Exploring the ARRL
The American Radio Relay League (ARRL; www.arrl.org) is one of the oldest continuously functioning amateur radio organization in the world. It provides services to hams around the world and plays a key part in representing the ham radio cause to the public and governments. That ham radio could survive for more than 100 years without a strong leadership organization is hard to imagine, and ARRL has filled that role. I devote a whole section of this chapter to ARRL simply because it’s such a large presence within the hobby for U.S. hams (and for those in Canada who belong to its sister organization, Radio Amateurs of Canada).
ARRL is a volunteer-based, membership-oriented organization. Rest assured that even as a new ham, you can make a meaningful contribution as a volunteer. To find out how to join, go to www.arrl.org/membership.
ARRL benefits to you
The most visible benefits of ARRL membership are the magazines that you receive month (see Figure 3-1). The largest, oldest, and most widely read ham radio magazine, QST includes feature articles on technical and operating topics, reports on regulatory information affecting the hobby, the results of ARRL-sponsored competitions, and columns on a wide variety of topics.
Courtesy American Radio Relay League
FIGURE 3-1: QST, On The Air, QEX, and NCJ cover nearly every aspect of ham radio plus product reviews and ads from almost every ham radio vendor.
The magazine On The Air is intended for the new ham with articles and projects to help you get going. Two other publications, QEX for technical experimenters and National Contest Journal or NCJ for competitive radio, are also available with your membership. These four publications cover everything from current events to state-of-the-art technology.
Along with the magazines, ARRL maintains an active and substantial website, providing current news and general-interest stories; the Technical Information Service, which allows you to search technical documents and articles online; and several free email bulletins, online newsletters, and social media services.
ARRL also manages the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES), which helps hams organize at the local level to support local government and public-safety functions with emergency communication services. These teams also perform public service by providing support and communications services for parades, sporting events, and similar events. You can find out more about ARES and public service activities in Chapter 10.
In addition, ARRL is the largest single sponsor of operating activities for hams, offering numerous contests, award programs, and technical and emergency exercises.
ARRL benefits to the hobby
By far the most visible aspect of ARRL on the ham bands is its headquarters station, W1AW (see Figure 3-2). Carrying the call sign of ARRL founder Hiram Percy Maxim, the powerful station beams bulletins and Morse code practice sessions to hams around the planet every day. Visiting hams can even operate the W1AW station themselves (as long as they remember to bring a license). Most hams think that being at the controls of one of the most famous and storied ham stations in the world is the thrill of a lifetime.
FIGURE 3-2: The world-famous W1AW station in Newington, Connecticut.
The ARRL is a volunteer examiner coordinator (VEC) organization. You may take your licensing test at an ARRL-VEC exam session. (See Part 2 for information about the licensing process.) With the largest number of volunteer examiners (VEs), the ARRL-VEC helps thousands of new and active hams take their licensing exams, obtain vanity and special call signs, renew their licenses, and update their license information of record. When the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) could no longer maintain the staff to administer licensing programs, ARRL and other ham organizations stepped forward to create the largely self-regulated VEC programs that are instrumental to healthy ham radio.
One of the least visible of ARRL’s functions, but arguably one of its most important, is its advocacy of amateur radio service to governments and regulatory bodies. In this telecommunications-driven age, the radio spectrum is valuable territory, and many commercial services would like to get access to amateur frequencies, regardless of the long-term effects. ARRL helps regulators and legislators understand the special nature and needs of amateur radio.
ARRL benefits to the public
Although it naturally focuses on its members, ARRL takes its mission to promote amateur radio seriously. To that end, its website is largely open to the public, as are all bulletins broadcast by W1AW (see the preceding section). The organization also provides these services:
Facilitates emergency communications: In conjunction with the field organization, ARES teams around the country provide thousands of hours of public service every year. While individual amateurs render valuable aid in times of emergency, the organization of these efforts multiplies the usefulness of that aid. ARRL staff members also help coordinate disaster response across the country.
Publishes The ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications: First published in 1926, “The Handbook” is used by telecommunications professionals and amateurs alike. Information about the current edition is available at www.arrl.org/arrl-handbook-reference, including a link where you can get your own copy.
Provides technical references: The league publishes numerous technical references and guides, including conference proceedings and standards.
Promotes technical awareness and education: ARRL is involved with the Radio merit badge for scouting and with Jamboree-on-the-Air programs. It also sponsors the Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology to train and license primary and secondary educators.
Taking Part in Specialty Groups
Ham radio is big, wide, and deep. The hobby has many communities that fill