[Lowfer] AC utility meter QRM on LF

[Andy - KU4XR]

--- On Wed, 10/6/10, Charlie , W5COV <cvest at cox.net> wrote:

> just considering other aspects and implications from new technology , 
> which is just the tip of the iceberg , related to what we are going 
> to be seeing if the ever mythical smart power grid comes into being .

Unfortunately !! the " mythical " smart power grid, is swiftly becoming
a reality. The city of Cleveland, TN. which is not a huge city by no
means, just received a government grant to purchase, and install the
new " smart meters " which they hope to have operational by spring of
2011. The purpose of the meters are to have the utility ready for the 
new billing, and power control process of TVA. The new billing process
will bill customers at higher rates during peak power usage times, and
are geared especially toward business, and industrial customers to 
charge much higher rates between the hours of 1pm to 6pm. TVA is
touting the new metering, and billing sytem as a way for its 
customers to cut back on electricity usage during these times of the 
day...( yeah right ) and home users can have a system that can notify
them if they exceed a preset value of electricity usage, and when the 
alarm goes off, they can shut down non-essential electrical devices,
and turn down their AC's or Heating systems until the peak time passes
or they will have to pay the much higher peak usage rates.
The facts of life as it is, or soon will be; where you are.


Andy - KU4XR - EM75xr - Friendsville, TN. USA
LOWfer Beacon " XR " @ 185.29875 KHz ( QRSS-60 )

*** Temporarily OFF, while constructing a new antenna ***

Coordinates:  N:  35º 43' 54" - W:  84º 3' 16"
http://www.myspace.com/beaconxr

*** The 5 most important words ever spoken ***

http://ku4xr.webs.com/5mostimportantwords.htm


--- On Wed, 10/6/10, Charlie , W5COV <cvest at cox.net> wrote:

> From: Charlie , W5COV <cvest at cox.net>
> Subject: Re: [Lowfer] AC utility meter QRM on LF
> To: "Discussion of the Lowfer (US, European, & UK) and MedFer bands" <lowfer at mailman.qth.net>
> Date: Wednesday, October 6, 2010, 6:44 PM
> Just a quick comment on making a
> challenge .
> 
> I think the power companies "might" withstand a challenge
> on PLC meters , 
> but those are not the only new generation meters out there
> .
> 
> Such as the 900 MHz. model mentioned , they have no more
> right to create 
> interference than anyone else . Also since it is a
> transmitter , it would 
> have to be type accepted . There is also a spread spectrum
> model , that I 
> haven't yet run into anyone dealing with it .
> 
> I am not in any way trying to start an argument , just
> considering other 
> aspects and implications from new technology , which is
> just the tip of the 
> iceberg , related to what we are going to be seeing if the
> ever mythical 
> smart power grid comes into being .
> 
> One could also probably make a case against the
> interference from the LF 
> meters also . If you are receiving interference from them
> while trying to 
> listen to commercial stations , NAA , WWVB , NDB's , NAVTEX
> , on and on , 
> then I see that as not acceptable either .
> 
> Luckily so far , other than Dex's case , I have followed 3
> other cases , 
> Laurence's included , and the utilities were cooperative in
> resolving the 
> problem in 2 of those 3 cases .
> 
> In the case of Charles in Austin , he is not a ham or a
> transmitting 
> experimenter , just a very successful and avid designer and
> experimenter in 
> DC to MF listening .
> 
> Luckily in his case , being the owner of Wenzel Associates
> in Austin 
> (www.wenzel.com) , and Croven Crystals , in New Jersey , he
> had the test 
> equipment , technical expertise , and resources to resolve
> the problem on 
> his own .
> 
> It is an area that will affect more and more of us and we
> need to keep 
> exchanging notes and ideas on how to best handle it so we
> can still 
> experiment and enjoy our hobby .
> 
> Charlie , W5COV
> 
> 
> 
> ______________________________________________________________
> Lowfer mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/lowfer
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:Lowfer at mailman.qth.net
> 
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>