[KL7AA] Hams Encouraged by NEW Motorola BPL Technology

[Mike Wood]

Newington, Conn., May 23, 2005  --ARRL, the national association for Amateur 
Radio, announced today that "The ARRL is pleased to hear Motorola's 
announcement of its Powerline LV system. This is the first Access Broadband 
over Power Line (BPL) system that has been designed from the start with 
radio interference concerns in mind."

Motorola's Powerline LV system avoids using the medium-voltage (MV) power 
lines and introduces broadband signals only on the low-voltage (LV) side of 
the power transformer. This greatly reduces the potential for interference 
to and from radio users, especially radio amateurs. ARRL Chief Executive 
Officer David Sumner commented, "We know that medium-voltage (MV) power 
lines are no place for broadband energy, since there is overwhelming 
technical evidence that radio interference from BPL is unavoidable if MV 
lines are used. By confining their Access BPL system to LV lines and by 
adding hardware notch filters for additional protection to amateur radio 
frequency allocations, Motorola has addressed our interference concerns."

While sometimes pictured by BPL proponents as opposing all BPL 
implementation, the ARRL has always maintained that radio amateur "hams" are 
not interested in blocking new technology but are justifiably concerned 
about pollution of the radio spectrum. Significant interference has been 
documented at numerous sites where other BPL systems are being tested, and 
other BPL developers have been unwilling to share information about their 
systems. By contrast, Motorola invited ARRL's suggestions and welcomed its 
input during product development.

Sumner concluded, "We look forward to seeing the first Powerline LV system 
in operation, and to continuing to work with Motorola to ensure that their 
new product is indeed the first BPL system that is a solution, not a 
problem."

There are approximately 670,000 Amateur Radio operators in the United 
States. Many other countries are watching events unfold in the US as they 
plan their own BPL systems.  There are approximately 2.5 million Amateur 
Radio operators around the world. If the new Motorola system lives up to its 
initial promise in actual deployment, this new  "shortwave-friendly" system 
will have many advocates.

 Information about Amateur Radio is available from the ARRL, the national 
association for Amateur Radio, 225 Main Street Newington, CT 06111 or by 
calling 1-800-32-NEW HAM. The URL for ARRL's home page is www.arrl.org.

Information about Motorola's "Powerline LV" system can be found at: 
http://www.motorola.com/mediacenter/news/detailpf/0,,5519_5509_23,00.html

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Mike
AL2N