[TxHam] Fwd: WEST GULF DIVISION NEWSLETTER

[David Johnson KB5YLG]

WEST GULF DIVISION NEWSLETTER

CONGRATULATIONS!

Congratulations to the Northwest Amateur Radio Society
(NARS) in
Houston on their 20th anniversary celebration.


DIVISION BPL STATUS REPORT

West Gulf BPL Task Force Status Report - December 2005

Texas
Notices
None

North Texas Section
Section Notices
TXU Electric and Current Technologies have begun a
partnership to
install BPL to support 2 million homes and businesses
in the
Dallas/Fort Worth area in 2006. Current Technologies
is also in the
process of installing BPL to 50,000 homes with an
estimated 5,000 homes
currently passed in the Cincinnati, OH area. At
present there are no
interference complaints from any amateurs with the
installation in
Cincinnati. 
The Current BPL system uses 31 to 48 MHz on the high
voltage lines for
data transmissions. There are two 1.5 MHz guard bands
setup on the
system to prevent interference to the ten and six
meter amateur radio
bands. The high voltage side of the system also allows
ranges of
frequencies or a particular frequency to be notched
for reduction of
interference to local operators within 31 to 48 MHz
band. 
For the low voltage side, which includes the wire from
the pole to the
home or business and all the wiring inside the
structure, Homeplug
devices are used to create the network connection for
the electrical
outlets. Homeplug uses 4 to 21 MHz with a 30 Db notch
on all amateur
radio bands with the exception of 60 meters. The
Homeplug system is
also designed to only transmit when data is being
passed. New
technology that Homeplug has designed is expected to
be included in the
DFW rollout and will have the ability to notch out
frequencies as
required on the fly from a central control point.. 
At present we are unable to determine if the planned
DFW system will
perform as the system in Cincinnati is performing.
However, it is
believed that amateurs can expect some interference
from the system
based on their location, antenna setup, and proximity
to a Current
customer. We hope that Current will work with us to
mitigate these
issues as they arise.

BPL Installations
Dallas/Fort Worth - System is currently in the
planning stages. TXU and
Current technologies will install BPL systems on 70%
of the power grid
in DFW in 2006. The North Texas BPL team is reviewing
the data and
technology on this system and is preparing plans for
system review and
interference mitigation.
Bridgeport - Bridgeport city council still has the BPL
issue tabled and
is not looking to discuss it in the near future.
South Dallas - System is currently not online, and
rumors have recently
been touted that it may not come online. I will update
as I learn more
about the status of this system.

South Texas Section
Section Notices
None
BPL Installation Status
Burnet - No active system.
Houston - System is continuing to be tested and shows
strong
interference to several amateur radio bands. Amperion
is also testing a
new system in the 30 to 50 MHz range. The team is
still reviewing this
system to determine if it is causing interference to
any ham radio
bands. A special thank you to Kent Marshal, W5TXV and
his entire team
for all the hard work that they have and are putting
in with their
testing efforts.

West Texas Section
Section Notices
None
BPL Installation Status
No Active Systems.

Oklahoma Section
Section News
The December 29th edition of The Oklahoman had a
interview with Brian
Alford, a spokesman for Oklahoma Gas and Electric Co.
Mr. Alford stated
that OGE is looking at BPL as a means to control their
power grid and
provide broadband internet services to urban and rural
Oklahoma. With
this news I expect the Oklahoma section to be the next
section in our
division to have a BPL installation. 
BPL Installation Status
No Active Systems.

