The Radio Club Venezolano (RCV) (in English

English language

English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...

 Radio Club of Venezuela) is a national non-profit organization

Non-profit organization

Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...

 for amateur radio

Amateur radio

Amateur radio is the use of designated radio frequency spectrum for purposes of private recreation, non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and emergency communication...

 enthusiasts in Venezuela

Venezuela

Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...

. Key membership benefits of RCV include the sponsorship of amateur radio operating award

Amateur radio operating award

An amateur radio operating award is earned by an amateur radio operator for establishing two-way communication with other amateur radio stations. Awards are sponsored by national amateur radio societies, radio enthusiast magazines, or amateur radio clubs, and aim to promote activity on the amateur...

s and radio contests

Contesting

Contesting is a competitive activity pursued by amateur radio operators. In a contest, an amateur radio station, which may be operated by an individual or a team, seeks to contact as many other amateur radio stations as possible in a given period of time and exchange information...

, and a QSL

QSL

QSL is one of the Q codes used in radiocommunication and radio broadcasting. A Q code message can stand for a statement or a question . In this case, QSL? means "do you confirm receipt of my transmission?" while QSL means "I confirm receipt of your transmission". Some also take it to mean "Query...

 bureau for those members who regularly communicate with amateur radio operator

Amateur radio operator

An amateur radio operator is an individual who typically uses equipment at an amateur radio station to engage in two-way personal communications with other similar individuals on radio frequencies assigned to the amateur radio service. Amateur radio operators have been granted an amateur radio...

s 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

International Amateur Radio Union

The International Amateur Radio Union is an international confederation of national amateur radio organisations that allows a forum for common matters of concern and collectively represents matters to the International Telecommunication Union...

.

History

In 1934, a group of radio broadcasters and science enthusiasts in Venezuela decided to create an institution to organize, teach, and represent the interests of all amateur radio enthusiasts in Venezuela. The Radio Club of Venezuela was founded and experimentation in amateur radio grew in the country. On February 25, 1936, the Telecommunication Department of Venezuela was created. In July, 1936, the first radio amateur licenses in Venezuela were issued. One of the original call signs was YV5AJ, assigned as a club call sign to the Radio Club of Venezuela. On July 25, 1936, the Radio Club of Venezuela was admitted as a member of the International Telecomunication Union.

National Emergency Network

The National Emergency Network is an amateur radio emergency communications

Amateur radio emergency communications

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....

network administered by the Radio Club of Venezuela. The network is called into service when it is required to establish emergency communications during a natural or civil disaster that affects the country. The National Emergency Network uses the volunteer services of amateur radio stations throughout Venezuela, making it possible to establish communications from one side of the country to the other.