Regarding hams:
Not all hams are old, but that's not the point of contention. The main point of contention is that the "notches" that the BPL proponents are offering are NOT enough to mitigate the horrendous interference potential that is BPL. The interference is the exact reason that Japan banned BPL after giving it a try. However, the BPL proponents want to sweep that information under the rug.
Another point is that hams would not be the only groups impacted by BPL's interference potential. As someone else has mentioned Long distance air traffic, emergency communications and the military. Now, that's scary, the military has better firepower than any group of hams that I know of...:-)
There is also a BPL-killer on the horizon, Wi-Max has the potential to provide broadband connectivity without the interference potential that is BPL. BPL is a big interference risk because when you start pumping imformation at rf frequencies down loooooong wires, you ARE going to start radiating signals from what are essentially longwire antennae. Also at the frequencies that BPL is proposing to use, the distance those signals is global, not local. Sincerely and Respectfully Yours,
Hi Gang,
Wayne K9DI & Leader Dog Patriot here. I hold and Amateur Extra class license from the FCC.
Sorry, wrong number. This technology is not suited for rural or underdeveloped areas, and the proponents of BPL have in fact stated that they don't see it as economically feasible to serve those types of areas, but would rather "cherry pick" large metropolitan areas that have the user base to make BPL profitable for them.
Something that is not mentioned here is that Japan tried and banned BPL because of the interference issues, same story in Austria. However, the BPL proponents in the US would like to sweep that under the rug and pull the wool over the eyes of US citizens and policy makers.
As stated in other posts a large scale rollout of BPL in the US would pollute RF globally and I would like to be a fly on the wall at the state department when notes of protest start arrriving from other governments about the mess. What about the negative impact this technology would have on air operations, not to mention the military's use of HF frequencies?
We already have the technology to sniff and capture the packets used in BPL, very similar to what's used when sniffing about wifi hotspots. So, security IS or should be a major concern to anyone thinking of using BPL. Not to mention that as a part 15 system BPL would have to accept interference from a licensed service such as say...FEMA, the DoD, Amateur radio operators, etc, etc. Funny thing, is that, a fairly inexpensive 100 watt transceiver would, and in some cases a low power (QRP) rig with 5 watts, be enough to disrupt a BPL system. US Amatuers are allowed up to 1500 watts to play with on HF.
I'm not sure what happened to the BPL system in Mannassus Virginia on 26-27 June 2004 when Field Day was going on. Would be interesting to see if all that RF being slung had any effect. Perhaps, that's why Alliant pulled the plug, pun intended, on it's Cedar Rapids trial? Food for thought. P.S. Historical Note: Cedar Rapids is the former home of Collins Radio, a Long time leader in the radio industry. In fact, Art Collins (W0CXX), the owner of Collins Radio, was friends with General Curtis LeMay (K0GRL). LeMay was instrumental in getting the Air Force to try out the then experimental mode now known as Single Side Band (SSB) for use with Long Range Bombers. Up to that time the Air Force used Double Sideband AM or Morse Code for communications. Sorry, the perils of being a History major...:)
My family and I went to see Spiderman and I must say it is done alot better than the Spiderman movies I saw on TV as a kid in the 1970's. I cannot wait for the sequel or for this one to come out on DVD!! Then I will really be able to see it instead of just listening to it as I did Friday evening. (Yes I am almost completely blind and work with a trained dog guide). 73 de K9DI
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Regarding hams:
Not all hams are old, but that's not the point of contention. The main point of contention is that the "notches" that the BPL proponents are offering are NOT enough to mitigate the horrendous interference potential that is BPL. The interference is the exact reason that Japan banned BPL after giving it a try. However, the BPL proponents want to sweep that information under the rug.
Another point is that hams would not be the only groups impacted by BPL's interference potential. As someone else has mentioned Long distance air traffic, emergency communications and the military. Now, that's scary, the military has better firepower than any group of hams that I know of...:-)
There is also a BPL-killer on the horizon, Wi-Max has the potential to provide broadband connectivity without the interference potential that is BPL. BPL is a big interference risk because when you start pumping imformation at rf frequencies down loooooong wires, you ARE going to start radiating signals from what are essentially longwire antennae. Also at the frequencies that BPL is proposing to use, the distance those signals is global, not local.
Sincerely and Respectfully Yours,
ARS K9DI
Hi Gang,
Wayne K9DI & Leader Dog Patriot here. I hold and Amateur Extra class license from the FCC.
Sorry, wrong number. This technology is not suited for rural or underdeveloped areas, and the proponents of BPL have in fact stated that they don't see it as economically feasible to serve those types of areas, but would rather "cherry pick" large metropolitan areas that have the user base to make BPL profitable for them.
Something that is not mentioned here is that Japan tried and banned BPL because of the interference issues, same story in Austria. However, the BPL proponents in the US would like to sweep that under the rug and pull the wool over the eyes of US citizens and policy makers.
As stated in other posts a large scale rollout of BPL in the US would pollute RF globally and I would like to be a fly on the wall at the state department when notes of protest start arrriving from other governments about the mess. What about the negative impact this technology would have on air operations, not to mention the military's use of HF frequencies?
We already have the technology to sniff and capture the packets used in BPL, very similar to what's used when sniffing about wifi hotspots. So, security IS or should be a major concern to anyone thinking of using BPL. Not to mention that as a part 15 system BPL would have to accept interference from a licensed service such as say...FEMA, the DoD, Amateur radio operators, etc, etc. Funny thing, is that, a fairly inexpensive 100 watt transceiver would, and in some cases a low power (QRP) rig with 5 watts, be enough to disrupt a BPL system. US Amatuers are allowed up to 1500 watts to play with on HF.
I'm not sure what happened to the BPL system in Mannassus Virginia on 26-27 June 2004 when Field Day was going on. Would be interesting to see if all that RF being slung had any effect. Perhaps, that's why Alliant pulled the plug, pun intended, on it's Cedar Rapids trial? Food for thought.
P.S. Historical Note: Cedar Rapids is the former home of Collins Radio, a Long time leader in the radio industry. In fact, Art Collins (W0CXX), the owner of Collins Radio, was friends with General Curtis LeMay (K0GRL). LeMay was instrumental in getting the Air Force to try out the then experimental mode now known as Single Side Band (SSB) for use with Long Range Bombers. Up to that time the Air Force used Double Sideband AM or Morse Code for communications. Sorry, the perils of being a History major...:)
My family and I went to see Spiderman and I must say it is done alot better than the Spiderman movies I saw on TV as a kid in the 1970's. I cannot wait for the sequel or for this one to come out on DVD!! Then I will really be able to see it instead of just listening to it as I did Friday evening. (Yes I am almost completely blind and work with a trained dog guide).
73
de
K9DI