[Premium-Rx] Power Line Communications

Thu Aug 14 16:48:57 EDT 2003

Greg:

Yes, there has been quite a bit of rumble about the FCC's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking concerning what is called "BPL" here....Broadband over Power Lines.  I would refer anyone to check out the ARRL website (www.arrl.org) for greater details about the USA efforts.

Tests here have shown a broadband S-9 noise level across the HF spectrum (2-80 MHz is proposed in the USA) nearby BPL test installations.  Of course, this system is also susceptible to strong interference from amateur, broadcast radio and TV, military, government and other HF/VHF users because the BPL receiver is basically a broadband 2-80 MHz receiver.  

The FCC has received many, many comments on BPL--I think over 1,900 so far.  There have been some comments from industry but the amateur community has been vociferous in their objections to this serious problem.  Japan and Germany have conducted BPL tests and decided not to approve the system because of the very strong interference to existing users.  

BPL technology is also quite weak in performing the "Last Mile" problem.  Real world tests have shown the system is easily compromised by many factors which usually limit effect range to 400 meters...when a repeater is needed.  To overcome this, the BPL folks have asked the FCC to allow a significant increase in signal power levels...meaning S-9 + something...wideband...across the HF spectrum!

I urge everyone to look at the ARRL website for additional information and, if you are in the USA, write to the FCC objecting to the approval of BPL.  It is an amazingly poor solution!  Coax (cable), fiber, and microwave (IEEE 802) are a zillion times better.  There is just NO good reason to approve BPL.  BUT the FCC is in love with BPL...apparantly the BPL lobby is pretty strong!  

John Perlick

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Greg W. Bailey 
  To: premium-rx at ml.skirrow.org 
  Sent: Thursday, August 14, 2003 1:49 PM
  Subject: [Premium-Rx] Power Line Communications

  Fellow Members:

  List member JOHN CUNDIFF (KA3WSR) has forwarded the following to me to see if it warrants being posted to the List.  

  The topic is PLC (Power Line Communications) and is written by Bruno Bossert [comalto at bluewin.ch], HB9QO.  Bruno is not a member of the Premium-Rx List, but we thought his post to another newsgroup was worthy for repeating here.  

  <<<<<<<<<<<<<<Here is the Post >>>>>>>>>>>>>

  ..... One of them I would like to throw into this new forum.  It concerns us all, CW lovers, SSBers, Packeteers, Amtorers, PSK31ers all alike.  It is the proposed use of the HF Spectrum by PLC (Power Line Communications). Presently measurements and tests are carried out in several countries of Europe and , I believe, also elsewhere. In short for those who have never heard of it: It is a proposed broadband link between the Telecom Branch Exchange (Central Office) and the subscriber using the 230/415 Volt Power distribution Network as a data transport medium. Several US chip manufacturers and Siemens have developed chipsets for such equipment. Most of them work, I understand, on the spread spectrum principle. Broadband means 0.1.....30 MHz, exactly where we are.

  Measurements in Germany have shown that a cloud of broadband noise covering the whole HF-Spectrum made short-wave reception impossible within about 100m of a power line carrying such data. A further danger that is lurking is ADSL and XDSL: High speed communication on the ordinary unscreened 'phone lines.  ADSL uses the spectrum to about 2 MHz and will certainly blot out 160m operation. XDSL again uses the spectrum between 1 and 30 MHz.

  In my opinion the dangerous threats to amateur radio activities will come from this corner and not from the apparent obsolescence of Morse Code. A CW man will always find a way to communicate in a spectrum shared with other narrowbanded users. If we have to cope with broadband noise however, things are getting difficult. We then would have to go broadband as well i.e. use the same techniques. Evidently this would kill Morse Code and SSB. Only digital communication would be possible.

  It will have to be decided by the society and the political bodies in the countries affected whether it will be possible or not to wipe out radiated HF communication in favor of commercial interests to establish yet another type of so called "last mile" link. Since we are also part of the society we must take a firm stand and fight for our share of the spectrum. Rumors are around that the HF-Spectrum could be auctioned like other spectra and our fraternity would definitely fall short in a competitive bidding that involves billions of $ or £ or whatever.

  I feel that this is the first real serious threat ever the HF spectrum is confronted with. I would like to hear /read about the situation in other countries. Any info and comment would be welcome.

  >>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<

  Does any of our Premium members have some additional or background information about this ?

  Greg
  San Diego

  Jan
  Duncan, BC, Canada

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