I had applied for VUCC Satellite on May 4th, but I failed to check a box that would have resulted in the certificate being sent my way (Bad Bob, bad!). I realized my error quickly when that auspicious “*” didn’t show up the next day in LotW indicating the award had been granted. A few voicemails and emails later and Sharon, the ARRL Awards Manager, helped correct my mistake on May 9th, adding in a few more contacts in the process to bring me up to 106 confirmed grids. The negative aura of my original mistake hung around a bit, until Sharon worked her magic again a few days ago. Certificate #435 arrived today in the mail.
While the ARRL maintains a updated list of VUCC members, including the satellite version, it only indicates the total grids confirmed, not the certificate number. The lowest number I have been able to find on the internet was #65 by Charlie Ho, VS6XMT, issued in November of 1996 (so 23 years ago). I hope to discover when certificate #1 was issued. In any event, only 370 more have been issued since Charlie got his in the past 23 years — that’s about 16 a year.
I am surprised more satellite folks don’t strive for this award. Even on FM birds, thanks to many Grid Roving stations, it will take far under a year to work 100 different grids and get them confirmed in LotW. But it may be that the vast majority of satellite users are mostly weekend only operators.
Congratulations, Bob!
73,
Dick, K1HC
Thanks Dick!
Took awhile, since my first satellite QSO back in 1974 (45 years ago). But I didn’t even know the award existed until earlier this year. I expect someone with the time and inclination could obtain the award in a half-year (I finished the last 50 in a bit less than 3 months, and I assume the first 50 would have taken even less time).
Appreciate your comment very much!
73, Bob, WB4SON