Optical cloudbounce trans-Bass Strait record

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.

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

More information on this story can be found in the news section of the Amateur Radio Victoria website www.amateurradio.com.au