Download the convention session schedule.
Join us at the North Star Radio Convention, the premier statewide event for Minnesota amateur radio enthusiasts. North Star is known for its expert speakers and workshops covering topics tailored to all levels of experience, ensuring there’s something for everyone. Reconnect with old friends and make new ones among amateur radio enthusiasts from across the region.
Must register by 9/30/24 to receive a lunch.
Whether you’re a tech whiz, a people person, or have other skills to offer, there’s a role for you. We need your help to make this year's convention a welcoming and informative event!
K0LTC Inc.
Minnesota Wireless Association
Saint Paul Radio Club, Inc.
South East Metro Amateur Radio Club
Stillwater Amateur Radio Association
Twin City DX Association
Twin City FM Club
Twin Cities Repeater Club
Courage Kenny Handiham Program
Metro Skywarn
Minnesota Amateur Radio Technical Society
Northern Lights Radio Society
SMARTS
Eden Prairie Rado Club
Lake Region Amateur Radio Club
JB Anderson, PhD was first licensed as WN8OST in 1965 and obtained extra-class in 1975. His primary interest is FT8/DX. JB is also a University of Minnesota graduate; PhD in mathematics ('91) and MSEE ('88). The majority of his working career was spent in Silicon Valley where he served as a theoretical engineer and hardware architect specializing in programmable logic, chip-scale supercomputing, and superresolution image processing. He is a member of IEEE/APS and his current research interests include electromagnetics simulation, RF circuit design, and ultra-low-noise analog instrumentation.
JB Anderson, PhD was first licensed as WN8OST in 1965 and obtained extra-class in 1975. His primary interest is FT8/DX. JB is also a University of Minnesota graduate; PhD in mathematics ('91) and MSEE ('88). The majority of his working career was spent in Silicon Valley where he served as a theoretical engineer and hardware architect specializing in programmable logic, chip-scale supercomputing, and superresolution image processing. He is a member of IEEE/APS and his current research interests include electromagnetics simulation, RF circuit design, and ultra-low-noise analog instrumentation.
I built and tuned my first HT's in the Sixties (yes they worked great) - My present call sign I acquired in 1977. I Have been teaching all classes since that time. I am also an ARRL VE. Technical chair of TCFMC Board of Directors for a number years. No longer on the board. I even spent a year working for Mobile Radio Eng. back in the Eighties. I used to be a Pilot.
I built and tuned my first HT's in the Sixties (yes they worked great) - My present call sign I acquired in 1977. I Have been teaching all classes since that time. I am also an ARRL VE. Technical chair of TCFMC Board of Directors for a number years. No longer on the board. I even spent a year working for Mobile Radio Eng. back in the Eighties. I used to be a Pilot.
Dale Henninger was first licensed in 2017. His ham radio passions include POTA park activations, building high-performance portable rigs, and bringing new hams into the hobby. Dale is a Senior Director at CHS, Inc., where he leads the IT Global Infrastructure team.
Dale Henninger was first licensed in 2017. His ham radio passions include POTA park activations, building high-performance portable rigs, and bringing new hams into the hobby. Dale is a Senior Director at CHS, Inc., where he leads the IT Global Infrastructure team.
Matt Holden KØBBC has been a ham since 1989 and active DX chaser since
2011. He resided in Minnesota for 50 years before moving to South
Dakota in 2020. Matt likes to make six meter QSOs from rare grid
squares and travel to DX destinations in the Caribbean, Central/South
America and the Pacific. Matt has served as the ARRL Dakota Division
Director, Vice Director and President of the Bloomington Amateur Radio
Association. Currently Matt serves as the ARRL South Dakota Assistant
Section manager, DXCC card checker and on the board of directors for
the Sioux Empire Amateur Radio Club.
Matt Holden KØBBC has been a ham since 1989 and active DX chaser since
2011. He resided in Minnesota for 50 years before moving to South
Dakota in 2020. Matt likes to make six meter QSOs from rare grid
squares and travel to DX destinations in the Caribbean, Central/South
America and the Pacific. Matt has served as the ARRL Dakota Division
Director, Vice Director and President of the Bloomington Amateur Radio
Association. Currently Matt serves as the ARRL South Dakota Assistant
Section manager, DXCC card checker and on the board of directors for
the Sioux Empire Amateur Radio Club.
