[Laser] Add a new band for only $15 bucks!

[bernies at netaxs.com]

Here's a URL to more info on this inexpensive IR datacom device:

http://www.cookieskids.com/Product.aspx?l=00000000000000000000&p=TYN01237

-ed


On 2/14/11, Les Rayburn <les at highnoonfilm.com> wrote:
> While looking at the toy aisle in Wal-Mart for a birthday gift for my niece,
> I found a carded device called an "SMS Messenger" targeted at kids age 6-11.
> It's basically a pair of plastic boxes with a keypad that resemble  
> cell-phones. They have an LCD readout, and can be used to send  
> "text" messages between the two devices using IR light.
>
> Practical range at nighttime is about 200 feet according to our  
> tests, but daytime range was considerably less. With some  
> modification and the addition
> of cheap lenses, these should work out to several hundred yards easily.
>
> The keyboards are not WYSISWYG but rather use a single key to send  
> up to four letters and the number depending on how many times it's  
> pushed. Kind of
> like the way we used to send text messages using standard cell  
> phones. Most of us have upgraded to Smartphones, and may have lost  
> the skill, but it can be quickly relearned. The toy also allows you  
> to program up to 12 "standard"
> messages into the device so that they can be quickly sent again.
>
> So things like "CQ CQ CQ DE NXXX EM74 K" can be put into memory and  
> reused easily.
>
> Are these serious devices for the optical experimenter? No...but  
> they can get you on a "new band" for under $20 bucks, and you can  
> have some fun experimenting with optical communications.
>
> 73,
>
>
> Les Rayburn, N1LF
> EM63nf
> 121 Mayfair Park
> Maylene, AL 35114
>
> 6M VUCC #1712
> Grid Bandit #222
> Life Member Central States VHF Society  
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