Asocijacija radioamatera u Bosni i Hercegovini

Lore & Background

The Amateur Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina was established in Sarajevo in 1947, with local unions soon formed in other major cities of the Republic. During the 1950s, activity largely involved simple homemade equipment, which laid the groundwork for more complex communications. The first ham radio contact in Bosnia and Herzegovina took place on 6 July 1950, spurring the organization of federal, republican, and club competitions. By the 1970s, Bosnian-Herzegovinian hams had acquired increasingly sophisticated radio equipment and antenna systems and began achieving better placements in national and international contests.

With the outbreak of war in Croatia in 1991, Bosnian hams began sending news via short and ultrashort waves. After the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina began in 1992, phone systems were largely cut off, and inner regions were completely blocked. Ham radio became vitally important: in April 1992, hams were used for the first time to send information about the situation to other parts of Europe and the world, including messages to individuals, governments, media, humanitarian organizations, and religious communities. In many cases, ham radio was the only way for Bosnians to stay in touch with loved ones abroad and for people worldwide to obtain information about family and friends under siege. It is estimated that more than three million messages were exchanged during the war, and about 1,500 young people passed their first exam and became amateur radio operators. Hams from neighboring countries, Europe, and the rest of the world provided significant help in exchanging humanitarian messages during the 1992–96 war.

At the beginning of 1993, the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina joined the International Telecommunication Union as an independent state and received the prefix T9. The association became a member of the International Amateur Radio Union on 27 December 1993. The merit of the association was recognized by the International League of Humanists on 16 November 1999 in Trieste, with an award for its work and contributions during the war. ARAuBiH also became the first member of CEPT from among the unions resulting from the disintegration of former Yugoslavia.

Reader's Guide

ARAuBiH's significance stems from its role as the sole national representative of amateur radio operators in Bosnia and Herzegovina, both domestically and internationally. Its membership in the International Amateur Radio Union and its early CEPT membership underscore its integration into global amateur radio structures. The association's wartime service is a defining legacy: during the 1992–96 conflict, when conventional telecommunications collapsed, ham radio became the primary channel for humanitarian communication, with over three million messages relayed. This effort earned recognition from the International League of Humanists in 1999. The association continues to support its members through a QSL bureau, operating awards and contests, a diversified repeater network, and digital communication infrastructure. Its magazine, Radio T9, is distributed in other European countries and is recognized as a specialized amateur radio publication. With more than 4,100 licenses issued and about 850 current members, ARAuBiH maintains an active community that participates in major international competitions and organizes annual championships in various disciplines.

Did You Know?

• During the 1992–96 war, an estimated three million messages were exchanged via ham radio.
• About 1,500 young people passed their first amateur radio exam during the war.