PAFF activity in 2016

The summer is over and even though the weather is still /P friendly over here, now is a good time to look back at the activities we have had in PAFF in 2016. 

We extended our reference list to 100 references. Such an extension always gives a boost to activity - 2016 is no exception. All but one of these new references have been activated by now.

We are happy to see a number of new activators join our program. In 2016 you might have heard PA2CVD, PA2DK, PC2L (PD2LH), PC2Y, PC9DB, PD7DX, PE1EEC or PE1MPI working from one of the PAFF nature reserves.  

Like previous years we have also had a number of visiting HAMs activating PAFF references, some for the first time, some returning: DJ2OS, DL1ASA, ON2LVC, ON5SWA, ON6EF and SP1MVG.

There were two group activities from PI4WBR and PI35ETL.

And of course - last but not least - PAFF saw activities from familiar (both casual and serial) activators we have seen in 2015 and some even before that: PA1H, PA7MDJ, PB7Z, PC5Z, PD0EJD, PD2RKG and PD3JAG.

Below you will find a couple of examples of the many activities we have seen in the last few months. If you are curious about this program, don't hesitate to contact us or one of the activators for more information.

DL1ASA @PAFF-0074	ON2LVC @PAFF-0084
ON5SWA @PAFF-0034	ON6EF @PAFF-0064
PA1H @PAFF-0091	PA2CVD &co. @PAFF-0010
PH0NO @PAFF-0019	PC2Y @PAFF-0097
PC9DB @PAFF-0008	PD0EJD @PAFF-0063
PD2LH (PC2L) @PAFF-0030	PD3JAG @PAFF-0080
PD7DX @PAFF-0062	PE1EEC @PAFF-0096
PE1MPI @PAFF-0090	PI35ETL @PAFF-0010

WWFF agenda and cluster

The WWFF website has been expanded with agenda functionality. It is now possible for anyone to add an upcoming activity to the agenda. For activators this offers a nice way to make your plans known to the worldwide chaser community. Chasers can now plan when to go out for groceries and when to definitely stay near the radio. Check it out!

Another very nice feature for anyone chasing WWFF references is the WWFF cluster. It has been developed in cooperation with GMA and features all WWFF cluster spots.

PAFF KMZ files available for download

As a service to our activators we have been providing geographical information about the PAFF reserves using Google Maps online platform for a few years now.

We have received requests by activators to have a downloadable version of this information. As of today you will find KMZ files of every PAFF reserve available for download from the table of PAFF references - here. 

After downloading the KMZ of a reserve you want to activate, you can convert it to your required format (like GPX). There are various online conversion tools available.

As a side note: WWFF has started using 4 digits for all the references in the WWFF index. We have changed our reference list accordingly. 

PAFF expansion

In cooperation with a number of PAFF activators we are currently expanding PAFF with 12 new nature reserves - from PAFF-0089 up to PAFF-0100 - in all corners of the country. 

This should provide activators with extra incentive to go out and activate one or more nature reserves. Now we only need the weather to improve...

Watch this space for more updates on the selected reserves.

Summer activities at PAFF

This summer we have so far seen over 30 activities from various activators, both new and familiar calls.

An impression of what it looked like through the eyes of the activators:

Harm PC5Z was active from PAFF-083	The next day Harm (left) visited Harry PA1H at PAFF-082
Harry PA1H at PAFF-082	Harry PA1H could be heard from more locations like here at PAFF-043
Or here at PAFF-008	At PAFF-004 Harry was visited by Andreas DH1AC
Danny ON4VT visited PAFF-080 for his first FF activity outside ON	Danny brought his friend Mario OR7Z
Bill ON5JE was the next Belgian operator to visit PA - here activating PAFF-008	Bill ON5JE at PAFF-007
Martin DF3MC was active from Kootwijk PAFF-035	..and from Terlet PAFF-042
PD0DKF and PD3MR were active as PD44FF from PAFF-079	Stephan from ON4CHD from PAFF-015
Jan PD3JAG was active from PAFF-015 as well	Jan PD3JAG and company

First PAFF CCO award for I5FLN

Today we have awarded the first CCO "Chief Chasing OM" certificate - for working 75+ PAFF references - to Luciano I5FLN. 

To people active in the WWFF community it will come as no surprise that Luciano managed to get the first one. He has worked all PAFF references that have been activated so far.

Apart from chasing each and every WWFF activity there is, Luciano is also an active staff member of WWFF making sure that the reference list that forms an important basis for the WWFF and national programs remains up to date.

Congratulations Luciano - an award well deserved!

PAFF in the news

In the January Issue of the DKARS Magazine - one of the two major HAM magazines in The Netherlands - there is an article about PAFF / WWFF. 

The complete magazine can be downloaded here: January Issue DKARS Magazine 

The PAFF article is on page 56. Note that the article is in Dutch.