Best Rural Signal: ARAT and the Spirit of Trás-os-Montes

In Portugal’s often-overlooked northeastern frontier, where granite hills cradle quiet valleys and traditions hold strong, a voice crackles across the ether. It’s not a farmer’s shout, nor the hum of tourism, but the CQ call of the Associação de Radioamadores do Alto Tâmega (ARAT), based in Chaves. At 23 years old, ARAT embodies not just the persistence of radio waves, but the enduring relevance of community-driven technology.

A Mission in the Mountains

Founded in the rugged terrain of Trás-os-Montes, ARAT is a non-profit association with a clear mission: to promote amateur radio, especially among young people, and to work with any official or private entity that seeks its collaboration. In a region where digital infrastructure can be as patchy as the terrain is steep, radio remains both a technical challenge and a public service.

But ARAT is more than a collection of antennas and transceivers. It’s a social fabric, woven through generations, linking technophiles, retirees, and curious teens alike. The group offers hands-on mentorship and actively welcomes newcomers to experience what it calls “the most fascinating hobby in the world.” It’s not hyperbole—it’s conviction.

Celebrating Connection

The association’s 23rd anniversary celebration on July 26 will take place at a local favorite, Restaurante O Manco, with a menu as hearty as the spirit of its members: house-style cod, grilled beef (posta), and homemade desserts, priced symbolically at “30 QSOs”—a nod to the currency of radio culture: conversation. The event is less about ceremony and more about camaraderie, typical of ARAT’s unpretentious approach.

Behind the social gatherings is a well-coordinated infrastructure. Based out of the Chaves industrial zone, in a building shared with public firefighters, ARAT operates both its technical services and public outreach from a single location—an efficient hub where tradition meets resilience.

Static-Free Futures

ARAT’s long-term vision is grounded in collaboration, education, and inclusion. In a region where depopulation is a looming threat and digital engagement remains inconsistent, amateur radio offers a rare form of empowerment—a technology that doesn’t rely on Silicon Valley, but on skills, curiosity, and local leadership.

For ARAT, the airwaves aren’t a pastime; they’re a public square, a training ground, and, occasionally, a lifeline. In Chaves and beyond, they’re proving that some of the best signals come not from cities or satellites, but from quiet hills and passionate hands.

CQ CQ CQ de ARAT – sempre em frente.