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Founded in 1972, the Richmond Amateur Telecommunications Society is an ARRL Affiliated general-interest ham radio club serving the Richmond Metro area. We operate the W4RAT 442.55 and 443.5875 MHz repeaters. Our club meets via Zoom on the third Friday of each month. Meetings are open to everyone -- you do not need to be a member of the club (or even a licensed ham) to join our meetings. Most of our activities are also open to the public. Our members participate in Field Day, the Virginia QSO Party, and a number of other activities in the area. We invite you to join us.
We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on furthering the art and science of amateur radio by encouraging those interested in electronics and communications to further their knowledge in those fields, promoting the utilization of the higher frequency bands allotted to amateur radio, and offering the use of our communications systems during emergencies and for disaster response. Learn more about RATS.
Need a license? See our Get Licensed page. Our friends at the Catastrophic Amateur Tactical Squad (CATS) offer monthly VE testing in Powhatan County.
Organizing a charity bike ride, marathon, or other special event? Ham radio can help. Contact the Public Service Committee for more information.
Special Offer for New Hams: Qualifying new members can join RATS for FREE. Open to amateurs of any license class who submit a membership application within 180 days of their initial FCC Technician license grant. Renews in October 2026 at the regular rate (currently $35/year). Online application, electronic billing, and enrollment in automatic dues renewal are required. Click here and select the New Ham Rate. Contact info@rats.net for additional information.
Membership Meeting Friday 10/16
Membership Meeting Friday 10/16
The next monthly membership meeting will be held at 7:30 PM on Friday, October 16. Following the business portion of the meeting, we’ll be joined by Howard Waxman WZ4K, Amateur Radio Coordinator for the National Weather Service in Wakefield, Virginia. He will be giving a presentation on the Wakefield SKYWARN storm spotter program, rescheduled from last month. Join us on Zoom.
Video of past meetings and presentations can be found in our Video Library on the RATS Member Services website.
Upcoming Activities and Events
Upcoming Activities and Events
Join us October 17 at Windy Hill for POTA, JOTA, and More
Join us October 17 at Windy Hill for POTA, JOTA, and More
Saturday, October 17, RATS will be meeting in the parking lot of the Windy Hill Sports Complex in Midlothian from 2pm to 6pm to chase some Parks on the Air activators, and if possible, to make some contacts for the annual Boy Scouts' Jamboree on the Air. No food or drink will be provided - instead, please patronize the Windy Hill snack bar to thank them for the use of their parking lot. This is one of four annual POTA Support Your Parks events. [Directions]
November 7: Matoaca Christian Fellowship Church Fall Festival and Chili Cook-Off
November 7: Matoaca Christian Fellowship Church Fall Festival and Chili Cook-Off
Next, CALLING ALL CW OPERATORS! On Saturday, November 7 from 1pm to 3:30pm, RATS will be hosting a table at the Matoaca Christian Fellowship Church's free Fall Festival and Chili Cook-Off. We plan to assemble a CW demonstration station to show off ham radio to the community, so come out and enjoy the fun. [Directions]
Lots More to Come
Lots More to Come
Our Activities Committee has activities planned monthly through early next year. The most recent club email blast has more information. We'll also post announcements of other activities -- like Winter Field day in January -- as those dates get closer.
Welcome, New Board Members!
Welcome, New Board Members!
At the October meeting, the RATS Board of Directors considered several well-qualified candidates and made the following appointments to fill vacancies in accordance with our bylaws:
Kathleen Adams K5HTZ joins the RATS Board to serve nearly a full two-year term for a Director position which went unfilled after the recent annual election.
Nik Grimsley K4NAG is serving for the remaining term of our Treasurer, for about the next year.
Thank you Kathleen, Nik, and everyone else who threw their name into the hat for consideration!
Other Openings at RATS
Other Openings at RATS
In addition, we currently have a vacancy for the role of Secretary. Steve Crow KG4PEQ is maintaining his Director position and also filling in as interim Secretary until that position can be filled permanently. Other open opportunities to serve your club include Public Service Committee Chair and Public Information Officer. If you have direct experience serving in this capacity or if you're willing to learn quickly, drop us a note at board@rats.net for consideration.
Member Survey: Food & Social Gatherings
Member Survey: Food & Social Gatherings
RATS members are encouraged to provide their input on food and beverage options at club activities. We're also gauging interest in a recurring club lunch or other mealtime gathering. Information gathered during this survey will help with planning of future events like Winter Field Day. Active members click here and sign in to take the survey, or look for it under the new Surveys button in our Member Services website. Survey closes October 31.
Feel like you're forgetting something?
Feel like you're forgetting something?
2026-27 dues were due by September 30. If you haven't renewed, your membership has now lapsed. Confirm your status on our Member Services website and pay by December 30 to automatically reinstate.
2026 November Marathon Volunteers Needed
2026 November Marathon Volunteers Needed
Volunteer Registration is now open for the 2026 Allianz Richmond Marathon, coming up on November 14. Our Public Service Team is looking for volunteers to provide communications from various points along the route. You do not need to be experienced operating at events to participate. We will pair you up with someone that is. Operating at events is fun, it gives us skills useful for operating in emergency communications and it shows our local community what we are capable of as radio amateurs.
Volunteer for 2026 Richmond Marathon
To sign up for future RATS Public Service event email updates click here.
Thank You, RATS Members!
Thank You, RATS Members!
It's a new era for RATS, and we couldn't have done it without the support of our members. Our club is growing, we're doing new things, and participation is at one of the highest levels we've seen in many years. Membership is up compared to the same time last year, and over 28% of RATS members are now involved in one of our committees, work groups, special projects, or on the Board of Directors! The members of our Elmer team and DMR Codeplug project have helped countless hams in the area with elmering and technical advice. Our Public Service Committee now organizes ham support for some of the largest events in our area. We've overhauled our meetings to focus more on the fun stuff our members want to see and less club business talk. And now, we've got a dedicated group organizing fun club activities and educational opportunities, with our new Activities Committee. We're thankful for the time, dedication, and financial support of our members and others in the community. Because of you, the future is bright at RATS. Thank you!
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