Keep in mind this is only effective with FT-8, not CW...
Mike N2MS
> On April 1, 2018 at 12:01 PM donovanf@starpower.net wrote:
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> Laser Com Announces New Topband Antenna System
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> Reported by Woody K3YV
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> 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.
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> 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.
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> 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.”
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> 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.
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> 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.
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> 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.
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> Acting like a co-linear antenna array, the over all antenna gain is
> approximately 10 to 15 dB in the 160 meter band.
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> 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.”
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> Laser Com plans to introduce the amateur version of this antenna at the
> Dayton Hamvention this May.
>
> _________________
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