Keep in mind this is only effective with FT-8, not CW... Mike N2MS
> On April 1, 2018 at 12:01 PM donov...@starpower.net wrote: > > > > > > 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. > > _________________ > Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _________________ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband