WWFF Team would like to invite all WWFF Activators and Hunters to participate in “The WWFF August Activity Month”:

The activity event will start on Tuesday, August 1^st at 00:01 UTC and finish on Tuesday, August 31^st at 23:59 UTC.

WWFF Activators are invited to aired from as many as possible WWFF areas.

A big oppertunity for our hunters to work new WWFF areas and increase their scores.

We recommend for all Activators to use the WWFF Agenda and the WWFF Facebook Group to inform the WWFF Hunter community about their plans.

After each activity the Activators have to send their logs to the log manager, responsible for the areas they activated.

The deadline for sending logs to count towards this special event is September 9^th.

To facilitate the special award processing we ask the activators — especially when using vanity/special event calls or group calls — to make sure the «;operator» field in their logs is populated with their home callsign.

The log uploaders then have a week to check and upload the logs. By September 16^th we will start generating the awards and ranklists based on the available data in WWFF LogSearch.

Participation Awards

On September 16^th WWFF will publish awards for Activators and Hunters.

ACTIVATOR PARTICIPATION AWARD

For activating WWFF references during “The WWFF August Activity Month“ activators should cummulate at least 220 QSOs from valid WWFF reference(s).

HUNTER AWARDS

For hunting WWFF references during The WWFF August Activity Month:

• One more star for each 44 WWFF references hunted!!!
• 6 Stars — 264 WWFF references hunted
• 5 Stars — 220 WWFF references hunted
• 4 Stars — 176 WWFF references hunted
• 3 Stars — 132 WWFF references hunted
• 2 Stars — 88 WWFF references hunted
• 1 Star — 44 WWFF references hunted
• Half Star — 22 WWFF references hunted

Comparing to results of previous year, the results of 2019 can be represented in one picture:

Results in general

214 logs from 26 individual activators, who activated 116 RFF-references and conducted a total of 20’387 QSO, were uploaded to WWFF Logsearch.

Also 4 teams conducted 3’494 QSOs while activating seven RFF references (8 logs):

• RZ9SFF from RFF-0398 — 236 QSO;
• RK9LWZ (and RP74P) from RFF-0137 — 2’243 QSO;
• R3ARS/4 from RFF-0037, 0067, 0140 and 0171 — 854 QSO;
• UB5O/M from RFF-0683 — 161 QSO.

Thus, 26 individual operators and 4 teams activated 119 RFF-references, and 23'881 QSOs with 6'452 correspondents were conducted in total.
It is impossible to say unequivocally, is 2019 better than 2018, or worse.
There are 2.7 times more activations, almost 2.5 times more references activated in 2019, what is undoubtedly much more than in 2018.
At the same time, the total number of activators, as well as the number of their QSOs, remained almost the same, and the number of hunters was only 60% compared to 2018.

A year ago, we suggested that QSOs with still 1–2...4 RFF references may probably be random, but already with 5 and more — most likely, demonstrate a certain interest of the operator to Flora & Fauna programs. What came out in 2019?

843 hunters vs. 537 in the previous year conducted
12’050 QSOs compared to 4’798 in the previous year.

On the background of an undeniably noticeably increased number of qualified activations, the specific “weight” of one qualified activation significantly decreased:

Probably, the explanation for such ambiguous results may be:

• on the one hand, the degradation of propagation in 2019 compared to 2018, which made more difficult QSO conducting, especially using low output power,
• and on the other hand, the implementation of the Rating, a side effect of which turned out boosting the quantity of activated references at the cost the minimum QSO number from one reference.

Perhaps the emergence of a new WWFF award for activators will slightly improve to the better the situation in 2020.

The Rating

The real competition, did not subside until the very last December days, launched between the activators for the first place. There Crimeans got themselves ahead by a considerable margin from the others. Both Valery R7KFF and Victor RA7K activated 41 references in 2019. But, since there “can be only one champion”, we had to consider additional parameters — for example, the total number of RFF QSOs conducted by each of them: R7KFF — 2800 and RA7K — 2511 QSO.

Thus, R7KFF takes I place and RA7K — II place.
III place is deservedly taken by our Rising Star — Ilya UB3APM (novice category callsign) until recently, then R2ATW (general category callsign), and now R5AF (highest, extra class). Ilya quickly mastered operating on the air in whole, and field operation, and, most surprisingly, he mastered CW in the shortest possible time, skilled to transmit by vertical and electronic keys, mastered mechanical semiautomatic key (the so-called vibroplex), and already confidently conducting QSO at a speed of 25, and even more WPM. Desire is Power!

A certaint first place among hunters in the World is taken by Vlado OM1AX, our constant chaser and assistant in almost all of our outings. Just a little behind him are Arthur SP8LEP (II) and Jukka OH3GZ (III).

There are no surprises among Russian hunters this year. As well as in the past 2018, I and II places are occupied by Valery UA4PKN and Alexander RW4PP with a minimum gap from each other. It should be noted the minimum gap from each other is not only in the Rating, but also on the air — the time between their answers on our CQs often not exceed 1–2 minutes. Crimeans here also remind of themselves — Alexander RA7KW took III place.

Valery R7KFF and Vlado OM1AX get honored prizes and all the winners of the RFF Rating get remembrance certificates. Prizes and certificates have already been produced and will be mailed to the nominees in the nearest future.

It was also decided to encourage the best hunters on continents with remembrance certificates:

• KD1CT, Robert L Emory with 15 RFF references in North America;
• ZL1TM, Andrei Chatalov with 8 RFF references in Oceania;
• 4Z4DX, Dov Gavish with 34 RFF references in Asia.

The best Russian RFF CW operators (maximum number of QSOs) — Valery R7KFF (2800 CW QSO) as activator and Alexander RW4PP (111 CW QSO) as hunter do not go unnoticed. “The Keys Connecting Continents” books will be mailed to them with an autograph of author — Valery Alekseevich Pakhomov UA3AO, an excellent CW operator and key collector.

Also, as soon as we catch Pavel RU5A, he will get from us...
…encouraging prize for the highest among all activators the average QSO number (161.5) per one reference. This will be a powerbank, which will not allow Pavel’s smartphone (or GPS-navigator) to discharge when Pavel, hopefully, will begin to go more far into the forest away from his car.

The RFF 2019 Rating charts are placed below at the bottom of the page.

UPD.04.III.2020

Prizes and remembrance certificates were mailed to all winners of the RFF Rating 2019 Top-10 activators and Top-44 hunters, thereby the line under the 2019 results is finally drawn.

Welcome to the year 2020. The new RFF 2020 Rating charts have already been published, anyone interested — stay tuned.

RFF Team

It were added 213 new references — RFF-0754...0966 (232 references, RFF-0522...0753, were added in 2018) to the RFF Directory in 20 Entities of the Russian Federation.

GPS tracks have been implemented as a necessary (and enough) evidence (proof) of the activator’s location within the boundaries of the protected area since the end of March.
Work started to prepare RFF reference boundaries in the form of GPX files for using in various GPS navigation programs. At the moment the boundaries of all RFF references in Moscow city and Moscow oblast, Karelia, the Bryansk oblast and in part some other oblasts are completed. This work requires a lot effort and is carried out step by step as time allows.
Therefore, if you need the boundaries of some specific territory, contact the coordinator in advance to get the required boundaries out of turn.

Finally we finished out some of the RFF awards, and it will be possible to apply for awards of WWFF Series (RFF-H and RFF-A) on the WWFF website since the end of January/beginning of February. The issuance of the “Sanctuary Russia” Series awards should also start in the same 2020 year.

What's new

In accordance with the precedent, if pretenders for same awarded place in the TOP-10 or TOP-44 have the same number of references at the end of the year, the number of QSOs conducted by each of them will be considered as an additional factor.

A referential indicator will be added into TOP-10 activators chart — the average QSO number per 1 activation.

