Picture Gallery & Club Posts

Free On-line Ham Operating Classes

 A free, weekly, 3-hour Amateur Radio Operating Class on Zoom will begin on Thursday April 2 and run through June 18.  Sessions will be 2 to 3 hours long beginning at 6:30 PM, EASTERN time.  Typically, two topics are covered per evening.  The presenters will be folks very experienced in the various subjects. 

Click here for a detailed syllabus with dates for each session.  Attend them all, or any that you like, but you must register for the classes.  To receive registration information, contact Rol Anders, K3RA, at roland.anders@comcast.net.  

Subjects will include:

  •  All About Operating–A general Introduction
  • Amateur Radio Organizations—Local to International
  • Ham Radio Operating Awards
  • DXing-History and Tips from the Experts
  • QSLing-How to get that needed confirmation for DXCC or WAS
  • VHF/UHF Weak Signal Work and “Roving”
  • Image Operating—Slow Scan and Fast Scan TV
  • Remote Station control over internet
  • Learning CW in the no-code era
  • Digital Modes—From RTTY to FT8 and beyond
  • Contesting—How to get started, tips for the beginner and intermediate contester
  • Logging Software—What’s available, how to use
  • Propagation—A general intro to HF Propagation with emphasis on the declining phase of the current solar cycle
  • Amateur Satellites—How to get started
  • Portable (backpacking) operation and POTA—Tips from an expert
  • Setting Up a Modern (or not so modern) HF Station
  • Lightning Protection and Grounding
  • Traffic Handling
  • Public Service, Emergency Communications 

 

Doug Troxel’s (SK) Equipment Auction

The Kachina ARC has received ham radio equipment from Doug Troxel’s (SK) estate for sale.  These items are now available via Silent Auction (Sealed bid).

Click here for a list showing the number of each item, description, and minimum bid.   (All radios listed do work.)

Click here for photos of each numbered item.

These items are located in Snowflake for pick up except the tower is in the Vernon, Arizona area.

The process will be:

  • List the numbered item(s) you are bidding on.
  •  List the amount of your bid.
  • Email your bid to JimMortensen (jmmules@frontiernet.net) by closing date March 27th.
  • All bids will be opened after the closing date and successful bidders will be contacted.
  • All items must be paid in full when picked up within 2 weeks of winning a bid.  You may pay Cash, Check, (Kachina ARC) or PayPal (kachinaarc.org)
  •  If the winning bid is not paid, the item(s) will be awarded to the next highest bid.
  •  Please call Jim to schedule pick up for your item(s).  928 358-8761

Doug Troxel, NQ5G, was a good friend and loved being a ham radio operator and shared that enthusiasm with others!

Visit to USS Missouri

Kevin Parmenter, KG5Q, made a visit to the USS Misouri in Pearl Harbor, HI. This included a tour of the radio communications center, and a chance to operate the ham radio club station, KH6BB. Kevin made a presentation on this experience at the Kachina ARC meeting on Jan. 13, 2026. Click on the link below to view the presentation.

Visit-to-USS-Missouri.pdf

Tour of the White Mountains

Local hams provided radio communications for the Tour of the White Mountains bicycle race on October 4, 2025. This was a big event with over 800 riders and races of 50, 35, 30, and 9 mile distances.

A big “thank you” to the following who helped with the event: Mike Elders – AD7W, Marie Mortensen – N7SKS, Jim Mortensen – W7AZY, Bill Turley – KJ7GYH, Wade Millett – KK7KIG, George Meyer – W7AGM, Randy Beecroft – W7RJB, Brian Carpenter – KA7EEJ,  Mike Boger – W7IJ, Rick Gurk – W8YBM, Bruce Sparrow – N2KTV, and Gerald Biehle – KK7ZVA.

Here are a few pictures of the event:

Emergency Preparedness Expo

A team from the Kachina ARC provided information on ham radio at the Emergency Preparedness and Life Skills Expo on Sept. 27, 2025, at the Taylor rodeo grounds. The team supporting the event consisted of George Meyer W7AGM, Mike Sobieski K3QI, and Mark Binnie W3NYC.

Jonathan Crookston
Bill Turley KJ7GYH

Patty and Mike Lackey KB7VMG

WM Tango Endurance Ride 2025

Club members provided communications for the White Mountain Tango Endurance Ride on Sept. 12-13, 2025. This ride consists of 25 and 50 mile races conducted over the two day weekend. Here are a few pictures:

The Kachina volunteer communications team staffed the race course including 9 checkpoints and the base camp. Here are pictures of our team.

Wade Millett – KK7KIG
Mike Lackey – KB7VMG
Bill Turley – KJ7GYH

Mark Cockson- AA7MC
Sheila Dawson – KK7TDM

Bret Woodard – KG7PIA
Jody Rammell – KK7IHM
Lynnlee Rammell

Mike Boger – W7IJ
Bruce Sparrow – N2KTV

Manny Rodrigue – W7AZE

Mike Adams – AG7AB

Jim Hagan – KE5PZ

Jim and Marie Mortensen – W7AZY and N7SKS

Torreon Repeater Upgrade

On August 11, 2025, a Kachina team completed an improvement project at the Torreon repeater. This included a new hardline and a more efficient antenna atop a 10 foot mast. Dennis Mills-WA7ZZT, Bill Turley-KJ7GYH, Tom Goforth-WY7TG, and John Taroli-KK7EYT participated in the project. With the additional height and new components the repeater should better serve the community.

Here are a few pictures.