Litton ERC Amateur Radio Society

Litton ERC Amateur Radio Society
LARS
WA6AQQ
www.littonhams.org

Last update: Wednesday, June 27, 2001 at 10:03 AM

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Welcome!

Attention Litton Ham Operators: Club Status

With the many organizational changes that have occurred in the first half on 2001, and with at least two company ham clubs within Northrop Integrated Systems, the ham radio operators in our company need to consider how we can reorganize. We have assets including a fine ham station in Woodland Hills and a repeater in Northridge. With rumors of moving, we need to be ready with a contingent plan for relocation of assets. For ANYONE intersted in planning for change, please contact me, Bob Davis, KB0DC (715-3621) or Mike Tweedy, KV6I (715-2453).

Jim Leighty, W6UJX (678-7521)

All Litton Employees and their family members in the Southern California are welcome to become members of LARS. The only requirement is an interest in Amateur Radio - one need not be licensed.

The Litton ERC Amateur Radio Society operates under the Litton Employees Recreation Club (Litton ERC), and the Litton ERC by-laws .

For more links to Southern California Ham Organizations, go to:

@LA: The Guide to Greater Los Angeles and Southern California

LARS Club Resources
Club Station WA6AQQ The club ham radio station is located in Building 32 on the Woodland Hills Litton GCS campus. The station is comprised of an HF Phone (SSB) and CW (code) tranceiver, a kilowatt amplifier and vertical and beam antennas. Also, a 2 meter VHF FM tranceiver is available for use. All Litton club members are invited to operate the station at any time. Contact a club officer for information on how to obtain the key for the shack.

Litton Repeater K6QYB The Litton Repeater has been operational in the San Fernando Valley for many years. It was maintained solely by Litton DSD (but now a part of Northrop Integrated Systems Division) hams until August 1997. The repeater is located at the Northrop ISD facility in Northridge. The repeater remains the property of the Litton DSD club, but is maintained jointly by both GCS and DSD clubs. The frequency of the Repeater is 146.265 MHz with a positive offset (repeater input on 146.865 MHz). The CTCSS (PL) frequency is 103.5 Hz. It is an open repeater and available for use by all licensed hams.

Emergency Equipment Emergency ham communications equipment is housed in emergency shelters at both Woodland Hills and Northridge plants. Both plants have 2 meter FM tranceivers.

LARS Club Resources
Club Station WA6AQQ	The club ham radio station is located in Building 32 on the Woodland Hills Litton GCS campus. The station is comprised of an HF Phone (SSB) and CW (code) tranceiver, a kilowatt amplifier and vertical and beam antennas. Also, a 2 meter VHF FM tranceiver is available for use. All Litton club members are invited to operate the station at any time. Contact a club officer for information on how to obtain the key for the shack.
Litton Repeater K6QYB	The Litton Repeater has been operational in the San Fernando Valley for many years. It was maintained solely by Litton DSD (but now a part of Northrop Integrated Systems Division) hams until August 1997. The repeater is located at the Northrop ISD facility in Northridge. The repeater remains the property of the Litton DSD club, but is maintained jointly by both GCS and DSD clubs. The frequency of the Repeater is 146.265 MHz with a positive offset (repeater input on 146.865 MHz). The CTCSS (PL) frequency is 103.5 Hz. It is an open repeater and available for use by all licensed hams.
Emergency Equipment	Emergency ham communications equipment is housed in emergency shelters at both Woodland Hills and Northridge plants. Both plants have 2 meter FM tranceivers.

The American Radio Relay League is the national organization which represents amateur radio operators in the United States. Books, QST Magazine, training material, etc., are available through the ARRL. The ARRL has a support organization with representatives down to the local level. Southern California is in the ARRL Southwestern Division .

ARRL diamond

Amateur Radio Newsline (formerly Westlink) is a weekly news report heard over repeaters and nets across the country. For the latest news in ham radio, go to Newsline and click on "THIS WEEKS NEWSLINE SCRIPT".

