Upcoming STARS Event: Hands-On Skills Night!

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Attention Ham Radio Enthusiasts and STARS Club Members,

Get ready for an evening of practical knowledge, hands-on insights, and skill-building! We’re excited to announce our next club event featuring two of our talented members, each bringing their expertise to the table.

Featured Presenters:

  • Tom, KA9ZXN – “The Art of Soldering”
    Learn the essentials (and a few advanced tips) for clean, reliable soldering in your radio projects. Tom will cover everything from tools and technique to avoiding common pitfalls.
  • Dennis, KC9DSP – “Making Power Poles Work for You”
    Power Poles are a staple in any serious amateur radio setup. Dennis will guide you through the best practices for assembly, usage, and keeping your gear powered and connected with confidence.

📅 Event Details:

  • Date: June 12, 2025
  • Time: 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
  • Location: Bridgeview Community Center
  • 7902 S Oketo Avenue
  • Bridgeview, IL 60455

Whether you’re just getting started or you’ve been operating for decades, this night is for everyone looking to sharpen their technical skills and connect with fellow hobbyists.

Bring your curiosity, questions, and maybe even your own soldering tales or Power Pole setups to share!

All Are Welcome

This is a great opportunity to invite a friend or reconnect with other members. We’re building a strong, vibrant STARS community, and this kind of hands-on learning brings it to life.

See you there!

Your STARS Board

🎉 Thank You for Voting – We Have a Winner!

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To all STARS members and friends of the club, thank you for making your voices heard in our recent logo vote!

We were thrilled by the engagement and support for this exciting step forward. A total of 16 members participated, and here are the results:

  • Option #1: 🏆 10 votes – The clear winner!
  • Option #2: 2 votes
  • Option #3: 4 votes

With a strong majority, Option #1 will officially become the new face of the STARS club! ✨

Option 1

The enthusiasm you brought to this process reminds us what makes our club special — a community built on shared passion, participation, and progress. The new logo reflects not only our legacy in amateur radio but also our continued growth into the future.

We’ll be rolling out the new design in upcoming communications, social media, merchandise, and club materials, so stay tuned!

📡 So What’s Next?

As we look ahead, we’re eager to continue this momentum. Do you have program suggestions, guest speaker ideas, or community outreach plans? We’d love to hear from you.

Share your thoughts anytime through our Contact page.

Thanks again for helping shape the next chapter of STARS. Let’s keep the signal strong and the spirit of radio alive!

Your STARS Board

Field Day 2025

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ARRL Field Day 2025

– All are Welcome –

STARS Amateur Radio Club

June 28 and 29, 2025

24 hours – 1:00 PM Sat. through 1:00 PM Sun.

FCC Amateur Radio License Testing

Santa Fe Prairie State Nature Preserve

7300 River Road. Hodgkins, IL.

Field Day is an emergency preparedness exercise for Amateur Radio Operators.

It is an all-weather Event.

Radio stations are set up in the field and powered by batteries, generators, solar panels, or other sources, then connected to portable antennas.

During the exercise, short messages are exchanged with radio stations in the USA and Canada. Voice, Morse code, email, and messages are transmitted and received by radio, without using the Internet.

The purpose of Field Day is to demonstrate the need for Amateur Radio, as this may be the only type of communications available in a real emergency.

📡 Calling All STARS Members and Ham Radio Enthusiasts!

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Help Us Shape the Future of Our Club with a New Logo!

The STARS Board is excited to announce a fresh initiative aimed at revitalizing our club’s identity and fostering a sense of unity among both long-standing and prospective members. As part of our commitment to growth and innovation, we’re embarking on a journey to redesign our club logo to better reflect the dynamic spirit of amateur radio in today’s world.​

🎨 Your Voice Matters: Choose Our New Logo

We have curated three distinct logo designs, each capturing unique facets of our club’s heritage and aspirations. Now, we turn to you—our valued members—to help select the emblem that will represent STARS moving forward.​

Here’s how you can participate:

  1. Review the Logo Options: ​
  2. Cast Your Vote: Reply to us with your preferred logo choice (Option 1, 2, or 3).​
  3. Share Your Thoughts: Feel free to include any feedback on the designs or suggest ideas for future club programs and events.​

Submit your response from our Contact page

Option 1
Option 2
Option 3

🌟 Reconnecting and Growing Together

This logo redesign is more than just a visual update; it’s a symbol of our club’s evolution and a step towards reengaging former members while welcoming new enthusiasts into our community. By involving everyone in this process, we aim to reinforce the collaborative spirit that defines STARS.​

Let’s seize this opportunity to celebrate our shared passion for amateur radio and to chart a vibrant path forward together.​

📅 Stay Engaged and Informed

Keep an eye on our communications for upcoming events, workshops, and opportunities to connect with fellow ham radio aficionados. Your active participation is the heartbeat of our club’s success.​

Thank you for being an integral part of STARS. Let’s make this next chapter our most exciting yet!

Attention Ham Radio Enthusiasts and Club Members!

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Are you ready to enhance your antenna setup skills? Join us for an engaging evening with our fellow STARS member, Ian Barron, KE9CQS, as he presents on the essential knots used for stringing antennas.

