  Re: found grid sq ok [2nd try]      So what good is the grid
system?     would you know my QTH without getting out a map?
If I told you my QTH is in the north east corner of Missouri
would you need a map?      I just dont see what good it is.  A
six character Maidenhead Grid Square is basically an
abbreviation for a small rectangle of longititude and latitude.
The last two letters of the six character form (such as CM87uw
at my old QTH) are additional locating information and generally
aren't useful for award purposes, unless it's being used to
determine approximate milage between two stations.  Hence, they
are customarily in lower case, being relative insignificant.
Those who have received a QSL card from me will find both the
co-ordinates and the long-form grid square designator.  I get my
co-ordinates from my own map database, or from Etak if i don't
have that quad on-line.  You can take my co-ordinates and look
them up on a digital map and get within less than a block of my
operating point.