The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) is the largest membership association of amateur radio enthusiasts in the United States. ARRL is a non-profit organization, and was co-founded on April 6, 1914, by Hiram Percy Maxim and Clarence D. Tuska of Hartford, Connecticut. The ARRL represents the interests of amateur radio operators before federal regulatory bodies, provides technical advice and assistance to amateur radio enthusiasts, supports a number of educational programs and sponsors emergency communications service throughout the country. The ARRL has approximately 161,000 members. In addition to members in the US, the organization claims over 7,000 members in other countries. The ARRL publishes many books and a monthly membership journal called QST.
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.
Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC), known in French as Radio Amateurs du Canada, is the national association for Amateur Radio in Canada. It is a not-for-profit membership association with headquarters in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, representing the interests of Amateur Radio all across Canada. Speaking on behalf of Canadian Radio Amateurs, RAC provides liaison with government agencies and carries the Amateur voice about regulatory and spectrum issues to the discussion table with government and industry leaders, nationally and internationally.
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.
An amateur radio repeater is an electronic device that receives a weak or low-level amateur radio signal and retransmits it at a higher level or higher power, so that the signal can cover longer distances without degradation. Many repeaters are located on hilltops or on tall buildings as the higher location increases their coverage area, sometimes referred to as the radio horizon, or "footprint". Amateur radio repeaters are similar in concept to those used by public safety entities, businesses, government, military, and more. Amateur radio repeaters may even use commercially packaged repeater systems that have been adjusted to operate within amateur radio frequency bands, but more often amateur repeaters are assembled from receivers, transmitters, controllers, power supplies, antennas, and other components, from various sources.
The Trinidad and Tobago Amateur Radio Society, Inc. (TTARS) is the national amateur radio organization in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. It is a member society of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU).
D-STAR is a digital voice and data protocol specification for amateur radio. The system was developed in the late 1990s by the Japan Amateur Radio League and uses minimum-shift keying in its packet-based standard. There are other digital modes that have been adapted for use by amateurs, but D-STAR was the first that was designed specifically for amateur radio.
Amateur Radio Emergency Communications (AREC), formerly the Amateur Radio Emergency Corps, is a service provided by the New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters (NZART) which provides trained radio communicators and communication systems for emergency situations.
The Deutscher Amateur Radio Club e.V. (DARC) is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Germany. As of 9 July 2019, the organization had 34,009 members, approximately 53% of all licensed amateur radio operators in Germany. Key membership benefits of the organization include QSL bureau services, a monthly membership magazine called CQ DL, and the promotion and sponsorship of radio contests. DARC promotes amateur radio by organizing classes and technical support to help enthusiasts earn their amateur radio license. The DARC also represents the interests of German amateur radio operators and shortwave listeners before German and international telecommunications regulatory authorities. DARC is the national member society representing Germany in the International Amateur Radio Union.
The Hong Kong Amateur Radio Transmitting Society is an organization representing a majority of the amateur radio operators in Hong Kong. HARTS is a charitable institution recognized by the Inland Revenue Department since early 2008. HARTS was established in the Oct 1929, when Hong Kong was a dependent territory of the United Kingdom. HARTS is the member society representing Hong Kong in the International Amateur Radio Union.
The Radio Amateur Association of Greece (RAAG) is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Greece. The society was founded in February 1958, facing great difficulties due to negative attitude of the Greek Government of the time towards amateur radio. RAAG represents the interests of Greek amateur radio operators before national, European, and international telecommunications regulatory authorities. RAAG is the national member society representing Greece in the International Amateur Radio Union. Key membership benefits of RAAG 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.
The Radio Club Venezolano (RCV) is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Venezuela. Key membership benefits of RCV 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. RCV represents the interests of Venezuelan amateur radio operators before Venezuelan and international telecommunications regulatory authorities. RCV is the national member society representing Venezuela in the International Amateur Radio Union.
The Radio Club Paraguayo (RCP) is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Paraguay. The RCP operates a QSL bureau for those amateur radio operators in regular contact with amateur radio operators in other countries, and supports amateur radio operating awards and radio contests. Radio Club Paraguayo represents the interests of Paraguayan amateur radio operators before national and international regulatory authorities. RCP is the national member society representing Paraguay in the International Amateur Radio Union.
The Club de Radioaficionados de Guatemala (CRAG) is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Guatemala. Key membership benefits of the CRAG 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. CRAG represents the interests of Guatemalan amateur radio operators before Guatemalan and international regulatory authorities. CRAG is the national member society representing Guatemala in the International Amateur Radio Union.
The Radio Club de Honduras (RCH) is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Honduras. RCH was founded on July 26, 1958, to support the scientific and technical interests of those in Honduras with an interest in radio. Key membership benefits of RCH include a QSL bureau for those amateur radio operators in regular communications with other amateur radio operators in foreign countries and sponsorship of amateur radio operating awards and radio contests. RCH represents the interests of Honduran amateur radio operators before Honduran and international regulatory authorities. RCH is the national member society representing Honduras in the International Amateur Radio Union.
The Club de Radio Aficionados de El Salvador (CRAS) is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in El Salvador. Key membership benefits of the CRAS 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. CRAS represents the interests of El Salvadoran amateur radio operators before El Salvadoran and international regulatory authorities. CRAS is the national member society representing El Salvador in the International Amateur Radio Union.
The Association Royale des Radio Amateurs du Maroc (ARRAM) is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Morocco. Key membership benefits of the ARRAM 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 Aruba Amateur Radio Club (AARC) is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Aruba. AARC operates a QSL bureau for those members who regularly communicate with amateur radio operators in other countries. The organization operates amateur radio repeaters located at points of high elevation on Sero Yamanota that can be accessed from around the island, from Curaçao, and parts of Venezuela. AARC represents the interests of Aruban amateur radio operators before Aruban and international telecommunications regulatory authorities. AARC is the national member society representing Aruba in the International Amateur Radio Union.
Amateur radio, also known as ham radio, is the use of the radio frequency spectrum for purposes of non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, private recreation, radiosport, contesting, and emergency communications. The term "amateur" is used to specify "a duly authorized 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 Luxembourg Amateur Radio Union (LARU) is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Luxembourg . The LARU was founded on January 1, 2014. The LARU promotes technical progress and cohesion of amateur radio operators. The LARU sets priorities in emergency communications, digital voice communications, digital data transmission, science and education.
