4 ms·
In the '80s we built circuit boards for a company called Laser Communications in Lancaster Pennsylvania. They could transmit fast (at the time) data over 2-3 m
by smoyer 11y ago
In the '80s we built circuit boards for a company called Laser Communications in Lancaster Pennsylvania. They could transmit fast (at the time) data over 2-3 miles pretty easily, but water particles in the air (rain, fog, etc) caused enough refraction that the links would go down. I'm curious to know how they solved that problem when going through so much atmosphere (I'm not buying the 50% to 100% without an explanation).
- dogma1138 11y agoThe laser links are between different satellites not between the base station and the sattlelite. Terrestrial FSO is still pretty much limited to about 2500-3000m, no one is going to be using laser to talk to satellites from the ground not as long as the earth has an atmosphere.
- lern_too_spel 11y agoIt communicates with other satellites by laser. Ground communication is over Ka-band radio. The 50-100% figure is simple geometry. A satellite with an orbit that is always in view will have 100% coverage. Other satellites will have at least 50%.
- tempodox 11y agoAre all satellites out far enough to cover a complete hemisphere?