Typical Ham Activities
Rag Chewing Rag chewing is the term hams use to describe chatting with other hams, rather than having a quick "hello-goodbye" contact. Rag chewing occurs between two or more people who can be in their car or at home. These conversations may span only a few miles, or can be between hams thousands of miles apart.

VHF/UHF FM Many hams talk to each other either directly or via a "repeater" on the VHF and UHF bands (frequencies over 30 MHz). They can talk from home, from their car or using handheld radios that fit in their pockets.

HF Opeation HF or High Frequency operation occurs usually over a greater distance. The HF bands (1.8 to 30 MHz) are strongly effected by ionospheric conditions. At times, one can communicate around the world with very little power and only a modest antenna. At other times, communication is limited to the local area. Hams learn when it is best to be able to contact a given far-away place, and what frequency band to use to make the contact. HF operation may be via voice, Morse code, digital (similar to teletype), or by video (slow scan TV)

Ham TV Amateur television has been a reality since Boyd Phelps, W0BP (SK) went on the air in 1929. Today, it is an active part of the hobby with hilltop repeaters and even a link to Las Vegas. You may already have most of the components necessary to set-up a station (TV set, VCR, computer, video camera). For more information, contact one of our fellow employees who is an active Ham TV participant, Rick Nimms in Northridge at ext 3067.

Digital Communications Hams have been active in digital communications since the 1930s. It was once popular to have large teletype machines in the hamshack. Now, most digital communications uses a computer with an interface device called a Terminal Node Controller. In addition to Radio-teletype (RTTY), there are other modes including Packet, AMTOR, ASCII send and receive, and control data exchange. Hams are also experimenting in spread spectrum techniques. Digital communications can take place on the HF, VHF or UHF bands, and over short or long distances. Hams can communicate via satellites or via the MIR space station.

Construction of Equipment and Systems Some hams spend most of their time building equipment and systems. Their fun comes in making the systems and equipment work; and, they may not even use the system/equipment much after it is placed in operation. Often, the builder of a repeater network is the quiet person in the background that gets pleasure from seeing others enjoy the system he or she designed and built.

Satellites and space Communication Hams placed their first satellite in operation back in the '60s. It was named OSCAR (Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio). Since then, these satellites have become much more sophisticated. The Soviet Union/Russia has placed many Radio Sport satellites in orbit as well. They relay voice and data across the globe. AMSAT is an international ham run organization which promotes, builds and organizes launches of ham satellites.

Contests Many hams participate in contests. Usually these contest last 48 hours or less and can involve hams all over the world. The most popular contest in the US is Field Day where hams demonstrate thair ability to operate under emergency conditions without commercial power. In other contests, a single ham may make many as 5000 "contacts" in a single weekend, exchanging call letters and signal strength information, with other hams around the world.

DX DX means long distance communications. Hams can go home at night and chat with other hams almost anywhere on the globe. The contacts can be short, or long. Even with a modest station and hidden antennas (invisable to the neighbors), a ham can routinely talk to someone across the ocean.

Awards Many awards are available to hams. There are awards for service, and there are awards for contacting other hams (such as WAS -Worked All States, and DXCC - for talking to 100 countries). Some hams spend most of their time collecting awards.

Public Service In times of emergencies, hams are always there to provide communications. Other times hams provide communications as a service (over 200 hams coordinate the flow of the Rose Parade in Pasadena each New Years Day). To learn more about public service communication call Litton DSD employee John English at (805) 532- 5789

Messages Ham radio was initially started to pass messages across the country. That's why the word RELAY is in the name of the national organization the American Radio Relay League. Because the cost of communications has decreased so drastically, traffic handling is not as popular as it used to be.

Transmitter Hunts Amateur radio transmitter hunts (T-Hunt), often called Fox Hunts in other parts of the world, have become a great sport. Hams gather together at one location, and then go out and search for a transmitter hidden by another ham. Here in California, T-hunting is usually done in your car. But one may have to get out of the car and search on foot when getting close to the hidden transmitter. The best way to get started is to ride along with an experienced T-hunter. And, remember, only the person transmitting needs to be licensed. The hunter only needs a license if they intend to transmit.

