Optical cloudbounce trans-Bass Strait record

November 1, 2009 by Arvadmin

A new NLOS (non-line of sight) optical communications distance record of 288km has been set with a one-way transmission between VK7 and VK3.

Cloud bounce

The night-time contact on 27 October saw Joe Gelston VK7JG assisted by Paul Godden VK7KPG fire up a narrow beamwidth 60 Luxeon LED transmitter to scatter red light off the clouds.

The pair were on Mt Horror in northeast Tasmania at an elevation of 600m above sea level, a location that featured in a previous NLOS record.

Meantime Rex Moncur VK7MO was on Mt Liptrap in South Gippsland, Victoria at a height of 150m to receive their transmission.

The possibility of bridging Bass Strait by optical communications using weak signal technology now been proven with a distance of 288km.

It surpassed the previous NLOS distance of 209.53 across the top of Tasmania between Mt Horror and Circular Head Tower. What next?