This page provides a library of technical references, based on Kachina club meeting presentations and other topics.
Repeaters and Nets in the White Mountains
Presented by Jim Mortensen, W7AZY, Feb. 11, 2020
- Kachina Repeater Listing
- Eastern Arizona Amateur Radio Society (EAARS)
- AzRepeaters.Net includes Rimlink and Metrolink
Program Your Baofeng Radio for GMRS
Presented by Randy Beecroft, W7RJB, March 10, 2020
References: Radio Documentation Project
To program your Baofeng radio for a GMRS Repeater, please refer to the following linked document. This information was provided courtesy of the Rim Country ARC.
Program Your Baofeng Radio without a Computer
Provided by Mike Abernathy, NM3S, October 21, 2022
If you own a Baofang UV5R radio, this is for you.
While we mostly use Chirp or some other computer software to program our radios, there are times when one may need to program a radio in the field withOUT the use of Chirp and a computer.
I’ve included a PDF file with instructions on how to program a Baofang UV5R from the keypad. I modified the original file to make it narrower so you should be able to enlarge the print to make it readable without having to scroll side-to-side as you often have to do with PDF files on a phone. The instructions include programming both SIMPLEX and REPEATER (with shift and PL tone or DCS) frequencies into your Baofang UV5R. The process for a repeater is a bit complicated, but I’ve tried it and it works.
Lest anybody think I’m a genius who could come up with this, I did NOT write this article. I found the original article on the web site below, and I suggest you read it if you’re interested in Baofang radios.
DTMF Tones and How to Use Them
Presented by Randy Beecroft, W7RJB, April 9, 2020
- About DTMF
- Introducing Echolink: http://www.echolink.org
- IRLP: http://www.irlp.net/guidelines.html
PL259 Connector Installation
Prepared by Vince Cattolica, KA7JOI, April 2020
McBride J-Pole Ladder Line Antenna
Provided by Randy Beecroft, W7RJB, April 2020
Construction of a J-Pole Antenna for 2m
Provided by Randy Beecroft, W7RJB, February 2021
If you like building good antennas, this one is for you. The J-pole is a slim, omnidirectional, half-wave antenna fed at the end through a quarter-wave shorted transmission line. Its predecessor is the famous “Zepp” antenna developed for the Zeppelin airship. Both antennas have served many hams around the globe well. While the Zepp is easy to calculate, the J- pole is not; in fact, a one-percent error can throw you out of the band. However, when calculated properly, the J is an excellent candidate for a base station on the popular 144 to 148 MHz band, with a 1:1 VSWR and good efficiency.
How to Make a Tiger Tail Antenna
Provided by Mike Abernathy, NM3S, August 7, 2023
A tiger tail is a 1⁄4 wavelength antenna wire that “completes the dipole” for HTs, giving them a vertical dipole antenna that works much better than the 1⁄4 wavelength vertical “rubber duck” antenna (without a ground plane) that generally comes with HTs.
Getting Started with LoTW
Provided by Vince Cattolica, KA7JOI, April 2020
Logbook Of The World (LoTW) is a computer based logging program created and maintained by ARRL. The following links provide a 2-part presentation describing how to use LoTW.
Kachina ARC Solar Panel Kits
Provided by Vince Cattolica, KA7JOI, May 2020
The Kachina ARC has 4 solar powered “Battery Maintainer” kits for club members use. The document linked below is a set of instructions as to how to assemble and use the contents of the kit.
Setting Up a Battery Maintenance System with a Lithium Battery
Provided by Vince Cattolica, KA7JOI, June 2022
This article provides information on how to set up a solar “battery maintenance” system for your lithium battery.
Field Day Antennas
Presented by Randy Beecroft, W7RJB, June 11, 2020
The attachment linked below provides Pros and Cons to help you choose what you want to use. This is by no means all that there is to know about these different types of antennas, but it is a starting point to help you decide what would work best for you. I would invite all of the members to search the Internet and You Tube to gain more in depth information on each type of antenna.
