US Islands Awards Program

U.S. Islands Awards Program

Rules and Program Information

INTRODUCTION

The United States Islands Awards Program, USI, covers saltwater and inland fresh water river or lake islands of the fifty (50) states of the United States and U.S Territories or Protectorates (See master island directory). USI was formed to further enhance "island chasing" that has become so popular on the amateur radio bands. The USI goal is to promote a simple but effective system of island collecting in a professional radio-manner and to operate totally on the "honor system". USI warmly welcomes all ham radio operators and island enthusiasts to yet another facet of island collecting. USI is open to anyone (Ham or SWL) interested in working toward the many and varied US Island Awards by collecting and activating U.S. Islands.

USI COMMITTEE

The governing body of USI is the USI Committee (COM) and is composed of the Program Coordinator (PC), a Qualifications Manager (QM), an Awards Manager (AM), a Contest Manager (CM), a Special Events Manager (SM), several Advisors (A), and a Web master (WM). The Program Coordinator (PC) will administer USI with assistance from the QM, AM, CM, SM, A, and WM. The QM will assign state island numbers and maintain the US Island List.

PC	Page Pyne	WA3EOP
QM	Ted Sarah	W8TTS
AM	Jay Chamberlain	NS4J
CM	John Almon	WA4JA
SM
A	Ralph Clark	NM5RC
A	John Reisenauer	KL7JR
A	Dennis Tuchalski	N9WDQ
WM	Jay Chamberlain	NS4J

ISLAND CRITERIA

All fresh water and/or saltwater islands within the fifty (50) states of the United States including the District of Columbia (DC) and those listed under Territories and Protectorates in the island directory, qualify for USI if the following conditions are met:

1. The island is totally surrounded by water and is a minimum of 100 feet long in any direction (including height) and a minimum of 50 feet from the main shoreline at DX-pedition time. These distances are approximate and shall be at the discretion of the operator. Bridges and narrow causeways linking the island to the main land or other islands are acceptable. Please ensure that the island is not a peninsula. USI encourages Island Hopping, activating multiple islands in a day or weekend.

2. Operation from boats, ships, etc. is allowed as long as some part of the radio station (transceiver, antenna, feed-line or power supply) is physically located on the island.

3. The name of the body of water, lake, river or sea, must be listed on a map. The island must be present on a map, including aerial images like Google maps. The island name should appear on a map of some type, preferably in the USGS Geographic Name (GNIS) database, or as a minimum be known locally. First time qualifiers must coordinate the "official" USi name with the QM. Please supply the QM with accurate Latitude / Longitude coordinates or an accurate street address so the island can be linked to TopoZone or Google Map.

4. Although USI was officially launched in September 1994, prior contacts with US islands count for awards. All state, territory or protrectorate islands that meet 1 through 3 above must be qualified and receive a USI number. See QUALIFICATION.

5. An island that resides in two states will be given two numbers, for example: Turtle MI062L Lake Erie, Turtle OH038L Lake Erie

GENERAL INFORMATION

1. The Qualification Manager (QM) will number all islands according to state and type. Example: ND001, TX010 or TX012 where ND and TX are the state abbreviations for North Dakota and Texas, and the number is a consecutive activation number issued.The suffix L, R; or S designate the type of island (lake, river or coastal shore) and are added after qualification. When ordering QSL cards, please remember to have the USI number, island name and QTH (state, territory or protectorate) printed on them along with the other verification info for award purposes. You may also QSL via Email. USI accepts Email QSLs as long as the report is complete. A special eQSL form and listing of those island activators who accept email QSLs is included on the USI Website. You are encouraged to use the USI logo on your QSLs.

2. All the HF amateur bands are acceptable including WARC and any mode can be used. 6 meter contacts are allowed only after an island has been initially qualified. Cross-band, cross-mode, or satellite contacts are not allowed. The unofficial USI operating frequencies are 7.250, 21.350, 14.250-14.260 (main) and 28.450 mHz phone plus your favorite CW or digital frequency. The frequencies should be easy to remember as they all end in 50 and there are 50 states! Those frequencies should be used for USI DX-peditions and to pass USI info. The frequency range of 14250 to 14260 kHz will become known as the ISLAND CORRIDOR. Note: 14.260 should be reserved for, and given way to IOTA (Islands On The Air) operations.

