[EIDXA] Cedar Rapids BPL Test has Concluded

[Jim Spencer]

The Alliant Energy BPL test evaluation in Cedar Rapids, Iowa has concluded. 
The BPL evaluation system went active on March 30, 2004 and was disabled on Friday afternoon, June 25, 2004.  The system evaluated was manufactured by Amperion and included both overhead and underground BPL links.  Daniel Hinz, Product Manager for Alliant Energy and project lead for the BPL test, said that Alliant Energy had completed its operational tests and a consultant had performed the proposed NRPM radiation tests.  Mr. Hinz said the primary purpose of this evaluation was to gain an understanding of the BPL technology and what issues might exist with the technology and a possible deployment in a real-world environment.  He said that regulatory uncertainty, the interference complaints and other issues associated with the pilot all entered into the decision to end the pilot early.  Alliant Energy will be completing a written evaluation of their pilot and does not plan to deploy a BPL system at this time.

Five fixed Amateur Radio stations in proximity to the evaluation system and two mobile stations formally reported BPL interference on the HF bands.  The Radio Amateurs and Alliant Energy cooperated by sharing interference information.  Alliant Energy turned the BPL evaluation system off twice to allow collection of extensive BPL frequency and signal level data with and without BPL from W0SR.  As Alliant Energy and Amperion tried various "notching" configurations, W0SR reported to Alliant Energy how these changed the interference received.

I personally thank Alliant Energy for their cooperation.  And thanks also to the ARRL and the Cedar Rapids BPL Steering Committee for their knowledge and efforts in making a truly professional evaluation.

73,  Jim Spencer  W0SR