[RFI] BPL--FCC Proposed Rules//We Need to Respond

[Martin Ewing]

We set up a carrier current AM system at our college in the 1960's.  It had
(IIRC) a 5 watt 540 kHz transmitter installed in each dormitory and coupled to
the AC downstream from the pole transformer, at 120/240 vac.  It was enough to
get a signal everywhere in the building.  We had to do a signal strength survey
to show that the radiated level was down to xx microvolts/meter a few hundred
feet away from the building.  The bandwidth was naturally limited to ~10 kHz,
and the interference potential was pretty low.

I'm not sure the exact relevance to current BPL, except that the laws of physics
have probably not changed since then.

73- Martin, AA6E

N6KJ wrote:
> As I was rereading the NPRM today, I noticed something interesting that
> I haven't heard anyone else mention.  
> 
> In the very last paragraph on page 2 of the NPRM, there is a footnote
> that says:
> 
> 
> -------------------------------- Begin Quote ---------------------
> 
> Campus radio systems have been operating for over fifty years in the United 
> States at many universities as unlicensed broadcast radio stations in the AM
> Broadcast band, see 47 C.F.R. § 15.221.  Initially, the receiver and signal
> source were attached to the same electric power line.  After the advent of the 
> transistor radio, receivers are sensitive enough to be able to pick up enough 
> radiated signal for adequate reception when placed next to the electric power 
> line in a dormitory or other locations on the electric power lines.  See also, 
> e.g., X-10 products for home automation at <http://www.X10.com>, and products 
> conforming to ANSI/EIA-600.31-97 Power Line Physical Layer and Medium 
> Specification (CEBus Standard).
> 
> ---------------------------------- End Quote -----------------------------
> 
> The BPL proponents continue to insist that power lines will not radiate
> like an antenna and that their equipment appears as a "point-source"
> radiator.  If that's true, then why is it possible to place an AM
> BC band radio near the electrical outlet in a dorm room and receive a 
> low-voltage broadcast that originated who knows how far away?   This doesn't
> sound like a "point-source" to me.  Does it to anyone else?
> 
> 
> 
>>On Fri, 5 Mar 2004 07:47:19 EST, K4VV at aol.com wrote:
>>
>>
>>For information, here is the action that we in the Potomac Valley Radio Club 
>>are taking.  PVRC is a contesting club with several hundred active members in 
>>the mid Atlantic region.  I am the current President, and Jim Talens, N3JT is 
>>a lawyer and engineer who has many years of FCC experience.  Jim led the 
>>action for our previous submission to the FCC on the BPL issue.  This activity
>>may 
>>be of interest to you.  Any supporting input may be directed to Jim, who is 
>>cc'd.
>>
>>Jack Hammett, K4VV
>>
>>[Stuff Deleted]
> 
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