Single Mode Laser Diodes

Alaskan said:

I bought some single mode IR laser diodes to play around with which should work well for that purpose at 250-300mw output, they have an extremely small emitter which means when expanded to just a few mm diameter can produce a very small amount of divergence, easily the 1/4 mRad of that IR scope you can't buy, or even lower. Just depends on how much it is expanded. What is the maximum diameter spot size you want at 500 yards? I will see what the numbers calculate at for that distance to figure out what the spot size would be that far away. Call sign here is KL7FB.

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I hesitate to say, since 1) Haven't thought this all the way through in detail and 2) Might say something really stupid. So, let's just say, as good as I can make, reasonably. For a comparison, this is the IR spec of the Steiner DBAL-D2, that I currently have. If it's anywhere near the same, but more power, that would be a plus.

Steiner DBAL-D2
IR Laser Class:Class 1 Eye-Safe
IR Laser Output:0.7mW
IR Laser Divergence:0.3 mradIR
Laser Wavelength:850nm
IR Laser Range:400 – 450 yards

I guess my next lesson should be to understand the full specs and figure out how to calculate all this myself.

This is what my current Steiner IR laser looks like at about 20 feet. Not a very good photo but does show size compared to light switch.

We feel the same way on that Mr. SD, I have way more 855 than I could carry on my back at once just because they tried to say I can't have it, not according to their definition, the bastards really pi$$ me off.

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I only have about 1000 rounds of the green tip stuff. Picked most of it up when I was just looking for 5.56 of anything.

Can't have too much ammo. However, remember the saying, "you really only own what you can carry at a full run" That's why they invented shovels

Very true, and as for carry all the pouches on my chest rig are full of Pmags packed and capped because they are my mags and I like them loaded, they are near useless empty.
From what I have read a spring only wears out from much cycling and not being compressed, however with the dust cap I under load @ 28 just to give them a break, what do you think?

MikeSD said:

Another thing we have in common, and another way to check me out. KC7VE (Advanced) and on QRZ.com. Mostly on IRLP nowadays.

I'm looking for targeting (i.e. a sighting mechanism). I guess illumination might be the next thing. But just looking to extend the range. Why? Why not?

I'm looking for a dot sight, like in this video

My existing one goes out 100+ and maybe out to 500, for all I know. But longer is better. Or is that bigger is better. I keep forgetting.

Like my intro says, I got into this, because I found out I couldn't buy an IR greater than about 5mW. I'm not fond of the concept "you can't have" for things that are not illegal.

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Hey, another ham, awesome! Welcome!

73 de VE8AEG

RedCowboy said:

Very true, and as for carry all the pouches on my chest rig are full of Pmags packed and capped because they are my mags and I like them loaded, they are near useless empty.
From what I have read a spring only wears out from much cycling and not being compressed, however with the dust cap I under load @ 28 just to give them a break, what do you think?

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Off_Topic but one of my favorite subjects.

In the short term, your lifetime, I don't think it makes much difference. And I do keep some magazines loaded at all times. But I never store them permanently loaded, for one very good reason. What was a working magazine, when you loaded it, might become non-working by the introduction of a single grain of sand.

I'm armed 24/7/365, even when sleeping. My always present SIG 938 carries only 7 rounds, but it's always with me. It's light enough to keep in my PJs. It is the one gun that gives me time to get to my Glock or Beretta, where the real firepower lies. So, I keep mine loaded but will unload and reload, from time to time, just to clean out any debris that might have worked it's way into a magazine. Hard to do, if all of your magazines are loaded. I'm really OCD about working magazines. When I was shooting competitively, I would clean my magazines after every stage, even if they weren't used. Magazines must work first time, every time.

Oh wait, I also have a NA Widow Maker with .22 Mag, that allows me to carry it in a shirt pocket, when I can't carry my SIG. It's so small, that it easily fits a dress shirt pocket.

Another useful thing about Night Vision is that it can be used for taking photos of stars. This one isn't optimal but illustrates the concept.

I should have used a tripod, instead of handheld.

Beautiful "Orion The Hunter" shot there Mike.
Very appropriate.

:beer:

Yep, betleguse and rigel both stand out as they should, very nice.

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Have you seen these, I haven't poured over the specs yet.



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Night vision infrared Laser : Zen Cart!, The Art of E-commerce

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