ONLINE and IN-PERSON Meeting: Tuesdays, 7:00 pm. Come meet at NEST! 

Light Refreshments TONIGHT - sign up on the Event Calendar. (We must have at least 6 people signed up by 6:00pm or it isn't worth the delivery fee to order.)

3:00-7:00 - Radio room open; GET CHECKED OUT for the radio room. (Email on GroupsIO first.)

TUE July 22, 7:00 PM: “Ham Radio Decathlon” by Mike Radzicki, K1WPI. Join us at NEST or by Zoom.

8:30: Adjourn (but stay as late as you like!)

To join the STARS Meeting, link to https://zoom.us/j/231170127 Pw: STARS, or phone in: +1 929 205 6099, Meeting ID: 231 170 127, Pw: 192621

Opt out? Please don't leave us! Just "Update Profile" at the bottom of this page or send a note to info@nescitech.org. You are currently enrolled for Sci-Tech Amateur Radio Society (STARS) mailings.

Join us at the 2025 HamXposition!

HamX Ticketing is open - Read more: nescitech.org/hamx

Hotel Reservations special rates - closing next week.

For meals, be sure to indicate "STARS" if you would like to sit at a STARS table.

We need volunteers for the Booth and Kit Soldering Workshops: VOLUNTEER SIGNUP.

Saturday Youth Schedule: Details and signups at nescitech.org/youthforum

1 pm - Max W0MXX talk: "An Intro to RF PCB Design”

2 pm - Cubes-in-Space youth presentations (adults please join the audience)

3 pm - StratoScience 2025 youth presentations (adults please join the audience)

4 pm - Youth Forum (adults please join the audience)

5 pm - Game Night Activities and social hour

6:30 - Begin entering banquet hall

7-9 pm - Grand Banquet; Speaker: Nathaniel Frissell, W2NAF: "HamSCI: Space Weather We Can Do Together!"

HamXposition needs YOU!

Please link to hamxposition.org/volunteer-with-us/ and see how you can help.

Besides enjoying HamXposition, the following “perks” are available:

• If you work 2 x 2 hr shifts
• Free admission (or)
• Lunch voucher for Friday or Saturday (no lunch on Thursday or Sunday) (or)
• Another ticket for the Sunday drawings
• If you work additional 2 x 2 hr shifts, you can get one additional lunch voucher-if you haven’t taken the admission option

Questions? Contact Barbara Irby, KC1KGS, at kc1kgs@hamx.org

STARS RADIO SPEAKER SERIES

MARK YOUR CALENDARS! See full details below.

Tue, July 22: “Ham Radio Decathlon” by Mike Radzicki, K1WPI.

Tue, Aug 5: “Mobile Radio Installation” by Zachary Sherman, KC1NXK.



Tue, July 22: “Ham Radio Decathlon” by Mike Radzicki, K1WPI.

Description: The HAM Radio Decathlon (HRD) is a proposed, collegial, HAM radio competition designed to motivate HAM radio operators to practice their skills, work as a team, motivate their interest in public service, enhance their understanding of the breadth of STEM fields, and ... ultimately ... to have fun. Although in principle HAM radio operators of all ages and skill levels can participate in the HRD, initially it will be aimed at middle school students. This talk will provide an overview of the proposed decathlon and make suggestions for moving things forward. In addition, the use of artificial intelligence in the initial design of the decathlon will be illustrated.

Bio: Mike is a Professor of Economics and System Dynamics at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Massachusetts, creator of WPI’s program in system dynamics, and director of the university's Complex Systems Laboratory. He received his Ph.D. in economics from the University of Notre Dame and his training in system dynamics modeling from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In addition, he is a certified Rapid-I Predictive Analytics Analyst. His research focuses on predictive analytics, simulation science, and the application of techniques from these areas to problems in economics, finance, and healthcare policy. He has been invited to speak around the world in venues such as the White House, the Royal Society, the New York Stock Exchange, the United States Departments of Energy, Transportation, and Homeland Security, and Sandia National Laboratories. He has also served on the editorial board of four professional journals, as an expert witness in several court cases, and as a consultant to numerous Fortune 500 corporations. In addition to his work in economics and simulation, Mike is an avid golfer, woodworker, and HAM radio operator. 

