Fiber to the home is indeed a bit more difficult but fiber to the curb is
doable. The concepts for this have been around for years - I know - it was
discussed when I still worked in the
R&D Photonics labs at Corning Inc. The whole problem with the telecom bubble
bursting was too many who should have known better believing in false/doctored
forcasts as their eyes glazed
over with visions of a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Some people got
filthy rich; most just got dirt kicked in their faces. The bottom line here is
that many brilliant people
working on fiber technology are out of work and R&D has been severely impacted.
The *only* advantage (?) to using existing power lines is that they exist -
despite the sad history of
maintainence. BTW, during a severe storm, which is the public utility
typically to fail? It doesn't take a genius to answer this one!
Tom - WA2BPE
EUGENE SMAR wrote:
> Chris et al:
>
> Using fiber- (fibre?-) optic cable on powerlines is not new. The Brits
> developed this technology in the early 80's (CEGB deployed it first), and in
> 1981 Hydro Quebec were the first folks on this side of the pond to install
> it. (The product was called Fibral and was manufactured by BICC Ltd.) I
> did some work with this same stuff around that same time
> (http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=/ne
> tahtml/search-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=ptxt&s1=4,651,019.WKU.&OS=PN/
> 4,651,019&RS=PN/4,651,019 ).
>
> But to bring this stuff to the front door of every residence is a big
> deal. The fiber-optic cable you describe (for use on HV transmission
> lines), is not typically part of a residential power distribution line -
> it's too big and expen$ive (the stuff I used was 12 mm / half inch in
> diameter and included an outer layer of steel wires.) But many power
> companies (my former employer included) are today supplying commercial
> (large customers) telephony and data services via these conductors.
>
> Today it's cheaper for the telcos and cable companies, rather than the
> electric companies, to install fiber to your curb (not yet fully into your
> home, but they're getting closer.) Or to use what they already have - their
> own cable TV (cable modems) or telephone lines (DSL modems) that already
> enter your house. Hence the motivation for the power folks to use what THEY
> already have - power wiring - as their medium for Internet access.
>
> 73 de
> Gene Smar AD3F
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Chris BONDE" <ve7hcb@rac.ca>
> To: "Kevin Hemsley" <kev@ida.net>; <TowerTalk@contesting.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, August 06, 2003 9:40 PM
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Broadband over Power Line Video
>
> > Our local electric power company just finished putting in a new line. It
> is to be
> > commissioned shortly. It is a 230kV line, about 50km and also has a
> fibre optic
> > cable (for communications and control). There are 290 poles. The first
> line was put
> > in 1897 and a pole put in about that time, still in use, has a service
> record of 105
> > yrs. Wooden pole were used as they have a history of good durability,
> less cost
> > than steel and weigh about 30% less than steel. Easier for the
> helicopters.
> >
> > To me the significant point was the fibre optic line. That is what all
> the power
> > companies should have to do. Who knows they might even be able to compete
> > with the cable and telcos for long distance.
> >
> > Chris opr VE7HCB
> >
> > From: "Kevin Hemsley" <kev@ida.net>
> > To: <TowerTalk@contesting.com>
> > Date sent: Wed, 6 Aug 2003 12:28:13 -0600
> > Subject: [TowerTalk] Broadband over Power Line Video
> >
> > > The ARRL website published a story today about Broadband over Power
> > > Line (BPL) technology. The story includes a video clip shot by Ed
> > > Hare, W1RFI. The video tells a pretty ugly story without any dialogue.
> > >
> > > http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2003/08/08/2/?nc=1
> > >
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > > Kevin.
> > > ------------------------------------------------------
> > > Kevin Hemsley
> > > Systems Engineer
> > > Microserv Computer Technologies, Inc.
> > > kev@ida.net
> > > NF7J
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > >
> > > See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers",
> > > "Wireless Weather Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free,
> > > 1-800-333-9041 with any questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
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> > > TowerTalk@contesting.com
> > > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> >
> > See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
> Weather Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any
> questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > TowerTalk mailing list
> > TowerTalk@contesting.com
> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>
> _______________________________________________
>
> See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
> Weather Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any
> questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
>
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