Erstellt am: 12. October 2021

Zuletzt aktualisiert am: 21. December 2022

IARU: Renewal of Amateur Radio

Deutsche Version: IARU: Erneuerung des Amateurfunks
Version française: IARU : Un renouveau pour le radio amateurisme
English version: IARU: Renewal of Amateur Radio

The mega-trend “digital transformation” does not stop at amateur radio, of course!

The profile of amateur radio urgently needs to be adapted to the 21st century. The communication technologies of the last century are at best still of interest to museum curators or collectors. But not for people who are interested in the functioning of modern communication equipment. Modern communications technology is so extremely ubiquitous in today’s high-tech civilisation that at least a basic knowledge of how it works is absolutely essential for understanding modern society.

We radio amateurs must be able to acquire, apply and communicate to the outside world the most modern technological knowledge. Since we have no monetary interests, we enjoy great credibility in analysing and assessing the latest ICT technologies and their impact on society, industry and politics.

From its definition in the radio regulations of the ITU, “amateur radio” has always been a radio service whose players learn modern communication technologies and continuously train themselves in them in order to keep up to date with the latest technology (“state of the art”). USKA takes this requirement into account by offering HamWebinar.ch and HamAcademy, which enable serious further education, especially in the most modern ICT topics. In addition, USKA promotes the efficient exchange of information and experience among our members with our new online topic-focussed meeting places (HamGroups.ch).

USKA is aware of the major challenges ahead. Two years ago, an important meeting of the USKA’s training coordination took place. The documents from this meeting on 19 October 2019 are available here. Following this meeting, a team of members familiar with the latest technologies worked in detail in the USKA Working Group “Future of Amateur Radio”. The implementation work is underway.

From 17 to 21 October 2021, a long overdue IARU R1 workshop will now take place in the same spirit, in an online format due to the pandemic. IARU R1 President Don Beattie G3BJ describes the challenge and the objective of the workshop as follows (quote): “We all know that our world is changing in many ways. This event is the opportunity to understand the implications of those changes and map the way ahead for amateur radio, so that IARU and its Member Societies share a common goal and a set of strategies for the future, and to resource action plans to start us on that journey. Holding an interactive workshop event of this scale is a challenge, but with everyone’s help and active contribution I am hoping for a positive and constructive output which will shape our work for years to come.” (end of quote)

The delegation of the USKA consists of the board members Willi HB9AMC and Urs HB9BKT, as well as Mathias HB9FRV as representative of the “younger generation”. USKA is a supporter of the renewal and will support it with constructive-creative contributions. We agree with the motto of the IARU R1 President: “more of the same is not an option”. We will provide transparent and ongoing information on the negotiations in the USKA News, as we did at the IARU R1 General Conference 2020. We are very curious to see how the other IARU R1 member societies will take up our thoughts and what innovative ideas they themselves will bring to the discussion.

The urgency of action is clear to anyone who has grasped the current age histogram of our members. The reasons for this unfortunately unsustainable state of affairs have been researched and are well known. Anyone who wants to “put off” the need for innovative action any longer is endangering the existence of amateur radio. Ignoring or even negating the “digital transformation” would be fatal and above all irresponsible towards the young!

Willi Vollenweider HB9AMC

P.S. Anyone who would like to participate constructively and actively in this important development process is welcome.