[Laser] Re: Lasers vs LEDs & ARRL contests

[Art]

>
>Practically speaking, I have also worked the same 107+ mile path 
>path using lasers, but the results were notably worse:  When working 
>a 173+ mile path, the laser didn't work where the LED did...


Clint,

Do you have any idea why the LED worked better???

The only thing I can think of is that the laser had a narrow beam and 
the atmospheric conditions shifted the beam in and out of alignment 
with the target. The LED had a wider beam, so minor shifting didn't 
make much difference.

But, the erp has to be way down on the LED-even a few degrees of 
beamwidth makes the LED very weak at the receiver.

Any idea why the LED worked better?

Art