[VHFcontesting] optical transverters

Wed Nov 24 12:24:10 PST 2010

HI All: I helped John, K3PGP with that optical transverter project in the 
early 1990s.  We were using 2 meter I.F.s at the time and we could get 
non-LOS "fog scatter".  I lived on top a hill with an interstate highway 
below and we would hear strange Burr-aap sounds on the optical receiver from 
time to time, which turned out to be the state police lidars.  I still have 
a photomultiplier and some optical stuff lying around. The PIN detectors 
were much easier to use.

Mike wa3tts

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <vhfcontesting-request at contesting.com>
To: <vhfcontesting at contesting.com>
Sent: Wednesday, November 24, 2010 3:00 PM
Subject: VHFcontesting Digest, Vol 95, Issue 9

> Send VHFcontesting mailing list submissions to
> vhfcontesting at contesting.com
>
> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/vhfcontesting
> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
> vhfcontesting-request at contesting.com
>
> You can reach the person managing the list at
> vhfcontesting-owner at contesting.com
>
> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
> than "Re: Contents of VHFcontesting digest..."
>
>
> Today's Topics:
>
>   1. Time to Change VUCC Rules? (Les Rayburn)
>   2. Re: [VHF] Optical transverters [was: Time to Change VUCC
>      Rules?] (Les Rayburn)
>   3. Fwd: [QRP-L] FS: Transverters (John D'Ausilio)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Mon, 22 Nov 2010 21:18:29 -0600
> From: "Les Rayburn" <les at highnoonfilm.com>
> Subject: [VHFcontesting] Time to Change VUCC Rules?
> To: "VHF Contesting Reflector" <vhfcontesting at contesting.com>,
> <vhf at w6yx.stanford.edu>
> Message-ID: <FC369FEE10F543F892C43BBFD8EF8054 at ownerVAIO>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
>
> Considering the recent rules changes for ARRL VHF/UHF Contest regarding 
> optical communications, isn?t it time to also change the VUCC Award 
> credits to better reflect the current thinking (and state of the art for 
> free space optical communications?)
>
> Currently, the VUCC Rules define this frequency range as ?Laser 300Ghz and 
> above?. While the ARRL VHF/UHF Contest rules define these contacts as:
>
> Above 300 GHz, contacts are permitted for contest credit only between 
> licensed amateurs using mono-chromatic signal sources (for example, laser 
> and LED) and employing at least one stage of electronic detection on 
> receive.  Laser usage is restricted to ANSI Z136 Class I, II, IIa, and 
> IIIa (i.e.; output power is less than 5 mW).
>
> A handful of amateurs are currently working to develop optical 
> ?transverters? that would work with IF rigs like the FT-817 and others on 
> full-fledged transceivers that utilize one LED as both emitter and 
> detector, which greatly simplifies mechanical design and aiming. It would 
> be a shame to see these advances be ruled ineligible for VUCC credit.
>
> How about it, Newington?
>
> 73,
>
> Les Rayburn, N1LF
> EM63nf
>
> P.S. How do I order a VUCC lapel pin? I didn?t get one with my 
> certificate, but I?d really like one.
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Tue, 23 Nov 2010 10:09:34 -0600
> From: "Les Rayburn" <les at highnoonfilm.com>
> Subject: Re: [VHFcontesting] [VHF] Optical transverters [was: Time to
> Change VUCC Rules?]
> To: "Ev Tupis" <w2ev at yahoo.com>, "VHF Contesting Reflector"
> <vhfcontesting at contesting.com>, <vhf at w6yx.stanford.edu>
> Message-ID: <F482FF8408EE4F61A94EF24E7074792E at ownerVAIO>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
>
> Ev & The Group,
>
> Most of the discussion related to the transverter design has taken place 
> on the ?Laser? list devoted to free space optical communications at 
> QTH.net. The design is the work of Stuart Wisher, G8CYW. You can see a 
> copy of the schematic at
> this link:
>
> http://www.aladal.net/toast/detector.html
>
>
> Stuart?s design uses a single high power LED for both the transmit and 
> receive path, which significantly reduces the difficulty in ?aiming? 
> towards the distant station. This is no small point, especially at DX 
> distances. It also includes TX/RX relay switching, and is suitable for use 
> with a small IF rig like the FT-817ND or FlexRadio 1500.
>
> Many of us believe that a ?transverter? design for optical communications, 
