Do Laser Antennas work through atmosphere?

I'm trying to set up a communications satellite on a solo world above earthlike but I can't seem to get the laser antennas to connect. On both sides I can see the other antenna on the connection list but they get stuck on the trying to connect stage. I've also failled to connect them using coordinates.

The only thing I can find online is a bug rrport from a few years ago where the OP claimed it got fixed.