Welcome to the Home of the Desert RATS
Welcome to the home of the Desert Radio Amateur Transmitting Society. We are located in the Coachella Valley in Riverside County, California and serve Amateur Radio operators in and around the Coachella Valley, including the cities of Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Coachella and Indio.
Upcoming Meetings
Our next meeting will be Tuesday, January 21st at 7:00 P.M.
It will be a Zoom meeting and the Zoom details will be sent out to the newsletter list on Monday prior to the event. If you would like to sign up for our newsletter, click here.
Ray Novak, N9JA Senior Sales Manager for ICOM America will be presenting.
About Ray:
Ray began his career in 1988 at MFJ Enterprises as an electronics technician after graduating from Northeast Mississippi Community College. From there he moved into international sales, later adding domestic sales to his role as sales manager. He credits Martin Jue, founder of MFJ, as an early career mentor and coach.
Throughout his 30 years in the amateur radio industry, he has been an innovator and leader. Through his and Icom America’s support of countless hamfests, Contest University, Ham Nation, AmateurLogic.tv, and Scouting, to name just a few, he has served to significantly advance amateur radio across the country and around the world.
Winter Field Day
January 25th & 26th 2025
Winter Field Day will be held on January 25th & 26th 2025. The RATS will again be conducting operations from Lake Cahuilla Regional Veterans Park in La Quinta.
There are several of us with RVs that will be camping for the weekend. We will have radios set up, operating multi bands and modes. So come on out for a few hours or the day. We will be at the far end of the RV section.
We will also have a variety of demonstrations including:
- ARES Drill accompanied by a Q&A session
- C4FM / WIRES-X link node utilizing StarLink internet
- Soldering and crimping tutorials
See your newsletter for more details
PAPA Palm Desert Luncheon
PAPA Palm Desert Luncheon Saturday February 1st
NEW VENUE! Denny’s Palm Desert
PAPA will be meeting in person on Saturday February 1, 2025 at 11:00am at Denny’s Palm Desert:
42455 Washington St.
Palm Desert, CA 92211
(442) 227-2820
Door Prizes!
Our PAPA Partners have agreed to support our Luncheons and Breakfasts with their products for door prizes. One winner will be able to select from five different prizes. The goal is to sell a minimum of $300 worth of tickets to cover the cost of the door prize and help raise funds for PAPA projects.
If you are planning to attend, please RSVP here so we know how many guests to expect.
Yuma Hamfest – February 14th – 15th
The annual Yuma Hamfest and Southwestern Division Convention will be held on February 14th and 15th2025. Vendor, camping and tailgating registrations are now open. You can register or get more information here.
Club Picnic – Save the Date
We will be holding our annual Club Picnic on March 22nd at the Lake Cahuilla Veterans Park (same location as last year). Save the date – more details will be forthcoming as we get closer.
A Note on Amateur Radio License Testing
Remote Testing for amateur licensing is available from the Greater Los Angeles Amateur Radio Group (GLAARG).
GLAARG is one of the 14 FCC-recognized Volunteer-Exam Coordinators conducting amateur radio exams. GLAARG is a VEC testing organization, not a radio club. Our exam fee is $10 for remote exams and $10 for in-person exams. Exam fees are waived for minors, students with a current ID, first responders, Active Military, Veterans, and GLAARG VEs upgrading to Extra.
For more information on times for the online testing please see the GLAARG website here.
Note that GLAARG also offers in-person testing when COVID regulations permit.
Other Testing Resources
The ARRL is facilitating video supervised on-line examinations. This testing is made available by video from a number of Clubs.
For more information, the ARRL website for remote testing is available here.
Also, Marc – N9WIB has assembled a series of technician class license tutorials. There are 20 presentations covering all the topics related to getting your initial ham radio license and all are posted on YouTube. This content is free and open to all Amateur Radio Clubs to use as an educational tool. Links and further information are available on his website here.
Here is a study aid for the web and smartphones available here.
Members of the Desert RATS club try our best to live by this code at all times.
The Radio Amateur Is:
* CONSIDERATE…never knowingly operates in such a way as to lessen the pleasure of others.
* LOYAL…offers loyalty, encouragement and support to other amateurs, local clubs, and the American Radio Relay League, through which Amateur Radio in the United States is represented nationally and internationally.
* PROGRESSIVE…with knowledge abreast of science, a well-built and efficient station and knowledge above reproach.
* FRIENDLY…slow and patient operating when requested; friendly
advise and counsel to the beginner; kindly assistance, cooperation and consideration for the interests of others. These are the hallmarks of the amateur spirit.
* BALANCED…radio is an avocation, never interfering with duties owed to family, job, school or community.
* PATRIOTIC…station and skill always ready for service to country
and community.