Tue, Aug 5: “Mobile Radio Installation” by Zachary Sherman, KC1NXK.

Description: Installing a mobile radio in your vehicle can be a challenging but rewarding project. Using examples from his own installations, Zachary will demonstrate techniques for cleanly installing mobile radios and other electronic accessories in vehicles. After the meeting, in-person attendees are encouraged to take a hands-on look at Zachary’s radio installation.

Bio: Long before he heard of amateur radio, Zachary enjoyed playing with FRS walkie-talkies with friends. Sent home from Olin College due to Covid, he became a Technician licensee in September 2020. Zachary soon became a co-leader of the Olin Collegiate Amateur Radio Club, helping students earn their radio licenses then volunteer for public service events. Zachary graduated in 2023 as a mechanical engineer and now works at IVIVA Medical, helping to design a bioartificial kidney. Zachary enjoys community events at NEST, making contacts via the ISS repeater, studying for his General license test, and of course working on his mobile radio installation. He is currently president of STARS.

Please note: Zachary will be presenting in person at NEST, but you can also choose to participate over Zoom, as always.

IN-PERSON VOLUNTEER EXAMINERS NEEDED

VEs and potential VEs: We need you! We offer exams on alternate Tuesdays at 6 pm and Sundays at 1 pm. All-electronic exams - easy! We have VE Training workshops you can join by zoom.

SPECIAL STARS SURVEY

Hello all current and former STARS members! We would love to get your feedback. The survey should take between 5-15 minutes. Here's the link! Thank you! SURVEY LINK

Contribute to STARS’s Master List of Videos to Watch/Discuss in Meetings

The idea here is to build a list of videos which we can volunteer to lead the club through at future meetings when we do not have live speakers, other topics, or activities planned. To help build a list of excellent videos you think STARS members would benefit from watching together, please help populate this Google Sheet.

RADIO ROOM CHECKOUTS AND OPEN HOURS

Do you want to use the radio room during open hours? Get checked out so you can operate unsupervised. Checkouts by appointment. Email info@nescitech.org.

Radio Room Open Hours generally are Tu-Th-Fr 3-9 pm, Sat 9am-5pm, Sundays 12:30-3:30 pm. Late nights by appointment.

• TECHNICIAN - GENERAL - AMATEUR EXTRA - MORSE CODE - and more.

GROUPS.IO COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM FOR STARS ACTIVITIES

• You can chose to receive direct emails, or daily/weekly digests.
• Subscribe to the NEST Main group first: main+subscribe@nescitech.groups.io
• Subscribe to STARS group second: stars-radio+subscribe@nescitech.groups.io
• You can send emails to stars-radio@nescitech.groups.io to talk to the group.

Club Repeaters

Please get on the air! Try any time of day. IRLP and ECHOLink enabled - W1STR-R.

Natick UHF: 446.325 PL 146.2 at New England Sci-Tech (linked)

Milton UHF: 449.125 PL 146.2 at Blue Hill Science Center (linked)

Milton VHF: 146.985 PL 88.5 at Blue Hill Science Center (linked)

Hopkinton UHF: 448.025 PL 88.5 in Hopkinton (not linked)

South Natick UHF: 447.025 PL 146.2 (portable, on air, not linked, can be used for events)

JOIN STARS:

Membership privileges include use of the amateur radio facilities of New England Sci-Tech in Natick, attendance at STARS meetings on Tuesdays, 7:00 pm, newsletters, and invitations to club events and activities. Any member of New England Sci-Tech can join STARS for free, or you can join the club separately. See membership options.

Sci-Tech Amateur Radio Society

16 Tech Circle, Natick MA 01760

508-720-4179 -- info@STARS.radio