My name is Steve Horejsi, KE0VDC, and I have been a ham (this time…) for about 5 years now. I dabble in all aspects of the hobby in which I am able and work to learn those I don’t yet know. I live in Rosemount. MN and am a retired engineer (BSEE & BSCS). I formerly worked for both IBM and 3M for 40 years combined.
My name is Steve Horejsi, KE0VDC, and I have been a ham (this time…) for about 5 years now. I dabble in all aspects of the hobby in which I am able and work to learn those I don’t yet know. I live in Rosemount. MN and am a retired engineer (BSEE & BSCS). I formerly worked for both IBM and 3M for 40 years combined.
Mark Johns has been licensed since 1967 and has been chasing satellites for more than 40 years. A retired college professor who taught communication studies, he is an AMSAT Ambassador and Senior Editor of the AMSAT News Service bulletins.
Mark Johns has been licensed since 1967 and has been chasing satellites for more than 40 years. A retired college professor who taught communication studies, he is an AMSAT Ambassador and Senior Editor of the AMSAT News Service bulletins.
Bill has been active in ham radio since receiving his Novice license in 1969 as WN0YJB. Ten years later upgrading to Extra Class, he applied for an Extra Class call and received AC0W. At the time all he could think was “yuck who wants to be “A Cow”. With no vanity call sign process back then he was stuck with it and still has it after all these years.
Bill currently serves as your ARRL Dakota Division Director, chairs the Program & Service Committee and is the Board Liaison to the Contest Advisory Committee. Bill is also President of Minnesota Wireless Association (MWA), one of the largest and the oldest club in Minnesota being found in 1910. MWA is one of the top contesting clubs in the U.S. with several members finishing in the top10 of various contests each year
Bill is an active contester winning several events from his modest station in Austin, MN. In 2023 Bill along with partner NG0C participated at the World Radio Sport Team Championship in Bologna Italy. WRTC is considered the Olympics of Contesting. Bill also manages two different contest events each year. Bill also manages the NAQP Phone and MN QSO Party each year.
Bill has been active in ham radio since receiving his Novice license in 1969 as WN0YJB. Ten years later upgrading to Extra Class, he applied for an Extra Class call and received AC0W. At the time all he could think was “yuck who wants to be “A Cow”. With no vanity call sign process back then he was stuck with it and still has it after all these years.
Bill currently serves as your ARRL Dakota Division Director, chairs the Program & Service Committee and is the Board Liaison to the Contest Advisory Committee. Bill is also President of Minnesota Wireless Association (MWA), one of the largest and the oldest club in Minnesota being found in 1910. MWA is one of the top contesting clubs in the U.S. with several members finishing in the top10 of various contests each year
Bill is an active contester winning several events from his modest station in Austin, MN. In 2023 Bill along with partner NG0C participated at the World Radio Sport Team Championship in Bologna Italy. WRTC is considered the Olympics of Contesting. Bill also manages two different contest events each year. Bill also manages the NAQP Phone and MN QSO Party each year.
Bill has been on the air for nearly twelve years and is active as a contester, DXer, VHF rover, and occasional POTA operator. He operates phone, digital, and CW, and has found that radio-integrated logging software makes operating far more enjoyable and efficient.
Bill has been on the air for nearly twelve years and is active as a contester, DXer, VHF rover, and occasional POTA operator. He operates phone, digital, and CW, and has found that radio-integrated logging software makes operating far more enjoyable and efficient.
I was licensed in 2011. I got interested in amateur radio while serving in the American Red Cross in Kansas. I am currently serving as the president of the Lake Region Amateur Radio Club in Fergus Falls, MN. I like chasing DX stations, working special event stations and have a goal of collecting a 1x1 QSL card from each state, and engage in a bit of contesting. My main interest in radio is the Parks on the Air program, especially activating parks. I retired from teaching biology in 2019. When I am not doing amateur radio, I ride a bicycle for exercise, dabble in sports photography, and work on various DIY projects. I do aerobic lawn mowing in the summer and, since moving to Minnesota, aerobic snow shoveling in the winter.
