This week, learn how those LEDs that we take for granted are shining brightly in the communications field.

Back in February, Mike Groth, VK7MJ, and Chris Long performed an amazing radio accomplishment. They communicated over a 104-mile path using LEDs as their means of communications! These experimenters accomplished this feat from perches on the south peak of Mount Barrow and Mount Wellington in Tasmania, Australia, on the evening of February 19.

Read how Amateur Radio operators broke a communications distance record using LEDs at the Modulated Light DX Web site.

Mike and Chris run the Modulated Light DX Web site where they have documented their DX feat using "simple audio amplitude modulation of 1 W Luxeon LEDs in full duplex, and with about 10 to 12 dB S/N (maximum)." They claim that "this is certainly an Australian distance record for optical communication, and it is a world record for two-way audio-modulated optical communication using non-coherent light sources."

In addition to documenting the 104-mile LED contact, the Web site has loads of LED, light, and optical communications information including articles like "Optical Communications for the Amateur," "Light Modulation Via Ultrasound" and "Optical Communications Before Electronics: The Heliograph." There is also a discussion that attempts to answer the question "Why Not Lasers?" I can read stuff like this all day long and I think you will find it interesting, too.

Until next time, keep on surfin'.

Editor's note: Stan Horzepa, WA1LOU, is fascinated with unusual communication techniques and has a collection of string and empty tin cans to prove it. To discuss communication oddities and other odds and ends, e-mail Stan or add comments to his blog.

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