DID YOU KNOW? Why the WWA (World Wide Award) allows contacts on WARC bands
WHY THE WORLD WIDE AWARD (WWA) ALLOWS CONTACTS ON WARC BANDS?
The main reason why the World Wide Award (WWA) allows contacts on WARC bands
(30M, 17M, and 12M) is that the organizers define the event as an "award
program" or a "global radio amateur project" rather than a traditional contest.
Here is a detailed breakdown of why this is the case:
1. The Distinction Between a Contest and an Award
In the amateur radio community, there is a long-standing "gentleman’s agreement"
(supported by IARU recommendations) that WARC bands should remain contest-free.
These bands are intended to be a "quiet harbor" for casual rag-chewing, especially during
major weekend competitions.
• Traditional Contests: Organizations like the ARRL or CQ Magazine strictly prohibit
the use of WARC bands in their rules.
• WWA: The organizers of the World Wide Award bypass this restriction by branding
the event as an "Award." They argue that it functions similarly to programs like
POTA (Parks on the Air) or SOTA (Summits on the Air), where operating on WARC
bands is common and perfectly acceptable.
2. Marketing and the "Contest 2.0" Concept
WWA aims to modernize amateur radio competition. By allowing all bands (including
WARC) and all modes throughout the entire month of January (and July), they maximize
the opportunity for "Hunters" to make contacts.
• The Goal: To involve as many countries and operators as possible, regardless of
their antenna setup or equipment.
• The Organizers' Stance: They claim that activity on WARC bands is not intense
enough to cause significant interference to non-participants and that activators
typically do not occupy a single frequency for extended periods.
3. Community Controversy
The inclusion of WARC bands in the WWA is a highly debated topic in the ham radio
world. Critics argue that:
• WWA features scoring, leaderboards, and trophies, which are defining
characteristics of a contest.
• Labeling it an "award" to circumvent the WARC agreement is seen by some as a
breach of amateur radio ethics.
• It sets a precedent that might encourage other contests to move into WARC bands,
potentially destroying their status as "contest-free" zones.
Summary:
The World Wide Award is the "only one" allowed to do this simply because it
set its own rules and formally distances itself from traditional contests that respect the
IARU guidelines. Legally (in terms of your license), there is no law forbidding competition
on WARC bands; it is entirely a matter of voluntary adherence to international community
standards.
#wwa #worldwideaward #hamradio #livestream
Source: GEMINI