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FrozenGate by Avery

Lasers on the radio

Javalin said:
Also, the other day I heard on the radio that a guy was stranded at sea on his boat. When he saw a helicopter he flagged it using his laser pointer. The rescue team said had he not used it they may have never found him. I cannot for the life of me find the article though so I didn't post it here. Trust but verify. It's a neat story but it sends mixed signals, especially to kids and those of lesser intellectual capabilities. Also proves the validity of using these as rescue beacons. :)
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Here's the "godsend" article and video verified : HERE A diver in Hawaii got lost at sea on Friday for 8 hours after being separated from his boat off Kaena Point. Then the sun went down, and the Coast Guard had basically no chance of spotting him. But luckily he had a green laser pointer on hand, which he started shining at their helicopter. He took care not to shine it in their eyes, but in their direction. And according to USCG Lt. Chris McAndrew, the laser pointer saved his life when used as a signaling device (ala distress flare).

But I recalled another rescue by laser on land too. It was a grandfather, father and 13 yo son lost in UK marshes and they used a red laser pointer to alert the Medway Coast Guard HERE : "Thames Coastguard were busy this evening coordinating the rescue of a father (58), grandfather (72) to a 13 year old boy, attempting to get back to firmer ground from a vessel they had left at Stoke Creek on the River Medway after the water intake on the engine had silted up. The individuals had become stuck at around 9.30pm and had abandoned their vessel to walk back across the marshes, but they had become increasingly disorientated and bogged down as the darkness fell. The emergency call to Thames Coastguard was made by the wife of one of the men, who had been contacted by her husband. Fortunately the small group had a red laser pen which they used to guide the aircrew Team to their position. Just before 11.00 pm all three had been found after the red laser pen beam had been spotted."
 
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I like the "Hawaii" laser story, that shows someone who can maturely use one! Good on him :beer:
 
Lasers are also Useful as a Rescue Beacon, Signaling Device, Distress Flare.

Tha Greenlander said:
I like the "Hawaii" laser story, that shows someone who can maturely use one! Good on him :beer:
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Lasers are also lifesavers for the lost when used legitimately as a "Rescue Beacon", "Signalling Device" or "Distress Flare" to alert emergency search teams of your undetermined location!

The H.R. 386 Bill "Securing Aircraft Cockpits Against Lasers Act of 2011" HERE specifically exempts "an individual using a laser emergency signalling device to send an emergency distress signal", so it is legal to use a Rescue Laser to signal an aircraft in an emergency :

This section does not prohibit aiming a beam of a laser pointer at an aircraft, or the flight path of such an aircraft, by—

(3) by an individual using a laser emergency signalling device to send an emergency distress signal.
 
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The Lightning Stalker said:
I wonder what would qualify as a "laser emergency signaling device"?
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I'm not sure of it myself but saw this Rescue Laser being sold on Ebay : HERE

-$100
-Rescue Orange
-Expanding laser line that appears as a brilliant red flash of light
-At 8 miles the line is 3,000' wide and at 16 miles it is 6,000' wide
-Nighttime signaling up to 20 miles.
-Daytime signaling 1-3 miles.
-Operates 40 hours (on one battery).
-Compact - Weighs only 3 oz.
-Long life RED laser diode - 10,000 hours meantime to failure.
-Limited Lifetime Warranty (by manufacturer).
-Operates on a Single CR123 3-volt lithium battery.
-Signal duration is equal to 2400 one-minute pyrotechnic flares.
-Waterproof to a depth of 80 feet (24m).
-Rugged Aircraft Aluminum construction.
-No Fire Hazard & Environmentally Safe.
DSC01196.JPG
 
BowtieGuy said:
Great job Pi, hopefully the company rep. that's visiting isn't from WickedLaser!
Maybe some good can come of this after all. Keep us posted. :yh:
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Thanks Bowtie. I hope not either, I doubt any press in the US would have someone from WickedLaser since there is officially an import ban on their products, although that doesn't seem to matter much.

The Lightning Stalker said:
I wonder what would qualify as a "laser emergency signaling device"?
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Here is one example you can buy: 650nm 200mW Search and Rescue Laser Flashlight OEM 18x130mm, AixiZ They also sell an led safety vest or the laser and vest together.

Alan
 
Well most of the specs I believe to be true ,but 40 hours life out of one CR123 battery seems rather impossible ? It doesn't mention output power but even at low power 40 hours seems a big ask ( and if it was low power how would get that brilliant flash at such a distance) .I know you are just posting an eBay item for us to read about and check out and it looks pretty good , just my 2 cents worth.But yes I would call that an emergency laser ,and would be pardon the pun brilliant in an emergency even if it's half as good as they say.



OrionBLF said:
I'm not sure of it myself but saw this Rescue Laser being sold on Ebay : HERE

-$100
-Rescue Orange
-Expanding laser line that appears as a brilliant red flash of light
-At 8 miles the line is 3,000' wide and at 16 miles it is 6,000' wide
-Nighttime signaling up to 20 miles.
-Daytime signaling 1-3 miles.
-Operates 40 hours (on one battery).
-Compact - Weighs only 3 oz.
-Long life RED laser diode - 10,000 hours meantime to failure.
-Limited Lifetime Warranty (by manufacturer).
-Operates on a Single CR123 3-volt lithium battery.
-Signal duration is equal to 2400 one-minute pyrotechnic flares.
-Waterproof to a depth of 80 feet (24m).
-Rugged Aircraft Aluminum construction.
-No Fire Hazard & Environmentally Safe.
DSC01196.JPG
Click to expand...
 
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Tmack said:
On my way to work, I heard something disturbing. In Baltimore there has been a Navy blimp testing aerial mapping equipment. The radio personality on 98 rock mentioned the testing and goes on to say "let's hit it with a laser, we've seen it pop a balloon, wonder what it will do to a blimp" he also said that a laser can be shone from NY to Philadelphia, so it would have no problem hitting the aircraft. Finally he gives a smart-ass disclaimer about shining lasers at aircraft, and follows it up by saying he's still doing it. Of course he was kidding, but a listener is surely going to do it as soon as they see it in the area. Very disappointed to hear. Another potential news story against us.
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You should request the management of the radio station to remind their listeners that intentional targeting of an air vehicle is a federal crime punishable by a hefty fine or imprisonment or both. Remind the management they could be held responsible for such offenses too. Direct them to this site Press Release ? FAA to Impose Civil Penalties for Pointing Lasers into Cockpits
Will you do that?
 
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Blaster said:
Well most of the specs I believe to be true, but 40 hours life out of one CR123 battery seems rather impossible? It doesn't mention output power but even at low power 40 hours seems a big ask ( and if it was low power how would get that brilliant flash at such a distance). I know you are just posting an eBay item for us to read about and check out and it looks pretty good, just my 2 cents worth. But yes I would call that an emergency laser,and would be, pardon the pun, brilliant in an emergency even if it's half as good as they say.
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I think you may have sussed out a dodgy 40hr output span! It's one thing to tout a promise and another to count on that for dear life! Well Hunky Dory it ain't, but few customised lasers can hack a dunking yet come out ok. It's the first time I've come across a purpose-built laser for rescue purposes also : HERE. To the laser-phobes and uninitiated folk out there, this is perhaps one more positive step taken towards their acceptance.:shhh:
 
98rock 8:00 am eastern time. Might recognize the guest :) if you're able to listen
 
They asked him how long it would take a 3w laser to kill someone. Typical.
 
Wouldn't the correct answer be within seconds? If you hit a plane with it on final approach it could take less than a second for things to go horribly wrong.
 
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