3. If you're planning an island trip, let the QM and Web master know in advance so the details will appear on the web site calendar. Also, consider joining the USisland Yahoo egroup.

QUALIFICATION

Qualification is the initial operation from a U.S. island authorized and numbered by the QM. In advance of the qualifying operations, the QM will assign the island a USi number (ie: VA099, Lake Anna, Virginia). An island is only qualified once. The QM retains your call sign as being the person who has qualified the island. Islands can be qualified by an individual or team effort (all operators will receive credit for qualifying a new island).

In order to qualify a new U.S. island, a minimum of 25 contacts including at least 2 different DXCC entities are required. Example: contacts with Canada and the U.S. count as the two DXCC entities. Until you reach the magic 25 QSOs during your qualification operations, we ask that you only use the term "VAnew or TNnew" and the island name. Once qualify (25 QSOs), the official number may be given out (VA099L). You are encouraged to make more then just the minimum contacts. The USI and island hunting has a large following. This will give others a chance because of propagation changes. The island number changed to add the L/S/R upon qualification (VA099 in Lake Anna becomes VA099L)

If band conditions are poor, and the 25 QSO mark is not reached, the same operator/s may return to an island on another date to finish getting the required 25 QSOs needed for qualification. This must be coordinated and verified with the USi QM.

CQ Island CQ Island CQ US Islands de NS4J NS4J on "Virginia new, Smith Island for the US Islands program, CQ Island CQ Island CQ Island

ACTIVATION

Activation is any subsequent operations from a qualified US island. You are NOT required to contact the QM to activate an island. There is no minumum number of QSOs required for an activation. An island expedition can include qualifying one island (with QM approval) and activating another island.

When activating an island that has two different state numbers, you will use the number from the state you're in. Or, if you are sitting on the state line, or the island is completely claimed by two states, you can give out the two numbers, in two separate contacts.
For example: KC8HNV, this is KC8ENM. You are 59 to Turtle Island, Lake Erie, Ohio. OH038L. Break. KC8HNV, this is KC8ENM. You are 59 to Turtle Island, Lake Erie, Michigan. MI062L.

Please contact the WM in advance of your activation so a notice can be published on the USI Calender page. Or use the USI Expedition Announcement Form.

AWARDS

Check out our Awards page for a complete listing of all the USi awards.

AWARDS: Color certificates and handsome metal on wood base plaques (9 x 12) are available through the Awards Manager (AM). See fee information below.

BASIC "Honor Roll" Certificate: $3.00 1. Work 100 US islands (must contain both fresh water and saltwater islands). DX Note: Work 50 US Islands for DX stations outside of North America ONLY.

INTERMEDIATE "Honor Roll" Certificate or Plaque: $3.00/abt $15, cost of plaque and s/h 1. Work 300 US islands (any mix).

ADVANCED "Honor Roll" Plaque: (abt $15, cost of plaque and s/h) Work 500, 750, 1000, 1250, 1500 US islands (any mxi)

ISLAND ACTIVATOR Plaque 100+: (abt $15, cost of plaque and s/h) A plaque is available for anyone who puts on over one hundred different US islands. Just send a list of the islands you activated after September, 1994 (Island name and USI# and DX-pedition. date) that match the information being kept by the QM.

Note: For all awards, include your call sign, name, and address on top of your submission sheet. The information required is: USI #, call sign, QSO date, band and island name.

The AM will perform verification of awards. You may mail or e-mail your submissions (DO NOT SEND THE ORIGINAL QSL CARDS) and forward the appropriate fee. In the event of an interpretation conflict or irregularity the AM reserves the right to inspect the QSL cards. The AM shall have the final word. Remember that we're on the HONOR SYSTEM - if you don't have the confirmation then you haven't worked the island.