I was licensed in 2011. I got interested in amateur radio while serving in the American Red Cross in Kansas. I am currently serving as the president of the Lake Region Amateur Radio Club in Fergus Falls, MN. I like chasing DX stations, working special event stations and have a goal of collecting a 1x1 QSL card from each state, and engage in a bit of contesting. My main interest in radio is the Parks on the Air program, especially activating parks. I retired from teaching biology in 2019. When I am not doing amateur radio, I ride a bicycle for exercise, dabble in sports photography, and work on various DIY projects. I do aerobic lawn mowing in the summer and, since moving to Minnesota, aerobic snow shoveling in the winter.
Randy grew up in western Iowa and was first licensed in 1968 as a Novice at the age of 14. He
quickly developed an interest in DXing and contesting. During the late 1970’s he became
increasingly intrigued with QRP operation after reading various articles and columns, most
notably by W0RSP and K4TWJ (SK). In March, 1980, he finally took the plunge and elected to
go 100% QRP with the purchase of the venerable Ten Tec Argonaut 509. Immediately
impressed with the DX he could work with 3 watts output, he jumped in to the CQ WPX SSB
Contest a couple weeks later. The results cemented his commitment to QRP contesting and
DXing.
Randy continues to run exclusively QRP with a maximum of five watts from his home station,
located in southwestern Minnesota, participating in most major contests and chasing DX. He
has a typical residential lot with a modest antenna farm including a triband Yagi at 40 feet, a 40
meter rotatable dipole, and a tuned inverted vee.
After over four decades of running 3-5 watts, Randy remains a stalwart devotee to QRP
operation. After all that time he is still amazed by what can be accomplished by those low
power levels. He has worked 323 DX entities using both SSB and CW. He has several WAZ
awards endorsed QRP and lacks only 14 countries on 80 meters from achieving 5BDXCC, all
QRP. In addition, he has achieved success in several major contests over the years and is an
active member of the Minnesota Wireless Association (MWA).
For over ten years Randy has also been an active Summits on the Air (SOTA) “chaser” and
activates summits when possible, using QRP of course. He is also involved with satellite
operation, using a maximum of 5 watts output - 100% portable operation using a hand-held
Yagi. He has worked over 600 grids in all 50 states and 30 countries using SSB on both FM and
linear LEO satellites. Randy enjoys “roving”, operating from other VUCC grids, proving over 110
grids in US and Canada to other satellite operators.
Professionally, Randy is semi-retired, serving as a Senior Technical Service Veterinarian for an
animal health company. His reduced time commitment gives him more opportunity to pursue
other non-business interests, including amateur radio, travel, and family activities.
Randy lives in Worthington, MN with his wife, Amy, who, fortunately, is very supportive of his
various amateur radio activities. They have two daughters and one son. The younger
daughter, Kylee, is in high school and is also a licensed ham: KE0WPA. The family enjoys
camping, hiking, and boating together and Randy also collects antique radios and pre-1900
maps and veterinary books.
Randy grew up in western Iowa and was first licensed in 1968 as a Novice at the age of 14. He
quickly developed an interest in DXing and contesting. During the late 1970’s he became
increasingly intrigued with QRP operation after reading various articles and columns, most
notably by W0RSP and K4TWJ (SK). In March, 1980, he finally took the plunge and elected to
go 100% QRP with the purchase of the venerable Ten Tec Argonaut 509. Immediately
impressed with the DX he could work with 3 watts output, he jumped in to the CQ WPX SSB
Contest a couple weeks later. The results cemented his commitment to QRP contesting and
DXing.
Randy continues to run exclusively QRP with a maximum of five watts from his home station,
located in southwestern Minnesota, participating in most major contests and chasing DX. He
has a typical residential lot with a modest antenna farm including a triband Yagi at 40 feet, a 40
meter rotatable dipole, and a tuned inverted vee.
