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

[Mpridesti]

April 1

Regards,
Mark, K1RX


> On Apr 1, 2018, at 12:01 PM, donovanf at 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. 
> 
> 
> 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. 
> 
> 
> 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.” 
> 
> 
> Laser Com plans to introduce the amateur version of this antenna at the 
> Dayton Hamvention this May. 
> 
> _________________
> Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband