4.   The Maritime Mobile or Wet Award is a special certificate. To qualify for this endorsement the grid square MUST be completely, 100% water—no islands, no shore lines, water only. Since you only need to work each Maritime Mobile grid once for credit you will earn an endorsement for each per claim. This award is Mixed and is not Band or Mode specific. The first successful claim will earn you a Special DX BAR for your DX collectors sheet. At this time you should also claim your special Maritime Mobile collectors sheet, for all future Maritime Mobile claims you will earn a special STAMP sticker. This Maritime Mobile collectors sheet leads you to the PINNACLE Series Neptune Award.
5.   The Antarctic Award is also available. After receiving one (1) Antarctic BAR you can claim the Antarctic Collectors sheet. See DX BARSs item 8 below. The Antarctic Awards are based on the political entities authorizing stations in Antarctica, rather than the actual grid squares within the Antarctic continent. Similar to the Maritime Mobile award above, you will get credit each time a different political Antarctic entity is worked. Although this award is not Band specific it is offered in different Modes. On the first endorsement you will get a Special DX BAR for your collectors sheet. All additional claims will be special endorsement stickers.

1.  You can earn BARs for working grids in specific US states, Canadian provinces, New Zealand and Australian provinces as well as Japanese Districts, again only after you have completed the Basic Requirement for that mode. State/province BARs are mode-specific.
2. Each of these (US, Canada, New Zealand, Japanese and Australia) also has its own separate collector achievement sheet. Please claim these when you claim your first BAR.
3. Please check out the requirements for each on our list of Grid Squares to be used to define the state or province claimed. Please note that we will print the revision level on any booklet sent to you by mail. The Web Page version of this list will always be marked with the most current version number.
4. You can claim credit towards a state/province BAR only if you have worked that state/province and have completed the Basic Requirement for that mode. You cannot claim credit for a grid by itself, and then apply it to multiple states or provinces that share that grid.
5. You also cannot claim credit towards a state/country BAR if your QSO pre-dates the existence of that state or province. Thus claims for Alaska and Hawaii must be based on QSOs after their respective statehood dates, and a claim for Nunavut must be based on a QSO after it was declared a separate territory in 1999.
6. Please note that the US collector sheets are for the US States and not the 16 US Territories. On the OLAR the two will be shown divided by a +.  ie 48 + 4 means you are credited with 48 US States and 4 US Territories.

1. You can also earn BARs for working grids in countries/entities on the ARRL DXCC list, and our expanded list at  Grid Squares again only after you have completed the Basic Requirement for that mode. DX BARs are mode-specific.
2. Please check out the requirements for each country/entity on our list of Grid Squares. Click here for our list of Grid Squares to be used to define the DXCC entity claimed. Please note that we will print the revision level on any booklet sent to you by mail. The Web Page version of this list will always be marked with the most current version number.
3. Note that earning the K, VE, JA, ZL or VK BAR requires earning the specified number of state/province/region or territory  BARs as per the  Grid Squares table.
4. You can claim credit towards a DX BAR only if you have worked that country/entity and have completed the Basic Requirement for that mode. You can not claim credit for a grid by itself, and then apply it to multiple countries or entities that share that grid.
5. You also cannot claim credit towards a country/entity BAR if your QSO pre-dates or post-dates the existence of that country/entity. Thus claims for East Germany must be based on QSOs prior to reunification. Claims for Canal Zone must be for QSOs made prior to its return to Panama, and claims for the various PJs are separated by the 10/10/10 date.
6. If you have (enough) QSOs either before or after any such dates, you can claim the appropriate BARs for the countries/entities that existed at the times of the QSOs. Thus someone could still submit QSOs from, say 2005, and claim the BAR for pre-separation Bonaire/Curacao, but if the QSOs were post-10/10/10, then they can only claim the separate Curacao and Bonaire BARs.
7. There is a special DX BAR that can be claimed after you submit your first Maritime Mobile grid square. This BAR counts towards your DDXCC total, even though it does not appear on the ARRL DXCC list.
8. There is also a special DX BAR that can be claimed after you submit your first Antarctic endorsement. This BAR also counts towards your DDXCC total.

1. The ARRL World Grid Locator Atlas, http://www.arrl.org/shop/The-ARRL-World-Grid-Locator-Atlas  the ARRL North American Grid Locator Maps, http://www.arrl.org/shop/ARRL-Grid-Locator-for-North-America  the DX Atlas by VE3NEA,http://www.dxatlas.com/  and F6FVY Grid Locator,  http://f6fvy.free.fr/qthLocator/  are some of the sources of Grid Square information available to you. Remember that the confirming QSL need not necessarily show the actual Grid Square as long as the QTH info shown allows you to positively identify which Maidenhead Grid Square it is in.

1. All QSOs must be confirmed either by QSL card, LoTW , QRZ logbook, HRD log, Club Log  or eQSL, and should be made available to the TARA-Grid Award manager upon request. Do NOT send QSL cards unless requested to do so.
2. All applicants must submit a copy of their Grid Locator list indexed on the 4 digit Grid Locator number in alpha-numeric order, date (if available), call sign, mode, country worked and confirmed by (unless each claim sends the certification text below.
3. Please check out the example of an excel  file and select the claim you are working on. ie DX. 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 Grid Squares claimed, simply submit a new copy of your excel sheet clearly showing your additional grid squares on the original excel page. In the case of Band and Mode basic certificates, please send these each to their own excel sheet and on making further endorsements simply submit your updated Band or Mode list.
4. Don't forget to include your full name, address, call sign and snail mail address with any and all applications.
5. Applications can include any number of Basic Requirements, endorsements, modes, bands, etc. for which you qualify. Just be sure to include all of the information and make clear the awards/endorsements for which you are applying. Separate Excel worksheets for each award/endorsement are a good idea and tell me if you want the paper certificates, Traditional or just OLAR (OnLine Achievement Recognition)  There is a small charge for Traditional, the OLAR is FREE.
6. Your application must include a certification that you have worked the grids listed, and have appropriate confirmation of those QSOs. If your application includes the confirmed column in excel filled out then that will be taken as a signed certification of QSO confirmation. If your application does not include those columns please copy this certification statement and include it at the bottom of your email application.

1. Please be aware that the effective date(s) for the rules, endorsements and BAR qualification is the one on this web site and not the one printed on the snail mail Grid Square booklet.
2. All successful TARA Grid award recipients will be listed in the On Line Achievement Record, OLAR on the TARA web site. There is no cost for these awards.
3. For a nominal fee, TARA will send you paper versions of these awards. This includes certificates for the Basic Requirements stickers for Band, Continent and Maritime Mobile endorsements; BARs and Antarctic endorsements; collector sheets for stickers; and certificates for the Pinnacle series (listed below). Please  click here to view some of the theme certificates that are available.
   The fee schedule for the paper copies of these awards can be viewed at awards pricing Replacement certificates, including those for displaying new awards (such as WAB and WAC) are available at the normal price.
   You will be automatically added to the OnLine Achievement Record (OLAR)
4. There is no start date so dig deep into your log and claim those past digital contacts.
5. HF Bands, 160m through 6m including WARC bands are included in this award series.
6. This is an Amateur achievement award, not a location award, so your contacts count from where ever YOU made them. If you have operated under two or more call signs please give me the extra call signs.
7. Paper certificates (if requested) will be mailed out unfolded in a 9x12 envelope.
8. Any licensed Amateur, worldwide can claim this award.
9. You do not need to be a member of a club to apply.
10. To assist you in selection look at our Grid Locator table at Grid Squares or ask for the booklet. The latest revision will always be that of the Grid List on the web site.
11. The ARRL World Grid Locator Atlas, http://www.arrl.org/shop/The-ARRL-World-Grid-Locator-Atlas  the ARRL North American Grid Locator Maps, http://www.arrl.org/shop/ARRL-Grid-Locator-for-North-America  the DX Atlas by VE3NEA,http://www.dxatlas.com/  and F6FVY Grid Locator,  http://f6fvy.free.fr/qthLocator/  are some of the sources of Grid Square information available to you. Remember that the confirming QSL need not necessarily show the actual Grid Square as long as the QTH info shown allows you to positively identify which Maidenhead Grid Square it is in.
12. You can display your certificate(s) in a 3 ring binder using clear protective, plastic covers. If you use binder index pages you could produce a really nice book of your different Grid Square achievements. With this is mind we have available spare pages, complete with TARA-Grid header, for expansion of your DX, US, VE,JA, VK and ZL BARS, in any mode. Please  click here to view some of the theme dedicated spare sheets and certificates that are available.
13. 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.
14. As of 20th November 2015 there will be a minimum PayPal charge of $5.50

