The Ferdinand Magellan PSK Award (FMPA) honours the historic expedition of Ferdinand Magellan (1519–1521) and recognises amateur radio activity connected with the principal DXCC entities associated with the route personally commanded by Magellan during the first circumnavigation expedition.
The award may be claimed by any licensed radio amateur, club station, or DMS (SWL) eligible under the EPC Awards General Rules who can provide an ADIF log showing contacts with, or monitoring of, amateur radio stations from 10 different DXCC entities taken from the Ferdinand Magellan List.
- The FMPA may be claimed by any licensed radio amateur, club station, or DMS (SWL) eligible under the EPC Awards General Rules.
- All operation must be conducted in full accordance with the station licence conditions and the general EPC awards framework.
- The applicant must submit evidence of having contacted or monitored amateur radio stations from at least 10 different DXCC entities listed in the Ferdinand Magellan List.
- Each DXCC entity shall count only once toward the qualification total.
- All QSOs or SWL receptions must be documented in ADIF format.
- Contacts are valid on any PSK mode and at any baud rate.
- Credit may be claimed on any amateur radio band below 54 MHz.
- Mixed-band and mixed-mode applications are permitted.
- Applications should be prepared and submitted in accordance with the EPC Awards General Rules.
- The award manager reserves the right to inspect doubtful entries and to request clarification where necessary.
- Unless otherwise announced, the award is issued through the EPC award management environment.
The FMPA is based on the documented route of Magellan’s expedition from Spain through the Atlantic and South American coast, onward via the Canary Is., Brazil, Argentina, the passage now known as the Strait of Magellan, the Pacific crossing to Guam, and the final operations in the Philippines, where Magellan was killed in April 1521. The award also recognises the expedition’s intended spice-route destination in Indonesia, reached later by the fleet after Magellan’s death, as part of the historically continuous voyage of his command enterprise.
For award purposes, every location is mapped only to its present-day ARRL DXCC current entity. The list is intentionally concise and centred on the best-documented principal route points associated directly with Magellan’s expedition.
- Spain — the expedition’s royal base, outfitting centre, and point of departure.
- Canary Is. — early Atlantic staging point after leaving Spain.
- Brazil — landfall at Rio de Janeiro during the South Atlantic phase.
- Argentina — Patagonian wintering and the search for the southern passage.
- Chile — Pacific exit of the strait and commencement of the ocean crossing.
- Guam — first major Pacific landfall after the transoceanic passage.
- Philippines — central theatre of the final stage under Magellan’s personal command.
- Indonesia — the Spice Islands objective reached by the expedition in the Moluccan sphere.
- Portugal — Magellan’s country of birth and formative maritime background.
- Cape Verde — return-route Atlantic stop associated with the expedition’s completion.
| Amateur Radio Prefix | Territory Name | Explanation | Territory Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| EA-EH, AM-AO | Spain | Departure state and expedition sponsor under the Spanish Crown. | FM-SPN |
| EA8, AM8, AO8 | Canary Is. | Atlantic staging point shortly after departure from Spain. | FM-CAN |
| PP-PY, ZV-ZZ | Brazil | South Atlantic provisioning and reconnaissance stop at Rio de Janeiro. | FM-BRA |
| LU-LW, AY-AZ | Argentina | Patagonian wintering area and preparation for the southern passage. | FM-ARG |
| CE, CA, CB, XQ, XR, 3G | Chile | Pacific-side emergence from the strait bearing Magellan’s name. | FM-CHL |
| Kh8 | Guam | First major Pacific landfall after the long ocean crossing. | FM-GUM |
| DU-DZ, 4D-4I | Philippines | Final campaign area under Magellan’s command; site of his death. | FM-PHL |
| YB-YH, 7A-7I, 8A-8I | Indonesia | The Moluccan objective of the expedition’s westward spice route. | FM-IDN |
| CT1, CQ1, CR1 | Portugal | Magellan’s homeland and the formative setting of his early maritime career. | FM-PRT |
| D4 | Cape Verde | Atlantic return-route stop connected with the expedition’s completion. | FM-CPV |
Note: this list follows the ARRL DXCC current entity list and is intentionally adapted to a modern amateur-radio award structure based on the principal route traditionally associated with the Magellan expedition.