Based on the practice of the previous two years, there are RFF “activators”, who indicated the RFF reference while on the air, but sent no logs for uploading either in a month, or in three, or in half a year... who did not send it at all. Or those, who failed (or did not want) to provide proof of their location within the boundaries of the respective protected territory during supposed activation, so activation could not be accepted. A list of those “activators” appears on our website since 2020. Decide yourself whether it’s worth getting involved into pile-up for QSO, spending time and making efforts if it still does not give you the desired RFF reference onto your count.

The sections “Announcements”, “Forum” and “QRP Marathon” will be removed as unclaimed on our website.

activators				hunters all over the world				hunters in russia
place	call sign	refs.		place	call sign	refs.		place	call sign	refs.
1–2	R7KFF	41		1	OM1AX	105		1	UA4PKN	90
1–2	RA7K	41		2	SP8LEP	98		2	RW4PP	89
–	UA3LMR	35		3	OH3GZ	92		3	RA7KW	66
3	R5AF	18		4–5	OH6RP	90		4	R9AB	52
–	RN3ANT	17		4–5	UA4PKN	90		5	RU6K	48
4	R9GM	7		6–7	OM3CND	89		6	RA3RGQ	42
5–6	RU5A	6		6–7	RW4PP	89		7	R6LZ	41
5–6	UA3FQ	6		8	ON4ON	87		8–9	RA4AAJ	37
7	RU9SO	4		9	DK4RM	85		8–9	RW7B	37
8–9	RA9DF	3		10–11	IW2BNA	83		10	R7KM	36
8–9	UA3LDU	3		10–11	UT5PI	83		11	UA4NBA	35
10–13	R2ABT	2		12	UR7ET	82		12	UA1ZID	34
10–13	R3YC	2		13	I5FLN	79		13	R4AN	32
10–13	RU9CK	2		14	IZ2BHQ	78		14–16	RM9RZ	30
10–13	UA4AVN	2		15	DL2ND	77		14–16	UA3AAJ	30
				16–17	IW2NXI	73		14–16	UA3GJM	30
				16–17	S58AL	73		17–18	RN2F	29
				18–19	IK3HMB	72		17–18	RU9CZ	29
				18–19	S52KM	72		19–20	RA4HQG	27
				20–21	ES1IP	68		19–20	RM6J	27
				20–21	YL2TQ	68		21	RX6LG	26
				22	RA7KW	66		22	RN1CW	25
				23–24	IZ8DFO	65		23–25	R7KC	24
				23–24	UX1IM	65		23–25	RM1O	24
				25	DL1FU	64		23–25	UA3GX	24
				26–29	HA8DD	60		26–29	R1AC	23
				26–29	IK8FIQ	60		26–29	RA9AJ	23
				26–29	OH6GAZ	60		26–29	RN3ANT	23
				26–29	ON4VT	60		26–29	RW7F	23
				30	DL5EBG	58		30–31	RA7KR	22
				31	E77O	56		30–31	UA9LT	22
				32	F8DGF	55		32–34	R6AC	21
				33–34	SP1MVG	53		32–34	UA1D	21
				33–34	SP2SV	53		32–34	UA6F	21
				35	R9AB	52		35	RT6C	20
				36	YO3JW	50		36–40	RA1AVP	19
				37–38	9A4FM	49		36–40	RA6LEL	19
				37–38	DF1YQ	49		36–40	RD3FT	19
				39–41	DL6KVA	48		36–40	UA1ADZ	19
				39–41	RU6K	48		36–40	UA3LMR	19
				39–41	YO6LB	48		41–43	R6KA	18
				42–43	F1BLL	47		41–43	UA4HY	18
				42–43	YO6CFB	47		41–43	UB7K	18
				44–46	IK1GPG	46		44–49	R7KPZ	17
				44–46	LZ3SM	46		44–49	RA7T	17
				44–46	OZ7JZ	46		44–49	RJ6J	17
								44–49	RJ7A	17
								44–49	RN4ZT	17
								44–49	RZ9OL	17

RFF Rating 2024

RFF Rating 2023. Results

RFF Rating 2022. Results

RFF Rating 2021. Results

RFF Rating 2020. Results

RFF Rating 2018. Results

Rules of RFF activators and hunters Rating

More than six months have passed since we included GPS-tracks as necessary evidence (confirmation, proof) of the activator's stay in the activated territory.

Almost one and a half hundred logs provided with GPS-tracks were accepted from two dozen operators during this period.

The GPS-tracks were not always perfect, sometimes requiring additional effort and time to verify, and sometimes it was not at all clear even what, where and when it was.

The main complaint from potential activators was: “Why are you make things more complicated?! Make it easier and get more activators!”

I can not agree with these complaints. Although this is just a hobby, in WWFF, as in any other game, there are certain rules and conventions that must be followed if you decide to play this game.

It should be noted that WWFF is one of the most difficult games for activators. It’s not enough to encamp down anywhere on an administrative district territory, or even on the border between two districts of an oblast, it’s not enough to stop somewhere 5-6 km away from the helipad, or to “activate” the great river of Russia, being even 100–700 km far from its riverbank. And it’s not enough to encamp even near to the “activation” object.

One of main WWFF Rules is:

4.4 Working within boundaries of the reference
While activating a WWFF reference area, all equipment (including antenna/s, transceiver/s, power supply/ies, etc) must be within the boundaries of the relevant WWFF reference area.
It is not sufficient for part of the station to be within the boundary of the reference area.

Accordingly, the log manager, in order to upload the activator' log into WWFF Logsearch, must be sure that this rule is completed. The activator should somehow confirm his presence within the territory boundaries during the reference activation.

“Traditional” evidences (proofs), regular to many HAMs, as in some other similar programs, even in RFF before — photographs require a lot of effort of the activator. These are losses of time, what is always insufficient, enough of lighting is required, bad weather often interferes, and the most difficult thing is associating of the photos to the location, which, most often, is very difficult to provide. The boundaries of SPNA (Specially Protected Nature Areas) are often not marked at all on the terrain in many cases, there are no information boards, signs, signposts. And even if they exist, they often mark the boundary of SPNA a little better than nothing.

These photos show an information board installed a kilometer to East from the nearest boundary of the protected area through a dense forest and 2 km to South from the boundary if you move along the trail (the place where it is located is marked with a red dot on the photo)

Photos on the background of such “landmarks” do not confirm that the activator was really located within the boundaries of the protected area. Geotags could provide an association of photos to the location shown. But photocameras that able take photos with geotags are very rare and quite expensive, and besides that smartphones can do it in the same way, but they can also make GPS tracks. Additioally, there are ways to assign any geotag to any photo, no matter where and when this photo was taken. One way or another, suchlike proofs are costly for the activator and unconvincing for the log manager.

Other photos could be more convincing then photos with “landmarks” — are photos of the navigation devices screens showing geographic coordinates of a place, shooted, for example, on background of deployed radio equipment. These photos anyway require devices able determine the geographic coordinates of a place. They are all the same smartphones or touristic, or automotive GPS navigators that still should be photographed by something another. Obviously, all of these devices are able to make GPS tracks by itself. And this kind of photos itself still do not prove anything at all, except the navigation device was at a point with these coordinates at a certain time point.

All kinds of transport tickets, store and gas station checks, applications, permits, passes, etc. — do not make any sense in our game at all.

Thus, none of the “evidence” mentioned above is reliable and convincing, at the same time it requires some effort and time for both — as to create by activator, as to verify by a log manager. Insignificantly.

Besides, before providing any proofs to the log manager, the activator must be sure that he is actually located in the protected area, and not somewhere nearby. Especially if the boundary of the protected area is not indicated in any way on the terrain, which has the place to be all the time in our country.

Both of these tasks — obtaining of reliable and convincing proofs and HAM's own orientation regarding the boundaries of protected areas can be successfully solved by using of GPS navigation devices and GPS tracks. It is hard to imagine that a modern traveling radioamateur does not have in his arsenal and does not use some GPS navigation device, whether it be an automotive or tourist GPS navigator, or a smartphone with a map. Moreover, please note — these tasks can be solved with minimal effort on his part, in other words — turn on the track recording and go.

