The South Boston DMR repeater is being relocated and it's getting a new frequency and color code.  The RATS Master codeplugs for CS750, CS800D, and DJ-MD5 series radios have been updated to reflect this change in the SBO South Boston zone.

Get more details in this announcement from DMRVA.

Updated codeplugs are now available from https://rats.net/codeplugs.  These new files are dated 4/14/2024 and support 34 popular DMR radios either directly or though free conversion software.  Since this is a minor update, users of these radios who have made significant additions to their codeplug may find it easier to make a mass update to their existing SBO zone using the N0GSG Contact Manager software, or by manual updates to the 14 impacted channels using their CPS.

This change does not impact the Limited (LTD) series codeplugs on our web site, so those will not be re-generated.

RATS members can now easily find upcoming club activities from their mobile device using the Wild Apricot for Members app.  Download the app and sign in with an active RATS.net web login.  Members can also access a directory of Board and Committee member contact information while on the go.

Download from the Apple App Store
Download from the Google Play Store

A large number of volunteers are needed for the Virginia Special Olympics Summer Games, Friday and Saturday June 7 and 8 at the University of Richmond.

The only equipment needed should be an analog UHF HT, a battery in good shape (and perhaps a spare), and an external audio accessory that allows you to hear and be heard in a high noise environment.

Please note that most positions will be outside or potentially strenuous.

If you're available for a few hours either day, or if you have any questions, please contact Darren Faulkner KG4INW via email.

The monthly meeting of the RATS Board of Directors will happen tonight at 6:30 PM on Zoom.  All RATS members are invited to attend and participate.  Minutes and video from last month's meeting can be found at rats.net/minutes.  You'll find links to the Board meeting on our Meetings page.

Received from the folks at the Keeble Observatory at RMC:

On Monday April 8th, from 2:00 - 4:30 PM, there will be a partial solar eclipse in Richmond.  Watch it with us at Randolph-Macon College!

Coverage of the Sun will peak at about 3:15 PM with 83% coverage of the Sun, but you'll be able to see the Moon cutting across the Sun the whole time. We will be set up at the Randolph-Macon College soccer field with solar glasses, a telescope with a solar filter (you can see sunspots plus the eclipse, it's a nice telescope), demonstrations for creating a pinhole camera to see the Sun (you will need to bring your own cardboard box, like a cereal box), and some "eclipse" cookies and drinks (while supplies last!). Feel free to bring a lawn chair and camp out on the field for the eclipse.

We will be set up at the soccer field on the North end of campus, not at the observatory. There is parking nearby. Parking can be accessed via W Patrick Street. A Google Maps view is here: https://imgur.com/eo8lchy

We will post any updates or cancellations (if it's cloudy/rainy) on our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/keebleobservatory/.

Note that this is only a partial eclipse and not a total eclipse, so the Sun will still be too bright to look at without proper eyewear! More information on the eclipse can be found here: https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/usa/richmond?iso=20240408

Randolph-Macon College is located in the town of Ashland, one mile west of I-95 on VA-54/England Street, I-95 exit 92B.  That's about 20 minutes north of Richmond.  The college, observatory, and soccer field are also an easy walk from the Ashland Amtrak station (ASD).

Intermittently over the last couple of years, several club members have let us know they aren't receiving email communications from the club, or that those messages were being redirected to their spam folder.  Some of these complaints have re-surfaced in recent weeks.

RATS has implemented all currently available technologies to ensure our outbound emails are correctly classified by spam filters.  Notably, Sender Policy Framework (SPF), Domain Keys Identified Mail (DKIM), and Domain-based Message Authentication Reporting and Conformance (DMARC) are three widely supported standards supported on the RATS domains.  These were confirmed working as of 3/17/2024 on rats.net and members.rats.net (test results here and here) but messages coming out of our Wild Apricot membership management system may still be problematic due to continued defects in their email functions (test result here).  For our part, we've done what we can to ensure proper delivery.

RATS respects member email opt-out requests submitted through the club's Wild Apricot membership portal.  Please do not mark club messages as spam.

Members should check their spam folders for recent club messages and mark those messages as "not spam" where supported.  The proper marking of messages helps train many of the common spam filtering systems.

Consider setting up filters to ensure messages from the club are always delivered to your email Inbox.  Here is a list of RATS email domains:

• rats.net
• members.rats.net
• tech.rats.net
• frostfest.com
• rats.wildapricot.org

Here are general email filter setup instructions for several popular email service providers used by our members:

• AOL
• Comcast
• Gmail
• Microsoft Outlook (web or desktop)
• Proton Mail
• Yahoo Mail

Club newsletters currently go out two to three times a month with meeting information and other topics of interest to the membership.  If you are a current RATS member and you have not been receiving these emails, check your email settings by signing in to your member profile.  Confirm that you have the right email address on file and that you have not opted out.

