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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 2027 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.
Upcoming Activities and Events
Upcoming Activities and Events
November 7: Matoaca Christian Fellowship Church Fall Festival and Chili Cook-Off
November 7: Matoaca Christian Fellowship Church Fall Festival and Chili Cook-Off
On Saturday, November 7 from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. EST, 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]
December 12: 10-Meter Dipole Build Party
December 12: 10-Meter Dipole Build Party
On Saturday, December 12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST, please join us at Dorey Park Picnic Shelter #4 in the East End (near the airport) for a fun antenna build. To encourage everyone to operate in the ARRL 10 Meter contest that weekend, we will be building 10-meter dipoles from whatever you bring with you! Bring any kind of scrap wire from home, and we'll help you rig it up, tune it, and if possible, help you make a couple of contacts on the 10-meter band. You'll need a little over 5 meters of wire - that can come from 9 or 10 feet of extension cord, lamp cord, or speaker wire split in half; a re-worked network cable, telephone cord, or cable TV coax; or even something only vaguely wire-ish, like an old slinky... if it's some kind of metal, we'll see if we can get it working. Bragging rights go to the folks who can make a working antenna with the most interesting raw materials! [Map]
December 18: RATS Holiday Party
December 18: RATS Holiday Party
The very next weekend, on Friday, December 18, we'll be hosting the RATS Holiday Party. This year's party will be at the Cracker Barrel on Mayland Court (adjacent to the Gaskins Road / Interstate 64 interchange in the West End). Dinner is at 7 p.m. EST, and everyone gets separate checks so order whatever you'd like! Please RSVP so that we know how many folks are coming. [Directions]
January 23-24: Winter Field Day
January 23-24: Winter Field Day
Be sure to save the weekend of January 23-24, 2027 - Winter Field Day is coming! RATS has reserved a huge cabin / dining hall at Pocahontas State Park that will be our hamshack for the weekend. We will have full heat (and A/C, you never know), plenty of parking, and best of all, indoor bathrooms! Bring a cot or a comfy folding chair and stay all night. There will be plenty of food, multiple foxhunts, a pico-balloon launch (weather permitting), and more. Stay tuned to the RATS website, nets, and membership meetings to learn more as we get closer to the event.
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 as those dates get closer. If you have ideas for additional activites, or would like to help us plan future events, we'd love to have you on the team! Please send an email to activities@rats.net.
Member Surveys: Food & Social Gatherings, C4FM/WIRES-X
Member Surveys: Food & Social Gatherings, C4FM/WIRES-X
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.
We're also running a short member survey on the club's C4FM and WIRES-X services. We'd like your input on the digital services offered by our 442.55 repeater.
Active members look for the Surveys button in our Member Services website. Both surveys have been extended through November 20.
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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