On the State of Relay: Radio Relay International

Post date: Mar 9, 2018 1:58:28 PM

9 MARCH 2018—Radio Relay International (RRI) is an organization dedicated to the standardization, training, and support of relaying messages by radio. Especially when critical infrastructure has failed, the network of two-way radio stations able to originate, relay, and deliver messages with word-for-word and letter-for-letter accuracy is important.

The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) was organized in part to coordinate the efforts of radio operators in what had become the National Traffic System (NTS). Over time ARRL has focused its attention on other programs including the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) without significantly including NTS capabilities. RRI was formed in 2016 to address the need to coordinate and to support radio traffic handlers.

Central Ohio Traffic Net (COTN) has associated itself with RRI, as have several of the regular operators. Our current net manager C. Matthew Curtin KD8TTE is the trustee for RRI's callsign W6RRI.

RRI is the topic of episode 394 of Ham Radio Now, with founders Joe Ames W3JY and James Wades WB8SIW. Hear the development of RRI, what's happening now, and what to look for in the future.