AWARDS FEES:
Please contact the Awards Manager, NS4J

POSTAL ADDRESS FOR AWARDS REQUESTS:
Send your Awards requests to the Awards Manager via snail or email:

Jay Chamberlain - NS4J
27 Fox Run Lane
Fredericksburg, VA 22405

So, "what do I need to do to qualify an island", you say? Just notify the QM in advance for verification and acceptance (see USI Committee above after you're sure of meeting the ISLAND CRITERIA: A through D) and then go out and do it!!! To activate a qualified island just go do it!! Remember to give advance notice on the www.usislands.org web site calendar, Yahoo eList and if you can (14.260 MHz), so that we all have a shot at you.

CONCLUSION

USI, including the COM and all members, assume no liability or responsibility in administering this program nor do they make any guarantees of any kind. Your comments and suggestions are always welcome - improvement ideas are especially appreciated. USI will be changing as we grow making island collecting even more exciting!

USI COM members usually can be reached on 14.260 MHz. Thanks, 73 and have fun CHASING ISLANDS!

Webmaster - US Islands Awards Program (rev: 7 Nov. 2007)

Back to USI Main Page

1.	The island is totally surrounded by water and is a minimum of 100 feet long in any direction (including height) and a minimum of 50 feet from the main shoreline at DX-pedition time. These distances are approximate and shall be at the discretion of the operator. Bridges and narrow causeways linking the island to the main land or other islands are acceptable. Please ensure that the island is not a peninsula. USI encourages Island Hopping, activating multiple islands in a day or weekend.
2.	Operation from boats, ships, etc. is allowed as long as some part of the radio station (transceiver, antenna, feed-line or power supply) is physically located on the island.
3.	The name of the body of water, lake, river or sea, must be listed on a map. The island must be present on a map, including aerial images like Google maps. The island name should appear on a map of some type, preferably in the USGS Geographic Name (GNIS) database, or as a minimum be known locally. First time qualifiers must coordinate the "official" USi name with the QM. Please supply the QM with accurate Latitude / Longitude coordinates or an accurate street address so the island can be linked to TopoZone or Google Map.
4.	Although USI was officially launched in September 1994, prior contacts with US islands count for awards. All state, territory or protrectorate islands that meet 1 through 3 above must be qualified and receive a USI number. See QUALIFICATION.
5.	An island that resides in two states will be given two numbers, for example: Turtle MI062L Lake Erie, Turtle OH038L Lake Erie

1.	The Qualification Manager (QM) will number all islands according to state and type. Example: ND001, TX010 or TX012 where ND and TX are the state abbreviations for North Dakota and Texas, and the number is a consecutive activation number issued.The suffix L, R; or S designate the type of island (lake, river or coastal shore) and are added after qualification. When ordering QSL cards, please remember to have the USI number, island name and QTH (state, territory or protectorate) printed on them along with the other verification info for award purposes. You may also QSL via Email. USI accepts Email QSLs as long as the report is complete. A special eQSL form and listing of those island activators who accept email QSLs is included on the USI Website. You are encouraged to use the USI logo on your QSLs.
2.	All the HF amateur bands are acceptable including WARC and any mode can be used. 6 meter contacts are allowed only after an island has been initially qualified. Cross-band, cross-mode, or satellite contacts are not allowed. The unofficial USI operating frequencies are 7.250, 21.350, 14.250-14.260 (main) and 28.450 mHz phone plus your favorite CW or digital frequency. The frequencies should be easy to remember as they all end in 50 and there are 50 states! Those frequencies should be used for USI DX-peditions and to pass USI info. The frequency range of 14250 to 14260 kHz will become known as the ISLAND CORRIDOR. Note: 14.260 should be reserved for, and given way to IOTA (Islands On The Air) operations.
3.	If you're planning an island trip, let the QM and Web master know in advance so the details will appear on the web site calendar. Also, consider joining the USisland Yahoo egroup.