[RFI] Bush and BPL

[dj2001 at mn.rr.com]

I guess I posted the same time you did.  I checked and the name of 
the box is Metricom, I did a quick search and came up with this 
http://news.com.com/2100-1033-269362.html?legacy=cnet

The other box you discribe is mounted on a pole about three hundred 
feet from the Metricom box.  That box looks much bigger and is what 
looks to be fairly heavy steel.  It has a Larsen antenna mounted 
along with about a 5 element yagi pointing South.  I took digital pix 
of both boxes.  The power company tech told me the switching ps their 
box can produce a lot of noise if they go bad.

Dale





>Dale es Group,
>
>I went with the vanity call a few years ago (7-8?) .... it's faster in
>contest exchanges!
>
>The meter reading system uses (at least) two differently sized boxes. The
>smaller ones use whip antennas - the larger ones typically use  whip antenna
>and an external Yagi. The original company that made this cell-based
>equipment got into serious financial problems, but was later acquired by
>another firm, and, last I heard, was in the process of being sold to another
>corporation. The meters don't need much of an antenna to go a couple of
>blocks.
>
>I am not aware of this system causing RFI problems - now days, that's
>something to be grateful for!
>
>73,
>
>John  W0DC
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: <dj2001 at mn.rr.com>
>To: "John" <jlockj at earthlink.net>; <rfi at contesting.com>
>Sent: Saturday, March 27, 2004 11:27 AM
>Subject: Re: [RFI] Bush and BPL
>
>
>>  Hi John, dident recognize you with the new/old call.
>>
>>  The boxes according to the power company guys I talked to are not the
>>  same ones for reading the meters.  They are bigger square metal units
>>  mounted on power poles, these are small white things hanging from the
>>  light standards with antennas hanging under them, unless I was fed
>>  some incorrect information.  I should take my binoculars out and read
>>  the lable underneath and take a picture too.  By the way how do the
>>  meters get the signal to the receivers?  I don't see an antenna
>>  anywhere on my meter.
>>
>>  Dale
>>
>>
>>
>>  >Hi Dale -
>>  >
>>  >I believe the boxes you are referring to are very much in use for their
>>  >designed purpose - remote reading of utility meters.
>>  >
>>  >73,
>>  >
>>  >John  W0DC
>>  >
>>  >----- Original Message -----
>>  >From: <dj2001 at mn.rr.com>
>>  >To: <rfi at contesting.com>
>>  >Sent: Saturday, March 27, 2004 3:52 AM
>>  >Subject: RE: [RFI] Bush and BPL
>>  >
>>  >
>>  >>     only
>>  >>  >they will involve broadband wireless access points and future
>>  >>  >technology.  I  don't believe this is showing up on anyone's radar
>>  >>  >screen yet.
>>  >>
>>  >>  They tried that around here and the company went BR.  The boxes with
>>  >>  the little antennas are still hanging on the light standards.  i
>>  >>  should get a pix and post it just for fun.
>>  >>
>>