Event Details:

  • Date: April 10, 2025
  • Time: 7:00 PM
  • Location: Bridgeview Community Center

Presentation Title: “Knots” for Antenna Setup

Ian will guide us through various knots crucial for securely and efficiently setting up antennas. Mastering these knots ensures stability and ease during both temporary and permanent installations. Some of the knots to be discussed may include:

  • Bowline Knot: Ideal for creating a fixed loop at the end of a rope, useful for attaching lines to anchors or poles.
  • Taut-Line Hitch: An adjustable knot perfect for tensioning guy lines, allowing for easy adjustments without retying.
  • Clove Hitch: Effective for securing a rope to a post or tree, commonly used in antenna setups.

Whether you’re a seasoned operator or new to the hobby, understanding these knots is vital for effective and safe antenna installations. Ian’s demonstration will provide hands-on insights, ensuring you leave with practical knowledge applicable to your setups.

Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your field skills and ensure your antennas are securely and efficiently deployed. We look forward to seeing you there!

A Letter From The Club President

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I would like to take this time to thank all the members of STARS. Hopefully we are moving in the right direction. This club has been around for many years. I’m hoping to help our club grow. We have several dedicated members. I believe the programs we have been putting on each month are very interesting and informative. As with any club, we need input from all members. Please reach out to someone on the board with ideas you have to move us forward as a club.

Please bring a friend to the meetings, hopefully they will like what they see and join our ranks.

We are always looking for ideas for presentations. If you have a passion for something within ham radio and would like to share it, think about giving a presentation.

After last month’s presentation by Tom, KE9JQ, several of us are planning to do an outing when the weather breaks to do POTA.

I would like to thank Tom, KA9ZXN, who for as long as I’ve known him has been such an integral part of this club. I want to thank Tammie, KC9RFJ, for her work as treasurer. I want to thank Stew, KD9GHO, our second in command who is helping us reach out on social media. I want to thank Dan, W9SAU, who does an amazing job with leading our VE team. I also want to thank Nick, KB9JRG, who has spent a lot of the little free time he has working on keeping our website up to date.

73

KC9DSP

Dennis Calderone

Highlights from our February Presentation

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The STARS Radio Club extends its heartfelt appreciation to Tom, KE9JQ, for his captivating presentation on “Parks on the Air (POTA) Operations” at our February 13th meeting. Tom’s deep passion for both amateur radio and the great outdoors was evident throughout the evening, making for an inspiring and enjoyable session.

Parks on the Air (POTA) is an international program that encourages radio enthusiasts to set up portable stations in national and state parks, combining the love of radio with the beauty of nature. Tom’s presentation brought this experience to life, sharing his personal adventures of activating various parks with his spouse. Through his vivid storytelling, attendees could almost picture themselves stationed under a canopy of trees, radio in hand, with the sounds of nature all around. His experiences demonstrated that POTA is more than just a radio activity—it’s an opportunity for exploration, camaraderie, and unforgettable moments in breathtaking landscapes.

Tom also highlighted the joy of operating low-power (QRP) stations in the field, emphasizing the unique challenge and satisfaction of making contacts with minimal equipment. While POTA does feature various contests, it is also a welcoming community that encourages skill-building, emergency preparedness, and the shared excitement of radio communication. His engaging and approachable style made the topics accessible, inspiring both seasoned operators and newcomers alike to embark on their own POTA journeys.

The thoughtfully designed slides complemented his discussion, providing practical insights, helpful resources, and a glimpse into his personal portable setup. Several attendees left the meeting not only with a newfound appreciation for the hobby but also with a strong desire to take their radios into the wild and experience POTA for themselves.

Thank you, Tom, for sharing your expertise and enthusiasm! Your presentation was a meeting highlight, and we are grateful for your dedication to inspiring our community and promoting the perfect blend of amateur radio, adventure, and the great outdoors.

Attention Ham Radio Enthusiasts and Club Members!

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Are you ready to take your amateur radio skills to the next level? Mark your calendars and join us for an evening of insights, expertise, and inspiration with one of our very own STARS members, Tom KE9JQ. This is an event you won’t want to miss!

Event Details:

📅 Date: February 13th
⏰ Time: 7:00 PM
📍 Location: Bridgeview Community Center

Presentation Title: POTA Operations

Tom KE9JQ will be sharing his experiences, tips, and knowledge to help you enhance your ham radio operations. Whether you’re a seasoned operator or just getting started, this is a great opportunity to learn and connect with fellow radio enthusiasts.

Spread the word, invite your friends, and get ready for an engaging session. We look forward to seeing you there!

Highlights from our January Presentation

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The STARS Radio Club would like to sincerely thank Larry, KB9REV, for delivering an outstanding presentation on “Practical Propagation” at our January 9th meeting. The event was highly informative and well-received by everyone in attendance. Larry’s expertise, approachable tone, and perfect delivery made complex topics easy to understand and engaging.

His slides were thoughtfully designed, providing accurate and valuable information without being overly technical. This made the session enjoyable for operators of all experience levels. Attendees left with practical insights on determining band conditions, maximizing station performance, and understanding propagation paths more effectively.

Thank you, Larry, for sharing your knowledge and passion for amateur radio. Your presentation was a true highlight, and we are grateful for your dedication to helping our club and community grow and succeed in this remarkable hobby!