GPS tracks. What is it?

The Rules of the “Russian Flora and Fauna” award program, the national part of the international “World Wide Flora and Fauna” (WWFF), have state:

The required GPS track is not a photo or a display screenshot of your navigation device with a displayed route, not a route drawn on a paper map or Google electronic map, Yandex or the like, and not an electronic file created from suchlike a drawn route.

This is an ordinary text file created by your navigation device during your movement along a route, which contains the geographical coordinates of the points with an accuracy of several meters, the height of the points above sea level and the time when you were at these points. It may also contain other characteristics of points depending on the application creating the file, for example, temperature, heart rate, cadence, etc.

GPX (GPS Exchange Format) — widely used, public XML-format of files for storing and exchange GPS data between various applications.

KML (Keyhole Markup Language) — practically the same, but recorded on Keyhole markup language, targeted to Google applications. KMZ — the same KML, but in a compressed form (ZIP).

The distance between the points is usually quite small and is determined by the settings of the application used for track recording.

You can open the GPS track in the suitable application, Google-, Yandex- or some other suchlike map and see the recorded route, as in whole as in the smallest details.

Boundaries of RFF-0915, Belskoye Lake are red. The GPS track of arrival at the place is blue, the track of departure is yellow.
You can see boundaries of some other references too:
— RFF-0501, the Valley of the Storozhka River to the west;
— RFF-0489, Forests of the Dubeshnya River Basin to the more further west;
— RFF-0502, Zvenigorod Biostation of Moscow State University and the Sima quarry, a fragments is visible to southwest.

Movement on the territory of RFF-0915, Bielskoe Lake on a zoomed scale. Blue track — arrival, yellow track — departure. The complexity of the arrival track is due to prior on foot exploring of the way and the looking for a suitable place to deploy the antenna.

GPS tracks as proofs

What are exactly these “smallest details” in the tracks which are the interest for log manager?

You can absolutely be sure that we don’t have even the slightest interest in what floor and porch you left from, what girlfriends and how long you visited on the route, how much and which “warming up” in which store you bought, what gas station and how much was refueled into your bicycle, and another suchlike personal details that some activators are so worried about.

As the proofs, only the final fragment of your trip from crossing the border of the protected area to the place of your radio station deployment and the same fragment of your returning are interested. If you are so worried about an imaginary leak of secret data about your personal life, you can turn on GPS track recording just 1–0.5 km before the border of the protected area. And turn off the recording as soon as you crossed the border on the way back.

We are interested in (a) the fact of crossing the border of the protected area, (b) the radio station placement and the time of your arrival, (c) the time of departure from this place and (optionally) the fact of the crossing back the border. That's all.

The log manager checks these circumstances in GPS tracks, the authenticity of the GPS tracks themselves, and also checks whether the time on air (according to the log) fits into the interval between arrival and departure.

Placement. The end point of the arrival track and the start point of the departure track — red — differ by only ~ 5 meters. This may be due to both the accuracy of GPS positioning and the movement of the GPS device during shutdown (in fact, the bicycle with the navigator was moved to a more suitable place).

Arrival time is the end point of the first track on the first slide. Departure time is the first point on the second slide.
In addition, you can see the geographical coordinates and some other parameters of points and tracks in general

Arrival time - 10:27 MSK
Starting (First QSO) - 12:09 MSK
Shutdown (last QSO) - 16:45 MSK
Departure time - 18:47 MSK
________________________________
It is obvious that everything is OK here.

Reference boundaries

But, before checking these circumstances, it should to make sure that all these events took place within the boundaries of the protected area. Obviously, both the log manager accepting activation and the activator going to the protected area must have information about the boundaries of this protected area.

There are various publicly available sources of information about the boundaries of protected areas.

The most obvious source is public maps: OpenStreetMaps (OSM), Google, Yandex, etc. Their main limitations are that not all protected areas are marked on them, the veracity of the border marking there remains very doubtful. There is no need to demonstrate in this article, how “exact” the boundaries of protected areas are on these maps. You will see this yourself much more than once.

The most complete information about all protected areas of Russia, including map data, is available on the website (in Russian) of the Information and Analytical System “Specially Protected Nature Areas of the Russian Federation” (IAS “SPNA of RF”). Any case, we strongly recommend get to know it before you go anywhere to RFF. First of all, carefully study the zoning of the territory and the security regime, permits and prohibitions, if necessary, the contacts of the managing organization.
Description of the territory — relief, geological information, hydrology, flora and fauna description are interesting itself, and in addition, they can help to choose supposed place for the radio deployment. I am personally, preferring to deploy an antenna on a tall tree limb, most closely get acquainted with the description of vegetation in general and the characteristics of the forest in particular — tree species and their distribution in the territory, the nature and density of undergrowth, etc.
Unfortunately, IAS “SPNA of RF” has many drawbacks. A very leisurely server, the map backgrounds do not work well. It is not always possible to find the latest documents on a specific protected area — it is clear that it is impossible to keep track of absolutely everything in a database of almost twenty thousand objects and a huge number of notes, documents and books. Map data are also far from always accurate. Nevertheless, IAS “SPNA of RF” remains the most authoritative source of various information about russian protected areas.

Two illustrations of accordance the actual boundaries to boundaries indicated on the IAS “SPNA of RF” map

And finally, the third source exists. You probably noticed the illustration in the “GPS tracks. What is it?” section — black boundary contours of the RFF–0915, RFF–0501, RFF–0489 and RFF–502 territories. And definitely, you could not don't pay attention to them on two slides just before this paragraph. These are the closed GPS tracks (plots) displayed on the map, we prepared them in the GPX files form. We make such plots based on geographical coordinates from SPNA passports, verbal descriptions of borders, forestry charts, cadastral plots of Russian land registry, etc. Using these plots and GPS tracks, the log manager verifies the fact the activator crossed the boundary of RFF reference. Unlike of other sources, our plots also display the boundaries of the SPNA buffer zones, where activation is valid the same way as within the boundaries of the main territories, unless otherwise indicated.

They are all most accurately aligned to the terrain, are detailed as possible, and, most importantly, if you will activate RFF reference within the boundaries we designated, it will be accepted if other rules will carried out too. It can not be said surely if you will use other information sources about boundaries.

Another important advantage of our GPX is the ability to use them on a trip even when you do not have access to the Internet, which is required for any other electronic sources of boundary information, or offline electronic maps downloaded into your smartphone. I will tell about this more detailed below.

Unfortunately, such GPX files are available yet for not all RFF references in the Directory. Their preparation requires a lot of time, we do this work as far as possible and as necessary. Currently, all of Moscow (R3A) and the Moscow oblast (R3D), Karelia (R1N), and a some RFF references from Bryansk (R3Y) and Kaluga (R3X) oblasts, Permskiy Krai (R9F), and some other entities are ready. Now we can send you the boundaries of the RFF references you are interested in from those we have already prepared, by e-mail request. Later they will be available for downloading from the site by yourself.

If required RFF reference is still not in the GPX file form, we will prepare it if you request beforehand, but not on the last day before your trip — we need some time to prepare it.

We have a plan to indicate the boundaries of all RFF references on the RDA-RAFA-WCA online map, supported and developed by Andrey R1CF, but we still can not do it well without special skills to deal with cartographical applications. Perhaps, later we will pay more attention to this plan.

Please note: the SPNA boundaries indicated by our GPX are not official ones and can only be used in frame of the WWFF award program.

GPS tracks. How to record them?

GPS tracks can be recorded, as mentioned above, using automotive- and touristic GPS navigators, as well as using special applications installed in smartphones with GPS receivers (almost all smartphones currently sold are equipped with such receivers).
We will not consider all kinds of online GPS trackers with the location data transmission via satellites, and with service subscriptions, based on time, because of their sky-high prices and low prevalence in general.

