WRRL FAQs

Q: Is the WRRL in competition with the ARRL or other national societies?

A: NO. The WRRL supports any organization that promotes service to the public through amateur radio. WRRL encourages emcomm operators to interface and coordinate with the ARRL, the ARES® and NTS, and other bona fide emcomm groups in localities where a viable organization exists. However, the ARRL is a diverse organization that promotes many other aspects of amateur radio. Therefore, it is often spread very thin.

The WRRL is focused solely upon emergency communications and service to the public. (FCC Part 97.1) The mission of the WRRL is to supplement amateur radio emcomm and fill in some much-needed gaps that are now being neglected or abandoned.

Q: Does the WRRL advocate use what is commonly called ARRL or NTS guidelines?

A: Yes and no. Actually, the universal RADIOGRAM predates the ARRL. With only minor variations, it has been used by land telegraphers and radio telegraphers in commercial, military, naval, the U. S. Post Office, and other services. The ARRL/NTS is however to be commended for keeping the universal RADIOGRAM alive.

Q: Does the WRRL advocate the use of Winlink®, IRLP, and/or other radio-landline "hybrid" systems for emergency communications?

A: NO. We are the World Radio Relay League. We promote self-reliance using, basic, sturdy, infrastructure free, radio communication equipment; and our focus is upon training a corps of skilled and proficient live radio traffic handlers…whether they are deployed in a field operation…or serving as relay operators at their home station.

Q: What do I get for my $5.00 initial membership fee and my $5.00 annual dues?

A: You get the satisfaction of knowing that you are supporting (in a tangible way) the mission of World Radio Relay League which is manifested by: our official journal EMCOMM MONTHLY, the NATIONAL EMCOMM TRAFFIC SERVICE (N.E.T.S.), and AMATEUR RADIO COMMUNICATIONS TEAMS (ARCTs). Plus: As a member you can order and proudly wear the WRRL shoulder patch (available in 2006)…and when you join…you get a nice certificate!

Q: I am an ARRL Field Organization appointee. Do I need to resign if I join WRRL?

A: NO. You can do both if you wish. Same is true for appointees in other organizations.

Q: I’m a newly licensed technician level ham and my station consists of one handie-talkie. Can I join the WRRL?

A: Yes. (Providing that you meet the other membership requirements.) In a disaster operation a ham with an HT located at a shelter or other key location can not only handle TACTICAL (informal) traffic, but may be kept very busy formatting and originating message traffic and relaying it to another station (within VHF range of course) for forwarding . And as a new emcomm operator you’ll have less bad habits to “unlearn”.

Q: Does the WRRL have county, district, or state "units" or "chapters"?

A: NO. WRRL believes that a lot of time and energy has been wasted on the "political" side of amateur radio and that all this organizational posturing and rhetoric is…simply stated…an unnecessary "evil"! WRRL is for amateur radio operators who love radio; and, who enjoy providing public service radio communications. WRRL is not a "you scratch my back and I’ll scratch your back" social club; nor, is it a sideshow for inflated egos. Hopefully this will eliminate power struggles and "turf wars" and WRRL members will therefore have no reason to "butt heads" over who is in control of what. Every member is in control of one thing: Their own amateur radio station(s) and how well it is maintained and operated! We intend to recruit as many skilled operators as possible with fixed, portable and/or mobile stations that have emergency capability with one primary focus: "getting the message delivered"!

WRRL stations are not aligned with this or that club, district or section and identify with their call sign and physical location. (Usually a city, a nearby town, or some other recognizable landmark. - Ref.: WHAT IS YOUR LOCATION? in EMCOMM MONTHLY - December 2005.) Example: "WRRL 1 Macdoel, California." Disasters and communication emergencies do not respect geopolitical boundaries. It is not uncommon for a station far outside an affected area (often a considerable distance away) to relay message traffic. WRRL relay stations do not need to obtain "permission" from anyone to handle emcomm traffic. However, WRRL stations will interface with other networks that observe these patterns, anytime it will facilitate the flow of message traffic.

Q: I am considering joining the WRRL, but I have a question. Back in 2004 while operating at the Weather Service Appreciation day, I received a card from an Official Observer that I had operated "out of band". I was not aware I had done it until I received the card several days later. Needless to say I was very upset and shocked that it happened. I was using an unfamiliar radio, and according to the OO's card the frequency was 14.349.64. I got too close to the band edge without realizing it. I have been extra careful ever since that I stay away from the band edges. My question is, does this incident disqualify me from joining with the "zero tolerance" rule?

A: We only wish that all operators were like you. You made an honest mistake, learned from it, and you are now a better operator because of it. The WRRL policy of ZERO TOLERANCE for illegal transmissions (failure to properly identify, out of band operation, excessive power, broadcasting, willful or malicious interference, etc.), does NOT disqualify you from membership. The policy is aimed at operators who thumb their nose at the rules and continue to engage in sloppy or willful illegal operation. We DO require that there be no pending disciplinary matters on your amateur license. A notice from an "OO" is not a disciplinary matter. If you have met the requirements in Article III we look forward to having you as a WRRL member.

Too many hams have not been properly educated (or don't care) and are not knowledgeable about signal width. They think that as long as the readout on the transmitter shows numbers below the legal band edge they are in compliance with the FCC rules. NOT! On SSB and CW 3 kHz is usually considered to be a safe distance from a band (or sub band) edge, assuming of course that your emissions are not excessively wide.

Q: I noticed that TYPE I ARCT members must be trained in first aid/EMT. Do Fire and Rescue personnel that are First Responders (one step below EMT), meet that requirement?

A: The personnel you mention certainly meet the "first aid/CPR or EMT-1" requirement for a TYPE I ARCT. There is a difference between the EMS term: "first responder" (a level just below EMT-I in most states); and the ICS/NIMS term: "first responder". The primary reason for the TYPE I ARCT requirement is be able to provide care its own team members should they become injured or suddenly ill, without placing an extra load on the primary EMS providers within a disaster area. Of course, care provided by trained persons on an ARCT is not limited to their team. If necessary, they may provide appropriate care to anyone.

Q: What is EM's philosophy regarding reimbursement and/or pay from served agencies for emcomm services provided by radio amateurs?

A: Most hams learned when they studied for their license, that receiving "pay" for amateur radio public service is prohibited by law. (An exception is made for public service employees who may use amateur radio incidentally during an emergency or for training purposes while performing their regular paid duties.)

Amateurs who respond to disasters are permitted to receive reimbursement for actual out-of-pocket expenses if it is offered. But, they should not make their response contingent upon any reimbursement whether real or perceived. If they are unable or are unwilling to pay their own way...they should stay home and operate as a relay station. (It is odd that many Americans never think twice about spending beau coup dollars on a vacation and/or stuff their money into a slot machine or blow it at a craps table, but they are not willing to respond to a disaster without being reimbursed or paid.)

EM's infrastructure free philosophy of being self-supporting and self-sufficient extends to not being dependent upon any government agency or other NGO for funding. However, if meals and/or lodging are provided, or reimbursement is offered for mileage or other expenses we will certainly not turn it down. The TYPE I ARCTS that are certified by WRRL are self-supporting, and they are free to do their own fund raising and budgeting. But let none of us forget this Golden Rule: "He that holds the gold...makes the rules". We believe that amateur radio (including public service) is just like everything else in life. If you can't afford it...don't do it.