[RFI] Editorial on BPL in Electronic Design Magazine

[Michael Tope]

There may actually be something to this:

http://www.corridor.biz/technology.htm

Looks like it operates in the UHF/Microwave region (which
would make sense since they are using a single power line
conductor as a waveguide (with the energy guided along the
outside surface of the conductor) as opposed to on the inside
of a circular guide or rectangular guide. This is fundamentally
different than regular BPL which utilizes TEM propagation.
The nice thing about this technology (if it works) is that it
operates at higher frequencies where there is enough
bandwidth that it could potentially be given an allocation
(as opposed to sharing spectrum on a part 15 basis). Heck
even if you made it work at Wi-Fi frequencies, it might provide
enough isolation from free space signals to allow it to coexist
with Wireless Access Points operating in the same frequency
range. The downside is that it probably doesn't handle
discontinuities very well, so you would have to have those
launching horns at every powerpole to guide the signal
around the insulator hardware. It may also be susceptible
to moisture and ice.

Anyway, those are the sorts of questions I would be asking
if I were a potential investor. It could be bogus, but its worth
looking into as an alternative to regular BPL which we all
know is a steaming RFI turd.

73 de Mike, W4EF......................................

----- Original Message -----
From: "Pete Smith" <n4zr at contesting.com>
To: "Michael Tope" <W4EF at dellroy.com>; <rfi at contesting.com>
Sent: Tuesday, August 17, 2004 3:16 AM
Subject: Re: [RFI] Editorial on BPL in Electronic Design Magazine


> At 02:46 AM 8/17/2004, Michael Tope wrote:
>
> >FYI - http://www.elecdesign.com/Articles/ArticleID/8487/8487.html
> >
> >Mike, W4EF.................................................
> >
> >
>
> Hey, this sounds cool - - use fiber to get the signal to an area, then
> WiMax to deliver to homes, and presto, no need for BPL at all.
>
> I loved the comment from Corridor -- what the heck is this business about
"
> The fundamental transport is via a surfacewave mode, which is
> simultaneously very low loss and substantially non-radiating"?  Have they
> repealed the laws of physics?
>
>
>
> 73, Pete N4ZR
> The World HF Contest Station Database
> was updated on August 2, 2004
> 2753 contest stations at
> www.pvrc.org/WCSD/WCSDsearch.htm
>
>