West Gulf BPL Future Activities
I will be working with John Thomason, WB5SYT, SM and
Eddie Manley,
K5EMS, ASM to activate a BPL team in the Oklahoma
section and open a
dialog with Oklahoma Gas and Electric Co. as they
develop plans for a
BPL test or implementation. 
With a definite installation occurring in the DFW
metroplex in the next
year, I will be working closely with Tom Blackwell,
N5GAR, SM and Bill
Byrom, N5BB, ASM with the planning, testing, and
coordination of this
system. I will be visiting all the clubs in the
affected area over the
next month or two to discuss the technologies,
concerns, and expected
impacts of this system.
As we close out another year, I want to say that Ham
Radio is one of
the GREATEST hobbies in existence. Where else can you
make friends
across the street or around the world, develop,
design, and use your
own equipment, meet people from all walks of life,
share your ideas in
an open environment, provide a free service for the
public in times of
need, and do a million things that most people can
only dream about. We
are all hams and we're all in it together, let's
continue to work to
protect our hobby and make it the best it can be! 73
and the best of
2006 to everyone and to our hobby.
73
Jory McIntosh
KJ5RM
ARRL Assistant Director
West Gulf BPL Task Force


COMING HAMFESTS

14 Jan 2006 + San Antonio Radio Club Swapfest / Texas
VHF/FM Society
Winter Meeting
San Antonio Radio Club
http://www.w5sc.org/
Talk-In: 146.94 - (PL 179.9) & 444.100 + (PL 179.9)
Contact: Erik Smith, W5ETS
PO Box 34263
San Antonio, TX 78265-4263
Phone: 210-710-9161 
Email: swapfest at w5sc.org
San Antonio, TX
Little Joe's Country Gold Dancehall
7405 Old Pearsall Road
Div: West Gulf
Sect: South Texas
Our Vice Director, Dr. David Woolweaver, K5RAV, will
be attending this
swapfest.
 
11 Feb 2006 + Ada Amateur Radio Club
http://www.adacomp.net/~jewell/
Talk-In: 147.285 (PL 114.8)
Contact: Charles Etier, KC5TGA
PO Box 1181 
Ada, OK 74821
Phone: 580-332-1377 
Fax: 580-332-1399
Email: KC5TGA at ARRL.NET
Ada, OK
Agriplex
Highway 99 and Richardson Loop
Div: West Gulf
Sect: Oklahoma
 
12 Feb 2006 + Williamson County ARC
http://www.wcarc.com
Talk-In: 146.640 (PL 162.2)
Contact: Rick Trommer, W5RHT
302 Rio Bravo
Georgetown, TX 78628
Phone: 512-863-2428 
Email: w5rht at arrl.net
Georgetown, TX
San Gabriel Park Show Barn
East Morrow Street
Div: West Gulf
Sect: South Texas
 
18 Feb 2006 + Bastrop County Amateur Radio Club
http://www.bastrophams.org
Talk-In: 145.35 (PL 114.8) & 443.750 (PL 114.8)
Contact: Joseph Juliano, WV5X
307 Garwood Street
Smithville, TX 78957
Phone: 512-360-5460 
Email: josephj at austin.rr.com
Smithville, TX
River Bend Park
Highway 71 East
Div: West Gulf
Sect: South Texas
 
25 Feb 2006 + Orange ARC & Jefferson County ARC
http://www.qsl.net/w5nd
Talk-In: 147.180+ (no tone)
Contact: Sheila Powell, N5HL & Delores Heintschel,
KC5NEO
OARC/JCARC
PO Box 232
Orange, TX 77630
Phone: Sheila: 409-727-1071; Delores: 409-962-1435 
Email: Sheila: sheilapo at midcountypc.com; Delores:
kc5neo at gt.rr.com
Orange, TX
VFW Hall
North Highway 87
Div: West Gulf
Sect: South Texas 


FINAL COMMENTS

Thankyou for your outstanding service to amateur radio
and your
communities in 2005.  It was a year of unusual
disasters but you came
through with an effort that you can be proud of.
Judy and I pray that we all have a much better year in
2006.
Coy, N5OK

--------------------------------------------------------------------
ARRL West Gulf Division
Director: Coy Day, N5OK
n5ok at arrl.org
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--- automatic signature follows...

David Johnson
MCP,MCSE,MCSD,MCDBA,CWS
david at justcalldavid.com
kb5ylg at yahoo.com

---

Emergency and public service communications,
a hobby of myriad facets, an enhancement to any
other hobby:  The Amateur Radio Service.

Find out more at http://www.arrl.org


		
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