[Laser] Almost QRV FN31xk

[Bob Williams]

I still need to do something about lenses, aiming and practicing on short 
hops, but come nice weather, I should be QRV for baseband audio and 800 Hz 
CW, from near the coastal borderof FN31 and FN41.  I should have 
no problem getting access to the peak of Fort Hill in Groton that is line of 
sight to Montauk and Orient Points, NY if any of the NY gang wants to take a 
road-trip out there.

Also, if there is any interest, I may be able to swing a low-power (couple 
watts) LED (non-coherent, probably IR) beacon from the same site, if there 
was interest in such a thing.  It could spray a wide beam over much of 
eastern Long-Island Sound and Block Island Sound.  Ideas or suggestions are 
solicited.

I've been playing with my K3PGP frontend feeding directly into the soundcard. 
Despite initial concerns about possibly overdriving the soundcard preamp, it 
seems OK, YMMV.  Combined with Baudline, it allows me to both hear the signal 
and see it.  Actually, I should say that I can see it even when I can't hear 
the signal for the noise.  Very nice!  

I have exchanged some emails with Erik Olson, the software engineer at 
SigBlips, developers of Baudline.  He's a pleasant and interesting guy.  
Sounds like he uses the program with SETI work he does.  I'm sure that they'd 
appreciate hearing from anyone who has signiificant results using Baudline 
for cloudbounce or other non-LOS optical comms.

Bob, AA1ZC
Gales Ferry, CT FN31xk
trillium@snet.net