Experimenting Hams have always experimented. The "ham bands" used to be anything above 2 MHz (this part of the spectrum was felt to be useless). Hams proved these frequencies to be very valuable, and as a result have lost most of the spectrum to other services such as FM radio, TV, police radio, fire radio, aircraft radio and business communications, and to satellite communication. Through the years, many breakthroughs in communications have been achieved by hams.

Remote Control Remote control encompasses a wide area. Some hams control model aircraft on uncongested ham frequencies. Others control their high power home station from a car. Long before commercial dial-up telephone were available for the car, hams had dial-up phones in their cars. Ham repeater networks involve a sophistication of control that can take a book to explain.

Typical Ham Activities
Rag Chewing	Rag chewing is the term hams use to describe chatting with other hams, rather than having a quick "hello-goodbye" contact. Rag chewing occurs between two or more people who can be in their car or at home. These conversations may span only a few miles, or can be between hams thousands of miles apart.
VHF/UHF FM	Many hams talk to each other either directly or via a "repeater" on the VHF and UHF bands (frequencies over 30 MHz). They can talk from home, from their car or using handheld radios that fit in their pockets.
HF Opeation	HF or High Frequency operation occurs usually over a greater distance. The HF bands (1.8 to 30 MHz) are strongly effected by ionospheric conditions. At times, one can communicate around the world with very little power and only a modest antenna. At other times, communication is limited to the local area. Hams learn when it is best to be able to contact a given far-away place, and what frequency band to use to make the contact. HF operation may be via voice, Morse code, digital (similar to teletype), or by video (slow scan TV)
Ham TV	Amateur television has been a reality since Boyd Phelps, W0BP (SK) went on the air in 1929. Today, it is an active part of the hobby with hilltop repeaters and even a link to Las Vegas. You may already have most of the components necessary to set-up a station (TV set, VCR, computer, video camera). For more information, contact one of our fellow employees who is an active Ham TV participant, Rick Nimms in Northridge at ext 3067.
Digital Communications	Hams have been active in digital communications since the 1930s. It was once popular to have large teletype machines in the hamshack. Now, most digital communications uses a computer with an interface device called a Terminal Node Controller. In addition to Radio-teletype (RTTY), there are other modes including Packet, AMTOR, ASCII send and receive, and control data exchange. Hams are also experimenting in spread spectrum techniques. Digital communications can take place on the HF, VHF or UHF bands, and over short or long distances. Hams can communicate via satellites or via the MIR space station.
Construction of Equipment and Systems	Some hams spend most of their time building equipment and systems. Their fun comes in making the systems and equipment work; and, they may not even use the system/equipment much after it is placed in operation. Often, the builder of a repeater network is the quiet person in the background that gets pleasure from seeing others enjoy the system he or she designed and built.
Satellites and space Communication	Hams placed their first satellite in operation back in the '60s. It was named OSCAR (Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio). Since then, these satellites have become much more sophisticated. The Soviet Union/Russia has placed many Radio Sport satellites in orbit as well. They relay voice and data across the globe. AMSAT is an international ham run organization which promotes, builds and organizes launches of ham satellites.
Contests	Many hams participate in contests. Usually these contest last 48 hours or less and can involve hams all over the world. The most popular contest in the US is Field Day where hams demonstrate thair ability to operate under emergency conditions without commercial power. In other contests, a single ham may make many as 5000 "contacts" in a single weekend, exchanging call letters and signal strength information, with other hams around the world.
DX	DX means long distance communications. Hams can go home at night and chat with other hams almost anywhere on the globe. The contacts can be short, or long. Even with a modest station and hidden antennas (invisable to the neighbors), a ham can routinely talk to someone across the ocean.
Awards	Many awards are available to hams. There are awards for service, and there are awards for contacting other hams (such as WAS -Worked All States, and DXCC - for talking to 100 countries). Some hams spend most of their time collecting awards.
Public Service	In times of emergencies, hams are always there to provide communications. Other times hams provide communications as a service (over 200 hams coordinate the flow of the Rose Parade in Pasadena each New Years Day). To learn more about public service communication call Litton DSD employee John English at (805) 532- 5789
Messages	Ham radio was initially started to pass messages across the country. That's why the word RELAY is in the name of the national organization the American Radio Relay League. Because the cost of communications has decreased so drastically, traffic handling is not as popular as it used to be.
Transmitter Hunts	Amateur radio transmitter hunts (T-Hunt), often called Fox Hunts in other parts of the world, have become a great sport. Hams gather together at one location, and then go out and search for a transmitter hidden by another ham. Here in California, T-hunting is usually done in your car. But one may have to get out of the car and search on foot when getting close to the hidden transmitter. The best way to get started is to ride along with an experienced T-hunter. And, remember, only the person transmitting needs to be licensed. The hunter only needs a license if they intend to transmit.
Experimenting	Hams have always experimented. The "ham bands" used to be anything above 2 MHz (this part of the spectrum was felt to be useless). Hams proved these frequencies to be very valuable, and as a result have lost most of the spectrum to other services such as FM radio, TV, police radio, fire radio, aircraft radio and business communications, and to satellite communication. Through the years, many breakthroughs in communications have been achieved by hams.
Remote Control	Remote control encompasses a wide area. Some hams control model aircraft on uncongested ham frequencies. Others control their high power home station from a car. Long before commercial dial-up telephone were available for the car, hams had dial-up phones in their cars. Ham repeater networks involve a sophistication of control that can take a book to explain.

