Real time active aiming?( was Re: [Laser] Laser comm stuff)

[Art]

At 07:01 PM 7/22/03 -0400, you wrote:
>If a retro was co-located with each receiver, tracking would be possible 
>without
>tracking data transfers.
>-John


Yes, this is great for short haul paths.

But the retro gets real weak real fast as the distance between the 2 
stations increases.

I have been subscribed to the PIC mailing list for awhile and saw a very 
nice PIC project that implemented full microstepper control using an 
inexpensive PIC device and a simple pc board.

It is available as a kit or you can download the code and roll your own.

Problem is... I CAN'T FIND THE MESSAGE THAT GAVE THE URL!

I'll keep my ears to the ground and report when I can locate the 
microstepping project.

-----------------------------

I have been following the recent discussion about mechanical aiming of lasers.

While a narrow beam is nice and makes long distance QSO's possible, I am 
wondering WHY anyone would want a highly precise aiming system for short to 
moderate distance Q's??? I played with 2 different lasers with adjustable 
collimators. One of them would spread the beam to about 30 milliradians. 
The other would spread the beam to about .5 degrees. Of course, the wider 
beam is not good for long distances.

But, for short to medium hauls,  a wider beam greatly simplifies the aiming 
process!

I'm putting together a phopomultiplier tube receiver now and hope to be 
able to use a hot receiver instead of an elaborate mechanical setup to aim 
the beam.

-------------------------------

Has anyone tried green LED's and a photomultiplier tube for non line of 
sight Q's??

-------------------------------

Keep dem lasers lit!

Art







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