RATS Meeting: DMR Basics - Friday @ 7:30p | More club news inside

Following the business portion of the meeting, Steve Crow KG4PEQ will give a frequently-requested presentation on beginner-level DMR operation. About half of the content is a repeat from a similar presentation in June 2024, but this time we’ll also look at the new RATS DMR File Generator tool that launched earlier this month and some of the expanded network coverage that’s now available through our Codeplug Project. We’ll talk about basic DMR terminology and features, how to find programming files for your radio and get support with setup, navigating channels and zones, talkgroup selection, calling procedures, and traveling on other DMR networks. (This is not a “how to make a codeplug” class – we’ll offer another weekend training session on that topic later this summer.)

Mark Your Calendars: Field Day 2026 at Laurel Recreation Area

We will host our annual Summer Field Day event at our usual spot, Laurel Recreation Area in Henrico County, on June 27 and 28. You don’t want to miss this one! Our Activities Committee has planned several fun things to coincide with the usual Field Day festivities, including tape measure Yagi antenna-building and a transmitter hunt afterward. (Bill N4WLC has been talking about these tape measure Yagis for like three years now, so these things ought to be AMAZING!) We’ll have a full schedule of activities posted to our website soon. We hope to see you there.

New DMR File Generator Makes Programming Easy

We now offer an exclusive DMR File Generator that makes customized CSV or Excel files for import directly into your CPS. No more messy N0GSG Conversions! Supports over 100 models and several popular third-party applications including EditCP, CPEditor, OpenGD77, and Motorola CPS 2.0. You'll get an importable contact list and channel file, and if your radio has importable zones, we'll give you those, too. We also provide step-by-step instructions customized to your CPS that walk you through getting our files into your software and (if necessary) building the zones.

RATS has you covered all up and down the east coast! We have zones from Fort Kent, Maine to Miami, Florida including almost two dozen C-Bridge DMR networks and Brandmeister systems. Here's a map. Club members have full access to our entire channel library, and anyone can use guest access to program a radio for the DMRVA and HEARS networks in Virginia and North Carolina. You can also send a limited number of full-access guest passes to your non-member friends. Headed out on vacation? Pull down the latest updates before you go!

Currently offering around 6,000 channels in over 450 zones with additional systems added weekly. Travel zones have an emphasis on Virginia talkgroups for easy communication with friends back home.

RATS Joins the NC VA Fusion Network

The WIRES-X service on our 442.55 MHz dual-mode FM+C4FM repeater now idles on the NC VA Fusion Network. This system links 15+ C4FM and DMR repeaters primarily in southern Virginia and northern North Carolina. The NC VA Fusion Network has more participating repeaters and offers more ways to connect into the system from outside the area vs. our old home on the Virginia Room.

All linked repeaters are reachable from anywhere through WIRES-X Room 68425, YSF Reflector 80822, Brandmeister DMR talkgroup 311095, P25 reflector 822, or NXDN reflector 822. TG 311095 has been added to our DMR File Generator's Brandmeister zones.

A weekly net is held every Saturday evening at 7:30 PM.

Candidates Sought for Board Election

About half of the RATS Board of Directors comes up for election each year, with positions serving staggered 2-year terms beginning in mid September. This year, the following positions are up for election:

► President: Currently Jeff Walton KN4SYE

► Vice President: Currently Judi LeHuquet N4JDI

► Directors: Three positions, held by Michael "Chevy" Chevalier KK4OWU, Rob Marshall KI4MCW, and Wayne Scarberry K9WVU

If you have the qualifications and interest in helping to run our club for the next couple of years or if you know someone who does, send your nominations to elec...@rats.net. Nominations are due by the end of June. Ballots will be sent electronically to all Full members in good standing during the month of July. There are no term limits at RATS. Existing officers and directors can run again (and again, and again!)

RATS is more than just a ham radio club. We’re a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation with a mission and obligation to serve and benefit our community. We need dedicated, active volunteers in our club leadership who are willing to take on new projects, participate in or lead special work groups, support our committees, and help make RATS stronger for all of our members.

Serving on the Board is not just about attending meetings or holding a title. It is about helping guide the direction of the club, listening to members, solving problems, supporting our repeaters and programs, encouraging new ideas, and making sure RATS continues to be a welcoming, useful, and active organization for hams of all experience levels.

We especially encourage nominations from members who are willing to be hands-on, communicate well, follow through on commitments, and work cooperatively with others. Whether your interests are technical projects, public service, education, member activities, digital modes, repeaters, youth outreach, emergency communications, events, fundraising, or simply helping the club stay organized and moving forward, there is important work to be done.

If you care about the future of RATS, please consider stepping up or encouraging another qualified member to do so. A strong club depends on members who are willing to contribute their time, ideas, and energy.

Membership Renewals and Dues for 2026-2027

The Board of Directors has approved our dues schedule for the next membership year, which starts October 1. Dues are unchanged.

We will continue to offer our popular New Ham Rate: a no-cost first-year Full membership for any newly-licensed ham who applies within 180 days of their initial FCC license grant, which renews at the standard Full Membership rate.

We will begin accepting renewals on July 1. Dues will be due by September 30.

Meetings and Club Contacts

Next membership meeting: Friday, May 15 at 7:30 PM

Next Board meeting: Wednesday, June 3 at 6:30 PM

Link to all meetings: https://go.rats.net/zoom

Meeting minutes and video: https://www.rats.net/club-info/minutes

Listen to our repeaters from anywhere with the Broadcastify network and Brandmeister Hoseline

Club leadership, committee, and workgroup contact information is available on our website.

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