Maidenhead grid squares started out as a contest multiplier for VHF contests. Particularly with the rise of the FT8 digital mode, grid squares have become common on the HF bands as well. The European Ros Club‘s Worked Grids USA award celebrates working stations within grid squares that include some portion of the United States.
It takes just 15 grids to earn the first certificate in the series. A very easy initial goal for the most humble of stations within the US. The next step is 25 and from there the awards are spaced out in 50 grid increments starting at 50.
The highest award listed in text on the ERC website appears to be 450. That’s 12 awards in total. However, there are photos of certificates going up to 1,000 grids. So there may be more to chase.
In addition to the standard, mixed band award, there are separate certificates available for eleven bands between 160M and 6M.
The certificates all include a common theme with plenty of US flags, an outline of the “lower 48” states (sorry Alaska and Hawaii!), a portrait of an early President and a smaller photo of some site within the US.
To apply for the Worked Grids USA Award, and all other ERC awards, you must install the UltimateAAC application on a Windows machine. That application scans your WSJT-X ADIF log file, or any ADIF log file you specify. It will then inform you when you’ve qualified for the award at various levels. ERC issues the award in digital form only (JPG or PDF) with no printing or shipping costs. In fact, the award is completely free, like all of their other awards.