Royal Union of Belgian Radio Amateurs
Encyclopedia
The Royal Union of Belgian Radio Amateurs (UBA) (in Dutch
, Koninklijk
e Unie van de Belgische Zendamateurs, in French
Union Royale Belge des Amateurs-Emetteurs, in German
Königliche Union der Belgischen Funkamateure) 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
.
and Wallonia merged together. The Réseau Belge (literally, "Belgian Network") was founded in September, 1923 in Brussels
and drew its membership primarily from the French-speaking radio amateurs in Brussels and Wallonia. In February 1926, the Réseau Belge began publishing a membership magazine called QSO. Flemish amateur radio operators were eager to see Dutch language articles in QSO, but were unable to persuade the editor of Réseau Belge to publish them. With the support of the publisher of a small Dutch language
magazine called Radio, the Vlaamsche Radio Bond ("Flemish Radio Association") was founded in Ghent
on September 22, 1929. The new organization established its own magazine called CQ VRB. After World War II
, the two organizations agreed to combine into a unified national radio society for Belgium.
On January 9, 2001, the Royal Union of Belgian Radio Amateurs was officially recognised as an amateur association by ministerial decree under legislation dealing with the establishment of amateur radio stations.
s in Belgium by sponsoring amateur radio operating award
s, radio contests
, and Amateur Radio Direction Finding
competitions. The UBA also operates a QSL
bureau for those members who regularly communicate with amateur radio operators in other countries. UBA represents the interests of Belgian amateur radio operators and shortwave listeners
before Belgian and international telecommunications regulatory authorities. The UBA also publishes a monthly membership magazine called CQ QSO.
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
, Koninklijk
Koninklijk
Koninklijk or Koninklijke is an honorary title given to certain companies and non-profit organizations in Belgium and the Netherlands, by the King or Queen in the respective country. It was first introduced by Louis Bonaparte in 1807, the King of the Netherlands at that time, who awarded the title...
e Unie van de Belgische Zendamateurs, in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
Union Royale Belge des Amateurs-Emetteurs, in German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
Königliche Union der Belgischen Funkamateure) 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 Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. UBA is the national member society representing Belgium 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
The UBA was founded on 25 January 1947, when separate amateur radio organizations based in FlandersFlanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
and Wallonia merged together. The Réseau Belge (literally, "Belgian Network") was founded in September, 1923 in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
and drew its membership primarily from the French-speaking radio amateurs in Brussels and Wallonia. In February 1926, the Réseau Belge began publishing a membership magazine called QSO. Flemish amateur radio operators were eager to see Dutch language articles in QSO, but were unable to persuade the editor of Réseau Belge to publish them. With the support of the publisher of a small Dutch language
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
magazine called Radio, the Vlaamsche Radio Bond ("Flemish Radio Association") was founded in Ghent
Ghent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
on September 22, 1929. The new organization established its own magazine called CQ VRB. After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the two organizations agreed to combine into a unified national radio society for Belgium.
On January 9, 2001, the Royal Union of Belgian Radio Amateurs was officially recognised as an amateur association by ministerial decree under legislation dealing with the establishment of amateur radio stations.
Services
UBA supports amateur radio operatorAmateur 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 Belgium by sponsoring 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, 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 Amateur Radio Direction Finding
Amateur Radio Direction Finding
Amateur radio direction finding is an amateur racing sport that combines radio direction finding with the map and compass skills of orienteering...
competitions. The UBA also operates 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 operators in other countries. UBA represents the interests of Belgian amateur radio operators and shortwave listeners
Shortwave listening
Shortwave listening is the hobby of listening to shortwave radio broadcasts located on frequencies between 1700 kHz and 30 MHz. Listeners range from casual users seeking international news and entertainment programming to hobbyists immersed in the technical aspects of radio reception and DXing...
before Belgian and international telecommunications regulatory authorities. The UBA also publishes a monthly membership magazine called CQ QSO.