Owners of touristic and automotive Garmin’s should not have any problems in principle. Garmin devices have track recording as one of the main functions, and the owners are most likely familiar with it better than us.

Navitel automotive navigators can record and save GPS tracks too, owners who usually do not use this function, should read the manual for their devices. The same can be said of other brands of GPS automotive navigation devices.

For those who have never previously recorded GPS-tracks, we will consider the most affordable way to record them using smartphones and tablets with the Android operating system, which, most likely, travelling radio amateurs have.

I scarcely can make mistake with the assertion that all modern, even relatively inexpensive smartphones are equipped with a GPS receiver. Things can be more complicated with tablets — I've seen such gadgets without a GPS receiver. You won’t succeed with them. Of course, there are external GPS receivers that communicate with a tablet or laptop via Bluetooth or USB, but their price is so specific that it may be simplier to buy an inexpensive smartphone.

There are many Android applications that use a GPS receiver to solve their various tasks — from specialized sportive, such as Strava, Runtastic, etc., specialized urban, for example, Yandex transport, above mentioned automotive navigators for Android, suchlike Yandex navigator, Navitel, etc. to general applications like as Google Maps, Yandex Maps, MapsMe, Maverick, etc.

I tried many of them and eventually settled on “OsmAnd”, which successfully solves all our tasks and does not contain too much excess options. I recommend this application to you, and it will be a bit explained below. Perhaps OsmAnd will not suit you and you will find, in the end, something more convenient, everything is in your hands and smartphones/tablets. What you should pay attention to:

• GPS-tracks recording and the ability to “share” them;
• loading GPS tracks and routes into the application (not everyone cares, but note: surprisingly, many applications do not know how to work with external memory cards, do not know how to set a special place for storing recorded and loaded from outside tracks);
• the ability to display a few tracks at the same time and, it is highly desirable, to set for each of them own display parameters (line color, thickness, transparency), the ability to enable or disable the displaying of some tracks;
• the ability to work without access to the Internet, i.e. pre-load into the smartphone the so-called offline maps of regions.

The screenshots of the application shown below were prepared for the Russian version of this note but, sure, that the appearance of the application is no different for other languages too.

“OsmAnd” can do all this. It is easy to find the application on the Google Play Market. There are both free “OsmAnd” and paid “OsmAnd+” versions. The free version has limited (up to 7) number of map downloads and there is no way to view POI descriptions from Wikipedia. Neither the first nor the second is important for our tasks. The free version will be enough. Installation is simple and does not cause any difficulties. Just tap the “Install” button.

In order to the application would be able to determine your location, you must enable the GPS module in your smartphone. This is the second icon in the upper left row on my screenshot. It is switched ON here. The module additionally uses power, so it makes sense to turn it off for powersaving when not in use.

To prevent the track record interruption at the moments when the smartphone’s display goes blank, you should turn off the power saving mode (the first “Energy Saving” icon in the third bottom row — it is shown in the “ON” state). There are other ways to deal with track recording interruptions during the blanking of the display, I did not discover them due to the lack of need. You will explore it yourself, if you want.

The appearance of these icons may vary depending on the Android version.

This is the application’s main screen. You will find out yourself the purpose of the buttons, their location and set of displayed. I will especially note only the two most important buttons:

• all application settings, maps loading, tracks, etc. are in the application menu, which you can open by tapping the button in the lower left screen corner;
• tracks recording is activated by tap on round button with a “GPX” label in the upper right corner of the screen. Here it is shown in gray — track recording is switched off. This button is red during recording a track..

In order to appear this button on your screen, you need to enable the “Trip recording” plugin:
Menu > Plugins > Trip Record

The plugin has its own settings. It is not difficult to understand these settings by yourself.

Stop track recording after arriving to the place — call up the pop-up menu by tapping the “GPX” button and select the “Stop GPX Logging” command. Do not forget to save the recorded track — call up the pop-up menu by tapping the “GPX” button again and select the “Save current track” command. Then, in order to save the smartphone's battery charge, you can exit the “OsmAnd” application and turn off the GPS module (“Geodata” icon) until the leaving the activation place.

Management of all GPS tracks is located in the Tracks tab: menu > my places. Here you can enable or disable the track displaying on the map, set their individual color and line thickness, start and stop recording the current track, and so on. Carefully review this screen on your smartphone, scroll down to access folders, containing the tracks recorded by the smartphone, folders, containing tracks downloaded from the outside, etc.

The application works great both with vertical and horizontal screen layouts, with various map over- and underlays, or without laying in general, with different display zooming — the larger the zoom, the smoother and more detailed are outlines of objects on the map, and more smooth and detailed your tracks are displayed.

Besides, the last illustration demonstrates the advantages of navigating using our GPX-files of territory boundaries, if you have no offline maps and there is no Internet access to download them:
— the boundaries of the protected area are displayed on the screen with the color you set, your location relatively to these boundaries and the whole currently recording track of your movement. This case you will have to independently define on the ground the route to get to the area boundaries. But, any case, you will not miss these boundaries.

Please note, the displaying of the recording GPS track of your movement in the application is disabled by default. If you want to see the recorded track on the screen, forcibly enable its displaying.

The last step that completes the RFF-reference activation is sending the QSO log and GPS tracks of arrival and departure from the place of activation to the log manager. Surprisingly, but some users find the getting of recorded tracks difficult, despite the fact these are ordinary basic file operations. It just needs to know where the application file storage is located. This can be individually for various smartphones, different Android versions and your application settings. Look for the file storage path in the general application settings in the menu > settings > OsmAnd settings > Data storage folder. In addition, the plugin “Trip recording” in settings > [select profile, eg Driving, Cycling, etc.] > The track storage folder is set for storing of the recorded tracks into separate by month folders. There you should look for your recorded GPS tracks using the file manager if, for example, you connect your smartphone to a personal computer.

Another way is to access the track files directly in the OsmAnd application. If you have carefully read this note, you remember about access to the track files in the “Tracks” tab, (menu > My places). By opening the corresponding folder, you will get a list of all files. Call the context menu with the commands available for this file by tapping on the icon of three vertical dots to the right of the file name and choose required action there.

Here you can move the file to another place, more convenient for you, or “share” it, for example, send it by e-mail to yourself, and then check your e-mail box on your personal computer. This is the most convenient way for me.

Here, in fact, are all the difficulties with obtaining evidence. Do not forget to turn on the track recording when approaching the RFF reference, and do not forget to turn on the track recording when leaving the activation point. Nothing more is needed, regardless of the weather, lighting, free time, etc. Attach the recorded tracks to your QSO log and send an e-mail to the log manager with 100% proof of several (tens) kilobytes size instead of many megabytes of photos which do not prove anything.

You can blame us of mistrust to activators as much as you want, but trust and proofs are much more convincing than just trust. In addition, everyone knows the joke that gentlemen believe each other's word.

Finally, if whoever wants to participate he find a way. If whoever wants to hide something, he find excuses and reasons.

“Make nature your shack!” — Intro

Some Hints

Confirmation of an Activation

How to prepare a log for RFF activation properly

GPS tracks. What, how and why

How to obtain WWFF awards

You can read the original text of the Greenparty Rules in English on the official website of YOFF — http://wff-yo.blogspot.ru/p/blog-page_3.html

The RAR-archive, which can be downloaded at http://www.outdoorqrp.org/download-logo, contains two vector files in Adobe Illustrator format — coloured one in CMYK color model and B/W in grayscale, as well as two bitmap images of 200 x 200 pix. for preview.

Freely use it for your QSL cards, notepads, flags, t-shirts... anything. If you encounter any difficulties with downloading or using the Logo, please let us know in any convenient way, for example, immediately in the comments to this note.

