On Sun, 12 Mar 2006 09:22:37 GMT, "Brian Reay"
wrote:

As these beasties come in a mounting that already
has facilities for screw fixing, perhaps there is
potential capability for optical communications?

Been done. UK record, as of a couple of years back at least, was something
like 75km. There is project in the latest RSGB handbook (if you are
interesed I'll look up the page, I noticed the article but haven't read the
detail).


The current UK laser record is around 73km I believe... held by G0MFR
and G8LSD. They used standard low power red laser diodes of the kind
found in the pointers. Barry,G8AGN, Gordon G0EWN and myself (all in
Sheffield) are also experimenting on these lines have done a 45km path
so far... using cw. We have some LOS paths up here in the North up to
136km so we're hoping to better the record one day soon :-)

Peter, G3PHO