BVRC BINGO Award Rules
BVRC BINGO is an amateur radio operating award designed to encourage contacts with a variety of stations, locations, modes, bands, and operating activities while having fun.
The award is open to members of the Bella Vista Radio Club. There is no charge for the award.
Download the full BVRC BINGO Award Rules PDF, including instructions and printable score card
1. Purpose
BVRC BINGO is an amateur radio operating award designed to encourage contacts with a variety of stations, locations, modes, bands, and operating activities while having fun.
2. The Bingo Card
The Bingo Award card serves as a checklist of completed operating activities and contains 25 squares. Each square represents a qualifying amateur radio achievement or contact toward acquiring the award.
Download or print the full-size BVRC BINGO score card
3. Award Period
The award period begins October 1, 2026 and continues until the award is discontinued. All qualifying contacts for the award must be on or after October 1, 2026. Contacts made before that date do not qualify for the award.
4. Making Contacts
A qualifying contact must be a legitimate amateur radio QSO conducted in accordance with:
- The operator’s license privileges
- Applicable FCC rules and regulations
Contacts made through prohibited or non-amateur means do not count.
A single QSO may satisfy only one bingo square. It may not satisfy multiple squares. Each contact for each square must be a unique contact. For example, if a contact is made with a station activating a POTA park on 20 meters, that QSO can be used for either the 20-meter square or the POTA square, but not both. If it is used for the POTA square, then another contact with a different station on 20 meters must be completed to satisfy the 20-meter square.
5. BINGO!
A participant earns the BVRC BINGO AWARD by completing any one of the following:
- Five squares in a line horizontally
- Five squares in a line vertically
- Five squares in a line diagonally
The FREE SPACE counts toward a line.
6. Full Card
A participant who completes all 25 squares earns the prestigious BVRC BLACKOUT AWARD. A Blackout is the highest level of the BVRC BINGO award.
A qualifying participant for the regular BINGO award may apply, or may opt to wait and continue working toward the BVRC BLACKOUT Award. Both awards can be issued to the participant if they wish.
7. Proof of Contacts
Participants should maintain a log showing:
- Date
- Time
- Callsign worked
- Band
- Mode
- Information necessary to demonstrate that the applicable square was completed
LoTW, QRZ, Club Log, paper logs, electronic logging programs, or other reasonable documentation may be accepted.
The BVRC BINGO Award Coordinator reserves the right to request reasonable evidence of a claimed contact.
8. Bands and Modes
Contacts must be made using legal amateur allocations and modes.
9. Honor System
BVRC BINGO is intended primarily as a fun operating award. Participants are expected to claim squares honestly. By submitting an award application, the operator certifies that the claimed contacts and activities are accurate and comply with applicable amateur radio regulations.
10. Submission
Applications should be made by email to arsk5db@gmail.com.
The application should include:
- Operator name
- Callsign
- Image of completed bingo card
- Contact/log information supporting the claimed squares
- Any additional supporting documentation
- Award level requested: regular BINGO or BVRC BLACKOUT
11. Award issuance
Upon submission approval and award issuance, an email will be sent to the award qualifier with a PDF attachment of their award, suitable for printing and framing.
12. The Fun Rule
The most important rule of BVRC BINGO is to have fun, make contacts, and encourage amateur radio activity. Friendly competition is encouraged, but helping another operator complete their card is not only permitted — it is encouraged.
Award Examples