You can read the original text of the Greenparty Rules in English on the official website of YOFF — http://wff-yo.blogspot.ru/p/blog-page_3.html

A total of 52 logs were accepted from 16 activators for activating of 27 RFF references. 73 RFF-H certificates have been awarded. As in previous years, the most active activator is Valery R7KFF. But even he has 13 references activated in 2023 against 19 in the equally challenging 2022. It is understandable, Valery has been to all active references in Crimea more than once, and given the known events in our country, activations in Crimea are becoming more and more savory.

RO3M team saves the overall situation a bit with two ATNO references, with its 1300+ and almost 1500 QSOs, which amounted to almost a third of the total number of QSO made.

The bright event of the past year was the incredible trip of Anton RG0C to the Shantar Islands, RFF-0360. Extremely rare region for RFF, the rarest reference and extreme sailing on Okhotsk Sea on the easternmost edge of our country.

Sad event is happened. In the autumn of 2023 we lost our Stan UA3LMR, log manager, inspirer and conscience of the RFF program. This is an irreplaceable loss for family and friends, the “Russian Flora and Fauna” amateur radio award program.
So it will be quite fair to say that now already unmanageable RFF is stayed without inspiration and lost its conscience.

As you can see in the table below, the leaders of the 2023 rating are Valery R7KFF among activators and Mikhail R9AB among hunters. Prizes and commemorative certificates will be soon produced and sent to all involved.

We will have to implement some upcoming changes to the Program Rules and amend the rules of providing proofs in 2024. In addition, the Directory will soon be significantly enriched with new references and the award program will hopefully get a few new awards. Stay in touch to our website for these updates.

I wish everyone for peace to come as soon as possible, excellent propagation, new references in the scores, and also new, interesting travels for activators.
And take care of your health!

During 2023 “Russian Flora and Fauna” program counted:

• activators — 16;
• hunters — 3947;
• including Russian hunters — 2502;
• QSO total — 9073;
• RFF-references activated — 27
  (the same RFF-reference can be activated by different activators);
  Average* number QSO per reference — 301.6 ↑

activators					hunters all over the world				hunters in russia
place	call sign	refs.	average*		place	call sign	refs.		place	call sign	refs.
1	R7KFF	13	↑ 123.1		1	R9AB	21		1	R9AB	21
2–3	R7KTA	4			2–3	R2RZ	20		2–3	R2RZ	20
2–3	UA3LNM	4			2–3	RA4UIV	20		2–3	RA4UIV	20
–	UA3LMR	3			4	OM5TX	18		4	R4UR	17
4–7	R4ADD	2			5	R4UR	17		5–6	R7KM	16
4–7	RA7KW	2			6–8	I1RJP	16		5–6	RU6K	16
4–7	RG0C	2			6–8	R7KM	16		7	RG7K	15
4–7	UA4AVN	2			6–8	RU6K	16		8–9	RA3RGQ	14
–	R0AD	1			9	RG7K	15		8–9	UD7R	14
–	R4ACU	1			10–12	OH3GZ	14		10–16	RA3PN	13
–	R6DOP	1			10–12	RA3RGQ	14		10–16	RA7KW	13
–	RA3TOS	1			10–12	UD7R	14		10–16	RM1O	13
–	RC8SC	1			13–19	RA3PN	13		10–16	RU7KQ	13
–	RC8SL	1			13–19	RA7KW	13		10–16	RW4PP	13
					13–19	RM1O	13		10–16	UA3GX	13
					13–19	RU7KQ	13		10–16	UA4C	13
–	RO3M	2			13–19	RW4PP	13		17–18	R1BHN	12
–	RY0AAN	1			13–19	UA3GX	13		17–18	R6AC	12
					13–19	UA4C	13		19–23	RA3VX	11
					20–23	EA1DR	12		19–23	RA7KR	11
					20–23	PA0B	12		19–23	RA7KZ	11
					20–23	R1BHN	12		19–23	UA1ADZ	11
					20–23	R6AC	12		19–23	UA4FET	11
					24–30	EA2DT	11		24–27	RM3TO	10
					24–30	RA3VX	11		24–27	RV9WB	10
					24–30	RA7KR	11		24–27	UA3MEG	10
					24–30	RA7KZ	11		24–27	UA4CTE	10
					24–30	UA1ADZ	11		28–37	R1AC	9
					24–30	UA4FET	11		28–37	R4WDX	9
					24–30	YT5FD	11		28–37	R6KA	9
					31–41	DL1ASP	10		28–37	R7KTA	9
					31–41	I2JSB	10		28–37	RA1OHX	9
					31–41	IK0HBN	10		28–37	RA1QD	9
					31–41	OM3CND	10		28–37	RA6LTD	9
					31–41	OM5DP	10		28–37	RM9RZ	9
					31–41	RM3TO	10		28–37	RT6C	9
					31–41	RV9WB	10		28–37	UA4AEU	9
					31–41	S58AL	10		38–50	R3PLD	8
					31–41	UA3MEG	10		38–50	R7AT	8
					31–41	UA4CTE	10		38–50	RA1AVP	8
					31–41	YO3JW	10		38–50	RA3BY	8
					42–57	9A5CW	9		38–50	RA4ABI	8
					42–57	DL1USB	9		38–50	RA7KV	8
					42–57	EW2R	9		38–50	RD5D	8
					42–57	LZ3SM	9		38–50	RK4FD	8
					42–57	ON4BB	9		38–50	RM8W	8
					42–57	R1AC	9		38–50	RN1CM	8
					42–57	R4WDX	9		38–50	RQ3M	8
					42–57	R6KA	9		38–50	RU3P	8
					42–57	R7KTA	9		38–50	RZ9WU	8
					42–57	RA1OHX	9
					42–57	RA1QD	9
					42–57	RA6LTD	9
					42–57	RM9RZ	9
					42–57	RT6C	9
					42–57	S52RA	9
					42–57	UA4AEU	9

* — average number of QSOs per 1 activation — indicator published for information only, it does not affect the activators distribution in the table.
It is calculated as the arithmetic mean of all the results of the activator, excluding the one smallest and the one largest results.

RFF Rating 2024

RFF Rating 2022. Results

RFF Rating 2021. Results

RFF Rating 2020. Results

RFF Rating 2019. Results

RFF Rating 2018. Results

Rules of RFF activators and hunters Rating

• activators — 4;
• hunters — 739;
• including Russian hunters — 437;
• QSO total — 1333;
• RFF-references activated — 12
  (the same RFF-reference can be activated by different activators);
  Average* number QSO per reference — 91.1 ↑

activators					hunters all over the world				hunters in russia
place	call sign	refs.	average*		place	call sign	refs.		place	call sign	refs.
1	R7KFF	10	↓ 77.5		1	OM5TX	12		1–2	RA3RGQ	11
2	RY0AAN	2			2–4	I1RJP	11		1–2	UD7R	11
	R7KTA	1			2–4	RA3RGQ	11		3–5	R9AB	10
	RA7KW	1			2–4	UD7R	11		3–5	RG7K	10
					5–7	R9AB	10		3–5	RU7KQ	10
					5–7	RG7K	10		6–8	RA7KW	9
					5–7	RU7KQ	10		6–8	RD9CX	9
					8–11	OK2HIJ	9		6–8	RM1O	9
					8–11	RA7KW	9		9–12	R2RZ	8
					8–11	RD9CX	9		9–12	R4UR	8
					8–11	RM1O	9		9–12	R7KTA	8
					12–16	R2RZ	8		9–12	RA7KR	8
					12–16	R4UR	8		13–14	R7KM	7
					12–16	R7KTA	8		13–14	UA3YAJ	7
					12–16	RA7KR	8		15–16	RA4UIV	6
					12–16	S52RA	8		15–16	RV9WB	6
					17–18	R7KM	7		17–18	RA1OHX	5
					17–18	UA3YAJ	7		17–18	UA1APB	5
					19–23	DL1ASP	6
					19–23	OH3GZ	6
					19–23	RA4UIV	6
					19–23	RV9WB	6
					19–23	SM5CBN	6
					24–28	F4HZR	5
					24–28	F8DGF	5
					24–28	RA1OHX	5
					24–28	SQ2WKQ	5
					24–28	UA1APB	5

* — average number of QSOs per 1 activation — indicator published for information only, it does not affect the activators distribution in the table.
It is calculated as the arithmetic mean of all the results of the activator, excluding the one smallest and the one largest results.