Setting up filters now will ensure you receive renewal notices, payment and donation receipts, and a link to your ballot in the upcoming elections.

As of 10:00 PM Saturday evening, RATS has shut down the W4RAT VA QSO Party station at Laurel Park.  Equipment is being packed up and will be returned to storage.  We will not be reactivating this station tomorrow.

The VA QSO Party continues until midnight tonight, and then 8 AM to 8 PM tomorrow.  You are encouraged to participate from home, in the car, or wherever you happen to be.

Thank you to everyone who came out to join us today.  Special thanks to those who helped make this event possible through donations, setup/tear-down help, equipment transport, and planning.

Currently, the next big club activity on our calendar is Summer Field Day at Laurel Park in late June.

The monthly RATS Membership Meeting is this Friday, March 15 at 7:30 PM on Zoom.

Minutes for the last RATS meeting (February 16) have been posted to rats.net/minutes for membership review and approval at this week's meeting.

If you missed last month's presentations on the Virginia QSO Party and QRP operations, you can find those videos at rats.net/minutes.  See Part 2 for the VA QSO Party, and Part 3 for QRP.

This month we'll be discussing our upcoming club activity:  The Virginia QSO Party at Laurel Park.  We will also discuss the upcoming club elections and solicit volunteers for the Nominating Committee.

Steve Crow KG4PEQ will give a presentation on various non-ham personal radio services.  In particular, we will take a look at the capabilities and benefits of the General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) which has enjoyed a surge in popularity over the last few years.  And we'll briefly cover a few other Part 95 services you might want to include in your well-equipped communications toolbox.  There will be plenty of opportunity for Q&A after the meeting.

The club is currently looking for presenters at the April meeting and beyond.  If there's some topic you'd like to talk about or a presenter you'd like to see, get in touch with our Program Committee, programs@rats.net.

The 2024 Virginia QSO Party will take place the weekend of March 16 & 17.

VAQP is designed to promote amateur radio activity in Virginia's 95 counties and 38 independent cities.  This contest offers an abundance of certificates and plaques for operators of all skill levels and capabilities.  RATS has sponsored the Single Operator VHF Only plaque for many years.

You'll find the full contest rules here.

Weather permitting, we plan to put a radio or two on the air at Laurel Park in Henrico County.  We will be back at the same shelter we use for Summer Field Day every year.  RATS control operators will be on site for the entire event and the club's W4RAT call sign will be in use.  You do not need to be a ham and you don't need any particular class of license to participate under the direct supervision of one of our control operators.  Bring a friend!

Activity timeline:

• Saturday 3/16, 8:00 AM - Meet Technical Committee at the club storage unit near Chesterfield Town Center to pick up and transport radio equipment.  If you're available to assist, contact president@rats.net.
• Saturday approx. 10:00 AM - Begin equipment setup and antenna-hanging at Laurel Park
• After setup, and until midnight - VAQP operations
• Sunday 3/17, 8:00 AM to no later than 2:00 PM - VAQP operations
• Sunday by 2:00 PM - RATS activities end.  All equipment returns to storage.  We may end early, depending on turn-out and weather.
• NOTE:  The QSO Party continues until 8:00 PM Sunday, so there's plenty of time to participate from home!

Please note:  This is a low budget activity.  RATS is not providing food.  Covered picnic tables and a grill are available, and you're encouraged to bring your own food.  Numerous restaurants, convenience stores, and supermarkets are just a few minutes away.  Bottled water, coolers with ice, and basic grilling supplies will be provided.

Here's a map showing where to park.

Received from RATS member Jim Rubin W4PKR:

Saturday, April 20th, 2024 is the Ukrop's Monument 10K Race in Richmond, which we volunteered for the first time last year, supplying back-up communications support for race management (Sports Backers, Inc).

There will be a need for as many as 18-20 operators. I am taking names and information for those interested now. You do not need to be experienced operating events to join, as race management has approved having new people pair up with our more experienced operators to see what takes place at these events.

Volunteering for events is fun, it's a great way to give back to our community and it helps to hone our skills for operating under emergency conditions, should we ever be called to do so. Plus, it is a great way to show our community what we are capable of as hams.

Please get in touch with me if you are interested in joining us for the race at my email below. In your email, please include your name, call sign, a cell phone number, what portable equipment you have and if you have prior experience operating at events. Thanks for volunteering!

73,
Jim Rubin, W4PKR
jimrubin2010@gmail.com

Please contact Jim if you are able to assist.