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

[Gary Smith]

That's making light out of a difficult 
problem.

;)

73,

Gary
KA1J

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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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