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, November 19th 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.
“Demystifying C4FM and WIRES-X”
Rick Lee, N6PSP will be presenting.
Rick will speak on C4FM & Wires-X to demystify and clarify it’s capabilities and availabilities for speaking around the world without a large antenna and expensive HF equipment.
Rick was instrumental in the procurement and configuration of the new RATS digital repeater on Edom Hill. He will be able to answer all your questions about configuration and operation of C4FM capable radios.
About Rick:
After driving a tank for the United States Marines Corps, Rick resumed his work as an ambulance attendant until he was hired by Palm Springs as a Police / Fire dispatcher. Rick has been using radios in his professional life for most of his adult life. After retiring, Rick studied for and got his Technician’s license in 2016. In 2019 after taking Glenn’s class, Rick got his general ticket. Rick has served as a Desert RAT board member since 2017 with a strong interest in digital voice modes on VHF & UHF frequencies.
Upcoming Events
Winter Field Day
January 25th & 26th 2025
The RATS will again conducting Winter Field Day operations from Lake Cahuilla Regional Veterans Park in La Quinta.
More details will be available soon.
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.
