Lunch at Denny's every Thursday @ 11:00am
Several members of the club gather for lunch on
Thursdays at 11:00 a.m. at the
Denny's on Sherman Way in Van Nuys.
Everyone is welcome to attend.
16575 Sherman Way   Van Nuys  

2nd Saturday of the month Luncheon
11:30am
Check your Carrier for the the upcoming location.
Each month we are out and about,  exploring some great places to eat.
We seem to be holding the average of 20 members that join us each and every month.   Make it 21!

ARRL Contest Calendar on the ARRL website

The Palm Springs Hamfest is soon approaching. On January 28 plan on being there! Just $2 gets you on the grounds and access to all there is to see and do!

This years event has enough stuff to keep you entertained most of the day. It promises to be one of the most fun Hamfests of the season! Make this a Club outing or bring a Buddy or rendezvous with your RAG Chew Group!

Palm Springs rings of nostalgia (no we don't have the RAT Pack) Palm Springs Hamfest invites you to add to the fun by coming in your RAT ROD / Hot Rod or Classic Beauty. Special parking area to show off your beauty. Or come in anything on wheels or on foot, hi hi! Our food concession brings you back to by gone days of the burger joint hangout and Soda Jerk era. Great breakfast, not so greasy Lunch and even a healthy food menu all day long. The Desert RATS' Club XYL's are whipping up some good ole fashion cooking to remind you of bygone days! Have a coffee with home baked goodies to go ..or .hang out and Rag Chew under the shaded veranda.

Over 35 top notch commercial vendors and more ... too many to mention here so go to our Forum at http://desertrats.17.forumer.com/ to find out all the things going on. To mention a few...See Yaesu, Alinco , HRO, RF Stuff, DX Store, AMSAT, CQ Magazine , Bud's Engraving (everyone needs a new name tag this year Right?) and quite a few Demos, plus Plus more.

Special Guest / Wagon Master from QUARTZFEST on Friday Gordon West will be there all Saturday. He's written many articles for Magazines like CQ Magazine and you probably took his Course / book to get your license. Podcast host of Ham Twits with Leo LaPorte... Gordon's also hosting a Celebrity ride up the Tram on Mount San Jacinto on Sunday morning so sign up at the Hamfest entrance and get the details for a Sunday morning outing to please your YL & XYL and give her/him a special remembrance of Hamfest.

The Air waves are A-Buzz now and will be past January 28 the day of the event. Talk about it on your weekly NET or on air or eyeball meeting and help us promote this grand event! Make this a Club outing and come on down ..... join us under the Palm Trees at Gary's place.

Talk-in is on our Repeater 146.940 - PL 107.2
We will also be having a daily NET beginning Thursday at 6PM then Friday through Saturday at 8 AM 12 PM & 6PM so join us on air! His will be an inframational Net about Hamfest where we will try and answer your questions about all the goings on over the weekend.

See the Military Radio Museum of rare and unnusual radios from all the Wars since Ham radio began ...Michael has added to his one of a kind rare collection. Ever heard of the Canteen Transmitter used in German concentration Camps by POW's. Michael has one to show you. Want to see a one tube transmitter you can build yourself ask him he'll give you a how to set of instructions.

Demos all day long.... RAFFLE DRAWS ALL DAY LONG Come see guest Announcer Chip Wallace 4 time Emmy and 3 time Golden Mike award winner!

ALINCO IS INTRODUCING THEIR NEW HF RADIO THAT IS SELLING FOR UNDER $550 dollars! Try it out right there.

The Desert RATS 2nd Hand Store will have dozens of bargains and will sell your used gear for only a 10% commission... sell your used quality gear and buy some more! bring it in early to get best chance of selling your stuff during 9AM to 4PM

Our SWAP MEET is no charge for Vendor Spots --- Just show up for the SETUP TIME 7 AM Saturday JAN 28
It will open to the Public and Hams 9AM-4PM

So come and join in a good old Fashioned Hamfest in warm Palm Springs. Rendezvous with your on air Buddies. Last year over 700 Happy Hams had a blast! The first year if you came then we only had about 250 register.

Check out our Web site for more details and a map to find your way there http://desertrats.am see PS Hamfest page.

2 METER Talkin FREQUENCY 146.940 -PL 107.20

SPECIAL Desert RATS HAMFEST NET Thursday 6PM Friday and Saturday at 8AM 12PM 6PM on same freq.

see you at 4193 Matthew Drive in Palm Springs ..follow the signs and antennas to Gary's Place by the edge of South Palm Springs.
WE expect over 800 to join Us in sunny warm PALM SPRINGS hope to SEE YOU THERE again!

BECOME A MEMBER ...JOIN THE DESERT RATS CLUB ! one of the most fun Clubs in ARRL
Memberships available online at our Web Site or at the entrance of our Event! Snowbirds especially welcome! We have members from all over North America .

Join other groups like ARRL, ARES, RACES, CERTS, MARS, Civil Air Patrol, San Bernardino Microwave Society, LA ATV Group. ( which has a repeater covering from the Coast to into our valley & Western Arizona, come and find out how you can get more involved in our hobby! Make friends and influence people [ well maybe?] you get my drift! Lets just have fun....... the more the merrier

Check out our online RATS Merch. Store and buy, use and wear Ricki.D.RATS Designer Clothing and merchandise (Mugs , Pet wear, ladies/Men's/ kids/ Baby T-shirts and hoodies are our best sellers).

The ARRL Field Day is June 23-24, 2012 (Always The Fourth Full Weekend In June)