WCA - World Castle Award.
Program Rules
1. The international program "World Castles Award" (WCA) has been instituted by a group of Russian radio amateurs, members of Radioclub RZ1CWC, founders of the award program "Castles On The Air-Russia" (COTA-Russia).
2. The purpose of the program is to unite efforts of radio amateurs in different countries to activate and popularize historical objects related to fortification (fortresses, castles, forts, etc.) and to draw attention to historical and architectural heritage, as well as to visit existing historical monuments around the world. the world.
3. Fortifications are military constructions and buildings intended for defense in warfare and military bases. Humans have been building defensive works for many thousands of years, in a variety of increasingly complex designs.
The term is derived from the Latin fortis ("strong") and facere ("to do").
Fortification is generally divided into two branches, namely, permanent fortification and field fortification. Permanent fortifications are erected at leisure, with all the resources a state can provide of constructive and mechanical skill, and are constructed of durable materials. Field fortifications are improvised by troops in the field, perhaps assisted by local labor and tools that can be procured and with materials that do not require much preparation, such as earth, brush and light wood, or sandbags.
4. Contacts with permanent fortification objects such as castles, fortresses, forts, fortified areas (including their parts such as gates, walls, towers, etc.) that have evident signs of conservation or have been restored are valid for WCA.
Contacts with recently restored field fortification objects, such as palisaded towns, ancient fortified settlements, etc., are also valid.
5. The World Castles Award (WCA) Program includes the following diplomas:
WCA 50 - for QSO/SWL with 50 any object in the world;
WCA100 - for QSO/SWL with 100 any object in the world;
WCA200 - for QSO/SWL with 200 any object in the world;
WCA300 - for QSO/SWL with 300 any object in the world;
WCA400 - for QSO/SWL with 400 any object in the world;
WCA500 - for QSO/SWL with 500 any object in the world;
WCA 600 - for QSO/SWL with 600 any object in the world;
WCA700 - for QSO/SWL with 700 any object in the world;
WCA800 - for QSO/SWL with 800 any object in the world;
WCA900 - for QSO/SWL with 900 any object in the world;
WCA1000 - TOP Award - for QSO/SWL with 1000 any object in the world.
The award certificate "World Castles Activator Award - WCAA" is issued for work in the air from historical objects (activation) such as castles, fortresses, forts, etc.
The WCA HONOR PANEL PLATE is issued for QSO/SWL with 1001 objects located in 10 countries and 3 continents of the world.
Electronic awards:
WCA Hunter: for QSO/SWL for every 500 objects in the world from 1500.
6. For WCA 50 - WCA 900 you need to have QSO/SWL with no less than 2 countries of any continent (updated as of 1.03.2020).
For WCA-1000: TOP and WCA HONOR ROLL awards are issued for QSO/SWL with 1000 and 1001 any object located in 10 countries and 3 continents of the world. For WCA Hunter there are no limitations by number of countries and continents.
7. Activation of the object must take place at a distance of no more than 1000 meters (1 km) from the object.
It is allowed to activate two or more objects if they are at a maximum distance of 1000 meters (1 km) from each other.
* The exception to the basic rules on distance from the historical object are the criteria previously established by some national award programs (9A-COTA, BCA, CASHOTA, DCE, DFCF, DCI, DCS-SSD, DMHP, etc.).
It is not necessary to notify the WCA Committee about the activation of the object.
The WCA Committee may require the necessary data (photos, videos, etc.) if any activation gives rise to doubts.
8. For WCA activators, any activated object is valid for all awards of the WCA series (WCA-50, WCA-100, etc.) under conditions that they have made no less than 50 QSOs. In this case, in the award application, it is necessary to mark the activated objects.
9. Recommended frequencies for work in the air during expeditions in fortresses and castles.
OC: 3,531; 7,031; 10,121; 14,031; 18,081; 21,031; 24,911; 28,031
SSB : 3,731; 7,131; 14,251; 18,131; 21,251; 24,951; 28,551
10. Based on S50CLX Cerkno Linux DX Cluster http://s50clx.infrax.si the WCA cluster was created to report on expeditions in fortresses and castles.
11. The WCA Committee made the decision to institute a greeting code during work from fortification objects.
The code "11" ("Two towers") means "best wishes from the castles and fortresses of the world". Many thanks to Sergey Beresnev UR7UT (WCAG # 002) for the idea.
12. The new WCA identification number system is constituted as of November 1, 2009.
All objects (castles, fortresses, forts, etc.) are identified by an alphanumeric designation. The letters indicate the country according to the prefixes, e.g. DL - (Germany), I - (Italy), LY - (Lithuania), etc., and the following digits indicate the serial number of the object. For example: DL-00001, I-00002, LY-00003, etc.
Official WCALIST ( Excel ~ 6 Mb) is distributed by country.
WCA-List is not final and will be constantly updated.
* It is allowed not to transmit superfluous zero during the QSO to simplify the transmission and reception of identification numbers.
** Correspondence between national award program identification numbers (BCA, CASHOTA, CASHOTA-EI, CASHOTA-NI, CCA, COTA-9A, COTA-DL, COTA-NL, COTA-RU, COTA-UN, COTA-YL, CPBA, DCE, DCE 1.0, DCFP, DCI, DCS, DFCF, DMHP, HCS, IDES, RHO, S5-WCA, SCA, UCFA, ZWP) and WCA ID numbers are in the WCALIST table (Excel ~ 6 Mb).
13. Repeated QSOs are not valid. The object is valid only once regardless of bands and any type of mode.
14. The same award rules apply to SWL.
15. QSO/SWL are valid since January 1. 1995 on any band (including WARC) by any type of modes.
16. The diploma application is based on QSL cards received according to WCA_application_form and must be signed by two radio amateurs. The QSL card must have an identification number according to WCA-List.
The WCA Committee recommends using WCA_application_form to register and apply for awards.
The QSL card bearing the name of the object or the identification number in accordance with the national castle and fortress award programs is valid for the diploma.
No QSLs, only certified application required. The award administrator may require QSLs for verification.
17. Since September 1, 2010 WCA E-LOG, which allows to verify data on QSOs made without QSL validation for all awards of the WCA series and to apply for awards online, has been operational. Author and director: Jiri Suchy OK 5 NN.
18. The award may be issued by separate MODALITY (optionally).
19. The application should be sent to the award administrator.
By e-mail
Or by mail:
Andrei A. Petushkov, RN1CW
ul. Komsomolskaya, 12-49
Sosnovyj Bor,
Leningrad Oblast, 188540
Russia
20. - As of January 1, 2011 the order of issuance of the "World Castles Award (WCA)" and " Castles On The Air - Russia - Award (COTA-RU) " will change. The awards will be broadcast on two media:
- in electronic format in JPG (free);
- in printed form.
WCA and COTA-RU fee in printed form will be:
- For Russia 200 rubles, for CIS countries - 7 EURO, 7 USD, 7 IRC.
- For others - 10 EURO, 10 USD, 10 IRC.
- HONOR BOARD fee please ask the Awards Manager at the time of application.
21. The award certificate "World Castles Activator Award - WCAA" and WCA - Hunter are free of charge. You can get it in electronic format - Fully print-ready JPG file in A4 format (297×240) will be sent by e-mail.
73 and 11! of Castles and Fortresses in the World!