[Lowfer] HomePlug System Warning

[Peter Barick]

LowFERs,
Re: HomePlug System

New to me but ominously sounding for rx-ing is HomePlug systems. Here's
an account from a VK who seems concerned. U.S. next? [or are we
exporting it?  ;-]

Oh, for HiFERs, notice the 13 MHz item.
Peter,
--------------------------------
----- Original Message -----
From: "Graeme Zimmer" <gzimmer@BIGPOND.COM>
To: <PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU>
Sent: Thursday, April 11, 2002 9:02 AM
Subject: End of QRP?


> Recently I posted a note about the threat to our hobby from the
HomePlug
> Power Mains communication system.
> I was saddened to see only one reply.
>
> So I thought I'd have just one more try. Here is a summary:
>
> The system transmits data on the mains wiring using hundreds of
broad-band
> carriers in the HF band. The modems put out a relatively high signal
level.
> Around 100 mW it seems.
>
> Can you image a 100mW broad band noise source in the next room?
> Can you imagine the signal being piped into your house on your mains
> cabling?
> Can you imagine tens of thousands of them around the country?
>
> The BBC calculates that the signal level is around 50db higher than
the
> European Conducted Emission limits.
>
> This level even exceeds the European immunity test level. As this is
a
very
> stringent test by USA standards, the level will certainly be high
enough
to
> directly affect a large number of appliances !
>
> The calculated interference level are awesome. It will be so high for
some
> SWLs that even outside antennas will be useless even for strong SW
stations.
>
> The really scary bit is that around large centers the effects will
extend
> out to 100 Km or so.
> The interference will actually be bad enough to effect ships at sea
and
even
> aircraft.
>
> To put this in perspective, a friend of mine (here in Australia) has
been
> doing low power tests in the 13 MHz ISM "junk band"
> With around 1 mW output, his best distance reception has been 16,300
kms.
He
> is
> frequently heard in USA.
>
> These Home plug modems are putting out one hundred times that power
level
> (and there will be tens of thousands of them). In other words, it is
likely
> that
> Modems in USA will cause significant radio interference in Australia
!!!!
>
> I hope that we can manage to get them banned.
>
> What can you do ?
>
> Firstly read these documents.....
> http://www.qsl.net/rsgb_emc/emcplc.pdf 
> http://www.bbc.co.uk/rd/pubs/papers/pdffiles/hf2000jhs.pdf 
> http://www.bbc.co.uk/rd/pubs/whp/whp-pdf-files/WHP012.pdf 
>
> Then write to ....
> Tom Cantrell
> twc@charter.net 
> West Coast Editor
> Circuit Cellar Magazine
>
> He has just written a glowing review of the HomePlug system, but
seems to
> have absolutely no idea of how important the HF spectrum is world
wide. He
> seems to think that HF is now superseded and should be reallocated.
>
> Anyway, it is one tiny chance for us to be heard by someone with
some
> influence.
>
> And please don't bother writing to me. I am already aware of the
issue.
> Write instead to Tom.
> Tell him how much you enjoy your hobby (both QRP and SWL) and how
much you
> dread this system coming to a house near you, sometime soon.
>
> Thanks for listening ................. Zim ................ VK3GJZ
>