Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!helios.physics.utoronto.ca!ists!eric
From: eric@ists.ists.ca (Eric M. Carroll)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.lans
Subject: Re: Optical Link
Message-ID: <6360@ists.ists.ca>
Date: 20 Mar 90 19:03:05 GMT
References: <756@ncs.dnd.ca> <1990Mar16.014323.3586@monu6.cc.monash.oz> <1990Mar16.171821.19989@agate.berkeley.edu>
Reply-To: eric@ists.ists.ca (Eric M. Carroll)
Organization: Institute for Space and Terrestrial Science
Lines: 32

>There is an infrared ethernet link on the market. Supposed to be good 
>for 1 kilometer, all weather. The hardware costs about $15K (includes
>both ends). Made by:
>Laser Communications Inc
>1848 Charter Lane, Suite F
>Lancaster, Pa 17605
>(800)-527-3740
>I have talked to these folks, but have no actual experience with the product.
>I would be very interested in hearing from anyone who has.

I have an LCI Lace installed at ISTS in Toronto. We had some trouble
with the first unit. It was serial number 11. We found several bugs in
the board. However, since then it has run very well, with one failure
due to it getting misaligned when contractors cut a hole in the roof.

It is set up nearly northwest/southeast and shoots over a busy municipal
boundary road to a building about 900 metres away. 

One disadvantage is that it will go down in heavy fog or heavy
snowstorms. My rule of thumb says that if I cannot see the other
building due to weather the laser will not be up. This is true excecpt
for snow. Snow, because the eye integrates the snowfall image, is more
difficult to predict when the laser will be down.

However, when compared against the cost of microwave, especially in
Canada, it was extemely attractive. In terms of line costs it paid for
itself in under 3 years. (US readers should note that Canada's leased
line costs are much more than yours. A 56kb/s leased line to cover
the same 900 m was around $600/mo).

Our contractor was Computer Cable Systems of Mississauga, a company I
highly recommend.