The UBA

The UBA (Royal Union of Belgian Amateurs - www.uba.be) is an association of people with a common point of interest: they are all interested in radio communication technology. The statutes clearly establish that amateur radio is a technical hobby and not a communication hobby like CB (Citizen Band).

The UBA represents amateur radio operators with all national and regional authorities (ministries, BIPT, etc...) and defends their interests there, primarily proactively. It also represents Belgian amateur radio operators through its links with the IARU (International Amateur Radio Union) at the highest decision-making levels worldwide (ITU, UN).

The UBA helps and supports its members in all aspects of practicing the hobby (providing information, QSL card service, organizing activities, insurance, legal assistance, etc...) and helps candidate amateur radio operators prepare for the BIPT exam.

B-EARS

Belgium Emergency Amateur Radio Service is part of the UBA and has more than 300 members throughout Belgium who want to serve their fellow citizens with their passion and knowledge of radio.

This also immediately explains the objective of B-EARS: to provide basic radio communication service and exclusively at the request of provincial governors when all traditional communication links (telephone, mobile phone, Astrid, internet, etc.) no longer function.

The predecessor of B-EARS, the 'Emergency Radio Network', had been operational since 1962 at the request of the Red Cross. It became B-EARS in 2009 and expanded thanks to new possibilities offered by legislation for amateur radio operators.

Amateur radio operators often provide the first vital communications to and from disaster areas during natural disasters abroad, thus saving human lives.

There are different procedures for establishing communication and operation with our equipment and knowledge. This is why B-EARS members must follow training that can in many cases also be followed online, interactively and at your own pace. In addition, we regularly organize exercises at provincial or national level.