The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) is an international confederation of national organisations that allows a forum for common matters of concern to amateur radio operators worldwide, and collectively represents matters to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The International Amateur Radio Union was founded in 1925 and, as of July 2021, it is composed of 172 national member societies.
Amateur radio direction finding is an amateur racing sport that combines radio direction finding with the map and compass skills of orienteering. It is a timed race in which individual competitors use a topographic map, a magnetic compass and radio direction finding apparatus to navigate through diverse wooded terrain while searching for radio transmitters. The rules of the sport and international competitions are organized by the International Amateur Radio Union. The sport has been most popular in Eastern Europe, Russia, and China, where it was often used in the physical education programs in schools.
Fox Oring is a variation of the sport of Amateur Radio Direction Finding. Fox Oring is a timed race in which individual competitors use a topographic map and a magnetic compass to navigate through diverse, wooded terrain while searching for radio transmitters. The term is derived from the use of the term fox hunting to describe recreational radio direction finding activity and an abbreviation of the word orienteering.
In times of crisis and natural disasters, amateur radio is often used as a means of emergency communication when wireline, cell phones and other conventional means of communications fail.
The New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters (NZART) is a non-profit organisation of amateur radio enthusiasts in New Zealand. It represents New Zealand amateur radio operators nationally and internationally. NZART is a founding member of the International Amateur Radio Union. It is an association of individual members, however those members are encouraged to form local branches.
The South African Radio League (SARL), formerly known as the South African Radio Relay League (SARRL), is a non-profit organisation representing the interests of amateur radio enthusiasts in South Africa. The SARL advocates on behalf of its membership and all licensed amateur radio operators in South Africa as the representative of amateur radio to the South African government. This has included the promotion of deregulation and simplification of the amateur radio service, and expansion of the number of amateur radio operators in Southern Africa. The SARL publicises and promotes the role of amateur radio in society, and promotes the use of amateur radio in schools as an entry point into the fields of science and technology. The SARL publishes a magazine called Radio ZS twelve times a year. SARL is the national Member Society representing South Africa in the International Amateur Radio Union and is a Member Society in IARU Region 1.
The Réseau des Émetteurs Français (REF) is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in France. Key membership benefits of the organization include QSL bureau services, a monthly membership magazine called Radio REF, and the promotion and sponsorship of radio contests and operating awards. REF promotes amateur radio by organizing classes and technical support to help enthusiasts earn their amateur radio license. The REF-Union also represents the interests of French amateur radio operators and shortwave listeners before French and international telecommunications regulatory authorities. REF is the national member society representing France in the International Amateur Radio Union.
The Federacion Mexicana de Radio Experimentadores, A.C. (FMRE) is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Mexico. Key membership benefits of the organization include QSL bureau services, the promotion and sponsorship of radio contests and operating awards, and an organization dedicated to emergency communications. FMRE promotes amateur radio by organizing classes and technical support to help enthusiasts earn their amateur radio license. Members receive a bimonthly magazine published by the organization, Onda corta. The FMRE also represents the interests of Mexican amateur radio operators before Mexican and international telecommunications regulatory authorities. FMRE is the national member society representing Mexico in the International Amateur Radio Union.
The Macau Amateur Radio Society is a non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Macau, China. ARM was established during Portuguese Macau. The organization's primary mission is to popularize and promote amateur radio in Macau and to serve the community of the Special Administrative Region. One membership benefit of the organization is a QSL bureau for members who regularly make communications with amateur radio operators in other countries. ARM is the member society representing Macau in the International Amateur Radio Union.
The Russian Amateur Radio Union is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Russia. The organization often uses SRR as its official abbreviation, based on the standard Romanization of the Russian name. The organization was founded in 1992.
The Liga de Amadores Brasileiros de Rádio Emissão (LABRE) is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Brazil. LABRE has separate organizations for each state of Brazil. LABRE is recognized by the Brazilian Ministry of Communications. LABRE is the supporting organization for the Rede Nacional de Emergência de Radioamadores (RENER), a voluntary amateur radio emergency communications network in Brazil. LABRE was one of the sponsoring organizations for the 2006 World Radiosport Team Championship held in Florianópolis. LABRE is the national member society representing Brazil in the International Amateur Radio Union.
The Associazione Radioamatori Italiani is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Italy.
The Organisasi Amatir Radio Indonesia (ORARI) is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Indonesia. According to a 2000 census compiled by the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU), Indonesia has the thirteenth-largest population of amateur radio operators in the world. A key membership benefit of the ORARI is a QSL bureau for those Indonesian amateur radio operators in regular communications with other amateur radio operators in foreign countries. The ORARI represents the interests of Indonesian amateur radio operators before Indonesian and international regulatory authorities. ORARI is the national member society representing Indonesia in the International Amateur Radio Union.
The Singapore Amateur Radio Transmitting Society (SARTS) is a non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Singapore. The organization's primary mission is to popularize and promote amateur radio in Singapore. SARTS sponsors amateur radio operating awards and operates special event stations on a regular basis. One membership benefit of the organization is a QSL bureau for members who regularly make communications with amateur radio operators in other countries. SARTS is the member society representing Singapore in the International Amateur Radio Union.
The Norsk Radio Relæ Liga (NRRL) is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Norway. Key membership benefits of NRRL include the sponsorship of amateur radio operating awards and radio contests, and a QSL bureau for those members who regularly communicate with amateur radio operators in other countries. NRRL publishes a membership magazine called Amatørradio. NRRL represents the interests of Norwegian amateur radio operators before Norwegian and international telecommunications regulatory authorities. NRRL is the national member society representing Norway in the International Amateur Radio Union.
Asociația Radioamatorilor din Moldova (ARM) is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Moldova. Key membership benefits of ARM include the sponsorship of amateur radio operating awards and radio contests, and a QSL bureau for those members who regularly communicate with amateur radio operators in other countries. ARM represents the interests of Moldovan amateur radio operators before Moldovan, European, and international telecommunications regulatory authorities. ARM is the national member society representing Moldova in the International Amateur Radio Union.
The Club de Radioexperimentadores de Nicaragua (CREN) is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Nicaragua. Key membership benefits of the CREN include a QSL bureau for those amateur radio operators in regular communications with other amateur radio operators in foreign countries, and a network to support amateur radio emergency communications. CREN represents the interests of Nicaraguan amateur radio operators before Nicaraguan and international regulatory authorities. CREN is the national member society representing Nicaragua in the International Amateur Radio Union.
The Amateurs Radio Algeriens is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Algeria. The organisation was founded on March 23, 1963. Key membership benefits of the ARA include a QSL bureau for those amateur radio operators in regular communications with other amateur radio operators in foreign countries, and a network to support amateur radio emergency communications. The ARA represents the interests of Algerian amateur radio operators before Algerian and international regulatory authorities. The ARA is the national member society representing Algeria in the International Amateur Radio Union.
The Amateur Radio Association of Bahrain (ARAB) is or was a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Bahrain.
The Lietuvos Radijo Mėgėjų Draugija (LRMD) is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Lithuania. LRMD represents the interests of Lithuanian amateur radio operators before Lithuanian, European, and international telecommunications regulatory authorities. LRMD is the national member society representing Lithuania in the International Amateur Radio Union.
