Every 18 April, radio amateurs worldwide take to the airwaves in celebration of World Amateur Radio Day. It was on this day in 1925 that the International Amateur Radio Union was formed in Paris.
Amateur Radio experimenters were the first to discover that the short wave spectrum — far from being a wasteland — could support worldwide propagation. In the rush to use these shorter wavelengths, Amateur Radio was “in grave danger of being pushed aside,” the IARU’s history has noted. Amateur Radio pioneers met in Paris in 1925 and created the IARU to support Amateur Radio worldwide.
Just two years later, at the International Radiotelegraph Conference, Amateur Radio gained the allocations still recognized today — 160, 80, 40, 20, and 10 meters. Since its founding, the IARU has worked tirelessly to defend and expand the frequency allocations for Amateur Radio. Thanks to the support of enlightened administrations in every part of the globe, radio amateurs are now able to experiment and communicate in frequency bands strategically located throughout the radio spectrum. From the 25 countries that formed the IARU in 1925, the IARU has grown to include 160 member-societies in three regions. IARU Region 1 includes Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Northern Asia. Region 2 covers the Americas, and Region 3 is comprised of Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific island nations, and most of Asia. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has recognized the IARU as representing the interests of Amateur Radio.
Today, Amateur Radio is more popular than ever, with more than 3,000,000 licensed operators!
World Amateur Radio Day is the day when IARU Member-Societies can show our capabilities to the public and enjoy global friendship with other Amateurs worldwide.
Theme for World Amateur Radio Day 2022 Announced
The IARU Administrative Council has chosen “Celebrating Amateur Radio’s Contribution to Society” as the theme for World Amateur Radio Day, Monday, 18 April 2022.
Groups should promote their WARD activity on social media by using the hash tag #WorldAmateurRadioDay on Twitter and Facebook. IARU will list all WARD activities. To have your WARD activity listed, send an email to IARU Secretary Joel Harrison, W5ZN.
Denmark: Danish radio amateurs will activate 5P0WARD on April 18 and awards will be available for contacts.
United States: The ARRL has created a web page in support of World Amateur Radio Day: http://www.arrl.org/world-amateur-radio-day
The TEN-TEC Legacy Nets returns in 2022 to celebrate World Amateur Radio Day welcoming Check-ins across three bands, 80m,40m,20m on April 18th. Band/Operating Schedules will be posted prior to the event here: http://groups.io/g/TENTECLEGACYNETS. Net Control stations will log Check-ins via Netlogger.org to eliminate pile-ups and drive accuracy. The Netlogger Net Name will be “WARD 2022.” Once logged in to Netlogger WARD 2022, confirm the operating band/frequency. Check-ins confirmed on all (3) Bands earn a “Clean Sweep” Endorsement. A 2022 WARD/TTLN Certificate of Achievement will be emailed on/before 05/01/22. All contributions will be forwarded to the IARU/WARD. Event Facilitator: W4OVT
VOIP/ECHOLINK *ROC-HAM* Conference node #531091
18 – 19 April 13:00 — 04:00 UTC (9AM EDT-1AM EDT) via VOIP/ECHOLINK *ROC-HAM* Conference node #531091/Allstar #2585,47620, 53130, 53131. W2JLD, GW8SZL, 2W0KYH, VA3ODJ, KI50ZZ, KC5FM, GM0UUB, KD2GUT, KL7RCS Net Controllers. Special event callsign W2W. All stations from around the world are encouraged to check in. Special event qsl Card will be available via S.A.S.E. for more info goto www.roc-ham.net
