Rappahannock Valley Amateur Radio Club
* Technician Class Announcement *
If you've ever wanted to learn about amateur radio and earn your license, your time has come. The Rappahannock Valley Amateur Radio Club is again offering its Amateur Radio Technician Class for Summer 2024.
The course will begin Wednesday, July 17, 2024, and will run for six weeks. Classes will meet each Wednesday from 7:00pm to 9:00pm. The final session on August 21, 2024, will be the test for the Federal Communications Commission Amateur Technician Class License.
For more information, click -> here.
Purpose
The Rappahannock Valley Amateur Radio Club supports the public good, particularly in times of emergency, through the services of Amateur Radio; to share our experience and knowledge with each other, within the club and throughout our community; to foster amateur radio through education and public awareness; and to enjoy the comradery of our amateur radio community.
Club Activities
See the RVARC Events Calendar for upcoming dates.
ARRL Field Day: Field Day is ham radio's open house. Every June, more than 40,000 hams throughout North America set up temporary transmitting stations in public places to demonstrate ham radio's science, skill and service to our communities and our nation. It combines public service, emergency preparedness, community outreach, and technical skills all in a single event. Field Day has been an annual event since 1933, and remains the most popular event in ham radio.
See the RVARC 2024 Field Day Planning Document here: Planning Document
See 2024 Field Day Rules here: ARRL Field Day 2024 Rules
2 Meter Net: The Club operates an Emergency Services (ARES) Net every Thursday evening at 2100 hours (9:00 PM) on the K4TS repeater; 147.015 MHz, offset +0.600 MHz, Pl 79.7. The Net meets to handle local traffic, conduct emergency communications training, and to share information and comments among the amateur radio community in and around Fredericksburg, VA. All amateur radio stations are encouraged to check in. You do not have to be a club member to participate.
Monthly Breakfast: RVARC meets for breakfast at 8:00 AM on the 1st Saturday of every month at the Golden Corral Buffet & Grill located at 10320 Spotsylvania Ave, Fredericksburg, VA 22408. See Google Map below.
Weekly Lunch: Thursdays, 11 AM at Kickback Jack's, 10145 Southpoint Pkwy, Fredericksburg, VA 22407 - in front of Lowes. See Google Map below.
Weekly Early Bird Breakfast: Fridays, 6 AM at the Layafette Diner, 4006 Lafayette Blvd, Fredericksburg, VA 22408. See Google Map below.
RVARC Repeaters
The Club operates two Open repeaters. The repeaters are open to all licensed Amateur Radio operators.
VHF: Kenwood 2 Meter FM, call sign K4TS, frequency 147.015 MHz, offset +0.600 MHz, pl tone 79.7
UHF: Yaesu 70 cm FM/C4FM Digital, call sign K4TS, frequency 443.850 MHz, offset +5.000 MHz, pl tone 79.7. This repeater was purchased by former club President Chris Collins (KN4LLQ) and donated to the Club.
The repeaters and antenna are located at the Spotsylvania County communications tower near the Chancellor Landfill at 5917 Harrison Road. See Google Map below.