[Lowfer] 1750M?

[Ed Phillips]

Lyle Koehler wrote:
> 
> I believe the power companies are more concerned that hams will complain
> about interference from PLCs than they are about *receiving* interference
> from ham operations. However, they aren't likely to admit that, so they have
> used every other possible argument against a ham band. Until now, the only
> serious listeners in the LF range have been LowFERs, and since we also
> operate under Part 15, we must tolerate interference from both licensed and
> non-licensed sources. PLCs are supposedly non-radiating, but I believe that
> some of them can be heard for 100 miles or more. If they interfered with
> licensed ham communications, under the provisions of Part 15 they would have
> to cease operation.
> 
> On the other hand, if the power companies were telling the truth, it means
> that the PLC systems in use are so crude that they are susceptible to the
> minute amount of radiation that could be picked up from a 2 watt ERP (in the
> original ARRL proposal) ham signal. Any system which is that vulnerable to
> incidental interference is wide open to compromise by intentional acts of
> vandalism or terrorism.
> 
> Lyle, K0LR

	It's been a number of years since I tried it, but when I took a
portable VLF receiver under the 220 kV distribution like about a mile
from here the PLC 's were loud and clear, while the noise drowned out my
IZJ beacon to the point where I could barely hear it.  Can't find my
log, but on more than one occasion I heard a carrier with voice
modulation on it.  Appeared to be a recorded test message.

Ed