diff --git a/src/backend/services/awards.service.js b/src/backend/services/awards.service.js
index bf4d675..f0630c8 100644
--- a/src/backend/services/awards.service.js
+++ b/src/backend/services/awards.service.js
@@ -74,6 +74,17 @@ function normalizeAwardRules(rules) {
     };
   }
 
+  // Handle "counter" type awards (like RS-44)
+  // These count unique callsigns instead of entities
+  if (rules.type === 'counter') {
+    return {
+      type: 'entity',
+      entityType: rules.countBy === 'qso' ? 'callsign' : 'callsign',
+      target: rules.target,
+      filters: rules.filters,
+    };
+  }
+
   return rules;
 }
 
@@ -88,16 +99,27 @@ export async function calculateAwardProgress(userId, award) {
   // Normalize rules to handle different formats
   rules = normalizeAwardRules(rules);
 
+  logger.debug('Calculating award progress', {
+    userId,
+    awardId: award.id,
+    awardType: rules.type,
+    entityType: rules.entityType,
+    hasFilters: !!rules.filters,
+  });
+
   // Get all QSOs for user
   const allQSOs = await db
     .select()
     .from(qsos)
     .where(eq(qsos.userId, userId));
 
+  logger.debug('Total QSOs for user', { count: allQSOs.length });
+
   // Apply filters if defined
   let filteredQSOs = allQSOs;
   if (rules.filters) {
     filteredQSOs = applyFilters(allQSOs, rules.filters);
+    logger.debug('QSOs after filters', { count: filteredQSOs.length });
   }
 
   // Calculate worked and confirmed entities