Topband: Laser Com introducing a breakthrough Top Band antenna at Dayton

[donovanf at starpower.net]

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.