Information and Resources
Where can ham radio equipment be purchased?

How do I get started in Ham Radio?

What are the requirements for a ham license?

Where are there classes for learning what is necessary for a license?

Where are exams given?

What study material is available?

Are there other radio clubs that I can join?

How can one with a physical disability or a sensory impairment become a ham?

What magazines and periodicals are available?

Are there ham swapmeets where I can find bargin prices on ham equipment?

Are there internet mailing lists which specialize in information exchange for hams?

Where can I find information on a ham equipment manufacturer and their products?

Information and Resources
Where can ham radio equipment be purchased?
How do I get started in Ham Radio?
What are the requirements for a ham license?
Where are there classes for learning what is necessary for a license?
Where are exams given?
What study material is available?
Are there other radio clubs that I can join?
How can one with a physical disability or a sensory impairment become a ham?
What magazines and periodicals are available?
Are there ham swapmeets where I can find bargin prices on ham equipment?
Are there internet mailing lists which specialize in information exchange for hams?
Where can I find information on a ham equipment manufacturer and their products?

For a comprehensive database on Ham Radio, checkout HamRad.

The QRZ Callsign Database

If you know a ham's callsign, you can obtain their name and address. Enter a callsign to search for:

Sign My Guestbook View My Guestbook

For those who want more information on LARS, please submit the following form:

Disclaimer: The mention, or lack of mention, of any aspect of ham radio, product, service, or company shall not be construed as either a positive or negative endorsement of or comment about such aspect of ham radio, product, service, or company by anyone including the Litton ERC Amateur Radio Society and its members, Litton Employees' Recreation Club, Litton Guidance and Control Systems or any part of Litton Industries. At most it expresses personal knowledge or ignorance of information on aspects of ham radio, products, services and companies. The information provided at this web site is neither intended to be nor capable of being an exhaustive discussion of ham radio.

This page was constructed with the help of:

For comments, data input, etc., send mail to: littonhams@geocities.com

You are visitor number

The American Radio Relay League is the national organization which represents amateur radio operators in the United States. Books, QST Magazine, training material, etc., are available through the ARRL. The ARRL has a support organization with representatives down to the local level. Southern California is in the ARRL Southwestern Division .
Amateur Radio Newsline (formerly Westlink) is a weekly news report heard over repeaters and nets across the country. For the latest news in ham radio, go to Newsline and click on "THIS WEEKS NEWSLINE SCRIPT".

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