AMSAT is a name for amateur radio satellite organizations worldwide, but in particular the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT) with headquarters at Washington, D.C. AMSAT organizations design, build, arrange launches for, and then operate (command) satellites carrying amateur radio payloads, including the OSCAR series of satellites. Other informally affiliated national organizations exist, such as AMSAT Germany (AMSAT-DL) and AMSAT Japan (JAMSAT).
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 Radio Amateur Society of Thailand (RAST) is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Thailand. The organization is founded under the royal patronage of the King of Thailand, and qualifies as a charitable entity pursuant to a Thai Ministry of Finance declaration. The organization was founded on August 22, 1963 by a group of amateur radio operators who met at a restaurant in Bangkok. Among the first orders of business was to address official objections to the communications of radio amateurs in Thailand with amateur radio operators in other countries. The RAST represents the interests of Thai amateur radio operators and shortwave listeners before Thai and international telecommunications regulatory authorities. RAST is the national member society representing Thailand in the International Amateur Radio Union.
The Unión de Radioaficionados Españoles (URE) is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Spain. The organization has approximately 8,000 members, predominantly amateur radio operators in Spain. URE promotes amateur radio by sponsoring amateur radio operating awards and radio contests. The URE also represents the interests of Spanish amateur radio operators and shortwave listeners before Spanish and international telecommunications regulatory authorities. URE is the national member society representing Spain 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 Associazione Radioamatori Italiani is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Italy.
The Royal Union of Belgian Radio Amateurs (UBA) is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Belgium. UBA is the national member society representing Belgium in the International Amateur Radio Union.
The Österreichischer Versuchssenderverband (ÖVSV) is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Austria. Key membership benefits of the ÖVSV include the sponsorship of amateur radio operating awards, radio contests, and a QSL bureau for members who regularly communicate with amateur radio operators in other countries. ÖVSV represents the interests of Austrian amateur radio operators before Austrian and international telecommunications regulatory authorities.
The Eesti Raadioamatööride Ühing (ERAU) is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Estonia. Key membership benefits of ERAU 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. ERAU publishes a semi-annual membership magazine called ES-QTC. ERAU represents the interests of Estonian amateur radio operators before Estonian and international telecommunications regulatory authorities. ERAU is the national member society representing Estonia in the International Amateur Radio Union.
The Telsiz ve Radyo Amatörleri Cemiyeti (TRAC) is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Turkey. The organization was founded in 1962 as the Türkiye Radyo Amatörleri Cemiyeti, adopting its current name in 1980. With its headquarters located in Istanbul, TRAC has branches in 46 locations across Turkey. TRAC is the national member society representing Turkey in the International Amateur Radio Union.
The Kuwait Amateur Radio Society (KARS) is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Kuwait. The organization uses KARS as its official international abbreviation, based on the English translation of the organization's name. KARS operates a QSL bureau for those members who regularly communicate with amateur radio operators in other countries, and offers radio equipment to its members for their use. KARS represents the interests of Kuwaiti amateur radio operators and shortwave listeners before Kuwaiti and international telecommunications regulatory authorities. KARS is the national member society representing Kuwait in the International Amateur Radio Union. Board members:Hamad Alnusif, 9K2HN, Eng. Faisal Alajmi, 9K2RR, Waleed Abul, 9K2OK, Basel Albaker, 9K2RX, Ahmad Ali, 9K2QA, Nawaf Almuharib, 9K2NM, Ali Mubarak, 9K2SS
The Emirates Amateur Radio Society is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in the United Arab Emirates. EARS is formally recognized as a national organization by the Ministry of Social Affairs in the United Arab Emirates. The EARS represents the interests of UAE amateur radio operators before UAE and international telecommunications regulatory authorities. EARS is the national member society representing the United Arab Emirates in the International Amateur Radio Union, approved on February 10, 2009.
The Amateur Radio Association of Bahrain (ARAB) is or was a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Bahrain.
Hessa bint Sultan Al Jaber is a Qatari engineer, academic and politician. She was the first-ever Minister of Information and Communications Technology in Qatar following the formation of a new cabinet by the Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani in 2013 and was the third Qatari woman to assume a ministerial position in the state. In 2017 she was one of four women appointed to the Consultative Assembly, becoming one of the country's first female parliamentarians.
Amateur radio, also known as ham radio, is the use of radio frequency spectrum for purposes of non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, private recreation, radiosport, contesting, and emergency communication. The term "amateur" is used to specify "a duly authorised person interested in radioelectric practice with a purely personal aim and without pecuniary interest;" and to differentiate it from commercial broadcasting, public safety, or professional two-way radio services.
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.
Katara is a cultural village in Doha, Qatar. It is located on the eastern coast between West Bay and the Pearl.
An amateur radio satellite is an artificial satellite built and used by amateur radio operators. It forms part of the Amateur-satellite service. These satellites use amateur radio frequency allocations to facilitate communication between amateur radio stations.
Es'hail 2 is a Qatari satellite, launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on November 15, 2018. Es'hail 2 was built by Japan's Mitsubishi Electric company, and will operate at 26° East longitude along a geostationary orbit to provide direct-to-home television services in the Middle East and North Africa region. The satellite will feature 24 Ku-band and 11 Ka-band transponders to provide direct broadcasting services for television, government and commercial content distribution. In addition to commercial services, the payload of Es'hail 2 includes a linear transponder with a bandwidth of 500 kHz and 8MHz for the amateur radio satellite service, with uplink on 2.4 GHz and downlink on 10.45 GHz.