After over four decades of running 3-5 watts, Randy remains a stalwart devotee to QRP
operation. After all that time he is still amazed by what can be accomplished by those low
power levels. He has worked 323 DX entities using both SSB and CW. He has several WAZ
awards endorsed QRP and lacks only 14 countries on 80 meters from achieving 5BDXCC, all
QRP. In addition, he has achieved success in several major contests over the years and is an
active member of the Minnesota Wireless Association (MWA).
For over ten years Randy has also been an active Summits on the Air (SOTA) “chaser” and
activates summits when possible, using QRP of course. He is also involved with satellite
operation, using a maximum of 5 watts output - 100% portable operation using a hand-held
Yagi. He has worked over 600 grids in all 50 states and 30 countries using SSB on both FM and
linear LEO satellites. Randy enjoys “roving”, operating from other VUCC grids, proving over 110
grids in US and Canada to other satellite operators.
Professionally, Randy is semi-retired, serving as a Senior Technical Service Veterinarian for an
animal health company. His reduced time commitment gives him more opportunity to pursue
other non-business interests, including amateur radio, travel, and family activities.
Randy lives in Worthington, MN with his wife, Amy, who, fortunately, is very supportive of his
various amateur radio activities. They have two daughters and one son. The younger
daughter, Kylee, is in high school and is also a licensed ham: KE0WPA. The family enjoys
camping, hiking, and boating together and Randy also collects antique radios and pre-1900
maps and veterinary books.
I am a retired veterinarian. However as a late diagnosed person on the autism spectrum, my life has been very difficult. Morse use relaxes me, "takes me away for a time" mentally and is my entertainment and addiction and it is my autistic "stim" activity---similar to jigsaw puzzle, crossword puzzle, texting and useful yet buffered conversation all in one package.
I am a retired veterinarian. However as a late diagnosed person on the autism spectrum, my life has been very difficult. Morse use relaxes me, "takes me away for a time" mentally and is my entertainment and addiction and it is my autistic "stim" activity---similar to jigsaw puzzle, crossword puzzle, texting and useful yet buffered conversation all in one package.
Paul has been a licensed general ham since the Buffalo Hamfest in 2018. Secretary of the Richfield Amateur Radio Club and net control of the RARC Thursday evening net, and participating in other ham gatherings.
Paul has been a licensed general ham since the Buffalo Hamfest in 2018. Secretary of the Richfield Amateur Radio Club and net control of the RARC Thursday evening net, and participating in other ham gatherings.
Bill was licensed originally in 1991 as N0NYH as a no-code Technician. Bill was active in the 1990s, but kids and career put ham radio on the back burner. In 2018 Bill upgraded to extra class, changing his call to WF0B. Bill is retired and enjoys building antennas and is active in POTA.
Bill was licensed originally in 1991 as N0NYH as a no-code Technician. Bill was active in the 1990s, but kids and career put ham radio on the back burner. In 2018 Bill upgraded to extra class, changing his call to WF0B. Bill is retired and enjoys building antennas and is active in POTA.
My call sign is W5LNA and my name is Kevin. I am not an engineer! Although I do have a little electronics training from 40 years ago. I have been a ham for about 5 or 6 years and hold an Extra Class ticket. I have Hobby ADHD and run the Hobby ADHD net Tuesdays nights. Within the Ham Radio Hobby, I enjoy kit building, circuit building\home brew, QRP, CW and POTA. Outside of Ham Radio, I have too many hobbies to list in this description..HI HI
My call sign is W5LNA and my name is Kevin. I am not an engineer! Although I do have a little electronics training from 40 years ago. I have been a ham for about 5 or 6 years and hold an Extra Class ticket. I have Hobby ADHD and run the Hobby ADHD net Tuesdays nights. Within the Ham Radio Hobby, I enjoy kit building, circuit building\home brew, QRP, CW and POTA. Outside of Ham Radio, I have too many hobbies to list in this description..HI HI
rent lives in Minneapolis and has been licensed since the 90s. He’s a Software Engineer by trade and enjoys the intersection between radios and computers, including experimenting with various digital communication modes.
rent lives in Minneapolis and has been licensed since the 90s. He’s a Software Engineer by trade and enjoys the intersection between radios and computers, including experimenting with various digital communication modes.