• TARA-DDXCC (digital DXCC) award.
  If you have successfully claimed and hold at least 100 TARA-Grid DX BARS, drop me an email to claim your award. Endorsements are available in increments of 20 up to 200, 10 up to 300 and increments of 5 beyond that. These awards are numbered. The award and endorsements are NOT mode specific although the submitted mode will be declared on the award, and the achievement recognition will be posted in the relevant mode table.
• TARA-DWAS (digital WAS) award.
  After holding all the US State BARS on your collectors sheet, you can claim this award. This award has space for all the US territories as well, including KG4, KH0, KH1, KH2, KH3, KH4, KH5, KH5K, KH7K, KH8 
  (Swains Is). After Jul 22, 2006), KH8, KH9, KP1, KP2, KP3-4 and KP5. There are 16 territory endorsements available. The award and endorsements are NOT mode specific although the submitted mode will be declared on the award, and the achievement recognition will be posted in the relevant mode table.
• TARA-DVE (digital worked all Canada award).   This certificate is available if you have worked and hold all 11 Canadian Province BARS, VE1-VE7, VE9, VY2, VO1, VO2. This PINNACLE award offers special stickers for the VE0, VE8, VY0, VY1, CY0 and CY9, (please note that NFL, VO1 and LAB, VO2 are treated as separate provinces for the purposes of this award ),  The award and endorsements are NOT mode specific although the submitted mode will be declared on the award, and the achievement recognition will be posted in the relevant mode table.
• TARA-DVK (digital worked all Australia award)  is available for working and holding all 8 Australian Territory BARS on your collectors sheet VK1-VK8.  The PINNACLE Award offers special stickers for the VK0h, VK0m, VK9c, l, m, n, w, x and y territories.
  The award and endorsements are NOT mode specific although the submitted mode will be declared on the award, and the achievement recognition will be posted in the relevant mode table.
• TARA-DZL (digital worked all New Zealand award)   is available for working and holding all 4 New Zealand Region BARS on your collectors sheet ZL1-4 There is specified room on this certificate to collect all the Protectorates and special call prefixes, E5/n, E5/s, ZK2/E6, ZK3, ZL0, ZL5-9.
  The award and endorsements are NOT mode specific although the submitted mode will be declared on the award, and the achievement recognition will be posted in the relevant mode table.
• TARA-DJA (digital worked all Japan award) is available for working and holding all 10 Japanese Territory BARS on your collectors sheet JA0- JA9.  The PINNACLE Award offers special stickers for confirming JD1/o Ogasawara, JD1/m Minami Torishima, JR6 Okinawa Prefecture and any 8J1 JA station in the Antarctic.
  The award and endorsements are NOT mode specific although the submitted mode will be declared on the award, and the achievement recognition will be posted in the relevant mode table.
• The NEPTUNE Award. digital working Marine Mobile stations
  This very difficult award is offered to anyone confirming all 18 WET (Marine Mobile) Grid Squares.  Neptune Award endorsements are available in increments of 5.  The award and endorsements are NOT mode specific although the submitted mode will be declared on the award, and the achievement recognition will be posted in the relevant mode table.

1. Worked all New Zealand (ZL)  DONE! 4/26/16
2. Worked all Australia (VK)  DONE! 4/29/16      
3. Worked all Canada (VE)  DONE! 6/15/16
4. Worked a complete Maidenhead Field.
5. Worked all Continents. DONE! 6/19/14
6. BINGO!! Play Bingo on any Grid Field of your choice, ie IO, FN etc., and fill in the Bingo requirement.
7. Worked all CQ zones.
8. Worked all ITU zones.
9. Worked all Japan (JA) DONE! 6/15/16
10. I'm waiting for a DL or I (or indeed any country) to ask for its own award.
    Yea! We’ll do it. :)  etc. etc.