British Isles Rambler Award (BIRA)

23/04/2026 Off By Camping and Hiking

The British Isles Rambler Award (BIRA) is a GMFF island award programme created to encourage amateur radio activity from and with the islands of the British Isles.

The British Isles are one of Europe’s most distinctive island regions, formed by the two great islands of Great Britain and Ireland together with a very large number of offshore, coastal, inhabited, uninhabited, tidal, and remote islands. From major population centres to isolated island communities, the region offers a wide and varied operating landscape for radio amateurs, combining history, geography, maritime character, and excellent opportunities for portable operation.

The BIRA programme brings together qualifying island references from all six GMFF British Isles island award programmes into one combined award structure. In addition, the mainland parts of Great Britain and Ireland are also included as special qualifying references for this programme.

Qualifying References

For the purpose of BIRA, qualifying contacts and activations are valid from the island references listed in the following six GMFF island award programmes:

In addition to the island references contained in those six programmes, the following two mainland references also count for BIRA:

  • GB-01 – Mainland Great Britain
  • IR-01 – Mainland Ireland

For award purposes, each qualifying reference counts once only, identified by its unique official reference.

General Rules

  • All BIRA awards are issued in accordance with the GMFF General Rules.
  • Only current GMFF members are eligible to receive BIRA awards.
  • Participation is open only to licensed amateur radio operators.
  • All QSOs must be made under a valid callsign and in accordance with the operator’s licence conditions.
  • All bands and modes permitted under the operator’s licence may be used.
  • No endorsements are issued for specific bands or modes unless separately announced by GMFF.
  • Only references listed in the official BIRA-qualifying source lists are valid for this programme.
  • The Award Manager or GMFF Committee may request supporting evidence for any claimed QSO or activation.
  • Any false claim, misleading submission, or deliberate abuse of the programme may result in disqualification and exclusion from GMFF awards.

Chaser Awards

The BIRA chaser series is issued to operators who make confirmed contacts with stations operating from qualifying BIRA references.

See also  National Nature Reserves Award (NNRA)

Award Levels

  • BIRA 25 – 25 different references from the islands presented in all six GMFF island award programmes, plus GB-01 and IR-01
  • BIRA 50 – 50 different references from the islands presented in all six GMFF island award programmes, plus GB-01 and IR-01
  • BIRA 75 – 75 different references from the islands presented in all six GMFF island award programmes, plus GB-01 and IR-01
  • BIRA 100 – 100 different references from the islands presented in all six GMFF island award programmes, plus GB-01 and IR-01
  • BIRA 125 – 125 different references from the islands presented in all six GMFF island award programmes, plus GB-01 and IR-01
  • BIRA 150 – 150 different references from the islands presented in all six GMFF island award programmes, plus GB-01 and IR-01
  • BIRA 175 – 175 different references from the islands presented in all six GMFF island award programmes, plus GB-01 and IR-01
  • BIRA 200 – 200 different references from the islands presented in all six GMFF island award programmes, plus GB-01 and IR-01
  • BIRA 225 – 225 different references from the islands presented in all six GMFF island award programmes, plus GB-01 and IR-01
  • BIRA 250 – 250 different references from the islands presented in all six GMFF island award programmes, plus GB-01 and IR-01
  • BIRA 275 – 275 different references from the islands presented in all six GMFF island award programmes, plus GB-01 and IR-01
  • BIRA 300 – 300 different references from the islands presented in all six GMFF island award programmes, plus GB-01 and IR-01
  • BIRA 325 – 325 different references from the islands presented in all six GMFF island award programmes, plus GB-01 and IR-01
  • BIRA 350 – 350 different references from the islands presented in all six GMFF island award programmes, plus GB-01 and IR-01
  • BIRA 375 – 375 different references from the islands presented in all six GMFF island award programmes, plus GB-01 and IR-01
  • BIRA 400 – 400 different references from the islands presented in all six GMFF island award programmes, plus GB-01 and IR-01
  • BIRA 425 – 425 different references from the islands presented in all six GMFF island award programmes, plus GB-01 and IR-01
  • BIRA 450 – 450 different references from the islands presented in all six GMFF island award programmes, plus GB-01 and IR-01
  • BIRA 475 – 475 different references from the islands presented in all six GMFF island award programmes, plus GB-01 and IR-01
  • BIRA 500 – 500 different references from the islands presented in all six GMFF island award programmes, plus GB-01 and IR-01
See also  Wetlands On The Air Award (WOTA)

Conditions for Chasers

  • Each qualifying reference counts once only towards the award total.
  • Multiple QSOs with the same reference do not increase the score for the purpose of the award.
  • Contacts may be made with any valid BIRA reference listed in the six qualifying island programmes, together with GB-01 and IR-01.
  • Activator-to-activator contacts may count towards chaser totals where permitted under the GMFF General Rules.
  • The Award Manager may request QSL, log extracts, screenshots, or other evidence in support of an application.

