified by the first letter of their suffix such as VP2EBR (Turks & Caicos) and VP2MDY (Montserrat), their prefixes, in this case would then be VP2E and VP2M respectively.
  • Band endorsements are available. [see table below]. To claim any Band Endorsement you must hold that Bands Basic Requirement.
  • Continent endorsements are available. [see table below] To claim any Continent Endorsement you must hold that Continents Basic Requirement.
  • It is highly recommended that the stickers, BARS and endorsements be mounted on the relevant sheet using Stamp Hinges. Many thanks to Sid Grimes, KK8X for finding this OnLine outlet for those hinges. Take a look at The Hobby Lobby then click on "Hobbies", then search for "Stamp Hinges" 
    I did buy them at OfficeMax a few years ago. Staples could also handle them.
Continent Requirements
Asia
Africa
Europe
N. America
S. America
Oceania
 AS
AF
EU
NA
SA
OC		 75
90
160
160
95
60

Band

Mix

RTTY

SSTV

PSK

MT63

Throb

MFSK

Hell

JTx

Olivia
160m
80m
60m
40m
30m
20m
17m
15m
12m
10m
6m		 45
180
45
240
45
300
45
300
45
300
90		 38
150
38
200
38
250
38
250
38
250
75		 8
30
8
40
8
50
8
50
8
50
15		 38
150
38
200
38
250
38
250
38
250
75		 8
30
8
40
8
50
8
50
8
50
15		 8
30
8
40
8
50
8
50
8
50
15		 30
120
30
160
30
200
30
200
30
200
60		 15
60
15
80
15
100
15
100
15
100
30		 38
150
38
200
38
250
38
250
38
250
75		 8
30
8
40
8
50
8
50
8
50
15

Additional Endorsements
  1. In addition to the QSO endorsements noted above, there are further endorsements that can be earned after you have completed the Basic Requirement. A Sticker extension sheet is available.
  2. You can earn band endorsements as shown in the table above, based on QSOs with the specified number of unique prefixes on a single band. Note that the required number of grids varies with operating mode (similar to the Basic Requirement). If you earn all bands, 160m, 80m, 40m, 30m, 20m, 17m, 15m, 12m, 10m and 6m in a given mode, you can claim the WAB sticker. The WAB-60 endorsement for the WAB sticker is available if you earn the 60m stamp and all the other bands. You can claim the 60m stamp before completing all the other bands but you can only claim the WAB-60 after all the other bands are claimed.
    Note that band endorsements are a one time endorsement per mode.

Your application must include a certification that you have worked the grids listed, and have appropriate confirmation of those QSOs. You must include a QSO confirmed statement as per the one below to the end of ALL your claim emails. Failing to do so will mean the return of your claim for addition of this statement hence wasting your time.

 I certify that I have worked and have the QSL cards, LoTW, QRZ logbook, HRD log, Club Log or eQSL proof of contacts confirming the Callsign, Data, Band and Mode for each of my claimed contacts, and will produce them to the GAPA Award manager upon request. I understand that this application may be rejected if I fail to submit the required information upon request, or if any doubt about authenticity. I also agree to abide by the decisions of the GAPA Officers.