A high data rate communication system operating at frequencies greater
than 70 MHz and at data rates of about 1.25 Gbps or greater. Preferred
embodiments include modulators with a resonant LC circuit including a
diode which is back-biased for "off" (i.e., no transmit) and forward
biased for "on" (or transmit). The modulator is a part of high
performance transceivers for wireless, millimeter wave communications
links. A preferred embodiment provides a communication link of more than
eight miles which operates within the 71 to 76 GHz portion of the
millimeter spectrum and provides data transmission rates of 1.25 Gbps
with bit error rates of less than 10.sup.-10 . A first transceiver
transmits at a first bandwidth and receives at a second bandwidth both
within the above spectral range. A second transceiver transmits at the
second bandwidth and receives at the first bandwidth. The transceivers
are equipped with antennas providing beam divergence small enough to
ensure efficient spatial and directional partitioning of the data
channels so that an almost unlimited number of transceivers will be able
to simultaneously use the same spectrum. In a preferred embodiment the
first and second spectral ranges are 71.8+/-0.63 GHz and 73.8+/-0.63 GHz
and the half power beam width is about 0.2 degrees or less. Preferably, a
backup transceiver set is provided which would take over the link in the
event of very bad weather conditions. In other embodiments especially
useful for mobile applications at least one of the transceivers include a
GPS locator.