US Islands Awards Program

  • N3ARB Angela helping to qualify OH076L Walker's, May 2024.
  • WI074L White Birch - Photo by KD9QKL
  • Terry, W4YBV on FL483S Venice.
  • VA084R Embrey Dam Silt ~ K3USI Op. NS4J May 2024
  • KO4KHB qualifying AL056L
  • POTA activation of K-3062 Antelope Island State Park, UT001L, Feb. 2024 Photo by KI7KY
  • N9BWT (Blue shirt) & N9DPR activating KY030R Six Mile, September 2024
  • USI qualification of MD009S South Marsh. POTA K-7750 South Marsh WMA. Photo by - KC3OWM
  • NF4GA on GA028L for the 2019 W/VE Island QSO Party.
  • N2PYH qualifying NY084L Glosky - June 11, 2022 Photo by N2PYH
  • Eric NP3A operating KP4RK from POTA PR-0019, USI PR006S Puerto Rico.
  • Dennis N2DJS operating Rover call W2PE on NY054L Whaley for the 2023 Island QSO Party.
  • W1SYE crew ready to qualify Yarmouth Island ME121 Sept, 2019
  • K5M activation of LA010S Marsh, October 2024. ~ Photo by K0AP
  • Team KK1TLS, Terry FL017S Honeymoon Island, Sept. 2018.
  • FL492S Big Grassy (Pepperfish Keys), Gulf of Mexico, Dixie Co. - Photo by W4YBV
  • KY4BX activating GA002S Cumberland ~ Photo by KY4BX
  • Swan, MD062S POTA K-0333 Qualified 2020-10-03 W3RRM

Welcome – 2025 ~ our 31st year

Announcements

New version of POTA-2-USI cross reference (2025-04-08) now includes WWFF. See downloads.

2024 US Island QSO Party Results HERE

Program Rules Updated HERE

USI flag and stickers are available. B/W single sided flags are $30 ea. Stickers are 2 – $5, 5 – $10, 10 – $19. including S/H.

Upcoming USI Expeditions:
Today is: 26th April 2025

Apr 26, 2025
  • FL007S St. George - K4D

    Apr 26, 2025 - May 5, 2025  

    Your Name:    Bruce Brady
    Your Email:    k5ten@aol.com
    Your Call:    K5TEN
    Is this operation a::    Activation
    Call sign for the operation:    K4D
    USI Number:    FL007S
    Island Name:    St. George
    Operation Start Date and Time (ZULU):    2025-4-26 00:00
    Operation End Date and Time (ZULU):    2025-5-5 00:00
    Bands:    40 through 6 meters
    Modes:    SSB, CW
    Power:    100
    Additional information:    QSL direct to K5TEN, USA stations SASE required. DX $1 and SAE required. Special QSL cards to be printed after the event. Operation holiday style. Contact k5ten@aol.com for skeds.

Apr 27, 2025
  • FL007S St. George - K4D

    Apr 26, 2025 - May 5, 2025  

    Your Name:    Bruce Brady
    Your Email:    k5ten@aol.com
    Your Call:    K5TEN
    Is this operation a::    Activation
    Call sign for the operation:    K4D
    USI Number:    FL007S
    Island Name:    St. George
    Operation Start Date and Time (ZULU):    2025-4-26 00:00
    Operation End Date and Time (ZULU):    2025-5-5 00:00
    Bands:    40 through 6 meters
    Modes:    SSB, CW
    Power:    100
    Additional information:    QSL direct to K5TEN, USA stations SASE required. DX $1 and SAE required. Special QSL cards to be printed after the event. Operation holiday style. Contact k5ten@aol.com for skeds.

May 10, 2025
  • One-Day-Getaway (1DG)

    May 10, 2025

    0000 UTC through 2359 UTC (Friday evening to Saturday evening in the continental US).

    1DG is an on-air activity, not a contest: no scores are tallied and no prizes are awarded. Participation from all radio amateurs, regardless of experience level, is encouraged.

May 25, 2025
  • PR012S Isla de Cabras - KP4NCF

    May 25, 2025

    MEGA POTA, PR-0035 more details TBD

April 2025

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
  • POSTPONED- VA082 & VA083 - K3USI
16
17
18
  • MD004S Kent - KB3K
19
  • DC001R Columbia - Multiple Calls
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
  • FL007S St. George - K4D
27
  • FL007S St. George - K4D
28
  • FL007S St. George - K4D
29
  • FL007S St. George - K4D
30
  • FL007S St. George - K4D

Welcome to the U.S. Islands Awards Program (USI) website. USI is an amateur radio award program centered around chasing and activating river, lake, and ocean shore islands within the 50 United States and its Territories and Protectorates.

Numerous achievement awards are available for both island activators and island chasers.

U.S. Islands is a great way to go on a mini-DXpedition without spending a lot of money. Discovering islands in your own backyard and setting up a station outdoors is always a good time. If hams have only operated outdoors during Field Day, we offer another route to get outside and enjoy portable ham radio in a different way.

USI has two operating activities each year:

  • One-Day-Getaway (1DG) is just that, a casual day of island portable operations the second Saturday of May. Activating or qualifying a new island, 1DG is a perfect way to hone your on the air operating skills and perfect your portable or mobile “field day kit”.
  • U.S. Islands QSO Party is our once-a-year “contest” that has a class for just about any individual or group. Operate from a friend’s island “Fixed” QTH, take your club on a single island “Expedition”, or go on a mobile or waterborne “Rover” adventure. The last full weekend of August.

Any way you like it, portable, walk-on, paddle to, motor to, mobile, drive on, USI is a year-round ham radio fun.

Please consider joining the USI Facebook group.


 Webmaster’s Photo Pick

On 11/2/2024, Allen, WB4YTG activated POTA US-10097 Queen Bess Island Wildlife Refuge, thereby qualifying Queen Bess, LA113S.



We are not affiliated in any way with the Islands On The Air (IOTA) awards program offered by the Islands on the Air (IOTA) Ltd.

Flag Counter
Free counters!

 


Page Last Updated on Apr 25, 2025 @ 22:15 utc by ADMIN