For maximum laser brightness, send contiguous 0 bytes at 115200 baud. This is assumed in the following text.
Alternatively, the Windows UPNLT software can be used to switch on the laser. Select Tools, Laser control.
The spot from the laser will generally be visible on a white wall with the naked eye at night with moderate ambient lighting from streetlights etc at a range of up to about 200 metres.
The spot from the laser will generally be visible with the naked eye on a good retroreflector such as white or red road sign with moderate ambient lighting from streetlights etc at a range up to about 500 metres. Some road signs are good retroreflectors, many are very poor. Green and blue retroreflective road signs return negligible red laser light.
Binoculars typically more than double the range at which the spot is visible.
Only observations from near the laser are useful for alignment unless the beam is almost on target and is moved very, very slowly. A person at the intended endpoint of the beam will otherwise only see occasional flashes during alignment attempts as the beam passes across him. If the beam is moved very, very slowly, and is quite close to the target, then an observer at the target can usefully advise the person aligning the laser, for example by phone. An observer should not look directly at the laser source, especially if it is closer than 200 metres, nor use binoculars.
Start the alignment process by pointing the beam at a fairly close (say 50 metres distant) white object. Follow the spot with your eye while slowly moving the beam towards the target.
A large retroreflector at the target is very helpful. A dozen or so clean car reflectors from a junkyard is suitable. Some so-called retroreflective tape returns little light to the source - only the best grades are useful.
Expect alignment to take at least five minutes for an experienced operator, and considerably longer for a neophyte.