Off-Grid Power for Portable Operations
Presented by Randy Beecroft, W7RJB, July 9, 2020
There are a few considerations to make when operating portable and off grid. The attached presentation explores some of these things and hopefully will help you to understand some of the thoughts that go into the decision of choosing a way to power your portable station.
Directional Antennas
Presented by Randy Beecroft, W7RJB, August 13, 2020
Greater Bridgeport Amateur Radio Club, Youtube channel – Fox hunting antenna attenuator:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Rgm514AV2w&t=28s
RASA, Youtube channel – DF loop construction
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcHxwxd8Sd4&t=25s
Tracking interference:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkCvjyjKtpc&t=910s
NT1K – VHF 3 Element Tape Measure Yagi Antenna
https://nt1k.com/vhf-3el-tape-measure-yagi/
Step by Step How to Build a 2 Meter Three Element Tape Measure Yagi
Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1QZsWPJPnM&t=208s
Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPatJWMVzos
Pictures of tape measure antenna and plans from Dennis, W7DRW:
Power Wiring for Mobile Radios
Provided by Vince Cattolica, KA7JOI, Sept. 1, 2020
Some time ago I was asked by a new ham about how to install a mobile radio in his vehicle. My response to him was something like, do not use the cigarette lighter because the wiring and fuse to the cigarette lighter are, most likely, not designed to carry the load his transceiver will put on the circuit. I then suggested he run a separate circuit directly off the battery to avoid the problems that might arise by using the cigarette lighter socket. I suggested using a separate circuit for two good reasons. The first reason for powering his radio directly from the battery is that he can install and fuse a circuit designed to handle the current he will need for his radio. The other reason for running a separate circuit is that he can operate the radio without having to have the engine running.
Power Wiring for Mobile Radio Installations
The above article discusses the installation of a fuse in the “+” positive cable but doesn’t discuss putting one in the “-” negative cable. Here is some additional discussion of this topic.
Blade Fuse Color Codes
Provided by Vince Cattolica, KA7JOI, May 24, 2022
Have you every tried to read the size or “rating” of a blade fuse? And have you ever wondered why some are one color and others another color? Click on this link for some good information on the subject.
Emergency Operations
Presented by Jim Mortensen, W7AZY, Jan. 12, 2021
All emergencies are different so there isn’t a real step by step procedure to follow. Responding to an emergency requires monitoring your radio 24/7 and being willing to assist distress and emergency calls. The attached paper provides some additional ideas and recommendations.
Grounding and Bonding
Presented by Bill Turley, KJ7GYH, Feb. 9, 2021
Bill’s presentation was based on “Grounding and Bonding for the Little Pistol & Medium Gun” by Ward Silver, N0AX. See the following links:
Basics of Lightning Protection
Presented by Kevin Parmenter, KG5Q, Oct. 12, 2021
Please click on the link below to view the presentation, “Basics of Lightning Protection for Communications Towers”.
Winlink
Presented by Randy Beecroft, W7RJB, March 9, 2021
Winlink is a worldwide radio email service that uses radio pathways where the internet is not present. It is also capable of operating completely without the internet‐‐automatically‐‐using smart‐network radio relays.
Winlink had its origins with the sailing community with email, position reporting and weather information. It now has a substantially broader role supporting emergency and disaster relief communications.
Click on the link below to view the full presentation.
Copper and Aluminum Wire Differences
Provided by Vince Cattolica, KA7JOI, April 5, 2021
This article describes the differences between copper and aluminum wiring and the limitations and characteristics of each material for use in electrical wiring. Click on the link below for access.
RF Exposure Calculation
Presented by Rick Paquette, W7RAP, November 9, 2021
Here are the web pages for the ARRL Calculator Rick spoke of in his presentation.
http://arrl.org/rf-exposure-calculator
http://arrl.org/rf-exposure-calc-instructions
GMRS
Presented by Matt Lunati, N7OEI, May 10, 2022
The following slides summarize Matt’s presentation on GMRS.
