[Elecraft] OT BPL radiated power level

[Masleid, Michael A.]

It seems to me that something is very wrong here.

I suspect that the measurements used to define acceptable
interference levels from unintentional radiators can not be
used to estimate BPL's potential to cause interference, and
so compliance with FCC 15 testing methods should not be
used to allow deployment of BPL

Say that I build a digital clock.  The thing uses RF, and radiates
RF.  Since the clock is small, it is not an efficient radiator at high
frequencies.  The interference caused will be due to capacitive or
inductive coupling.  This near field type of radiation drops off
with the cube of the distance.  Whatever power level I see from
10 meters away will be reduced 1000 times (30 dB) when I move
to 100 meters away, and 1000000 times (60 dB) when I move
a kilometer away.

Say that I build a power line with a cracked insulator.  Since the
line is an efficient radiator at high frequencies, far field radiation
is significant.  Radiation will drop off with the square of the =
distance.
Whatever power level I see from 10 meters away will be reduced
100 times (20 dB) when I move to 100 meters away, and 10000 times,
or 40 dB, when I move to a kilometer away.  This is far worse than
the digital clock.

Say that I apply BPL to a power line.  I add amplifiers every so
often to replace the power that was radiated.  To be nice, I DON'T
just amplify the signal and send it along, I remodulate at each
amplifier.  This power line extends from horizon to horizon.  Radiation
will drop off linearly with distance.  Whatever power level I see at
10 meters will be reduced 10 times, or 10 dB, when I move 100 meters
away, and will be reduced 100 times 20 dB, when I move a kilometer
away.  This is far worse than the cracked insulator.

Say that I just amplify the signal at each repeater.  Now the =
transmission
line has gain, in an unpredictable sort of way.  The signal doesn't
necessarily go down with distance.  This would be able to wipe out
communication anywhere in the world if propagation conditions
were decent.  Now, if it were me, I'd do error checking and remodulation
at each repeater.  Hopefully the BPL folk think the same way.

Say that I apply BPL to a community.  Now radiation levels drop, not =
with
the third power of distance, not with the second power of distance, not =
with
the first power of distance.  Radiation drops with the zero power.  That =
is,
it doesn't change at all.  The power level is everywhere the same at any
distance (within the community).

How can you apply rules that apply to devices of finite size to =
something
that fills the sky from horizon to horizon?

Please tidy this up and forward it if it will do any good.

Michael, AB9GV

(These opinions are mine alone, and imply nothing regarding opinions of
 my employer)