** Kachina Communications Kachina 1

Object/Artifact

Radio Alpha

This version was made by Kachina. Image: Joe Veras, K9OCO

Name/Title

** Kachina Communications "Kachina 1"

Description

6 /10 Meter Transceiver

Made/Created

Manufacturer

Kachina Communications, Palomar Engineers

Date made

circa 1978

General Notes

Note

In the late 1970s, Kachina Communications of Sedona, Arizona manufactured a compact SSB/AM transceiver that covered 6 and 10 meters. SSB power input was 75 watts PEP on 10 meters and 65 watts on 6. AM input was about 18 watts on both bands. The receiver featured a noise blanker and squelch. The transceiver tuned in 1 MHz segments. In addition to the 6 and 10 meter bands, it also tuned from 26-28 MHz–spectrum that had not been allocated to the amateur service for a quarter century. Kachina Communications sold the manufacturing rights to Palomar Electronics, which produced the transceiver under their own name. It was given a cosmetic facelift and minor front panel changes, but still included the 26–28 MHz band. Looking closely at the area to the right of the dial, it is still possible to see the not-too-cleverly painted-over Kachina logo.