[SECC] [SEDXC] BPL

[Ron Hooper]

The BPL systems will allow ingress and signals in close proximity will 
penetrate their system. Ham signals are not the only problem. Lots of 
emergency systems radios get into the BPL. Apparently the BPL supplier can 
prevent using frequencies that are common with such radio systems to avoid 
interference.

I am constantly  tormented with power line noise. The power company will 
work to make repairs but its no time that the noise returns. This problem 
has increased over the past decade due to the power company increasing the 
line voltage in residential sections to 25 kv on green wooden poles. It is 
actually the current construction practice that is the problem coupled with 
the higher line voltage. The new green poles shrink more than the black ones 
did allowing staples and screws to get loose. Going through the weather 
changes enhances the problem, look at your decks made with green wood 
(treated wood) how the nails stick up. Any loose hardware near the top of 
the pole will cause an arc and generate interference. A good example is a 
staple holding the ground wire coming down the pole near the top.

Since the line voltage has been increased here, I estimated that I have cost 
the EMC approximately $40,000 in labor to make repairs. Initial contacts 
with the EMC and engineering did not get results in the beginning. I 
actually had to talk with the EMC CEO and let him know the service was not 
acceptable to get results. I don't know how much additional cost to make 
repairs effects the EMC decisions since it is just passed down to the coop 
customers like ourselves.

The ARRL did a good job trying to keep BPL off the lines but reasoning did 
not work. Politics and profits prevailed as usual regardless of who gets 
hurt in the process.  My guess is that when 1.5KW interferes with BPL, there 
will be a series of letters to the FCC, to which they will need to expand 
their staff to handle, and the ham will be examined to make sure their 
signal is clean and operating within regulations. After that, nothing 
happens in many cases. Only the higher profile cases will get attention, 
similar to the cable TV interference ingress problems.

As with many other hams, I plan to set back and do nothing. Somehow any 
reaction always cost me more money in the end.

Ron W4WA

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Thompson" <thompson at mindspring.com>
To: <SECC at contesting.com>; <sedxc at contesting.com>
Sent: Friday, February 10, 2006 8:22 PM
Subject: Re: [SECC] [SEDXC] BPL


> Wonder what is going to happen when a ham with a beam and 1.5KW blows out
> several blocks of BPL
> (ingress).  Hey there is no ingress as its all in the real world not in a
> shielded cable.
>
> I agree that the Engineers cannot keep the lines clear of power line noise
> now (see the three times per month FCC letters to Power Companies on the
> ARRL Web Page).   The last one has a letter from the Atlanta FCC Office.
>
> At least we have Riley on their case here!
>
> Dave K4JRB
>
>
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