> especially using a single LED could greatly increase the popularity of 
> optical communications.
>
> This is also a great choice for rovers, and fixed stations wishing to ?add 
> a band? during contests without spending a lot of money. Simple optical 
> communications can be added for well under $200. I?m kind of surprised 
> that the ?pack rovers? in California didn?t make this band one of their 
> first choices.
>
> Stuart?s QRZ.com entry tells more?and he?s very active on the ?Laser? 
> list.
>
>
> My big passion these days is optical communication and I have designed and 
> constructed several rigs for AM and FM using lasers and power LEDs.  The 
> current state of the art is an optical transverter that enables the FT817 
> to be converted from 80m to light, including sideband - I think this is a 
> world first.  I operate within a small group of like-minded radio amateurs 
> (Northern Lights Optical Communications Group) where we are interested in 
> microphone to loudspeaker immediate communications, rather than 
> computer-based data signals.  Our current distance record is 32km (20 
> miles) on AM, and 6km on SSB, although this was not difficult since 
> signals were end-stopping.  Watch this space for future developments! 
> UPDATE last week I made SSB QSOs at 34km with G8KPD (20.9.10) signals 58 
> both ways, and 32.8km with GPNN (21.9.10) signals again 58 both ways. I 
> also received FM from Gordon that end stopped the RX.  We will be testing 
> over a 46km path when the weather allows.
>
>
>
>
> From: Ev Tupis
> Sent: Tuesday, November 23, 2010 4:55 AM
> To: VHF Contesting Reflector ; vhf at w6yx.stanford.edu
> Subject: [VHF] Optical transverters [was: Time to Change VUCC Rules?]
>
> ----- Original Message ----
>
>> A  handful of amateurs are currently working to develop optical
>> btransvertersb  that would work with IF rigs like the FT-817 and others 
>> on
>> full-fledged  transceivers that utilize one LED as both emitter and 
>> detector,
>> which greatly  simplifies mechanical design and aiming.
> ---------------------------
>
> Les,
> A quickie Google search for the term "optical transverter" yielded not 
> much of
> use.  Care to share more information on the topic?
> Ev, W2EV
> ------
> Submissions:                    vhf at w6yx.stanford.edu
> Subscription/removal requests:  vhf-request at w6yx.stanford.edu
> Human list administrator:       vhf-approval at w6yx.stanford.edu
> List rules and information: http://www-w6yx.stanford.edu/vhf/
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Tue, 23 Nov 2010 16:45:35 -0500
> From: "John D'Ausilio" <jdausilio at gmail.com>
> Subject: [VHFcontesting] Fwd: [QRP-L] FS: Transverters
> To: "(Radio) VHF Contesting" <VHFcontesting at contesting.com>
> Message-ID:
> <AANLkTimV+efh24PsJdjq6i8Vh7AHqpSzaLfqKr1bLtda at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> no connection, just passing along ..
>
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Jeff Hetherington <va3jff at yahoo.ca>
> Date: Tue, Nov 23, 2010 at 12:14 PM
> Subject: [QRP-L] FS:  Transverters
> To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net, QRP Canada Mailing List
> <members at qrp-canada.com>, qrp-l at mailman.qth.net
>
>
> Hi All.
>
> Just starting to put my shack back together after a basement
> renovation and the time has come to realize that some of the goodies
> could be better utilized by somebody else since I only operate VHF
> portable with my FT817.
>
> I have available;
> Elecraft XV-50 6m transverter, with all manuals and cables, $300 + ship.
>
> MMT 28-144 2m transverter. Manual included. $50 + ship.
>
> Contact me directly if interested.
>
> 73/72
> Jeff
>
>
> ==========================================
> ?L. Jeffrey Hetherington - VA3JFF / VE3CW
> ? ? ? QRP-ARCI(sm) Contest Manager
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> QRP-L mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/qrp-l
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:QRP-L at mailman.qth.net
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> VHFcontesting mailing list
> VHFcontesting at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/vhfcontesting
>
>
> End of VHFcontesting Digest, Vol 95, Issue 9
> ********************************************
>
>
> -----
> No virus found in this message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 10.0.1170 / Virus Database: 426/3276 - Release Date: 11/24/10
> 