The "RMA" award has been instituted by the International Ham Radio Hiking Club "Russian Robinson". It is a Russian mountain program. The award is given for QSO/SWL with radio stations, operating from Russian mountain regions.

Mountain regions are, for example "Mountains of Caucasus" (RM-03), "Mountains of Baikal" (RM-14), etc. Numbers, following the region index, specify a certain peak, pass or highland (e.g.: RM-03-001 - Mount West Elbrus).

Information on mountain regions and expeditions is available here:
http://www.mountain.ru/radio/rma/base.shtml

Photo RMA Award:
http://www.mountain.ru/radio/rma/photo.shtml

QSO's/SWL's count since 01.01.1990.

The award has 3 classes and the Honour Roll.

For ham radio operators

For expeditions

Credit rules for expeditions:
RMA index is assigned to peaks, passes and highlands by the Mountain Committee. In order to obtain the number the organizers of an expedition should contact the Mountain Committee (radio@mountain.ru or ua6hjq@mail.ru). Local RMA indexes should be mentioned on expedition's QSL-cards.

Mountain regions are divided into 3 categories according to their height, climate, accessibility and density of population. The required minimal number of QSO's depends on the region category and the location of the expedition (the higher the location - the smaller the number)

In winter (the period of autumnal\vernal equinox) the required number of QSO's is two times smaller.
If an expedition works at different heights, the required number of QSO's is calculated in percentage.

For example, working in the region of the first category, an expedition can have 25 QSO's at the height of 1000 m. (50%) + 5 QSO's at the height of 1000 m. (50%), or 10 QSO's at the height of 2000 m. (25%) + 5 QSO's at the height of 3000 m. (25%) + 5 QSO's at the height of 5000 m. (50%), etc.

Repeated QSO's are credited if established from different peaks, passes or highlands, having a saperate RMA-index. There are no time, band or mode restrictions. QSO's, established by means of VHF-UHF repeaters are not accepted.

If an expedition works in a location with a new RMA-index, it should provide to the Mountain Committee or to the diploma manager photo or video materials, proving the presence of the expedition in the mentioned place.

Award Application

The application for and award of any class must be based on an extract from the hardware register. The application should contain the precise RMA-indexes of the peaks, passes and highlands.

The award manager reserves the right to request any specific QSL-cards to satisfy any doubt whatsoever. Ham radio operators, who have completed the RMA Honour Roll conditions, have a right to receive the RMA Honour Roll plaque.

Those who apply to be included in the RMA Honour Roll must fill the application providing the information about all their QSO's with Russian mountain regions.

Applications should include precise RMA-indexes of the peaks, passes and highlands. The award manager reserves the right to request any specific cards to satisfy any doubt whatsoever.

Fees

Стоимость диплома каждого класса по курсу ЦБ на день оплаты:
Certificates fee (Central Bank rate at the day of the payment):
for Russia - 3 Euro,
for CIS countries - 4 Euro,
for other counries - 7 Euro or 10 IRC,

RMA sticker fee: 1 IRC for all countries.

RMA Honour Roll fee (a wooden plaque on a metal base, weight - 0,6 kg):
for Russia - $37,
for CIS countries - $39,
for other countries - $42.

Stickers and certificates manager:
Evgeny Schelkanovtsev
(RZ3EC)
302028, Oryol, box 70, Russia
E-mail: rz3ec@yandex.ru

Honour Roll plaque manager:
(RU3GN)
Rochev Viktor
398006, Lipetsk, box 59, Russia
E-mail: v_rochev@lipetsk.ru

Additional information

Confirmed QSO's with all mountain radio expeditions and radio stations included in the RMA database are credited even if they were established between 1.01.1990 and 10.06.2005, before the current version of rules was introduced.

If you want to have your expedition included in the RMA list or if you'd like to make connections with your QTN acceptable in the RMA program, please, contact the Mountain Committee in good time in order to obtain the RM-index: radio@mountain.ru or ua6hjq@mail.ru.

The Mountain Committee of the International Russian Robinson Club asks all ham radio operators who have been working in Russian mountain regions to send information about their expeditions (name of the region, date (after 1.01.1990), RM-indexes, operators' names, QSL-info, etc.).

We also kindly ask our colleagues to give us information about future expeditions to the Russian mountain regions. It is necessary for us to have enough time to assign you the RM-index, release the information about your expedition and promote it in the ham radio community:

Andy Blinushov (UA3SGV)
P.B. 180
Ryazan-35
390035 Russia
E-mail: radio@mountain.ru

Igor Lavrushov (UA6HJQ)
Тel: 906-4890121 (federal number)
E-mail: ua6hjq@mail.ru