Activator Awards

The BIRA activator series is issued to operators and club stations who activate qualifying BIRA references from the island or mainland reference itself.

Award Levels

  • BIRA Activator 25 – 25 different references from the islands presented in all six GMFF island award programmes, including GB-01 and IR-01
  • BIRA Activator 50 – 50 different references from the islands presented in all six GMFF island award programmes, including GB-01 and IR-01
  • BIRA Activator 75 – 75 different references from the islands presented in all six GMFF island award programmes, including GB-01 and IR-01
  • BIRA Activator 100 – 100 different references from the islands presented in all six GMFF island award programmes, including GB-01 and IR-01
  • BIRA Activator 125 – 125 different references from the islands presented in all six GMFF island award programmes, including GB-01 and IR-01
  • BIRA Activator 150 – 150 different references from the islands presented in all six GMFF island award programmes, including GB-01 and IR-01
  • BIRA Activator 175 – 175 different references from the islands presented in all six GMFF island award programmes, including GB-01 and IR-01
  • BIRA Activator 200 – 200 different references from the islands presented in all six GMFF island award programmes, including GB-01 and IR-01
  • BIRA Activator 225 – 225 different references from the islands presented in all six GMFF island award programmes, including GB-01 and IR-01
  • BIRA Activator 250 – 250 different references from the islands presented in all six GMFF island award programmes, including GB-01 and IR-01
  • BIRA Activator 275 – 275 different references from the islands presented in all six GMFF island award programmes, including GB-01 and IR-01
  • BIRA Activator 300 – 300 different references from the islands presented in all six GMFF island award programmes, including GB-01 and IR-01
  • BIRA Activator 325 – 325 different references from the islands presented in all six GMFF island award programmes, including GB-01 and IR-01
  • BIRA Activator 350 – 350 different references from the islands presented in all six GMFF island award programmes, including GB-01 and IR-01
  • BIRA Activator 375 – 375 different references from the islands presented in all six GMFF island award programmes, including GB-01 and IR-01
  • BIRA Activator 400 – 400 different references from the islands presented in all six GMFF island award programmes, including GB-01 and IR-01
  • BIRA Activator 425 – 425 different references from the islands presented in all six GMFF island award programmes, including GB-01 and IR-01
  • BIRA Activator 450 – 450 different references from the islands presented in all six GMFF island award programmes, including GB-01 and IR-01
  • BIRA Activator 475 – 475 different references from the islands presented in all six GMFF island award programmes, including GB-01 and IR-01
  • BIRA Activator 500 – 500 different references from the islands presented in all six GMFF island award programmes, including GB-01 and IR-01
See also  Islands of Northern Ireland Award (IONIA)

Conditions for Activators

  • All operation must take place from land within the qualifying reference being activated.
  • For island references, the station must be physically located on the qualifying island.
  • For GB-01 and IR-01, the station must be physically located on the respective mainland part of Great Britain or Ireland.
  • All station equipment, antenna systems, and power sources must be located within the qualifying reference during the activation.
  • Maritime mobile operation is not valid for BIRA.
  • A valid activation must meet the minimum QSO requirement laid down in the GMFF General Rules.
  • Each qualifying reference counts once only towards the activator award total.
  • Repeat activations of the same reference are welcome but do not increase the reference total for award purposes.
  • Activators must obtain all necessary permissions before operating.
  • Operation must comply with all relevant licence conditions, land access rules, conservation requirements, and local regulations.

Applications

Applications for BIRA awards must be submitted on the official GMFF application forms.

Before submitting an application, the applicant must pay the current GMFF Award Fee and include the PayPal Transaction ID with the application.

Applications should be completed carefully and sent in accordance with current GMFF award procedures.

Links

Activator Application Form: https://gmff.uk/biraactivatorapplication.ods
Chaser Application Form: https://gmff.uk/birachaserapplication.ods
GMFF General Rules: https://gmff.uk/gmff-awards-general-rules
Award Fee: https://gmff.uk/product/gmff-award-fee
GMFF Membership: https://gmff.uk/gmff-membership
Coordinate Converter: https://www.adif.uk/coord
QRA Locator Map: https://www.egloff.eu/qralocator
British Isles Info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Isles

CategoryAwards
Tagsactivator award amateur radio award BIRA British Isles amateur radio British Isles ham radio British Isles islands award British Isles Rambler Award chaser award EIRA GB-01 gmff awards GMFF BIRA GMFF island programmes Great Britain island award ham radio award ICDA IONIA IOSA IOWA IR-01 Ireland island award IRIA island activation island activator award island chasing award portable amateur radio