TARA Prefix Award Rules

The Troy Amateur Radio Association [TARA] recognizes the achievements of Amateur Radio Operators world wide, for confirming two way communication by offering it's new Digital Prefix Awards Program. This award is available in MIXED, RTTY and PSK but more are coming out. [ see list below] If you feel that you qualify for a non-listed digital mode, please request that we review your information.
To apply for your Basic certificate, all applicants must submit a copy of their prefix list in alpha-numeric order, indexed on the call letters.
All QSO's must be confirmed either by QSL card, eQSL or LoTW and will produce them to the TARA-PX Award manager upon request. Do NOT send QSL cards unless requested to do so.
Don't forget to include your full name, address, call sign and snail mail address with any and all applications.
Each time you apply for an endorsement to increase the number of prefixes worked, simply send a new copy of your complete prefix list. In the case of Band and Continent endorsements, please send these each to their own list and on making further endorsements simply submit your updated Band or Continent list. These should be emailed or snail mailed to the TARA-PX Award Manager noted below.
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.
Endorsements will be mailed about the first week of January, April, July and October. Of course you might get lucky and get em! earlier. :)
The table below, right, shows a short list of digital modes with the required number of confirmed and different prefixes needed to claim your Basic Certificate. The Endorsement increment for each is also shown.
The fee schedule for these awards can be viewed at awards pricing

TARA-PX Manager
Ernie Mills, WM2U
9 Morningside Dr.
Ballston Lake, NY 12019-1531, USA.
e-mail: emills21@cox.net

Mode
Mixed
Rtty
SSTV
PSK
MT63
Throb
MFSK
Hell...

Basic Certificate
400
300
50
300
50
50
200
100

Endorsements
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50

All successful applicants will have their respective Prefix achievements, permanently displayed on the TARA OnLine Award Record.
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 or mailing tubes.
Any licensed Amateur or SWL, world wide can claim this award. SWL'ers can claim both sides of the QSO if both sides were copied.
You do not need to be a member of a club to apply.
Check out the certificate available. click here

Applications for Basic Certificate:

Send a copy of your prefix list. You need 400 different prefixes to claim the Basic Mixed Certificate. Please checkout the table above. The requirement are different for each mode.
You can include any number of Prefix, Band and/or Continent endorsements in a single application 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: RTTY is normal Teletype operation. PSK modes are BPSK, QPSK, PSK63 and PSK10. Mixed is RTTY, PSK, and may include other modes like; MFSK, Hellscheiber, Throb and MT63 etc.

Application for Endorsements:

For each Prefix endorsement upgrade please submit an updated copy of your prefix list. (increments of 50)
For Band and Continent endorsements, 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 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.
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 for working the following number of prefixes on these bands: 50 on 160m, 30m, 17m and 12m, 175 on 80m, 250 on 40m, 300 on 20m,15m and 10m, and 75 on 6m. [see table below]
Continent endorsements are available for working the following number of prefixes per continent: North America (NA) 160, South America (SA) 95, Europe (EU) 160, Africa (AF) 90, Asia (AS) 75 and Oceania (OC) 60. [see table below]

Continent Requirements
Band Requirements
Asia Africa Europe N. America S.America Oceania	AS AF EU NA SA OC	75 90 160 160 95 60	160m 80m 40m 30m 20m 17m 15m 12m 10m 6m	50 175 250 50 300 50 300 50 300 75

Please read the following and note that by implication, when you email or snail mail the above endorsements you are agreeing with the pledge.

I certify that I have worked and have QSL card or eQSL proof of contact confirming the Callsign, Date, Band and Mode for each of my claimed contacts, and will produce them to the TARA-PX Award Manager upon request. I understand that this application may be rejected if I fail to submit the required information upon request, or if there is any doubt about the authenticity. I also agree to abide by the decisions of the TARA Officers.