Laser Com Announces New Topband Antenna System
Reported by Woody K3YV
Laser Com, Inc. of Titusville, Florida recently announced their
development of a revolutionary new 160 meter antenna system
based on their proprietary laser communications system.
Dr. Benjamin Dover, Laser Com’s chief engineer, cited their research
into laser-based space communications as providing the “happy
accident” that led to the discovery of the laser based 160 meter
antenna system.
Dr. Dover said that an accidental connection of the wrong cable
led to the discovery. A cable that had been carrying 1.8 MHz
signals was inadvertently connected to the modulation input of the
laser transmitter that that Ben was testing. “Imagine our surprise,”
said Dr. Dover, “when we noticed that 1.8 MHz radio frequencies
were being radiated all along the laser beam. This is something we
never expected. The possibilities are endless.”
Laser Com plans to market the laser antenna not only as a commercial
product, but also as a low cost 160 meter amateur radio antenna.
Dr. Dover set up the prototype as a demonstration of the product’s
simplicity.
The secret to the 160 meter laser antenna is in the base unit’s
modulation transformer that directly modulates the Plesseo-Dyminium
laser crystal. The user simply places the laser box on the ground and
adjusts the laser beam straight up into the air. As the laser beam rises
into the sky, the 160 meter signal travels up the laser beam and is
radiated all along the length of the optical beam.
The laser beam shines nearly a mile into the atmosphere. However,
due to path losses along the beam, the actual 160 meter radiation is
only transmitted by the first few hundred feet of the laser’s beam. The
result is an omni-directional vertical 160 meter antenna that is several
hundred feet high.
Acting like a co-linear antenna array, the over all antenna gain is
approximately 10 to 15 dB in the 160 meter band.
Dr. Dover said, “We're really excited about this product. There are no
antenna restrictions on an invisible light beam, no lightning risks, and
no damage from wind storms. The only down side is s ignal attenuation
due to heavy fog, which can attenuate the 160 meter signal by as much
as 6 dB. Otherwise, this is as near to a perfect antenna as you can
hope for.”
Laser Com plans to introduce the amateur version of this antenna at the
Dayton Hamvention this May.
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