Laser Communications

Laser Classes

Class I Sealed systems Class II Output <1mW Class IIIa Output 1mW - 5mW Class IIIb Output 5mW 500mW

Harmful to eyes, diffuse viewing OK

Class IV Output >500mW

Harmful to skin and eyes, diffuse viewing hazardous

Diode Lasers

Laser diodes emit an elliptical beam with astigmatism Better units will include corrective lenses for astigmatism and to make the dot appear round Neither of these problems are inherently bad for DX purposes but correcting them also improves divergence, a big win (more gain).

Human Spectral Response

Perceived Intensities
Wavelength 532 nm 635 nm 640 nm Multiplier 28 7 5 Color Green Red-Orange Red-Orange

650 nm
660 nm 670 nm

3
2 1

Red
Red Red

Laser Diode
Laser Diodes include Photodiodes for feedback to insure consistent output

Pointer Design

Pointer Innards

Modulation

AM

Easy with gas lasers, hard with diodes

Used by Ramsey in their kit Potentially the highest bandwidth (>100kHz)

PWM (Pulse Width Modulation)

PFM (Pulsed FM)

Gain Systems

Transmitter

Maximum output power Minimum divergence Maximum lens area Clarity Tight focus on detector

Receiver

Filters

Sun shade over detector Shade in front of lens Detector spectral response Colored filters
Absorb ~50% of available light Difficult to find exact frequency

Mounting Systems

Mounts and stands need only be as accurate as beam divergence Good laser diodes will be 1-2mR (milliRadian) A 32 pitch screw at the end of a 2' mount will yield 1mR per revolution. Since quarter turns (even eighth turns) are possible, this is more than accurate enough Higher thread pitches allow shorter mounts which may be more stable (against wind, vibration, wires) 1mR is 1.5' of divergence every 1000', 3' at 2000 ', etc.

Pointing

GPS and Compass Scopes and Binoculars Strobe lights, large handheld floods, headlights HTs to yell when laser light is seen at remote location

Weak Signal Modes

Laser DX

1991 - June 08 - WA7LYI and KY7B - 153.97 miles ! Equipment used: 18 inch fresnel lens into Photomultiplier tube Transmitter: 15 mw helium cadmium laser (442 nm)

Applications

Transmit voice for miles line-of-sight Use weak signal modes for cloud scatter Transmit video with cheap pens Transmit high speed data without WEP Blind flies for easy extermination