Tables are updated permanently as logs are received in accordance with the Rating Rules.

RFF Rating 2023. Results

RFF Rating 2022. Results

RFF Rating 2021. Results

RFF Rating 2020. Results

RFF Rating 2019. Results

RFF Rating 2018. Results

Rules of RFF activators and hunters Rating

So, let us consider what is needed for this. First, enter to the site and you will see:

If you are already registered on the site, click “Log in” in the left column and skip the next few steps. If not, click on the “Register” link.

First of all, enter “User name”. Note, use only your callsign, not the nicknames that you use in various forums and social networks!

Then enter your e-mail address, which will be used later for awards receiving.

Next, fill in three fields:
– Primary callsign — your main callsign;
– Continent — your continent (drop-down list);
– DXCC — your country designation by DXCC list (for example, RA, RA2 or RA9).

After filling in these basic fields, click on the “Register” button below and wait for the admin's approving of registration to your e-mail.

Since your registration is approved, you can log in the website, change password of your account, add another (previous) callsigns you used.

As for the last: all your previous callsigns will be taken into account in your overall score if you indicated them in your profile. In addition, if your personal callsign was indicated as the team operator's callsign in the uploaded team's or special temporary callsign's log, the Logsearch will take into account all QSO you conducted under those callsigns also to your personal score. Awards are issued to your primary callsign.

If you forgot your password for some reason, you can restore it by clicking the link “Lost your password?”

Now you proceed to the most interesting thing, namely, applying of awards that you have earned. To do this, click on the “Logsearch” menu at the page top:

And you get into the form, where all your callsigns are listed, and where you can select the period for the search, as well as your role — “Hunter” or “Activator”. You can remain everything default and click the “Search” button.

The search will take some time, because, as you can see in the illustration, 13'206'338 logs from 24'348 references in 142 DXCC countries were loaded into the database at the time of this writing. This is a quite popular award program in the world!

So, at the next page you are getting access to all information found for your callsigns.

Here you can already send applications for global WWFF awards. If you see the “Apply” word, then you can hardily click the button! The Logsearch will automatically generate an application and will send it to the manager responsible for this award..

You will also get confirmation of sending the application for a specific award on your e-mail, specified during registration. After accepting the application, the awards manager will check it and send you an electronic certificate by e-mail. Usually, it takes from 2 days to a week, depending on free time of that awards manager.

To obtain national awards, for example, RFF series, you need to choose the page of national awards by clicking on the “National Awards” button.

Here is everything the same: check, what awards and degree of award can you apply (depending of the award terms — move cursor over button and tip will appear). If an award is completed, the “Apply …” words are on the button. The procedure is the same as for general WWFF awards — click the button and get your earned award by e-mail shortly.

The RFF-H and RFF-A awards are first one for “hunters” and second one for “activators”.

As you can see, everything is quite simple. Happy hunting and see you on air!

73/44! Stan (UA3LMR)

“Make nature your shack!” — Intro

Some Hints

Confirmation of an Activation

How to prepare a log for RFF activation properly

GPS tracks. What, how and why

How to obtain WWFF awards

• activators — 20 (+2 <44 QSO);
• hunters — 4014;
• including Russian hunters — 1568;
• QSO total — 16020;
• RFF-references activated — 89
  (the same RFF-reference can be activated by different activators);
  Average* number QSO per reference — 169.3 ↓

Despite the fact that we maintain this rating for individual RFF activators, we can not fail to note and congratulate the RO3M team on their successful debut in RFF (WWFF), having conducted 1132 QSOs from the Levashovsky zakaznik, RFF-0994.
The story of how this was happening is published (in Russian) on the website of the Yaroslavl Regional Public Association (ROO) of the Union of Radioamateurs of Russia (SRR).
Keep it up! Thanks!

activators					hunters all over the world				hunters in russia
place	call sign	refs.	average*		place	call sign	refs.		place	call sign	refs.
1	R5AF	29	93.8		1	OM1AX	84		1	R9AB	57
—	UA3LMR	22	102.1		2	OH3GZ	72		2	RW4PP	52
2	R7KTA	19	63.7		3	OH6RP	70		3	RU6K	51
3	RA7KW	17	62.8		4	IK3HMB	69		4	UA4PKN	45
—	RN3ANT	15	183.5		5	IW2BNA	66		5	R7KM	40
4	RN1M	14	↓76.6		6	ON4ON	64		6	R1ZD	38
5	RU5A	6	105.5		7	UT5PI	63		7	R4AN	36
6–7	R7KFF/p	4	—		8	OM3CND	59		8	R6LZ	35
6–7	UA4AVN	4	—		9	SP8LEP	59		9–10	UA3AAJ	29
8	UA3LNM	3	—		10–11	R9AB	57		9–10	UA3GX	29
9	R1BIG	2	—		10–11	UX1IM	57		11–12	RG7K	27
10–18	R2AKM	1	—		12	9A4FM	56		11–12	RM9RZ	27
10–18	R4ACU	1	—		13	IK2ECC	54		13	RU9CZ	26
10–18	R4ADD	1	—		14	S58AL	53		14–17	R6AC	25
10–18	RC5A	1	—		15	RW4PP	52		14–17	RA3RGQ	25
10–18	RK9DO	1	—		16	RU6K	51		14–17	RA4AAJ	25
10–18	RL8C	1	—		17	SP2SV	49		14–17	RA7KW	25
10–18	RM2D	1	—		18	LZ3SM	48		18–19	RW7B	24
10–18	RN2F	1	—		19–20	DK4RM	46		18–19	UA9CBR	24
10–18	UA3LAR	1	—		19–20	SP1MVG	46		20–22	UA1OJL	23
					21–22	DL1FU	45		20–22	UA3LMR	23
					21–22	UA4PKN	45		20–22	UA9AEJ	23
team	RO3M	1	—		23–24	DL2ND	44		23	UA1OIW	22
					23–24	UR7ET	44		24	RX9WN	21
					25–26	F8DGF	43		25–26	RW6BX	19
					25–26	ON4VT	43		25–26	UA4NBA	19
					27–29	IW2NXI	42		27–30	R7KC	18
					27–29	OH6GAZ	42		27–30	RW3K	18
					27–29	SP5ICQ	42		27–30	UA1ADZ	18
					30–32	OZ7JZ	41		27–30	UA4HIP	18
					30–32	SM5CBN	41		31–33	RA1OW	17
					30–32	SP6LTI	41		31–33	RA4DAR	17
					33–37	IZ2BHQ	40		31–33	UA3LAR	17
					33–37	KD1CT	40		34–35	R9UG	16
					33–37	PA0B	40		34–35	UA9APA	16
					33–37	R7KM	40		36–41	RA4CA	15
					33–37	SM4IED	40		36–41	RA9AJ	15
					38–40	F1BLL	39		36–41	RK6AH	15
					38–40	HA8DD	39		36–41	RM1O	15
					38–40	YO3JW	39		36–41	RT6C	15
					41–44	E77O	38		36–41	UA1D	15
					41–44	LZ2AF	38		42–44	R1CAT	14
					41–44	R1ZD	38		42–44	R7AT	14
					41–44	SM4BNZ	38		42–44	RA9DJ	14

* — average number of QSOs per 1 activation — indicator published for information only, it does not affect the activators distribution in the table.
It is calculated as the arithmetic mean of all the results of the activator, excluding the one smallest and the one largest results.

Tables are updated permanently as logs are received in accordance with the Rating Rules.

RFF Rating 2024

RFF Rating 2023. Results

RFF Rating 2022. Results

RFF Rating 2021. Results

RFF Rating 2019. Results

RFF Rating 2018. Results

Rules of RFF activators and hunters Rating

Despite the many limitations caused by the pandemic, there have been some quite good results for the year:

1. The number of activators is 17 individual and 3 club stations. Of course, in comparison with other award programs, this is not so much, but... It is worth to take into account that the RFF is a rather complicated program, with higher requirements for the activation crediting. We should also consider the fact that comparing to other national WWFF programs, the number of our activators is quite high. There are new radio amateurs interested in the program who are trying their hand as activators and, many not without success.
2. The number of hunters is 4'751, including 2'068 of Russians. Comparing to 2020, there is an increase in interest - last year it was 4'014 hunters, including 1'568 Russians.
3. 82 references were activated during the year. This is not much less than previous year's result of 89 references. The decrease in the number of activations was due more to the above-mentioned pandemic restrictions than to activators' reluctance.
4. 17'236 QSO were conducted, the average number of QSO per activation for most of activators exceeded 100 with minimal required number of 44 QSO..
5. It was issued RFF-H awards: 209 for QSO with 11 references and 128 for QSO with 22 references. We look forward to opening access to applications for the higher grades and, accordingly, to get new award applications.

Congratulations to the winners: Valery R7KFF for first place in the activator rating with a great result of 50 activated references and Pasi OH1MM for first place in the international hunter rating with a result of 72 out of 82 activated references! The prizes for the winners have already been ordered and will be sent to their home address shortly.

Thank you very much to all who took part in Rating-2021 and wewelcome to Rating-2022. Good health, good luck, and good passage in 2022. Take care!

Russian Flora and Fauna Team

The summarized table of 2021

activators					hunters all over the world				hunters in russia
place	call sign	refs.	average*		place	call sign	refs.		place	call sign	refs.
1	R7KFF	50	105.1		1	OH1MM	72		1	RW4PP	60
2	R7KTA	19	↑66.2		2	OM1AX	71		2	RA7KW	57
3	RA7KW	18	↑68.9		3	OH3GZ	69		3	R9AB	46
4	R5AF	12	↑82.2		4	OM5DP	68		4	RA3RGQ	44
—	UA3LMR	10	↑134.3		5	IK3HMB	63		5	UA3GX	36
5	UA3LNM	9	↓179.6		6	RW4PP	60		6–7	R7KM	32
6–8	R3LAT	2			7	ON4ON	59		6–7	RG7K	32
6–8	R4FCN	2			8–9	RA7KW	57		8	UA4PKN	29
6–8	RN1M	2			8–9	SP8LEP	57		9–10	R6AC	28
9–15	R0AD	1			10	S52RA	53		9–10	RU9CZ	28
9–15	R2AKM	1			11	S58AL	51		11–12	RA7KR	27
9–15	RA3TOS	1			12	SP6ARA	50		11–12	RU6K	27
—	RN3ANT	1			13–14	R9AB	46		13	R7KTA	25
9–15	RX3AMI	1			13–14	SP6LTI	46		14	UA1ADZ	23
9–15	RY3AAR	1			15–16	UT5PI	45		15–16	RM3TO	22
9–15	UA4AVN	1			15–16	YT5M	45		15–16	RY3D	22
9–15	UA9CSA	1			17–18	RA3RGQ	44		17–19	R1ZD	21
					17–18	UX1IM	44		17–19	R7KC	21
					19	HA8DD	43		17–19	RN4ZT	21
—	RC8SL	3			20	IK2ECC	42		20	RX9WN	20
—	RK9LWA	1			21	OH1XT	40		21–23	RK4CT	19
—	RO3M	1			22	SP5CCK	39		21–23	RU3GF	19
					23	OZ7JZ	38		21–23	RW6BX	19
					24–25	DL1EJA	37		24	R6LZ	18
					24–25	PA0B	37		25–27	RA4AAJ	17
					26–28	SM4IED	36		25–27	RM8W	17
					26–28	SP2AOB	36		25–27	UA3LAR	17
					26–28	UA3GX	36		28–29	RM9RZ	16
					29–32	DL8NDG	35		28–29	UA6J	16
					29–32	IN3NJB	35		30–32	RA4M	15
					29–32	IW2BNA	35		30–32	RD3FT	15
					29–32	YL2TQ	35		30–32	RN1CW	15
					33–35	IZ2BHQ	34		33–37	R2EA	14
					33–35	OH6RP	34		33–37	R7FW	14
					33–35	YT5FD	34		33–37	RA3SK	14
					36–39	F8DGF	33		33–37	RY9C	14
					36–39	OH6GAZ	33		33–37	RZ4AG	14
					36–39	OM3CND	33		38–44	RA1AVP	13
					36–39	OM7OM	33		38–44	RA4CA	13
					40–45	9A4FM	32		38–44	RM1O	13
					40–45	OZ4RT	32		38–44	RU9US	13
					40–45	R7KM	32		38–44	RV6AJJ	13
					40–45	RG7K	32		38–44	RW7B	13
					40–45	SM5CBN	32		38–44	UA4CJY	13
					40–45	YL3CW	32

* — average number of QSOs per 1 activation — indicator published for information only, it does not affect the activators distribution in the table.
It is calculated as the arithmetic mean of all the results of the activator, excluding the one smallest and the one largest results.

Tables were updated permanently as logs were received in accordance with the Rating Rules.

RFF Rating 2024

RFF Rating 2023. Results

RFF Rating 2022. Results

RFF Rating 2020. Results

RFF Rating 2019. Results

RFF Rating 2018. Results

Rules of RFF activators and hunters Rating

It has been a difficult year with quite hard challenges for our country and beyond. Nevertheless, given the situation, there were achieved some pretty good results:

Fourteen activators took part in the program. Two activations were made for the first time from a difficult, remote region — the Far East, personal thanks to R0CDP for that! The total number of activations for known reasons was less than in previous years. We hope that everything will go back to normal and activity will increase noticeable in 2023.

The results of the hunters also decreased due to the small number of activations. There were only 2'316, including 1'285 Russian participants.

34 references were activated during the year, this is significantly less than previous year's result. The decrease in the number of activations is obviously due more to the known problems of our country than to the reluctance of the activators. There were established 5675 QSOs, the average number per reference exceeded 156 QSOs.

The number of RFF-A and RFF-H awards issued is steadily increasing, and access was opened to apply 20 references for activators and 44 for hunters in WWFF Logsearch this year. We look forward to opening access to apply next, higher degrees of RFF awards and, accordingly, to accepting of new applications.

Congratulations to the winners:

• Valery R7KFF for first place in the activator ranking, once again showing a good result with 19 activated references;
• Sergey R2RZ for first place in the international hunter ranking with 23 of 34 activated references. This is the first time in our program that a domestic station has won this ranking!

Prizes and commemorative certificates have already been ordered and will be sent to the winners shortly.

Many thanks to all who took part in the 2022 Rankings and we hope to see you in the 2023 Rankings. Good health, good luck, peace and good propagation in 2023.

Final table of RFF activators and hunters rankings in 2022

activators					hunters all over the world				hunters in russia
place	call sign	refs.	average*		place	call sign	refs.		place	call sign	refs.
1	R7KFF	19	↑72.0		1	R2RZ	23		1	R2RZ	23
—	UA3LMR	6	↑98.0		2	OH3GZ	22		2	R9AB	21
2	UA3LNM	5	150.0		3–4	I1RJP	21		3	RA7KW	20
3	UA4AVN	3			3–4	R9AB	21		4	RW4PP	19
4–7	R0CDP	2			5	RA7KW	20		5	UA3GX	18
4–7	R4ACU	2			6–8	OM1AX	19		6	R7KTA	16
4–7	R7KTA	2			6–8	RW4PP	19		7–8	R7KM	15
4–7	RA7KW	2			6–8	YT5M	19		7–8	RG7K	15
8–13	R0AD	1			9	UA3GX	18		9–11	R1AC	13
8–13	R3LAT	1			10–11	ON4ON	17		9–11	RX9WN	13
8–13	R4ADD	1			10–11	YL3CW	17		9–11	RY3D	13
8–13	R5AF	1			12–13	R7KTA	16		12–14	RA4RU	12
8–13	RA3TOS	1			12–13	YT5FD	16		12–14	RK4FD	12
8–13	RA7E	1			14–16	OH1MM	15		12–14	RU9F	12
					14–16	R7KM	15		15–18	R5FN	11
					14–16	RG7K	15		15–18	R5FQ	11
					17	PA0B	14		15–18	RA0AY	11
					18–22	R1AC	13		15–18	RA7KR	11
					18–22	RX9WN	13		19–20	R6AC	10
					18–22	RY3D	13		19–20	UA1ADZ	10
					18–22	S58AL	13		21–24	R3KIA	9
					18–22	YL2TQ	13		21–24	UA3MEG	9
					23–30	DL7VKD	12		21–24	UA9CTT	9
					23–30	F8DGF	12		21–24	UA9T	9
					23–30	I7PXV	12		25–35	R4DI	8
					23–30	OK1VK	12		25–35	RA3PN	8
					23–30	OM3CND	12		25–35	RA3RPW	8
					23–30	RA4RU	12		25–35	RA4UIV	8
					23–30	RK4FD	12		25–35	RM3TO	8
					23–30	RU9F	12		25–35	RM9RZ	8
					31–37	HA3MN	11		25–35	RM9WF	8
					31–37	IK8FIQ	11		25–35	RU7KQ	8
					31–37	R5FN	11		25–35	UA1OLM	8
					31–37	R5FQ	11		25–35	UA3WCF	8
					31–37	RA0AY	11		25–35	UA9APA	8
					31–37	RA7KR	11		36–58	R1BET	7
					31–37	S52RA	11		36–58	R4LA	7
					38–42	IK0HBN	10		36–58	R7CD	7
					38–42	LZ2AF	10		36–58	RA3AV	7
					38–42	R6AC	10		36–58	RA3RGQ	7
					38–42	UA1ADZ	10		36–58	RA4AAJ	7
					38–42	YT1T	10		36–58	RA4DAR	7
					43–57	DL2NO	9		36–58	RA4P	7
					43–57	DL8WEM	9		36–58	RA7A	7
					43–57	EA2DT	9		36–58	RA9AJ	7
					43–57	F6GCP	9		36–58	RK8W	7
					43–57	HA5BGL	9		36–58	RM8W	7
					43–57	IZ0COC	9		36–58	RN1CM	7
					43–57	LZ3YY	9		36–58	RU9US	7
					43–57	OH6RP	9		36–58	RV9CX	7
					43–57	OK1FPG	9		36–58	RW4HD	7
					43–57	R3KIA	9		36–58	RW7F	7
					43–57	SP5CCK	9		36–58	RZ9UO	7
					43–57	SQ2WKQ	9		36–58	UA1QW	7
					43–57	UA3MEG	9		36–58	UA4AF	7
					43–57	UA9CTT	9		36–58	UA4FET	7
					43–57	UA9T	9		36–58	UA4PBT	7
									36–58	UA6XBV	7

* — average number of QSOs per 1 activation — indicator published for information only, it does not affect the activators distribution in the table.
It is calculated as the arithmetic mean of all the results of the activator, excluding the one smallest and the one largest results.

RFF Rating 2024

RFF Rating 2023. Results

RFF Rating 2021. Results

RFF Rating 2020. Results

RFF Rating 2019. Results

RFF Rating 2018. Results

Rules of RFF activators and hunters Rating

27 individual operators went outdoors 81 times during the year in order to activate 45 RFF-references, and conducted a total of 21’144 QSOs with 10’750 correspondents.

Also 3 teams conducted 23’229 QSO from three RFF-references:

RI0B from RFF-0015 — 21’324 QSO;
RK9LWZ from RFF-0372 — 1’564 QSO;
RY3Y from RFF-0262 — 341 QSO.

Thus, 27 individual operators and 3 teams have activated 48 RFF-references and conducted in total 44’373 QSOs with 14’773 correspondents during 2018.

It should to note, not all of these 14 thousand correspondents were interested exactly to contact RFF-reference. IOTA hunters (call sign RI0B sounded from 4 rarest, hard-to-reach IOTAs in arctic Kara Sea, RK1OWA/p and RZ1OA/p were very active from IOTA EU-066, Solovetsky Islands in White Sea), and hunters for Antarctica (RI1ANO and RI50ANO were often sounding from Bellingshausen antarctic base, also IOTA AN-010) conducted a significant part of these QSOs. No doubt, there were also RDA hunters and there were just random QSOs.

It can suppose, QSOs with 1–2–3…, even with 4 RFF-references, may well be random, but QSOs with 5 or more RFF-references most likely already indicate some operator's interest for “Flora & Fauna” programs, whether WWFF in general or RFF in particular. We counted 537 such correspondents with 5 or more RFF-references in 2018, they conducted 4’798 QSO excluding another duplicated QSOs with the same RFF-reference. Let's see what will happen on 2019 results.

The top 10 individual activators and hunters by the number of credited RFF-references look like this:

The best hunter and best activator of 2018 are awarded with commemorative prizes. Activators and hunters, who took the II and III places, are awarded with commemorative certificates.
Russian hunters, who took I–III places, also are awarded with commemorative certificates.

Since the beginning of 2019 we start to maintain a Rating of RFF activators and hunters in the categories:

• individual activators by the number of RFF-references activated during the year;
• all over the World hunters by the number of RFF-references credited for the year;
• Russian hunters by the number of RFF-references credited for the year.

RFF Rating 2024

RFF Rating 2023. Results

RFF Rating 2022. Results

RFF Rating 2021. Results

RFF Rating 2020. Results

RFF Rating 2019. Results

Rules of RFF activators and hunters Rating

• individual activators by the number of RFF-references activated during the year;
• all over the World hunters by the number of RFF-references credited for the year;
• Russian hunters by the number of RFF-references credited for the year.

RFF Rating Rules:

1. The Ratings of RFF-activators and RFF-hunters are calculated on the base of approved logs, submitted by the RFF-activators to RFF log-manager. QSOs conducted since 00:00 UTC of January 01 and until 23:59 UTC of December 31 of the reviewed year are counted.

2. Any valid RFF references are counted for the Rating, regardless of whether they were already credited to activators and hunters in previous years or still not.

3. The activators rating considers only those references, where 44 or more QSOs were conducted by the activator in the reviewed year. Otherwise the reference is not taken into account in activator's result for reviewed year.

4. RFF references are credited to hunters on the basis of QSO records in approved logs, submitted by activators, regardless of whether the RFF reference is credited to the activator or not (see Section 3).

5. TOP-10 activators and TOP-44 hunters charts are published on the website and updated as far as submitting and approving activators logs.

6. Activators logs are accepted for the Rating no later than January 5 of the year following the reviewed one.

7. The final results of the year are published on the website on January 15 of the year following the reviewed one.

8. Awarding:

• the best RFF-hunter and best RFF-activator of the year are awarded with commemorative prizes;
• RFF-hunters and RFF-activators, who took the II and III places, are awarded with commemorative certificates;
• russian RFF-hunters, who took I–III places, are awarded with commemorative certificates.

RFF national coordinator and log-manager are not nominee for awarding.

9. The Rules of RFF Rating may be changed in any their part during the current year. The changes are published on the website in the Rules and take effect:
— in terms of categories and awarding since the moment of publication depending on sponsoring;
— in other parts since the next year beginning.

RFF Rating 2024

RFF Rating 2023. Results

RFF Rating 2022. Results

RFF Rating 2021. Results

RFF Rating 2020. Results

RFF Rating 2019. Results

RFF Rating 2018. Results